Poetry Friday: Four Brown Toes

We are at the end of week one of the staycation, and it's been a lot of fun. Lots of good mom-kid time, and the imaginations have been running wild.

This morning, I looked over to see a storm bird and a flying fire lizard rising from the ground—pretty powerful imagery. Just the kind of thing my mind runs with (so don't be surprised to see something about a storm bird or a flying fire lizard in an upcoming Creativity Challenge).

So my kid-inspired poem for this Poetry Friday is...

Four Brown Toes
by Alison Pearce Stevens

What's that, you say? It's time for bed?
But I don't want to go.
Not past the chair or up the stair
I'd rather stay below.

I'll stay here on the sofa, no
my feet won't touch the floor.
There is no way, simply NO way
that you'll get me through that door.

So come and sit and read with me,
I've got my favorite book,
the one with knights and dragons,
come sit here, let's take a look.

I'd like to sit—
no, wait! Now, STOP!
You CAN'T sit over there!
He'll eat you up! I see him...
there's a MONSTER 'neath the chair!

Look there, a foot with four brown toes.
He waits for you to sit.
What ARE you doing?
DON'T REACH IN!
Oh. There's my baseball mitt.

All right, if you say so,
then I guess it's time for bed.
Just another silly monster
that was living in my head.


My blogging (and blog reading/commenting) time has been limited, since I've spent my precious computer time writing. But I'll make a special point to check out the Poetry Friday posts. You can find this week's round-up at Laura's blog Author Amok.

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Poetry Friday: What a rush

My poetry muse decided to stop by again. It's been a while, so it was nice to enjoy a cup of coffee and a little poetry-writing. The muse has apparently been visiting amusement parks while I've been working with my mystery muse, because this is what she gave me...

What a  Rush

We take our seats and hold the bar

though we're not going very far.

Off we go, with greater speed.

My hat flies off, my hair's been freed

to whip around my neck and ears...

wind's in my eyes, I blink back tears.

Up and down, around we go...

faster... faster... then we slow.

Click. Click. Click. We climb the hill.

Higher up we go, until...

car by car we clear the top.

Down we rush, my stomach drops.

We scream and yell and fly through space

then round a bend at break-neck pace.

And then we stop, the ride is done.

The roller coaster's so much fun!

This week's Poetry Friday roundup can be found at Language, Literacy, Love.

And don't forget the current Creativity Challenge—get your creative work posted one week from today (Friday, 30 July).

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Poetry Friday: Bees

I love spring. The sun, the flowers, the way everything turns green again. The world goes from shades of brown and gray to a patchwork of brilliant color, teeming with life. This was inspired by an event that took place last spring. I hope not to experience it again.

Bees

I found a bee,

and then another...

then I saw some more.

Mommy and I

counted them...

they came to ninety-four.

Most lay dead,

a few still dying...

all along the walk.

And in a nearby garden,

we could hear

some people talk.

'Bout how the flowers

looked so nice,

not one leaf had a hole.

But they never said a word

about the lives

their garden stole.

© 2010 Alison Pearce Stevens

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Laura at Writing the World for Kids.

Enjoy a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Poetry Friday: oh no, not me

My post on procrastination (or rather how NOT to procrastinate) sparked a poem. I had actually planned to write a post about Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes today, but the poem took precedence. Procrastination? Not necessarily... either one fits the bill for Poetry Friday.

Oh No, Not Me

Procrastinate? Oh no, not me.
I'll get it done, just wait and see.
But first I need to read the news,
and bake a cake and buy some shoes.
Turn on computer, make some tea.
(I'm just about to work, you see.)
I'll get on Facebook, tend the farm:
harvest crops and build a barn.
OK, that's done, it's time to write
'bout urban sprawl and urban blight...
Oh, look! I see I have a tweet.
@mariella: aren't you sweet!
Back to cities... built on grids...
Oh crap! I've got to get the kids!
The day is done. I wrote one line.
I've got a week... there's LOTS of time!

© Alison Pearce Stevens

Disclaimer: I do not know @mariella (or even if she exists), nor do I pursue any agricultural activities on Facebook. I wrote this in my head while out walking today.  That doesn't really count as procrastination, does it? I prefer to think of it as a good use of my time.

Poetry Friday is hosted by Diane Mayr at Random Noodling.

Bidding National Poetry Month adieu

Today is the last day of National Poetry Month, and I can't bid it adieu without some actual poetry. Here is a reprise from a few weeks ago (which I never actually linked to the Poetry Friday roundup that week).

I Want to Run Away

My children test my patience almost every single day.
Some days it gets so bad, they make me want to run away.
Run off to join the circus, where I'll train the dancing bear.
Or maybe to the city, to sell fancy underwear.
No, retail's not for me, instead I'll travel 'round the world.
Outracing storms and tidal waves with massive sails unfurled.
I'll go on a safari and I'll sleep up in a tree.
I'll fend off greedy pirates, search for treasure in the sea.
I'll climb upon the pyramids, go see the Taj Mahal,
commune with some orangutans and walk on China's wall.
I'll ride a Russian rocket, yes, I'll take it straight to Mars,
then further out to space to see Orion's eighty stars.
I'll travel 'round the universe, but come home when I'm tired
from all of the adventures that my children have inspired.
Copyright © 2010 Alison Pearce Stevens

Today's Poetry Friday roundup is hosted by Mary Ann Scheuer at  Great Kid Books.

Poetry Friday: I want to run away

I hope everyone enjoyed the recent holiday weekend. Easter is an extended holiday in Germany, so we had lots of good family time together. Family time is generally a good thing; even when it gets to be challenging, it has its benefits. Exhibit A: inspiration for this poem.

I Want to Run Away

My children test my patience almost every single day.
Some days it gets so bad, they make me want to run away.
Run off to join the circus, where I'll train the dancing bear.
Or maybe to the city, to sell fancy underwear.
No, retail's not for me, instead I'll travel 'round the world.
Outracing storms and tidal waves with massive sails unfurled.
I'll go on a safari and I'll sleep up in a tree.
I'll fend off greedy pirates, search for treasure in the sea.
I'll climb upon the pyramids, go see the Taj Mahal,
commune with some orangutans and walk on China's wall.
I'll ride a Russian rocket, yes, I'll take it straight to Mars,
then further out to space to see Orion's eighty stars.
I'll travel 'round the universe, but come home when I'm tired
from all of the adventures that my children have inspired.
Copyright © 2010 Alison Pearce Stevens

The myriad sources of inspiration never cease to amaze me. Certainly, I would not have started writing poetry without inspiration from my children, and their reaction to things like night lights, the stories they tell on the way home from kindergarten, and their infectious joie de vivre. The travel part of this poem was inspired by a conversation with a friend who lived in Europe before having children; she and her husband had more opportunities to travel than we have had with two little ones in tow.

Think about the sources of new ideas in your life. What inspires you?

Poetry Friday Roundup is at Paper Tigers today.

Glowing Green Eye

Poetry Friday got me into a poetic frame of mind, centering 'round monsters. I wrote it for my two little monsters and I hope others will enjoy reading it and sharing it with any little monsters they may know.

So today I give you my new poem:

Glowing Green Eye
Copyright © 2010 Alison Pearce Stevens

This thing was in my room last night.
It really gave me such a fright.
A round green eye, down by the floor.
Or was it over by the door?
I'm sure it moved.
I saw it blink.
It hid below my bed, I think.
A furry beast with scaly tail,
had just escaped from monster jail.
It searched for safety in my room
and hid out in the nighttime gloom.
And then I thought, Would they give chase?
What kind of creatures would I face?
Lanky monsters, tall and thin?
With prickly whiskers on their chin?
Or round and fat with great big teeth
and lots of scales down underneath?
Would they be yellow, green, or blue?
Striped with spots and feathers, too?
Come to get the one who'd slid
beneath my bed, where it still hid?
An army coming at my bed.
Would they get him?
Or me, instead?
I hid my head beneath the sheet
and listened for the monster feet.
Soon I heard the op'ning door
and soft feet padding 'cross the floor.
Heard Mommy say, "Sweet dreams! Good night!
"I hope you like your new nightlight!"
Then Mommy left without a sound.
The nightlight glowed, all green and round.
The monsters in my head all jeered,
then looked surprised,
and disappeared.

If you like it, please share it with others (you can use the social networking links to the right), but I ask that you please link back here and give me credit.