Happy to be back this week for Poetry Friday!
Last week my grandkids (ages 3 and 5) were here for most of the week while my son and daughter-in-law had some vacation time. It was a glorious, filled-with-fun, loving-hugging time. In other words, exhausting! But I loved every minute learning the art of coffee filter crafts, how to build the best magna-tile tower (then put it at the end of a race track and knock it down), and how there can never be too many sprinkles on cookies.
I tried to wake extra early every morning to get a bit of writing done. My poetry group’s challenge for last month was to write a cherita. I found two great examples from Irene Latham and Charles Waters in Dictionary for a Better World, but it was harder than I thought it would be. For those of you who are new to this form, a cherita is a three stanza poem that tells a story. The one line first stanza sets the scene, followed by the second stanza of two lines, and the third with three. So it’s like a story with a beginning, middle, and end. I tried a few throughout the month and decided to share this one that I wrote last week in the voice of my granddaughter.
Sad
this morning we’re a little sad
so we covered Grammy’s cookies
with sprinkles of purple and pink
later we’ll cuddle and sing silly songs,
share new books and quiet smiles—
chase away that sad
Draft, 2023 Rose Cappelli
Tanita has the roundup today here. Be sure to stop by for some spring gardening inspiration and lots more poetry fun.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I’ve never attempted a Cherita, but I like the way the form supports clarity and simplicity. I’m also a fan of sprinkles to chase away the blues, but for my childhood, green Lifesaver were the absolute best. Thanks for sharing the joys of your week in poetry.
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Thanks for introducing me to the cherita. I’ve heard of it but never knew the rules. I like the story aspect and your story of chasing away the sad is charming.
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Chase away the sad. Oh my I feel your exhaustion. Did they sleep? When my 4 and 2 came last Friday they didn’t sleep much.
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They actually slept very well at night. 3 yr old took a nap every day but not the 5 year old. We just gave him quiet time. The day they left I had a two hour nap!
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Sweet poem, Rose. I’ve never tried a cherita before but after spending February on story poems (and because I need to catch up on the February Poetry Project challenge!) I’m going to give it a go.
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Very sweet! As my grandmother would say, you’re making memories.
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LOVE this. You and so many others that participate in Poetry Friday are just. the best grandmothers with your time and attention to the grandkids. What lucky kids to have this poem to read to their grandchildren long into a future. Well done and beautiful, Rose!
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Thank you so much, Linda.
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Here’s another note of thanks for the cherita form. I think Jone did these awhile back? But I’m auditioning ideas for a Poetry Month project and this seems do-able. It’s on the list and yours is a mentor text!
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Rose, I delighted in your description of, and your cherita about, your time with your grandchildren. Truly lovely. I got tired just reading about your visit, but I also look forward to such tiring visits of my own someday. :D
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Rose, how fun is this cherita? I love the sweet voice, and how sprinkles on cookies can help chase the sadness away. My grandson was visiting this week too, but his mom was here. (I saw you had taken a two hour nap after they left, and that reminded me: After I took them to the airport yesterday, I slept for 11 hours last night!)
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I love thinking about sprinkles can chase away the sad. It’s the simple things.
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I agree – no such thing as too many sprinkles! Lovely post!
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I love that your grandchild would express feeling sad – and that they know grammas cookies with sprinkles are a cure for those blues.
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