Sunday, April 22, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 20

April 1 - Couplet      April 8 - Triolet                            April 15 - List (poem)
April 2 - Triplet        April 9 - Pantoum                        April 16 - Instruction (poem)
April 3 - Quatrain    April 10 - Quatern                        April 17 - Limerick
April 4 - Cinquain   April 11 - Retourne                       April 18 - Acrostic
April 5 - Haiku        April 12 - repeating word poem    April 19 - Q & A
April 6 - Tanka       April 13 - Paradelle                       April 20 -
April 7 - Etheree     April 14 - Villanelle                       April 21 -

Alliteration poetry can be poems where a sound is repeated within a line, or at the end of all lines or beginning of lines. There isn't really any other rules, such as meter or lines or number of lines.

Super Summer Days by Louise Nottingham
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sunshine swimming across the sky
sweeping the stars away
birds flitter flitting flying high
finding friends with whom to play
super summer days, hot and dry
simply simmering in a sunshine ballet

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 19

April 1 - Couplet     April 8 - Triolet                           April 15 - List (poem)
April 2 - Triplet       April 9 - Pantoum                       April 16 - Instruction (poem)
April 3 - Quatrain   April 10 - Quatern                       April 17 - Limerick
April 4 - Cinquain   April 11 - Retourne                     April 18 - Acrostic
April 5 - Haiku       April 12 - repeating word poem   April 19 -
April 6 - Tanka      April 13 - Paradelle                      April 20 -
April 7 - Etheree   April 14 - Villanelle                       April 21 -



The Question and Answer poem.
Ask a question - give an answer - what would be easier?

What Will You Do? by Louise Nottingham
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What will you do if it rains today?
         I will stay inside to play.
What will you do if Teddy cannot be found?
        I will look for him all around!
What will you do with peanut butter without bread?
        I will eat cereal instead.
What will you do when the clock says it's two?
        I will read a book in bed to Teddy and you.
What will you do after that?
        I will quietly close my eyes and take a nap.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 18

April 1 - Couplet      April 8 - Triolet        April 15 - List (poem)
April 2 - Triplet        April 9 - Pantoum    April 16 - Instruction (poem)
April 3 - Quatrain    April 10 - Quatern    April 17 - Limerick
April 4 - Cinquain    April 11 - Retourne  April 18 -
April 5 - Haiku        April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka       April 13 - Paradelle
April 7 - Etheree     April 14 - Villanelle

The Acrostic Poetry - not my favorite style..... I don't see the point... but it is a style and it's the one I pick for today.

Pick a word
write it vertically
start each line with the letter on the line.
and finally, the last rule is: you can just do a word a line or you can do a phrase a line.
for example JOE could be:

J olly
Opinionated
Elfish
or

JOE could be:

Jolly young man
Opinionated would describe him as well as
Elfish in stature

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Writer by Louise Nottingham
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Wings on typing fingers
Ringing bells in my ears
Infinate ideas
Tremendous fears
Extraordinary strength
Reluctantly holding in the tears

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 17

April 1 - Couplet        April 8 - Triolet                        April 15 - List (poem)
April 2 - Triplet          April 9 - Pantoum                    April 16 - Instruction (poem)
April 3 - Quatrain      April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain     April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku          April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka         April 13 - Paradelle
April 7 - Etheree       April 14 - Villanelle

It occurs to me I have not done a limerick yet! so today, that has almost gotten away, from me is a limerick.

A limerich should be humerous with a specific meter and rhyme.
Lines 1,2 & 5 should rhyme
Lines  3 & 4 should rhyme
The meter for lines 1, 2, & 5 have 3 anapestic meter (da da DAH) lengths
            with 8 or 9 syllables
The meter for lines 3 & 4 have 2 anapestic meter (da da DAH) lengths


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my attempt
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there was a black cat named midnight
who thought he was a fine kingly sight
all should kneel down
to him on the ground
or else them he would claw and then bite
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When I think of limericks I think of the lady from nantucket... ;-)
or only starting with ....
there once was...
but just to remind you...
limericks don't have to start that way....

Hickory, Dickory, Dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
And down he ran
Hickory, Dickory, Dock!


so there are a couple of ideas.... now ... go.... limerick the night away!
;-)

Monday, April 16, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 16

April 1 - Couplet       April 8 - Triolet                              April 15 - LIST POEM
April 2 - Triplet         April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain     April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain     April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku         April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka        April 13 - Paradelle
April 7 - Etheree      April 14 - Villanelle

Today's poetic style is a INSTRUCTION POEM.
I was first introduced to this poetic style in a poetry class. The book we used, CREATING POETRY by John Drury, is excellent as it not only has many explanations, but also has many poetic exercises.  The poem I am sharing with you today, is my result of exercise 20 on page 20 of that book.
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20.  Write a How-To poem, giving instructions on how to do something, or directions about how to find something.  Write it in lines, either free or metrical, and use plenty of specific details and images.  Give it a flavor, as a good recipe should stimulate the state buds.
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Sneaking Leftover Chocolate Frosting
by Louise Nottingham

look both ways
tip toe
quietly
to the
place of cold storage
look around
quietly
with your hand on
the handle
pull
to open
and remove
the desired treat
use your clean finger to swirl on some sweetness
and then
place your finger,
your sweet finger,
into your mouth,
between your tongue and pallet
and let the sweet chocolate melt there
until your finger is again clean
quietly
look both ways
sneak out of the room

Sunday, April 15, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 15

April 1 - Couplet          April 8 - Triolet
April 2 - Triplet            April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain        April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain       April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku            April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka           April 13 - Paradelle
April 7 - Etheree         April 14 - Villanelle

The poetic style I have chosen for April 15th is  a LIST POEM.
This poetry style can be the easiest or you can make it complicated. I prefer somewhere in the middle.
The easiest would just to open a draw and write down what's in it. A list.
it's how it's arranged that gives it the poetic form.
Or you can word  your list with meter and rhyme.
I prefer a list with some repeating words to tie the list together.
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I wrote and posted the following poem
January 11, 2010
and it is a poem that has gotten the most reads
and comments.... so I think I will just repost it for today!
It is one of my favorites...
I hope you like it also!
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Eating Healthy According to “They Say”


One apple to keep the doctor at bay
One half a cantaloupe is okay
One avocado for some healthy fat
One tomato for pretty eyes that bat
Two large green salads with oil and vinegar
A couple of bananas my appetite to deter
One bowl of soupy soy milk and flax seed
One serving of fish will be tasty indeed
A serving of fresh brocoli at dinner time
A cup or two of baby carrots would be fine
These are the things they say I should eat
To keep myself healthy happy and sweet

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 14

April 1 - Couplet       April 8 - Triolet
April 2 - Triplet         April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain     April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain     April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku          April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka         April 13 - Paradelle
April 7 - Etheree       April 14 -

The poetic style I have chosen for April 14th is Villanelle.
This is another FRENCH poetry style using repetition.
I wonder if I have some French Poet's blood in my family tree???
The rules to this style are as follows:
19 lines long
    5 stanza's of 3 lines each (triplet)
    last stanza of 4 lines (quatrain)
Rhyme scheme
   uses 2 rhymes through out AbA, AbA, AbA, AbA, AbA, AbAA
Meter
   isn't required but might come naturally because of the repeating lines

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Example by Dylan Thomas'
"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night."
****************************************
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of
day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning
they
Do not go gentle into that good
night,

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green
bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its
way,
Do not go gentle into that good
night,

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be
gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I
pray.
Do not go gentle into that good
night,
Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.

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I will attempt this style,
though I will target simpler wording
****************************************

butterflies flitter and fly
on a sunny breeze
floating gently by

thirsty eyes, mouths dry
gasping they sneeze
butterflies flitter and fly

to music they sigh
buzzing go the bees
floating gently by

dark clouds float high
with little rain they tease
butterflies flitter and fly

blue peaking through the sky
they rest on rose bush leaves
floating gently by

thier beauty reflects in my eye
watering the flowers so to please
butterflies flitter and fly
floating gently by
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that was hard!
but not too hard.... I tried.... now you try!

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 13

April 1 - Couplet           April 8 - Triolet
April 2 - Triplet            April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain         April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain        April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku             April 12 - repeating word poem
April 6 - Tanka             April 13 -
April 7 - Etheree           April 14 -

The poetic style I have chosen for April 13th is Paradelle and in my humble opinion, the most difficult of repeating line poems. But that is just my opinion, and you might find that you really like the style.
Let's find out! The following are the directions:
The poem consists of 4 stanzas of 6 lines each.
In the first 3 stanzas
    line 1 & 2 are repeated
    line 3 & 4 are different from lines 1 & 2 but repeated also
    line 5 & 6 use only the words from lines 1 & 3 - no other words used
the last stanza of 6 lines
    uses only the words from lines 5 & 6 of the first 3 stanzas - no other words used!
**************************************
(perhaps it's not as hard as it is complicated!)
**************************************
**************************************
My attempt at a Paradelle poem
**************************************

Little butterflies flitter
Little butterflies flitter
High and into the sky
High and into the sky
Butterflies into the sky
Flitter little and high.

Ladybugs dance dainty
Ladybugs dance dainty
On pink rose petals
On pink rose petals
Ladybugs on pink rose
petals danty dance.

Catapillers munch thier way
Catapillers munch thier way
Up the flower stem
Up the flower stem
Catapillers up thier flower
stem munch the way.

Butterflies and Ladybugs 
Flitter dance into the sky
Little flower stem high.
Catapillers on petals danty
mMnch the way
Up thier pink rose

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that was my Paradelle poem torture
I mean attempt.
Actually  I think with practice this
would get easier and might even be fun!
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YOUR TURN TO TRY!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 12

April 1 - Couplet       April 8 - Triolet
April 2 - Triplet        April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain     April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain    April 11 - Retourne
April 5 - Haiku
April 6 - Tanka
April 7 - Etheree

I don't know what this is called, but my friend and children' author, Karen Kirchel, have done these for a few years.... while the #of lines is up to you, I shoot for 10 lines myself.
This is a repeating word poem.
Each line should have 3 words
Repeat the last two words on the next line and add a word.

It's a fairly easy poetry style and I am a bit rushed today, so it works for me!
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My 3-word poem
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blue birds fly
birds flying high
flying high, soaring
high soaring dreams
soaring dreams unlimited
dreams unlimited multiply
unlimited multiply thoughts
multiply thoughts share
thoughts share love
share love everywhere

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see how easy that was!
Now you try!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH DAY 11

April 1 - Couplet         April 8 - Triolet
April 2 - Triplet           April 9 - Pantoum
April 3 - Quatrain       April 10 - Quatern
April 4 - Cinquain      April 11 -
April 5 - Haiku
April 6 - Tanka
April 7 - Etheree

For today, another repeating line poem from the French renaissance period, the Retourne.
I am not sure if I like this poetry the best, but it's not the worst! And it's not really that hard.   It's almost like presenting a speech. You write the first of four stanzas of a quatrain. The each of the next stanzas will start with a line for the first stanza.

so stanza 2's first line will be the second line of stanza 1
so stanza 3's first line will be the third line of stanza 1
so stanza 4's first line will be the fourth line of stanza 1

Also, for me the hardest part is making sure each line has the 8 syllables.
Thankfully, as with the other repeating line poems, there doesn't need be a meter or rhyme, however, if rhyming in metered time works for you,
then for me it is fine! ;-)  (rather.. for me the rhyming makes it easier!)


For me, I have to think about the whole poem first.
Picking out three things to be the first lines of the last 3 stanzas
and that, for me is the hardest part done!
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this is my attempt at a Retourne
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Under the tree in my back yard
Squirrels scurry and run around
Flowers burst into pretty blooms
And I relax all afternoon

Squirrels scrurry and run around
Looking for nuts on top the ground
Chatting with each other about
What they have so luckily found

Flowers burst into pretty blooms
Perfuming softly the clean air
With a beautiful sweet scent that
Nothing else can ever compare

And I relax all afternoon
with glass of tea stirred with a spoon
a paperback to make me swoon
I do so love these afternoons

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There...
that wasn't so bad!
In fact I quite liked it!
Now you try!