Z is for Zebra, Zero, Zed, Zzz

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.  Today we're on the letter Z.  How sad!  We are at the end!  But I'll still be here.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104.  In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter.  It isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with where the letter is found!
You can check out my other posts listed on the side.  Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

I said at the beginning that as the rate I was going, I might have 26 poems for Z.  Fortunately, I don't!  I do have 5 though.  And that's quite enough for today!
Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might put these together into a book? I'd like to do that, and maybe add some extras for some of the letters, or just edit it down to just one per letter.  Any ideas on which way is best?  Suggestions?  Encouragements?  H-h-e-l-p?

Font: Zapf Dingbats

Taxgedo Theme: White on Black - which seemed better than the Zing theme I could 

have used that was a greenish and yellowy theme.  No, not right for zebra.

Poetry Style: ZaniLa Rhyme

The ZaniLa Rhyme, a form created by Laura Lamarca. The rhyme scheme is abcb, 

with a syllable count of 9/7/9/9. Line 3 contains an internal rhyme and is repeated in 

each odd numbered stanza. Even stanzas contain the same line but reverse the 

internal rhyme.  It has a minimum of 3 stanzas. 

Zebra Stripes 

Zebra on the plain with stripes of white
Stripes so light against the dark
White and then black, lined up front to back
Your fashion is so formal and stark.

Zebra on the plain with your black stripes
Your stripes clearly meant to show,
Lined up front to back, white and then black
Repeating stripes march row after row.

Which do you have white stripes or black?
Alternating colors flash
White and then black, lined up front to back;
At least your two colors do not clash!

© 2012, Donna JT Smith 

Learn about zebras here. 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Zero

You're my hero

You make little numbers big

And the bigger numbers small

Depending on which side

Of the deciwall

You fall. 

© 2012, Donna JT Smith 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Zip zap zing
Who says z's are not the thing
To make a poem sing?
Zombie, zilch, zits
These are just the pits,
But zooming, zesty, zealous
make plainer words
Quite jealous.
And then you always have
The z that's in the middle
Wizard, lizard, drizzle.
Pizza, razzed and fizzle
And if that's not enough, friend
You have them at the end then
Like whiz and fizz and jazz
Which give this poetic spaz
 Some dazzling razzmatazz! 

 © 2012, Donna JT Smith

 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
 

Zed

is in my head

And I cannot deny it

Z will always be

The sizzle when I fry it. 

© 2012, Donna JT Smith  
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Catching a fewZZZZzzZZzzzz

Clutch, net

Glean, get

Harvest, nab

Gather, grab

Land, snap

Gain, trap

Snag, swoop

Snare, scoop

Hold, seize

Pluck, tweeze

Collect, snatch

Corral, catch-ing Zzzzzz’s

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

And zis is zee end until negzt Aprilz event. 

Time to catch those z's.

I will still be blogging.  Minimum blog time: Tuesdays and Fridays. 

 Never on a Sunday, unless I wrote it ahead and scheduled it. 

Oh, but I'll read you also on May 7th, our A to Z reflection day!

Y is for Yellow Yadu

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.  Today we're on the letter Y.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104.  In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter.  It isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now!  But you can check out my other posts listed on the side.  Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might put these together into a book? I'd like to do that, and maybe add some extras for some of the letters, or just edit it down to just one per letter.  Any ideas on which way is best?  Suggestions?  Encouragements?  H-h-e-l-p?

 yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Tagxedo Theme: Yellow Finch
Font: Yanone Kaffesatz Bold
Poem Form: Yadu

The yadu (also spelled ya-du and yatu) is a Burmese form of poetry which consists of up to three stanzas of five lines. The first four lines of a stanza have four syllables each, but the fifth line can have 5, 7, 9 , or 11 syllables. A yadu should contain references to the seasons.
It has a climbing rhyme. The rhyme is on the fourth, third, and second syllables of both the first three lines and the last three lines.
Example of the rhyming pattern:
---A
--A-
-A-B
--B-
-B---


Y is for Yellow Yadu

yellow sun floods
the field buds bright
in mud of spring
the birds sing of
the bling of yellow dandelions

hovering blue
above new green
a few clouds fluff
not the stuff or
enough to threaten a rain

yellow, blue, green
paint the scene and
spring’s sheen of dew
shimmers truly
on newly erupted dainty, yellow dandy-heads

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

 yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Okay, that wasn't the easiest pattern to follow.  Yowza.  You should try it.  I dare you!  It is fun when you finally get the rhyming locked into the correct syllable on the correct line, with the right number of syllables...oh, and then make sure it has a season theme, and then of course, be about the Y word... All this just after you've suddenly remembered that you haven't done this letter yet and it is 11:45 pm the night before and you have a grandson arriving in about 15 minutes from PA, and there's a shower to go to tomorrow and you want to make a trip to Friendship to see Gull Haven and so there will be no time on Saturday to write anything.  
Can you tell by the rambling, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson?  

They just texted me and said they were about 6 miles away.  

So good night, Y'all!  

Whoops! 

Yea! 

They're here! 

Give me that grandbaby!

 You are my sunshine.

X is for X

Font: Hoefler Text 

Tagxedo Theme: SoapboX Parade - a word with an X

Poetry Form:  (Extreme) Shape poem - the shape of the letter X!

And even though the letter x is not at the beginning of the words, you would need the letter x to write this poem:

X is for X
 

          Watch how this                                   extraordinary fox

             Examines  how                               to exit this box.

               He tripped a trap                         with his hi-jinx,

                  And calls for help                  from Mr. Lynx.

                     The extra help is                not  enough

                      This box it seems          is really tough.

                       Exhaustion requires    an extra hand.

                        Who’s the strongest  in the land?

                         Here comes the famous Mr. Rex

                         His excellent muscles he will flex.

                            He  tries and  tries to  no avail.

                         Who can we call    that will not fail?

                       Exactly   who               can  extricate

                    This fox from his               box-toxic fate?

                 Extremely adept                     with  an   ax

                Now he’s called                          on  Mr.  Max,

              Who finally fixes                             this  fox’s  fix

            Before the  clock                                 tick tocks to six.

          Once exasperated                                   to  the extreme,
       He’s home relaxed                                       and ready to dream.

                                                                                      XXXxxxx....YYYyyyy.... ZZZZzzzz

                                                                                                                                                zzz

                                                                                                                                                    zz

                                                                                                                                                       z

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

W is for Whale, Wow and Wubble-you!

Font: Webdings - Yes, I thought that would be funny!  You can't read what I wrote, can you?  You need a webding translator, hah!  Maybe I didn't even write whale words this time!  How would you know?  Extra points for anyone who can read one and tell me where it is and the color (so I know you didn't just cheat and guess!).
Tagxedo Theme: Wonderful Tirzah
Poem Form: Waka - or Tanka ("short poem") is a type of classical Japanese poetry, earlier known as waka ("Japanese poem").  It consist of five units usually with the following pattern:
5-7-5-7-7. Traditionally it has no rhyme.

Waka for a Whale

giant seafarer
lumberer of the deepest
breathing watered air
traveling the salted roads
at home where we cannot go

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

Information about whales here. 

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.  Today we're on the letter W.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104.  In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter.  It isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now!  But you can check out my other posts listed on the side.  Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

An Acrostic for Wow

Wonderful
Or
Weird


Weighty
Or
Wild

Whispered
Or
Wailed

Wistfully
Or
Woefully

Willfully
Or
Wonderingly

Wow!

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Wow!
Three letters to go
Only X, Y and Z!
Though the letter flow
Will soon come to a stop,
I'm not feeling low
My poetry's blooming
And starting to grow.
I'm forever able
In wonder to crow
I've finished the race of
Thirty days ago.
Can you see my face
beginning to glow?
Wow!

©2012, Donna JT Smith

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

An informational aside for teachers of the young - as a first grade teacher, when I came to the letter W, I would sometimes call it "wubble -you" and sometimes "double v" (pronounced as the French letter).  The former, I would use when we wanted the sound for w, as in many cases they would say /d/ as in "double" as the sound made by W.  They, of course, would laugh and protest my incorrect name for W, but would forever remember the sound for W.  "Oh, yeah, wubble-you!"
And when we were writing it, I would use "double v". They would protest and correct me again.  But I would point out that it really looked more like a double v to me than a double u! It was fun, and they remembered those funny ways of learning W's sound and appearance.  Besides, I just like antagonizing them to be silly, as I protested just as loudly to them, that the way they wanted it to be said or written just didn't make sense to me either!
Isn't Wubble-you a fun letter!

V is for Valley

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.  Today we're on the letter V.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104.  In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter.  It isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now!  But you can check out my other posts on the side.  Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab A to Z Participants!

Font: Verdana
Tagxedo Theme: Vague Butterfly
Poetry Form: Visual
The visual arrangement of text, images, and symbols to help convey the meaning of the work. Visual poetry is sometimes referred to as a type of concrete poetry.

Read more about 55 Types of Poetry Forms here.
I used the syllable pattern of 8/5/3 to create the ups and downs of the edges of the poem...maybe valleys and mountain shapes?  Yeah, squint if you have to .

If You Can See the Valley

A valley lies between two hills
Amongst the shadows
And hushed chills.

The question posed to me is "why?"
If not for valleys
There's no high.

With valleys come the soaring heights
Of mountaintops with
Fuller sight.

With nothing higher to ascend
We would not fully
Comprehend.

The beauty of those valley lows,
The deep and dark from
Which we rose.

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

U is for Umbrella

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.  Today we're on the letter U.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104.  In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter.  It isn't so easy with these last letters, so I'm getting creative with where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now!  But you can check out my other posts on the side.  Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab A to Z Participants!

Font Style: Euphemia font - sorry, it has a "u" and is pronounced "you" at the beginning!
Tagxedo theme: You Make my Day - again, the first word has a "u" in it and the word "you" is for "u"!
Poetry Form: Eulogy - okay can you guess why I did a Eulogy?  Yes, there were no real u forms of poetry.
A little understanding, please, unless you can come up with unuther way I could have dun it!

Parapluie Eulogy

You had a handle,
Like a crook,
On being
A sharp shooter;
A wash and wear
Kind of dresser;
A runner extraordinaire,
Straight stretcher,
Strong ribbed,
Openly protective.
Ready to spring into action.
You were top notch
From your tip cup
To your open cap.
You silently and smoothly
Came to my rescue
Day after dismal day,
Even a brolly in the sun.
I tip my ferrule to you,
It is finally the end,
My drear friend,
U inside out
Umbrella.

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

Click on the linked words to get definitions and a labeled image of an umbrella's parts!

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Us - an acrostic

Usually unusually

Satisfied with life

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

I couldn't leave us out of it...

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

T is for Turtle

Font: Little Trouble Girl

Theme: Timothy

Poem type: Triolet - A triolet consists of 8 lines.  The 1st, 4th and 7th lines repeat, and the 2nd and 8th repeat also.  the rhyme is ABaAabAB, with the uppercase letters being the repeated lines.

T is for Turtle

That turtle with the stripy legs

With shell to pull her head into

Digs a hole and lays her eggs

That turtle with the stripy legs.

Swims in ponds above the dregs

Tortoise is the next of kin to

That turtle with the stripy legs
With shell to pull her head into.

© 2012, Donna J.T. Smith

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Turtles tuck their heads into the shell upon their backs
The snail does the same thing, too, but four feet is what he lacks.

Turtle have hard scutes that keep his inner body safe
So as he scoots on rocks and sand his tummy will not chafe.

Peering up from deep below the light shell blends with bright
Looking down the dark shell is as water dark as night

Faster than a poky snail, but slower than the hare,
If you look away and back, the turtle is still there.

I want one as a pet, "Mom, can I keep this little fella?"
"Sorry, dear, but Google says that they have salmonella."

© 2012, Donna J.T. Smith

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Check here for turtles and salmonella.

Bonus: Little C

A very dear friend has just had her third baby.  She has become my friend through my daughter, and I enjoy her company and her family very much.  She has been like another daughter to me, and as time has gone on, just as with my true daughter, an adult peer friendship has developed.  And so, I feel much like a grandmother to her children, and especially this new life so close in age to our first grandchild.  I wrote this poem for this new life.  Such a special time of new beginnings lately.  It makes my heart want to burst with love, and it brings tears of joy to see these lovely ladies, once tea party friends, become such wonderful mothers.

To Little C.

Beautiful girl
without a curl
except
your butterfly lashes,
where are you going
in this world?
Who will you come to be?
We are anxious to see.
But if I could,
I’d delay
that "someday",
And I’d keep you,
Little C,
by me!

S is for Squirrel

Font: SF Slapstick Comic
Tagxedo Color Theme: Slow Motion
Poetry Form: Sedoka

The Sedoka is a poem that does not rhyme.  It is made up of two three-line stanzas with the
syllable counts: 5/7/7, 5/7/7.  A Sedoka may address the same subject from different perspectives.


S is for Squirrel

Upside down hanger
Seed stealer at bird feeders
Home wrecker in the attic

Selfish protector
The first to complain loudly
And warn about intruders

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I watched

through the kitchen window,

the red squirrel,

like a dog with a tug toy, 

head low

jerking to and fro

her back legs braced

strong jaws clenched

her whole body straining,

ripping at the

loosened fabric

of an old tarp
that no longer protected
the long neglected mower.

The stubborn fibers
 at long last surrendered
to the zealous squirrel.
She joyfully popped down
to the ground,

her mouth stuffed overfluffed
with extravagance for

the newborns' nest.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

I'm writing poems through the alphabet, for 4 to 104 for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Visit other A to Z Bloggers by clicking on the tab at the top of the page, and selecting a blog to visit.  Happy hopping!

R is for Rooster

Tagxedo Color Theme: Red Tops
Imported Font to Tagxedo: Times New Roman
Poetry Format: Rondeau = a French poetry form of 15 lines of three stanzas: a quintet (5 lines), a quatrain (4 lines), and a sestet (6 lines). Its rhyme scheme is: aabba aabR aabbaR.
Lines 9 and 15 are short, made up of a refrain (R) being of a phrase taken from line one. The other lines are longer and all of the same metrical length.

R is for Rooster

He rouses us from sleep
His mission is to keep
The neighborhood awake;
With crowing he will wake
Us from our slumber deep.

Without a yawn or peep
To bedroom door I creep
His crow I cannot take
Rousing us

The stairs seem pretty steep
When I am half asleep
There is a lot at stake
This rooster needs a shake
This creep’s in trouble deep!
Rousing us

© 2012, Donna JT Smith

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

R is for Rhinoceros

It is just too preposterous
To think a rhinoceros
Could be easily led
by his rhinocer-head.

It would be much too dangerous
And way too adventurous
Not to stay very clear
to his rhinocer-ear.

If it wasn’t so thunderous
It might seem quite humorous
When he snores in his doze
with his rhinocer-nose.

He is clearly not acerous  (a seer’ us)
So we don’t want him near us
I wish he hadn't worn
his big rhinocer-horn.

And because he’s so ponderous
And not really fond of us
He might step on his foes
with his rhinocer-toes.

He might seem very treacherous
But he eats asparagus
You’d not be a sweet treat
at his rhinocer-feet.

So don’t be afraid of us
Says old Mr. Rhinoceros
But just stay far away
while we rhinocer-play.

©Donna JT Smith, 2012

Q is for Queen, Quilt and Quatrain

Tagxedo Font: ClassizismAntiqua
Tagxedo Theme: Quiet Morning
Poetry Form: Quatrain - A Quatrain consists of four lines of verse with a rhyming pattern.  Examples of some possible rhyming patterns are:
#1) abab
#2) abba -- envelope rhyme
#3) aabb
#4) aaba, bbcb, ccdc, dddd -- chain rhyme

Q is for Queen

She wears a crown and fancy clothes
And strikes a very regal pose.
A queen requires you genuflect
To her it shows your true respect.

Don’t make fun or disrespect her
Bow down like a hem inspector.
If your behaviour’s deemed as good
Her Highness may bestow knighthood.

She rules the kingdom as a king
And wears the royal ruby ring
She has a splendid robe of furs
And everything she sees is hers.

With diamonds, silver, emeralds, gold,
She has more wealth than she can hold.
Her servants bring her what she needs,
And gardeners will keep out weeds.

She has a bed ornately carved;
And one could hardly say she's starved
She eats the finest foods around;
Her stuff’s the best that can be found.

When she goes riding through the land
Her subjects flock at every hand.
The people love her very much
And yearn for just a glimpse or touch.

It might be fun to be a queen,
Except I’d rather not be seen.
Though I would like to wear a crown,
I’d take it off to go to town.

©2012, Donna JT Smith

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Q is also for Quilt

A Quilt Quinzaine

Quinzaine come from the French word qunize, meaning fifteen. A quinzaine is an unrhymed verse of fifteen syllables.   There are three lines with seven syllables in the first line, five in the second and three in the third line (7/5/3). The first line is a statement. The next two lines ask a question relating to that statement.

You warm me on winter nights.
Whose pieces gave you life?
Is this love?

©2012, Donna JT Smith

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

P is for Pear and Popcorn

Okay, this was not as easy as it seemed it would be.  I should have stuck with the Pantoum like I'd planned!  But here's the Palindrome Poem for Pear, anyway.  I hope you like it more than I do!  Besides, I had this post all ready to publish, but when I checked it last night, it had vanished.  Not good.  I had the Pear poem saved in a Pages document, so that was okay (except that I didn't like it, so I rewrote it), but the Popcorn one I'd written directly in the blog, so didn't have a copy.  I rewrote that too...all at 11:45ish pm.  Gotta be more careful with my stuff!


Tagxedo Color Theme: Pi Palette
Tagxedo Font: Paper Cuts 2
Poem format: Palindrome -

A palindrome, is a word, phrase, verse, sentence, or even poem that reads the same 
forward or backward. 

The carefully placed words form a phrase or sentence, whether it is read forward or backward.  

Pear,
sweet and yellow
fruit, ripe and juicy,
eating for enjoyment,
...mmm...
enjoyment for eating
juicy and ripe fruit,
yellow and sweet,
pear

©Donna JT Smith, 2012

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Apple, pumpkin, banana or berry
I like pie.
Pecan, squash, chocolate or cherry
I love pie.
Put on some ice cream
Or serve it with cheese
Pile on the whipped cream
I'll say "thank you" and "please".
If you want to know how long is a mile
Just look at me and measure my smile.
I adore pie.

©Donna JT Smith, 2012

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

And here's a Popcorn Acrostic...all my P brain can handle right now.

Puffy kernels
Of
Perfectly popped
Crunchiness, needing
Only butter and salt for
Relaxing
Nighttime nibbling.

©Donna JT Smith, 2012

O is for Onions and Osprey

I'm more than half-way through the alphabet with poems in alphabetical order, for kids of all ages...and today is brought to you by the letter O.  There are not too many onions poems out there, so I thought I'd write a couple o' onioems.


Tagxedo Theme: Ocean Five
Tagxedo Font: Cairo - okay, it has an O at the end...I couldn't upload the font I wanted.
Poem style: Ottiva Rima - This is written in 8 line octives of 10 or 11 syllables in each line.   The pattern of rhyme is abababcc.

I love you onion white and odorous,

Though lacking character when you're oblate.

Many people may think you odious,

As you lie peeled and sliced upon my plate.

But how your power becomes obvious

In this sliced up, finely diced up pungent state.

Your overreaching flavor can make me smile,

As I am eating and I'm crying all the while.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Onions

Onions always make me cry

But I don’t know why

They don’t hurt my feelings

But they pick on my eyes

They don’t pinch my fingers

Nor step on my toes

But still bring me to tears,

Turn my nose to a hose.

I like them on hamburg

I love them in salad

I adore them on hot dogs

I could sing them a ballad.

So why do they torture

And why make me cry?

I love them to pieces,

But they don’t even try

To give me back love

Nor be my friend!

Is it because always

It’s the same in the end?

They always get chewed

And then I will swallow,

And soon they will drown

With cold milk that will follow.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Osprey

Hello, how was your winter?

Where did you stay?
Did you get enough to eat?

 It was a long flight but

Jamaica was warm,

and I had plenty of fish to eat.

And you?

I stayed in the Florida Keys;

I was not as warm

as I've been in the past,

but the fishing,
ahhh,
delightul! 

When did you get home?
I hope
you have not been
waiting long.

I arrived yesterday.
Storms blew me off course

and delayed my flight

by days.

Such a long winter
and long, lonely flights,
but

it's good to be back home

together again.

This nest is a mess of

 dried seaweed
and old feathers.

It needs a new layer
of sticks

and fresh seaweed.

For soon three eggs

will need to be warmed.
And there will be

new feathered young
to feed

and
teach to fish.

And before long they, too,
will find mates

and take
separate winter vacations. 

And in spring,

they will once again
return to each other

here by the

water.

Are you hungry?

Yeah.

Me, too! 
What do you say
we put spring cleaning off
for today
and go out for
fish?

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

Watch the osprey near us in Maine...if they are home at the time anyway!  Check back later if they are out fishing when you peek into their nest.  They have eggs there right now, so there should be someone there most of the time.  I think I saw 3 eggs this morning when the parents left to go fishing.
Remember, it's dark at night!  So plan accordingly.
There's a dumb ad that plays for a short while, but after that it's all osprey!
Go here: The Taste of Maine Osprey Web Cam

Oh, dear, me!

    Could this be

        A to Z
           Poetry
              OCD?

 © 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

N is for Nine

 

Font: Chunkfive

Theme: Necktie

Poetry form: Naani: Naani originated in India, and consists of 4 lines, the total lines consists of 20 to 25 syllables.

N is for Nine

Three times three,

Four plus three plus two,

A dime less a penny spent,

Or what it takes to make a baseball team.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

No, Please!

No, I don't want carrots,
No, I don't want liver,
No peas, no, please, no peas -
 They make my stomach quiver.

No, I don't like meatloaf,
No, I don't like beets,
No beans, no, please, no beans -
I'll turn as white as sheets!
 
 No, I won't eat broccoli,
No, to corn on the cob,
No cheese, no, please, no cheese -
It makes me start to sob!

But yes, I'll eat a hot dog,
And, yes, to pickles, too,
Yes, pie, yes, please, yes, pie -
And I'll even share with you!

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

One day

when I was nine

I got a camera

and I

took pictures

with that Brownie

and then

I was

able to see

just how great

I looked with

my bike.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

M is for Mouse

Font: MKorsair

Theme: Miaka

Poetry Form:  Minute Poetry - Minute Poetry has 12 lines of 60 syllables written in iambic meter. Its format is 3 stanzas of 8,4,4,4 syllables each.  The rhyme is aabb, ccdd, eeff.

M is for Mouse

A tiny creature is a mouse

Who likes a house

And eats a crumb

To fill its tum.

It has a tail and tiny toes

A little nose,

Big eyes, some fur,

Small ears for sure.

It stays away from cats and hawks

Ignores door locks

Lives in the wall

Avoiding all.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM 

I am a mouse

Why don't you like me

In your warm house?

I am so small

I don't take much space

In your big wall.

I am quiet

I make soft noises

Not a riot.

When food's in sight

I don't take too much

Just a wee bite.

I can run fast

But I'm very careful

As I scoot past.

So won't you please

Give me a chance here?

I'll give you cheese!

 ©2012, Donna J.T. Smith

L is for Leaf

L is for Leaf

Font: Lino Chisel

Tagxedo Theme: Limeade on Ice

Poetry format: Lanturne

This poem is a Lanturne which is composed of 5 lines, with its syllable pattern being 1, 2, 3, 4, 1 for those five lines.  It gives the appearance of a Japanese lantern.

A

Green leaf

Showing its

Underside means

Rain

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

... and L is for Laughter

naturally joyful

a young child's laughter springs forth

 without being taught

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

L is for Lion, too!

Lions

Lions are big cats with manes to frame their faces
They prowl in the savanna, which a lion's favorite place is.

A lion has a loud, fierce roar - a scary, dreadful sound
Elephants and hippos hear their roars from miles around

They would like to eat a zebra or giraffe from off the plains
They drag the meal to give their cubs, and stop their hunger pains.

Mama lioness does the hunting, while papa lion guards the pride
The cub soon learns to hunt for prey along his parents' side.
 
Lions can be lazy and will purr themselves to sleep,
But watch out when they're wide awake, for they can quickly leap.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

Information about Lions

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

K is for Kangaroo

K is for Kangaroo

Font: Kwokol

Tagxedo Theme: Koi Carp

Poetry Form: Kyrielle Sonnet

A Kyrielle Sonnet is made up of 14 lines (three rhyming quatrain stanzas and  a non-rhyming couplet).
It has a repeating last line or phrase as a refrain.   Each line within the Kyrielle Sonnet has eight syllables. French poetry forms often link back to the beginning of the poem, so they may use the first and last line of the first quatrain as the ending
couplet, reenforcing the refrain of the poem. So the rhyming scheme for a Kyrielle Sonnet would be:
AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB.


Oh, marsupial with long legs,
Your baby joey sits and begs;
He’s patiently waited, meek and mild,
You need to feed your hungry child.

He wants to leave the jumping mob
A flyer needs to do her job;
Let him in out of the wild,
You need to feed your hungry child!

You’ve grazed on grass and jumped around,
But now your pouch your baby’s found;
He wants to eat, don’t make him riled,
You need to feed your hungry child.

Oh, marsupial with long legs,
You need to feed your hungry child.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Another Kangaroo Poem by me, no particular format name:

Joey in the pocket.

Joey having lunch.

Watch out for the doe

Or you'll get a punch!

Hopping to the right

Jumping to the left

Kicking up high

With a move so deft
Joey getting jostled
Jiggling all about

Careful that poor Joey
Doesn't jounce right out!
This kangaroo's a kicker;
Protective through and through.
So watch what you are doing
Or she'll be kicking you!

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Want to know more about kangaroos?  

Here's a folk tale about how the kangaroo got her pouch.

And get some fun facts about kangaroos at Interesting Fun Facts.com 

J is for Jazz and Jazzetry and Jabber!

 J is for Jazz!

Tagxedo color theme: Jus hangin
Tagxedo font: Justus
Poetry form: Jazzetry - poetry recited to jazz music accompaniment - really, I found this!  I didn't make it up.


BEFORE you read the poem, you should go to: FreePlay Music and listen to the Preview of Number 6:  Straight from the Heart the 2:19 second song there as you read the poem...for the effect of Jazzetry.  You may have to try it a couple of times to get the rhythm just right.  Wait a few seconds into the music...after the intro to start reading the poem to the music...Let me know if you got it!
I would have made it play here, but it is copyrighted and I can't just publish the music here.  You can do it though.  I know it's a lot of trouble and all, but really, once you have played the music in its own window, and had the poem beside it...you can really even sing it...get down...enjoy...sing it to your hairbrush, in the mirror...to your baby!  And I'm not giving you any more poems for J today, so you have nothing else to do anyway.  You might as well just sing it with the music. :^)  Sigh. If you don't want to play the music, then just try to sing it jazzy...jazzily?
'Cause if you don't sing it in a jazzed up fashion, it will just be a very dumb sounding poem!  So don't tell me about it.

The Jabber Baby Blues

Jabber on and on
Just to hear your song
Jabber all the day
Jabber any way

Try to make some sense
And not gibberish
Just enunciate
And it would be great

But no....

You just jabber on
Yes the whole day long
And my ears still ring
With your words and song

If you just spoke right
I would hear in spite
Of this jazz I hear
Ringing in my ear.

Jabber-gibberish
Oh, I really wish
You would learn to speak
Take those sounds and tweak

If you’d just be clear
And get older dear
Then we’d all have clues
And not sing these blues

Yes the baby blues
Won’t be done till Twos
And then you will say
No, no, nay, nay, nay

Never mind, my child
Keep on speaking wild
You can rant and scream
For I would rather dream

That I knew quite well
Any thing you’d tell
Me.

For so soon you’ll say
No, no, no, no, no
Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay!
How I dread that day...

© 2012 Donna Smith 

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ 

Jazz Facts on eHow 

I know.  I said there wasn't another poem.  I was wrong.  I didn't lie.  At the time there really wasn't another one.  But I just had this other one that floated in as I was checking my email.

Jellyfish
A bowl of Jello
With tentacles below
I see through you
You’re a drifter-through
You seem to go
With the current flow

Jellyfish
You have no nose
And you have no toes.
You lack a brain
Can you feel pain?
How do you see?
You can’t look at me.

Jellyfish
It’s a scary thing
When you use your sting
To kill a fish
For your main dish
Tentacles hold it tight
To swallow every bite

Jellyfish
You have no ears to hear
You have no bones, it’s clear
You cannot make a noise
You do not play with toys
But still you seem to be
So very free at sea.

Jellyfish
I should not touch your sting
But with my shovel I can fling
You back into the deepest blue
I’m the one who just saved you
When you get back out to sea
Will you still remember me?

© 2012 Donna Smith

I is for Ice Cream

So 4 poems for i today...take your pick!  But I pick "Ice Cream"!

Tagxedo Font: Impact
Tagxedo theme: Inequality
Poetry form: Imagery Poetry/Image Poem - Imagery intensifies the impact (hey, "Impact" again, like the font!) of the poet’s words as we are shown with words rather than the poet just telling us what he/she feels.



I is for Ice Cream

smooth
melt-in-your-mouth
sweet taste,
cold lips,
cold tongue,
head aches,
but you lick again
that shivery goodness
with crunch at the end.
A flavor-tipped
nose
makes you laugh
at the thought
of your reflection.
warm sun begins
the dripping,
slipping,
sliding
down your fingers,
running
to your wrist
sticking
to your elbow.
drippy splots
appear as dots
on your shirt
as you
savor
every last
melty, spongy
bite.
you wipe
your nose
your mouth
your fingers
your wrist
your elbow
but
not your clothes
that disclose
the close
encounter
with a
cone.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith
Overheard down at Five Islands Wharf by a tourist informing another person from away as they waited for ice cream after their boiled lobster dinner... 

"People in Maine eat ice cream ALL YEAR!"  

Yes, and your point is???  Because our point is: It doesn't melt as fast in winter. 
Our "no inside seating" Dairy Queen closes after Thanksgiving and opens again for February.  They close mostly so someone can sell Christmas trees on their lot, and so they can take a brief vacation, otherwise they'd be working 7 days a week/ 52 weeks a year.  But, not to worry, we can get our January ice cream at Friendly's in town, or at our one store in the village between the post office and the fire station.

Ice Cream Information:
History of Ice Cream
About Ice Cream
Cicada Ice Cream? 

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

Getting itchy to climb?  Get itchy after a climb?  Will you grow out of itchy?

Itchy

I started getting itchy
When I climbed the evergreen
My hands became so pitchy
That they never would come clean.

I had to climb that pine tree
With the nest up at the top
For I was getting itchy
For that egg to start to pop!

Curi-itchity won't fade
But it changes over time.
More careful ways are made
For an itchy, pitchy climb.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

When I taught first grade I incorporated sight, sound and touch to remember our short vowel sounds.  We learned and used the ASL hand sign for i and made a scratching and itch motion with our little finger on our eyebrow, saying the /i/ sound, for "itchy eye/i" to remember the sound.  Then I had them read lots of short i words...some are in here in this nonsensical poem of short i words:

Itchy i 

has lots to say,

when it can play,

in words each day.

Itchy i

is in a hill,

is in a drill,

will not sit still.

Itchy i

will flip a lid,

will trip a kid,

will slip and skid.

Itchy i

picks up a pin,

sticks to a fin,

kicks any shin.

Itchy i

did sink a ship,

did drink a drip,

did clink and clip.

Itchy i

is sipping milk,

is spinning silk,

is without ilk.

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

I don't know what this is all about...it just came out.  Sometimes you just write stuff and read it later.  Maybe it will sound good then.  I'll read this again later.

Iceberg

Bigger below than above

Layers of snow

Glacial ice

Iceberg

Bigger above than below

Layers of leaves

"Lett-ice"

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

Some good i words:

illustrative, insomnia, indigo, inherently, illogical, insightful

H is for Horse

H is for Horse

One of my favorite animals.  I've always loved horses, but had to wait until I was married to actually get a horse of my own.  I think we owned 10 at one time.  They were mostly Arabians, with a couple of Appaloosas and Quarter horse blends mixed in to keep everyone humble.

Journée de Huit - day 8

Tagxedo Theme: Happy Brights

Font: Franchise (okay, I'm fudging a bit - it has an "h" in it!)
Poetry Form: Haiku: 
A Haiku is a type of poem with three lines consisting of 5, 7, 5 syllables - 17 syllables in all.  Variations of the number of syllables seems to be fine.  But I'm sticking with the 5-7-5 format.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(a totally h haiku...)

High hooved heraldic

Hurtling highest hurdles -
Humble humans hail. 

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(favorite spring scene on the farm)

Mane and tail flowing
Streaking across fields, kicking,
Squealing, snorts of spring. 

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(Do you recognize this saying that I've rewritten in haiku format?  Hint: It was used to correct your manners when you called out, "Hey!")

Hey! Hay! Hey!

Equines and bovines

Think this is delectable -

Not so for the swine!

© 2012 Donna J.T. Smith

Scroll down for the correct, traditional saying if you didn't get it...

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

And

the Real

saying is:



 "Hay is for horses, better for cows, Pigs don't eat it, 'cause they don't know how."