Poetry Challenge Day 26: Fly

I'd rise to stay...

“Fly”

If I could fly just for a day
Day would drift, I’d rise to stay
Stay and soar, glide past the night
Night would sail, sustain my flight
Flight of weeks and months and years
Years, I’d stretch my wings past fears
Fears that I could never reach forever….

Forever’s where I’d always stay
If I could fly, just for a day.

Today is the final day in  Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge. Today we were challenged to write a “Zig-Zag” poem, where each line begins with the last word from the line before. I would like to personally thank Rena for working so hard to create our challenges and inspiring us to write new poetry every day. I have learned so much about writing and poetry simply by doing. But more than anything, I have been reminded how much poetry brings me joy. So go forth, write poetry–make the world a more joyful place….

2012 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem

The 2012 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem is complete!  For those of you who are not familiar with the project, this poem was written by twenty eight different people, each contributing a single line a day throughout the entire month of April. Thank you to Irene Latham at Live Your Poem for organizing this project and a whole host of others for contributing your beautiful words.  It was fun to be a part of it and watch the poem evolve each day with unexpected twists and turns along the way. I am amazed at how cohesive the finished product reads.  What do you think?

If you are reading this,                                                            
you must be hungry.
Kick off your silver slippers,

come sit with us a spell.
A hanky, here, now dry your tears
and fill your glass with wine.

Now, pour. The parchment has secrets,
smells of a Moroccan market spill-out.
You have come to the right place, just breathe in.

Honey, mint, cinnamon, sorrow. Now, breathe out
last week’s dreams. Take a wish from the jar.
Inside, deep inside, is the answer…

Unfold it, and let us riddle it together,
…Strains of a waltz. How do frozen fingers play?
How do fennel, ginger, saffron blend in the tagine?

Like broken strangers bound by time, they sisterdance…
their veils of sorrow encircle, embrace.
Feed your heart with waltzes and spices.

Feed your soul with wine and dreams.
Humble dust of coriander scents your feet, coaxing
seascapes, crystal sighs and moonshine from your melody.

Beware of dangers along the path of truth
and beware, my friend, of too much bewaring–
strong hands cushion you, sweet scents surround you—now leap

without looking, guided by trust. And when you land
on silver-tipped toes, buoyed by joy– you’ll know
you are amazing, you are love, you are poetry—

here, you rest.
Muse. Up ahead, stepping stones speckle the stream, sturdy now.
May your words roar against the banks, your life a flood of dreams.

 

Poetry Challenge Day 25: Sweet Number Three

“Sweet Number Three”

You’ll always be sweet number three
third child of mine
you came to me
with curly locks
a sunshine face
my Golden Boy
by God’s own grace
You’re mine.
You’ll always be sweet number three.

You’ll always be sweet number three–
the one that made my life complete
the one that taught me-

Three
really is
the perfect number.

Three years
you’ve been alive today
Three thousand
kisses come your way
Three million
words that I could say….
But they wouldn’t be enough.
You’ll always be sweet number three.

Happy Birthday Sweet, Sweet, Boy! You're Three!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today we were challenged to write a poem about ourselves. I chose to write about a big, three year old, birthday boy instead. One day left in the challenge….and one poem to go!

Poetry Challenge Day 23: Wicked Bug

I can walk across your ceiling....

“Wicked Bug”

I’m a nasty, rotten crawler
I’m a vicious, wicked bug.
Slowly climbing up your wall or–
lurking curled beneath your rug.
I can walk
across your ceiling
I can sting
you on your feet
But I’ll really have you reeling,
when you find me in your sheet!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today we were challenged to write a “wicked” themed poem.  I chose to write about these wicked little bugs because we find them in our house often. I spotted the first one of the spring season, just yesterday.  *Blech*

Poetry Challenge Day 24: Happily Ever After

“Happily Ever After”

Surprise them in fine slippers....

Clap your hands
to romance.
Stomp your feet
to laughs.
Dance
in beautiful dresses.
Surprise them
in fine slippers.
Happily Ever After…..is possible.
EVERYBODY
Drink a little more champagne!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today we were challenged to write a “found poem.”  A found poem is a poem created out of chosen words and phrases from a given set of source text.  To see the source text we were given for this challenge–click over to Rena’s blog.

Poetry Challenge Day 22: A Vampire by the Campfire

“A Vampire by the Campfire”

A monster fire.....

I saw a vampire
by the campfire
roasting sausage on a stick,
Watched a mummy
fill his tummy
with melted marshmallow-ick,
Saw a witch
who had an itch
for stacking smores up to the sky,
Watched a ghoul
acting a fool
and flipping burgers ten feet high,
I peered out from my tent
and couldn’t help by think, “OH MY–
if there’s a vampire by the campfire
this vacation’s gone awry!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today Rena featured children’s writer and poet Renee La Tulippe of No Water River.  Click on over to see Renee discuss poetry and her particular affinity for penguins!

Poetry Challenge Day 21: Wind Whispers

“Wind Whispers”

Have you ever seen Wind speak in whispers?
Gentle breezes
lift butterfly wings-
slowly raising
their fine flutter-dances,
as if hoisted by Heaven’s own strings.

Flutter-dancing....

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today Rena discussed universal themes in poetry and literature.  I chose to focus on the universal theme of nature.

Poetry Challenge Day 20: Short and Tweet

Are you a tweeter?

“Short and Tweet”

Good morning faithful readers/My fellow tweeting tweeters/This poem is very short-y/Cause I only have one-forty/See?/I’m done!/#poem

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  I am not currently on Twitter but am discovering that it could be a whole lot of fun! Thank you Rena introducing me to the world of micro-poems.  And thank you for not making me subject my dear blog readers to another sonnet.  Five challenges to go, Folks…….

Poetry Challenge Day 19: Nataliean Sonnet #1

Natalien Sonnet #1

A life less scrump-chy......

How doth thou choose crunchy over creamy?
For crunchy is like a hard, pebble-chew
Lost are the silken, smooth smears a dreamy
Thou tradest them for lumps and bid silk adieu.
And crunchy cannot well spread across bread
Nor bind with sweet jelly in swirly bliss
Nor be swallowed up without lumpy dread
Nor greet thee with a silky peanut kiss.
Shall I show thee the faults of thy crunchy?
Shall I let thee get lumps in thine own throat?
Shall I let thee choose a life less scrump-chy?
Shall I let thee sail aboard the lump boat?
So long as the sun shines like a bright star,
I shall not let thee have thy crunchy jar!!!!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today we were challenged to write a sonnet……..I have nothing more to say…..

Poetry Challenge Day 18: Smooshy-Gooshy Goodness

“Smooshy-Gooshy Goodness”

Scoop-it! Spread-it! Smear-the-bread it!

Smooshy-gooshy
Slicky-sticky
Made-to-lick-y! Tasty!
Scoop-it
Spread-it
Smear-the-bread it,
perfect peanut paste-y!
Swirl-it
Whirl-it
Spoon-and-twirl it,
better butter, thicker.
Glob-it
Blob-it
Dip-and-daub it,
shiny when it’s slicker.
Sniff-it
Whiff-it
Only-if-it
trails a nutty smell-y.
Slosh-it
Squash-it
Oh-my-gosh it
tastes so good with jelly!
Smooshy-gooshy
Slicky-sticky
Made-to-lick-y! Yummy!
Scoop-it
Spread-it
Smear-the-bread it,
Get it in my tummy!

This poem was written for Rena Traxel’s A-Z Poetry Challenge.  Today we were challenged to write a poem in rhyme.  This poem is purely for fun. Make sure you read it out loud and as fast as possible.