Poetry Friday: Dream House

Posted on April 30, 2021 by rosecappelli

I challenged myself to write a poem every day in April for poetry month, and even though I am writing this post with one day left, I’m confident that I’ll make it. During the month I wrote rhyming and non-rhyming poems, free verse, haiku, cinquain, a Magic 9, a nonet, poems with lots of questions, and poems inspired by other works. Hopefully, poetry writing has become a habit that I will continue.

I picked two poems for today. The first was inspired by a dream I had where I was in an art gallery pondering a painting of a solitary house in a hilly landscape. The second came to me as I was pulling weeds.

Dream House

The single window beckons.
I gaze at the red façade,
the light clouded in the sky
and wonder –
Who lives here?
Does she gather rocks,
tend a garden,
care for another?
Does she lead a solitary life?
Lonely, yet fulfilling?
What lies beyond that single window?
Still wondering, I move on.

Weeds

On a warm spring afternoon
even the weeds are welcoming.
Patches of creamy buttercups
like walking on sunshine,
delicate Stars of Bethlehem.
Others with poetic names –
Wild Violet,
Clover,
Hairy Bittercress.
A peek of color after the snow,
harbingers of summer’s show.

Matt at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme has the roundup for today, so be sure to visit for lots of poetry fun.

And check out the conclusion of the 2021 Progressive Poem posted by Michele Kogan at More Art 4 All.

Posted in Poetry Friday | 13 Comments

Poetry Friday: Equation Poems

Posted on April 23, 2021 by rosecappelli

I first learned about equation poems from Laura Purdie Salas’ Snowman-Cold=Puddle: Spring Equations. In this book, Laura challenges readers to look at ordinary objects a little bit differently, imagining how they may have come to be what they are, or how other things might affect them. It’s a little bit poetry, a little bit math, a little bit science, and a whole lot of fun. Laura has been posting an equation poem every day on her blog, so be sure to check out her examples. She also offers lots of resources for teachers and writers on her website.

Because of Laura, I was inspired to try a few myself.

backyard – snow = green

robins + worms = breakfast

filled feeder + migrating birds = visitors

Earlier this year we had to take down some old pines in our backyard. I tried to make it up to the birds by planting some new inkberry bushes.

backyard – pines = homelessness

backyard + inkberries = bluebird delight

Catherine at Reading to the Core has the Poetry Roundup for today.

Posted in Poems, Poetry Friday | 11 Comments

Poetry Friday: Wind

Posted on April 15, 2021 by rosecappelli

Today I’m participating in Poetry Friday.

I challenged myself to write a poem every day in April and so far I’ve been successful. Most of my poems are free verse, so I also wanted to challenge myself to try some new structures this month. In my research I came across a form called Magic 9. It appears to have been created when a poet mistakenly misspelled the word “abracadabra” leaving out the r’s. So the rhyme scheme for Magic 9 is: abacadaba

Here’s my attempt (which was harder than I thought it would be):

Wind

Wind can be a gentle breeze –
a kiss for Flower and Leaf.
Gusts soar kites above the trees
and whisper Dandy’s wishes.
A squall can anger waves in seas
or change Cloud’s fleecy form.
Wind will waltz through snow with ease
Then settle with relief –
Nature’s constant reprise.

Jama at Alphabet Soup has the roundup for today. Head over there for a poem from former UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as well as links to other wonderful poems.

Posted in Poetry Friday | 25 Comments

2021 Progressive Poem: Next Line

Posted on April 7, 2021 by rosecappelli

This is my second year of participation in the Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem. You can read more about it here. Yesterday Jan at Bookseed Studio chose Line #5:

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!

Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.

I’ll spread my joy both far and wide,

As a force of Nature I’ll be undenied.

Words like, “how can I help?” will bloom in the street.

____________________________________________________________

Jan then offered me these two lines to choose from:

A new girl alone on the playground – let’s meet! let’s meet!

or

See that child sharing grapes with a friend? (This was the line she didn’t choose from the lines offered to her).

____________________________________________________________

Both great lines that offer lots of possibilities to show kindness. I like the way this poem is playing out in rhyming couplets (at least that’s the way I see it), so I decided to keep that going:

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!
Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.

I’ll spread my joy both far and wide,
As a force of Nature I’ll be undenied.

Words like, “how can I help?” will bloom in the street.
A new girl alone on the playground – let’s meet, let’s meet!

_____________________________________________________________

So, now it’s my turn to offer two choices to Denise at Dare to Care. The new girl on the playground kept coming up in my thoughts and I wasn’t quite ready to let her go yet. I thought about offering two lines about her, but the poem could also head in a different direction. I decided to let Denise choose. Here are my offerings :

We can jump-skip together in a double-dutch round.

or

I spy Mrs. J toting grocery bags.

I’m truly honored to be a part of this wonderfully creative group. Looking forward to seeing how the poem continues! Thanks everyone.

Posted in Poems | 12 Comments

Poetry Friday: The First of April

Posted on April 2, 2021 by rosecappelli

Happy Poetry Month!

Because it’s April, I’m challenging myself to write a poem every day this month. I thought about trying to find a theme, or a direction, but in the end I just decided to let my writing go where it wants to go, noticing, observing, and trying to find poetry in the rhythm of the day. And since my OLW for 2021 is TRUST, trusting my instincts seems like a good plan.

Yesterday began gray and chilly after some particularly warm and sunny days. Was April playing a joke?

The First of April

April enters drearily,
dreamily
in a gray-white sky,
in raindrops suspended in time.
But…
in greening grass dotted with daffodils,
and in tulips begging to burst,
No fooling!
There is promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Mary Lee has the Poetry Roundup today. And I’ll be back on Wednesday with my contribution to this year’s Progressive Poem that you can follow. Check here for the daily links.

Posted in Poetry Friday | 18 Comments