It’s Poetry Friday!
I’ve been in a summer slump of sorts. New ideas are hard to come by, or maybe they are rushing by so fast I can’t catch them. A couple of weeks ago I suddenly realized it was my turn to choose a prompt for my poetry group. I panicked (just a little), then happily found the perfect prompt from my friend Mona. On her blog post When I Am a Poetry Box, she challenged readers to write a poem related to sandcastles. Seemed perfect for a day in June, so I offered it to my group, too. Thank you, Mona.
Photo from Pixabay
Down by the Sea
Down by the sea,
just you and just me,
digging and sculpting—
Oh, what will it be?
A home for a turtle?
A castle and moat?
A tunnel for ghost crabs?
A dock for a boat?
Whatever we make
in the sand by the sea,
we’ll stuff it with stories
from you and from me.
Draft, @RoseCappelli2026
The very talented Buffy Silverman has the round up today at her blog where she introduces us to the Queen of the Prairie. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I love your poem Rose and it sounds like a terrific start for a picture book! Thanks for taking me “in the sand by the sea,” so visual too!
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Oooh – I never thought of it as a picture book. Thanks for the idea.
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You will always be able to turn to poetry, Rose. You have a poet’s heart !
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Thank you, dear friend.
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I’ve been at the beach with my grandson. He preferred playing in the waves to building sandcastles, but I love your poem anyway. I love how the sandcastles become home to our stories.
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Thank you, Margaret.
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Love all the questions and possibilities–a charming summer poem!
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Thanks, Buffy.
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Rose, this is a sweet children’s poem that brings back memories for me, as well as the joy of just enjoying the words and rhythm aloud. A sand sculpture that “we’ll stuff…with stories” is just precious! Yes, picture book, please.
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Thanks, Denise.
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Rose, love the invitation to imagination in your poem and “stuffing” the sandcastle with stories is a delightful ending! So true, the playful hours children spend digging and making things up along the way, wonderful:)
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Here’s to relaxing when the writing slumps come and making sandcastles whenever we can!
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Rose!!! I second Michelle’s idea that this poem would make an amazing picture book!!! I just love everything, including the “Oh, what will it be?” line!!! Can’t you just see yourself reading that aloud and showing the picture, asking a read aloud group what they think the sand creation is? Your poem sparkles and that “stuff it with stories” is such an AMAZING perfect ending!!! I’m so in love with this, Rose! (and thank you for the very kind shout-out as I am so happy we are friends. Who knew all those years that this would happen when I was pulling your mentor texts books off my shelves religiously? Life is amazing!)
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Thank you so much, Mona! I’m happy to have found so many friends through Inked Voices and Poetry Friday, you among them.
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I love sandcastles. Your poem captured a moment so well. I agree, could be a picture book.
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Love those final lines, Rose, and the idea of stuffing the sandcastle with stories!
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Poetry in a sand castle, how perfect for summer! I love that the children are using their imagination, and it can be some or all of those things! Have a restful and inspiring summer, Rose :)
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I hear you on being in a slump. Going away was wonderful for me…and it broke my daily writing habit. It’s always tough getting back into the saddle once I’ve broken the habit. So, perhaps this week I will write about sandcastles! This prompt led to a delightful poem for you to write and for me to read!
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