WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN

Allium

2011-12-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

Giant Allium by Chris Gladis in Kyoto, Japan

Giant Allium

I Live in the City

2011-08-21T09:20:00.004-04:00

Lady on a Tree in the City

I live in the city
where there's plenty of trees

and a small patch of earth
where I plant on my knees

tulips, and daffodils, and allium tall,
they'll brighten the spring,
and sleep in the fall;

in summer there's roses
delighting our noses,
and

trees to sit under
to rest in our wonder.

Two and Two

2011-06-26T08:34:00.001-04:00

Two and Two:
one pair says hello,
the other says miew.
Wooden shoes,
and billowing skirts,
a mouse to amuse,
can turn to dessert.
One pair wears a bonnet.
In truth, this is no sonnet.

Thank you, Monday's Child : Illustration by: G. Shepeard

Mrs. Mallard's "I Stand Here Ironing"

2011-05-01T08:24:00.090-04:00

Illustrator Elizabeth Webbe (Thank you MONDAY'S CHILD)

As I stand here ironing
I imagine what you'll say
when you return from Boston Gardens
at the end of the day:
Our field trip had treats:
sweet bread with a spread;
the cars made strange honks
that scared Tonkie who fled.
The teacher took wing,
his expression was red,
"Tonkie, as always, alongside me instead."
Then we waddled onto the cobblestone
where the proud bronze ducklings in their glory shone.
"We aren't daffy ducks," our teacher said,
"but wondrous, just have a look, we are
like those in Mr. McCloskey's book."

Tuna Fish and Mayonnaise

2011-02-06T17:53:00.000-05:00

Tuna fish and mayonnaise

with potato chips

they amaze

Glass of chocolate milk

swig it down

chew a salty bit

and turn around

Tuna fish and mayonnaise

with potato chips

today's the day

Glass of chocolate milk

swig it down

let your tummy

grow full, let your tummy

grow round.

Public Domain Image LC

Hallelujah for mayonaisse and tuna!

haiku and hiroshige

2011-02-04T18:21:00.000-05:00

I've been writing some strict haiku -- visit my current fascination at
http://hiroshigehaiku.wordpress.com

I will get back to writing here tomorrow. I can't wait to write a poem about a tuna sandwich with potato chips.

Triolet for a Wolf

2011-01-23T10:55:00.003-05:00

image from Wikimedia , artist, Gustave Doré

(in the Public Domain)

Triolet for a Wolf

One afternoon deep within the wood,

I was warm when you came near:

You leaned your coat against me and there I stood,

one afternoon deep within the wood.

I didn't move although I thought I should--

your heat and silence were enough to fear--

but that afternoon deep within the wood,

I was so warm when you came near.

Illustrator, Vivienne? 1947

2011-01-02T22:43:00.003-05:00

Wishing Poem (prompt from Monday's Child)

I wish to lick the moon,

to hold your tears in a sugar spoon.

I wish the snow were made of gold

and I wish the young were never old.

I wish my eyes were brown, not blue

and the sky could recall each bird that flew.

I wish my thirst would let me be

and that dish of milk were enough for three.

I wish to fill a wishing well

and then go fishing for a spell.

Nuestras Tias in the Antilles. Prospero Ano Nuevo/ Happy New Year

2010-12-30T10:21:00.025-05:00

A Visit to the Aunts in the Antilles (Ghazal)

(see Monday's Child)

Tia Rosa is very chilly even though she stays in the Antilles.

Tia Ana cooks arroz con habichuelas to amaze in the Antilles.

When the New Year comes the Flames of fire--

like a dragon's tongue-- lick the bay in a blaze in the Antilles.

Leave your corn, your nuts, and dried apricots;

plantanas y empanadillas are all the craze in the Antilles.

Swim on a moonless night in Mosquito Bay and

your limbs will alight as bright as days in the Antilles.

Wrap your shawl tight, listen to the coqui sing.

Papa comes home tonight, but-- o!-- such delays in the Antilles.

Poem Waiting

2010-11-24T15:37:00.003-05:00

From WikiMedia Commons

Miss Fancy Mouse Visits the House

2010-11-14T15:06:00.002-05:00

Illustration by: Phoebe Erickson 1947

Ms.Fancy Mouse visits the House

I'm so glad you've come to tea

with your fire-red boa and purple plume hat,

no one could mistake this Miss Mouse,

for a lowly common rat.

I'm so glad you've come to tea--

you dress up the place you see,

with your green leather purse,

and your visits to the nurse.

You say your health has gotten worse?

Oh dear, I hope it not infectious!

Sit, you'll find the soup delicious.

I'm so glad you've come to tea.

How on earth did you catch it?

You sat beneath a toadstool and were bitten by a flea!

A tragic story, I see why it is you cry.

Let's sip our tea and dwell on matters happy by and by.

Prompt from Monday's Child. Thank you!

Counting by Twos

2010-11-14T11:53:00.003-05:00

Two oak trees with their leaves turning brown

Four sugar maple leaves, red and gold on the ground

Six sparrows dashing in the privet to hide

Eight laughing children in line for the slide

Ten geese wait by the shore at the park

Twelve streetlights line the street after dark

Fourteen sweet and cold apples in a bowl

Sixteen lumpy holes in the lawn from a mole

Eighteen tulip bulbs wait in their winter bed

Twenty pages left til I rest my weary head.

Image in the public domain from wikimedia Commons : Views of Kyoto - 10. Merrymaking beneath Maple Trees at Tsuten Kyo by Hiroshige Utagawa

Prompt from Monday's Child, a Miriam Dixon illustration

2010-10-24T12:35:00.001-04:00

From Monday's Child

The Kiddle Kittens

Wake up Kiddle Mixie, Mama's little pixie;
time to find your dinner, first one up's a winner.

Hey Kiddle Wink, what do you think?
Someone's made a tuna salad but put it down the sink!

Get up Kiddle Snore, do you want to eat some more?
There's mice inside the walls, and one's peeking 'round the door.

composed by Tess

Couplets in A Ball of Red Yarn

2010-09-30T15:41:00.003-04:00

Prompt at Monday's Child( Jessica Wilcox Smith , 1863-1935,ills.

Let's play cat's cradle
with a yarn as red as flame.

Help me to unwind this heart

so we can start the game.

As my fingers dance and weave,

if by chance you do the same,

we'll knit a dream of peace

and that's the place we'll claim --

A basket for two hearts

and Love will be its name.

Pelican Bay -- Did I write this poem already? Sure feels like it.

2010-08-01T16:40:00.001-04:00

This poem is written as a response to the prompt at Monday's Child.

illustration by Jessie Wilcox Smith , 1863-1935

Pelican Bay

It was always Sunday

when we would romp and play

splashing the water of Pelican Bay

And at the close of the day

we'd sigh a long sigh as if to say

oh! if only we could forever stay

here at Pelican Bay!

Fairy Princess (prompt at Monday's Child)

2010-07-23T22:24:00.007-04:00

Of fairies, she's our very own.
She'll be queen once she is grown.

Made of petals of lily and wild roses,
she honey bathes our eyes, and delights our noses.

Little queen to be, you have yet to speak a word...
but through all the glen today,
your name alone we heard.

Your secret name is kept in a seed of flower's wild,
Your manner will be light as air; your heart, as kind and mild.

But for now, you sleep like any babe, our little fairy child.
Copyright © 2010 Tess

Need Inspiration?

2010-07-11T16:02:00.007-04:00

I just discovered a site that's really lovely (thank you Marinela!) and I think it will be a great help. Monday's Child at http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/.

Check it out! Although this work has been mis-attributed to Bernhard Oberdieck, his work is well worth checking out at: http://www.bernhard-oberdieck.com/en/home.php

The Moon and Me

We are happy, the bright- faced moon and me,

Gazing past the fluffy clouds to an ocean blue.

The sailboats rocking themselves dream the open sea.....

If you were told to go to sleep what would you do?

My calico cat purrs at the foot of my bed.

Mother hears me scribbling and calls up the stairs, "Remember what I said!"

She promised we'd ride to the white sandy beach

and pack in our basket juicy plums, cherries, and peaches for each.

A Cradle Song by Thomas Dekker 1572?-1632

2010-06-28T19:22:00.001-04:00

Golden Slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
You are care, and care must keep you.
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

(not composed by Tess)

Alphabet Form With a Polish Desert

2010-06-26T15:56:00.027-04:00

Working on a poem and stalled, hoping that putting it here will give me momentum to continue or revise--to go forward or back:
FAR FROM FINISHED .... yikes! I wish there were a hide feature for this blog. Hmmmm. This will teach me not to compose online.

A was an alligator sprawled on a log
B was a buoy that bobbed in the fog.
C is the charity that the child showed.
D the dark that vanished then glowed.
E is for every journey in every book,
F is for following when you take time to look.
G is for the glasses upon the teacher's face,
H hurries from here to there and any place,
I is the infinite sky spreading a blanket blue,
J just as the moon's fond face wanes before its new,
K is the kielbasa sliced cold on a plate,
L is how lovely horseradish, it's great!
Many months have passed since the tulips died down,
Now the nasturtium is the salad's peppery clown.

What comes next?

Conversation with a Baby Jay

2010-06-21T19:58:00.002-04:00

Me: Baby blue jay, Why are you alone on such a day?

Baby Jay: My mother's gone to find worms and I'm left to play.

Me: Why are you there deep in the wood?

Baby Jay: Where else should I be? These leaves are good.

Me: But now I can see you clear as day and take your picture before you fly away.

Baby Jay: Go ahead, I'm enjoying the weather and while I do, enjoy my new feathers, too.

Out of Doors

2010-05-02T10:17:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I found two nests. One in a vacant bird house, and one a true mouse bed,very well made -- like my son's big puff -- full of bird feathers. This is a picture of the mouse bed. I found it in the wood pile. Mice love wood piles!

FOR THE MOUSE

How nice a nest,

full of feathers,

full of fur;

the care you took

to create this place

is proof on earth

of endless grace.

How Can I Help Children in Gaza?

2010-04-10T12:14:00.001-04:00

Please consider visiting United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East : United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Also, please do not copy the image of this child. The artwork, by artist Michael Thompson, is here by permission only.

My Little Girl in Gaza

2010-04-10T11:52:00.007-04:00

I am Gaza
Originally uploaded by freestylee
by the kind permission of Michael Thompson

(This poem isn't working. I have revised it and it's a bigger mess. Stay tuned for next week's revision -- it's going to be good. This poem has to be a ghazal. I can't wait to write it right!)_
I Am Gaza, (poem removed until revision).

What's Mad Cool At School, and What's Not So Hot

2010-03-13T16:53:00.001-05:00

What's Mad Cool about School, and What's Not so Hot

Lice are not nice!
When you scratch you think twice:
who's there, in my hair?
Why me, it's not fair?
No, lice are not nice!
Do I need a short shave?
Mom says, behave and be brave.
Because lice are not nice,
no, lice are not nice. No!

Feeling Like I Let You Down

2010-02-27T18:26:00.000-05:00

I am so sorry and want to apologize for not writing in a while. I should have given a little notice that I was caught up in a tree on a hill watching the snow drift and fall and not able to put pen to paper because my fingers have been too darn cold. I hope to write something soon. I hear the snow drip, drip off the branches and the ice in the bird bath turned into a little pool today. Thaw is here. Will write soon!

The Little Sadness Poem --revised a few times

2009-11-06T20:34:00.009-05:00

You ask,

what is it that isn't there?

The color of the trees before

their limbs went bare.

What is it that isn't there?

What remains is music

that floated once in air.

The sweater that you wore

held a single strand of hair.

Ghazal for Autumn. Ghazals for Children

2009-11-06T19:43:00.003-05:00

fall
Originally uploaded by garagesoap
Ghazal for October

My dog picks up his gait in October
Cool weather stepping for our Nate, in October

Nights cold, days sweater warm, the leaves blushed,
wrapped in red and gold for their date in October.

Behind the brown prickly heads of coneflowers
Grew peach-colored mums at the gate in October.

The moonlit walk through the dark dry leaves with candy
on our tongues, such sweet dreams, the bait in October.

The warm kitchen smells of cinnamon and apples.
Please… One more piece on my plate in October!

On the horse-pulled cart, a vine of voices,
Jostle to our pumpkin patch fate in October.

The forest symphony quit. Crickets and peepers
Packed their instruments and now its silent, late in October.

2009-10-11T10:55:00.001-04:00

Ghazal's written inspired by Miss Rumphius Effect
Please let me know if you can't find the Ghazal for October (Problem with the HTML).
If you haven't read a ghazal before :

1. Each couplet is its own jewel. Couplets are not related. Perhaps, emotionally but not semantically.

Cicada by Roberto Zingales

2009-09-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

Cicala - balm-cricket
Originally uploaded by CyboRoZ

2009-08-22T15:51:00.010-04:00

Inspired by Miss Rumphius and Wallace Stevens (of course)

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Cicada in August

I
Within the forest oaks
the only sound is the drum
of the male cicadas.
II
I was of one mind
like the patient oak
that waits the cicadas' climb.
III
The cicada flew into the glass.
It buzzed on its side
like a broken pinwheel
in the wind.
IV
It's one with the marvelous heroes:
The cicada climbs the nearest support,
splits open its shell
and emerges.
V
I do not know which amazes more:
The slow underground life of the young,
or the sight of nymphal skins in August's trees.
VI
The fans blew the hot air
across the room.
Pages curled on the desk.
Far off they were climbing.
Their small sound organ
thunderous.

VII
You admirers of feathered wings,
Do you not see
the long translucent beatings
of this tiny bright eyed thing?
VIII
I know scales and arpeggios,
the tyranny of the bow,
but the cicada
knows the essence
of what I hope to know.
IX
When the cicada
moved on
the oak tree slept.
X
As the cicadas sing
together, throwing their rhythm
into the darkness,
even the bomba dancer
cannot command the beat.
XI
She sped her sports car over highways
her wrists clicking with bracelets.
At night she dreams
all her charms and rings
are cicadas with emeralds
for wings.
XII
The leaves are turning.
The old cicadas must be dying.
XIII
It was hot and humid all day and evening.
The clouds came.
The cicadas clung
to their branches.

2009-07-20T21:15:00.011-04:00

Leonardo da Vinci Park ~
Originally uploaded by alicepopkorn - busy

I will bring an umbrella. One should never forget their umbrella.
Photo by Alicepopkorn-busy a Flickr.com

LEONARDO DA VINCI PARK (for Isabella)

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
an apple for my teacher, and an anteater because picnics always have ants and I am bringing butter biscuits
in case there aren't any ants.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
crunchy cashews, and a chirpy chimpanzee,
some delicious dumplings, dazzling diamonds
Elegant eggplants and even eclairs for
the fairies found in the flowers.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
galloping gazelles, high stepping horses,
and individually wrapped icecreams
just in time for jumping with my friends
Jane, Jasmin, and Junette.
.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
from Australia a Kangaroo who gets a kick out of kielbasa
and one lively lioness
who loves lunaria, and many marvelous monkeys
full of mischief and munchies made with marshmellows.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
nine noisy nuthatches in a nest. Nothing more.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park
and I am bringing olives, oysters, oatmeal cookies,
and an opened box of paint for painting
portraits quick and quaint
of a really rude red rooster who slips and slides
over a seesaw to steal my saltine crackers and soggy sandwiches
that truly taste terrible.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
an umbrella from Umbria, and an ugly duckling under my arm for all of us
to admire (because the ugly duckling is really a beautiful swan.)

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
a painting signed "Vincent" of a vase with welcoming sunflowers.

Today I am going to Leonardo Da Vinci Park and I am bringing
friends: Xavier, YOU, Zak, Zoe, and Zelda.

I love the park, don't you?

2009-07-05T18:01:00.000-04:00

I can't resist. Here's a firefly joke:

What happened to the dog that swallowed a firefly?

It barked with de-light!

2009-07-04T13:35:00.005-04:00

Firefly Poem (revision) Photo Creative Commons
Originally uploaded by V31S70

Mami said let's ride in the car;
I wore my pajamas and she drove very far...

We went through a forest, thick with dark trees.
I slept the whole way with my head on my knees.

Then she stopped, got out, at the top of a hill
Where we spread out a blanket and sat very still.

Diamonds were falling, a dazzling delight;
Bright-eyed were we by firefly light.

2009-07-01T19:17:00.003-04:00

Happy Sheep
Originally uploaded by David Masters

The Fisheep (a fantasy mammal/fish)

Unlike a true fish
the fisheep doesn't swim very deep
rather, it swishes along and floats
like something made of cotton but a boat.

2009-06-20T12:18:00.002-04:00

Stay tuned for poems about these hybrids --

The Frogrilla
jagrabbit
eeligator
coquibus
bearcoon
and the infamous fisheep

2009-06-20T12:14:00.002-04:00

Fishes
Originally uploaded by katmere

What is Creative Commons? You will often see photographs posted on this blog by other people. I write the posts but borrow these photographs. These photographers have chosen to use a different type of copyright --not the ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I find these sharing/caring people's photos in a flickr search for "Creative Commons." You can share their photos as long as you give their identity as the creator. It's very cool. That you everyone in the Creative Commons pool. Love swimming with you!

2009-05-31T18:31:00.002-04:00

common toad waiting for food
Originally uploaded by bjortklingd

(As you can see, this is a "common toad," a distant relative of the Toadonkey whose ears are, of course, much bigger.)

Toadonkeys

Very rare and hard to spot.
The largest of farm toads,
more toad than not.
Their spring song is more a bray
familiar like a mare
but not quite a neigh
nay, I say its hard to say
exactly as they are so seldom seen or heard.
They're fast with their legs up front;
they kick behind in a huge gallump.
A miniature seesaw,
they sometimes sing heehaw, heehaw!

2009-05-25T19:39:00.002-04:00

summer is dancing
Originally uploaded by alicepopkorn

I Love Summer Time

I like to feel the sun shine
I like to dip my feet in water cold
I like to skip between the chalk lines
until my days grow old

I like it if the birds still sing
When my dreams take wing,
when it's light,
And the fireflies light up the night

I love summer time
flavored ices bought with dimes
knees scraped and banged up blue
all my wild days long overdue

2009-04-22T08:48:00.001-04:00

Not Another Bee Poem, Oh no!!!!!

Outside my window was a bee
a fuzzy, humming bumble bee
going about its bee-business busily
buzzing, obviously with glee;
as far a I could see,
it was happy being busy in a daffodil flower
when I spied it in that early morning hour.

2009-04-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

2009-04-06T17:35:00.002-04:00

Pip the Cat
Originally uploaded by garagesoap

is rather flip.
He skit-skats
across the mats.
Wanting so to be outdoors,
he runs across the floors.
Pip isn't one to nip or nap.
He's a purrfect chap.
Furry, always in a hurry, very purry.

2009-03-29T10:40:00.004-04:00

Spring crocus, creative commons.
Originally uploaded by Futurilla

P recious crocus
O pening wide in
E xile from its warm bed
T asting the cool air
R eaching up its head

Y awning, open to the sky

2009-03-29T10:11:00.004-04:00

The Leaving (inspired by Leonard Cohen)

We packed a box, cleared a table.
Threw out old magazines, or what we were able.
It's time to go, it's time to move now.

We rolled up our rugs, emptied our drawers.
We wrapped dishes in paper, and swept up the floors.
It's time to go, it's time to move now.

Outside we raked leaves from the beds,
taking care not to break daffodil heads.
It's time to go, it's time to move now.

In the bird bath we poured the last cool water
and filled the feeders with finch seed for after.
It's time to go, it's time to move now.

2009-03-23T13:44:00.001-04:00

P erched

O n the fence

E ach sparrow is a

T ease for the cat in the window

R eady to pouce; if only he were in the

Y ard.

2009-03-23T13:42:00.002-04:00

sparrow
Originally uploaded by *János*

Robin Redbreast

2009-03-23T13:39:00.001-04:00

Robin Redbreast
Originally uploaded by John Spooner

creative commons license

2009-03-23T13:27:00.001-04:00

P erhaps you thought poetry was made

O f words. But it is

E ven made of the robins, stones, oceans, and

T all oak and birch trees.

R eally.

Y ou only need to look and listen.

2009-03-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

COMPOST ACROSTIC

P eels from apples, cucumbers, left-

O ver leaves , grasses,

E gg shells, and coffee grounds decompose

T oday so that

R eturns of

Y esterday will fill tomorrow.

2009-03-23T13:24:00.003-04:00

PRIMROSE ACROSTIC

"P rimroses" the poet wrote.

O f flaura and fauna she was well versed.

E ach kingdom of the universe, she

T ouched with her pen to

R ecall, as she named them.

"Y es!" She exclaimed, "Yes!"

2009-03-23T13:23:00.001-04:00

P eople rush in traffic all

O ver town.

E xcited and eager

T o get home, eat dinner,

R ead a book, or the newspaper,

Yawn and go to sleep.

2009-03-23T13:20:00.002-04:00

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IS COMING! YAHOO!!!!

P arties are

O ften

E nded after

T ime to

R ejoice and declare,

Y ahoo!

2009-03-23T13:18:00.001-04:00

Composed with help from Wikipedia the online encyclopedia created by contributors.

P igeons are doves

O nly we often forget.

E ven the "Feral Rock Pigeon"

T hat you see in cities

R eally is a dove.

Y oung doves (pigeons) are called "squabs."

Black Capped Chickadee

2009-03-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

Black Capped Chickadee
Originally uploaded by hlkljgk

from creative commons

2009-03-14T13:34:00.012-04:00

(Click to hear two Chickadee songs --both the Phoebe (fee-bee) and Chickadee dee dee)
Copyright 2006 Lang Elliott and Mighty Pods, LLC. All rights reserved. Site sponsored by birdJam and Nature Sound Studio. birdJam: the ultimate way to learn bird songs!

Phoebe Dating Song

I live in this tree!
Chirped cheery Miss Chickadee Dee.
Scat you prowling cat!

This tree belongs to me,
Sang Mr. Deedy, chickadee dee.
Then adding a note,
he whistled Phoebe, phoebe, phoebe...

Let's make it a date
Before it's too late
We have on our caps
While that cat naps

Flippity, flap, flap
Happy to fly
Before we're cat pie

Chickadee dee dee,
Chickadee dee dee
Phoebe...phoebe...phoebe....

2009-03-13T19:04:00.006-04:00

Bee
Originally uploaded by garagesoap

Bewildered and Out of Tune

There once was a bee named June,
who tried to make song with a spoon.
To improve she took music classes.
Her teacher said "June, you need glasses."
Poor, unmusical June, even Her buzz was doomed.

for LBM

2009-02-22T22:47:00.001-05:00

Written for Children will be pausing....I hope not to be gone too long.

2009-02-16T19:51:00.005-05:00

Triolet with Violets

I saw a robin sitting in a tree
he was busy dreaming of Spring
and all the violets that he would see
I saw a robin sitting in a tree
he looked at me and did not flee
he sang the song he was meant to sing
I saw a robin sitting in a tree
he was busy dreaming of Spring

2009-02-14T21:53:00.008-05:00

today's snowman
Originally uploaded by hlkljgk

Little Four Inch Ghazal

Squirrels harvest acorns to eat in winter
while cat sleeps upon the stove seat in winter

Standing alone in the path gone white with snow
You find you need to warm your feet in winter

Mom stirred the maple syrup on the stove until we
Poured it, hot and sizzling on snow, a treat in winter

Our bellies heavy as we slid down hill
warmed still from Cream of Wheat in winter

When the barn filled with hay grew cold
Frigid nights you'd hear goats bleat in winter

Blanketed and arm in arm we’d pile on the couch
To watch the Marx Brothers catch heat in winter

We poured hot water over our ice home,
making walls of cold white sheets in winter.

2009-02-08T11:16:00.004-05:00

Originally uploaded by bjortklingd

The February Peanut Show

I keep a bag of peanuts in a shopping bag on a chair in the kitchen for the squirrels and blue jays. Early in the morning I take a fistful and open the slider wide enough to fit my fist through. I need to make sure the cats don’t slip out and I don’t drop the peanuts too soon. I throw the peanuts onto the deck and my son and I watch them roll across the snow and ice. Our three cats press their noses to the cold slider and wait for the peanut show. It lasts only a few minutes, longer if I throw out more peanuts. The cats shiver a bit, their tails swooshing back and forth on the floor. The sounds of a dozen pigeons taking flight from the rooftop rises from their throats as if the cats were dreaming in reverse.

2009-02-08T11:15:00.002-05:00

81091: medium success
Originally uploaded by Tomi Tapio

2009-02-02T20:17:00.002-05:00

Cinquain
(syllables: 2, 4, 6, 8, 2)

Small bird,
looking for seed,
hopping over the ice --
Are your talons frozen as well,
small bird?

Small bird,
looking for seed,
hopping over the ice--
Much depends upon weather in
winter.

2009-01-19T11:58:00.002-05:00

Obama bu Shepard Fairey to Telstar Logistic, Creative Commons
Originally uploaded by capitan.patagonia

A found-poem/ letter from Opinion/The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/opinion/16lettersintro.html?_r=1:

Dear President Obama,

Here is a list of the first 10 things you should do as president:

1. Fly to the White House in a helicopter.
2. Walk in.
3. Wipe feet.
4. Walk to the Oval Office.
5. Sit down in a chair.
6. Put hand-sanitizer on hands.
7. Enjoy moment.
8. Get up.
9. Get in car.
10. Go to the dog pound.

— Chandler Browne, age 12, Chicago

2009-01-19T10:34:00.002-05:00

Crows - Towards the sun i fly, not as Icarus.
Originally uploaded by hashmil

THE CROW (photo by Hashmil on Flickr. Creative Commons License)

Notice the noble crow,
Truly magnificent—
Dark shields against the snow.
Stars that burned then were spent.
Where they go, we can’t know,
Those angels heaven sent.
The crow is not a curse,
But welcomes us to verse.

2009-01-19T10:12:00.001-05:00

Written for Children Welcomes Polish Princess posting poems!

2009-01-19T09:35:00.007-05:00

FAT LIE POEM

I climbed aboard a bumblebee's back
And up to the tree we flew
The bee was a bee
But his buzz was a quack
And his eyes were purple and blue

The tree was as tall
As a baby goat's toe
With leaves of silver and pink
I hung on tight as we swung to and fro
When I slipped and fell into ink

In an ocean I was, a chocolate cream pie
With white waves on a brown sea
I clapped my hands twice
When down from the sky
Came my friend the fat bumblebee

I climbed aboard a bumblebee's back
And the moon shone down on an ocean of ink
The stars peeked out from their blanket of black
And the trees in the warm wet ground did sink

2009-01-10T12:30:00.004-05:00

Plump gatherers of proud friends

If ever birds flocked fully together

Gainly in our waddling ends

Eating whatever, no matter the weather

Of course, we never measure or

Number our waists, our round gowns being all feather

2009-01-10T12:17:00.000-05:00

River and Otter

There’s a river that hugs my town
On one side up and
One side down.
It’s like a slide that curls around.
I wish I could go for a boat ride!
There’s a path by the river
Where I learned about otters.
Maybe they’re there.
I’d like to find one,
I’d like to be kind to one.
I heard of a teacher
Who had an otter as a pet.
That’s nuts,
her house must have been all wet!

2009-01-07T16:57:00.004-05:00

Bad Weather

The streets are quiet and the schools are closed.
Ol'man winter drizzles rock candy on roads.

The yard is covered with ice that crackles,
and there's no seed left for the hungry grackles.

Two grey and mauve doves stand plump by the gate,
Until we can get out, they'll have to wait.

I color two hills, make the snow light blue,
one house with a smoke stack, and green pine trees, two.

This winter day whispers, "wait" in the wind,
I color while mother has socks she will mend.

2009-01-06T21:21:00.002-05:00

(No title yet, just an idea for a poem)

Hoping:
I practice the violin,
Hug the wood beneath my chin.

Complaining:
If only I was better with the bow,
I could make this music flow!

Encouraging:
Music escapes from the heart's very own strings
when I give these lovely feelings wings.

2009-01-05T13:14:00.002-05:00

SHORT WEATHER REPORT

Do we have a snow day today?

That would be nice!

No, it's just a two hour delay,

because of the ice.

2009-01-04T10:11:00.007-05:00

My Dog Paul

was very large, very tall.
He had a bed that spread
from wall to wall.
He was a hound
that we found on a visit
to the pound.
He had a gentle nature.
Such a beautiful creature.
My dog Paul,
he was the best
dog of all.

SUMMER COUNT

2009-01-03T11:44:00.000-05:00

Summer Count

One golden moon early in June.

Two Chickadees feed their young without a spoon.

Three girls on bikes pass me by.

Four boys let go their kites to the sky.

Five sparrows come to the bird bath to drink

Six hands help Mama clean berries at the sink.

Seven squirrels keep shaded in the oak tree.

Eight ants dig tunnels so hard to see.

Nine fireflies seem to light up until dawn.

Ten geese dally across the lawn.

BODEGA BAY

2009-01-03T10:25:00.000-05:00

Bodega Bay

We watched the seals roll in on waves,

And gathered colored stones to make a maze.

That was a special gathering day,

The day we spent at Bodega Bay.

I was small and took your hand,

as we combed for shells in sand.

The Pelicans swooped and dove away,

That day we spent at Bodega Bay.