Imagine the Possibilities

Later this month my grandson will celebrate his third birthday, so I’ve been working on his poem. I got the idea of writing a poem for each of my grandchildren’s birthdays from a friend who has been writing poems for her grandchildren for years. I think about something special that we did together, or something I noticed about them, or really anything that might have meaning in years to come. This year the pandemic has kept us apart more than we’ve been together, and on those special times when we do get together we are limited in our activities. But one thing we always do is take a walk. Alex loves to be outside and explore nature. He delights in showing us his neighborhood and the things he has discovered, and he is fascinated by drains. So today I’m sharing the poem I wrote for Alex’s third birthday.

Around the Block

Let’s take a walk
around the block
and see what we can see.

Pick up a stick,
a bloom,
a stone –
a treasure to take home.

Wonder what’s
inside that drain –
leaves,
or mud,
or bugs?

Take my hand
and we will learn
together,
you and me.

Buffy Silverman has today’s Poetry Roundup here where you can find a fabulous interview with Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell, plus a chance to win a copy of Hop To It: Poems to Get You Moving. As always, there will be links to lots and lots of wonderful poems.

With Thanks

This week Margaret Simon challenged writers to think about gratitude with the beautiful photo of the magnolia blossom on her blog. Over at the Sharing Our Stories community, gratitude was also the theme of the invitation to write. So I started making a mental list of the things I am most grateful for and appreciate. Even though getting together with family is different now, the family is there. Even though the world feels a bit different now, we are all still connected. Even though we may have to look closer, there is much to appreciate and be thankful for. I let Margaret’s photo guide me as I wrote.

With Thanks

Like a flower bud,
I hold
secrets of the heart.
As each petal unfurls,
let me sing with thanks
for family
for faith
for hope
for peace.

Today’s Poetry Friday Roundup is with Suzy Brisson at The Poetry Garden.

Happy Thanksgiving.

HOP TO IT: Poems to Get You Moving by Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell is a gem of a book! And I feel so honored to be included and in the company of such wonderfully talented poets. I’ve had so much fun spreading the word about this book and participating in a couple of Zoom gatherings.

After I came across the call for submissions and what Janet and Sylvia were looking for, I started thinking about the many classrooms I worked in over the years. Often when I would go in to do a whole-class lesson, the teacher would greet me then say something about helping the kids get their wiggles out first. A quick song or chant with movement would follow. So when I came up with “wiggle” and “jiggle” I put them together for my first stanza.

Can You Wiggle Like a Worm?
by Rose Cappelli

Can you wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Like a worm, worm, worm?
Can you jiggle, jiggle, jiggle
As you squirm?

Can you paddle, paddle, paddle
Like a dog, dog, dog?
Can you hop, hop, hop
Like a frog?

Can you climb, climb, climb
Like a cat, cat, cat?
Can you flap, flap, flap
Like a bat?

Wiggle, jiggle,
Paddle, hop,
Climb, flap,
STOP!

You can order HOP TO IT at QEP Books here. Robyn Hood Black is hosting a Hop To It blog tour today along with Poetry Friday here. Thanks, Robyn, for hosting.

Last night I attended a Philadelphia Orchestra concert…virtually. It wasn’t the Kimmel Center, and the sound quality may not have been quite as grand, but it was so enjoyable. Of course it helped that they performed one of my favorite symphonies, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4 (“Italian”).  I marveled at the sound, the close ups of the musicians, the care and concern for everyone’s safety. And I was inspired to write.

The Orchestra
by Rose Cappelli

In an empty hall,
melodies
rise above masks,
bend around barriers.

Musicians follow
with precision,
with passion.

Prompting joy,
Prompting love,
Prompting peace.

Thanks to Linda Baie at Teacher Dance for hosting this week’s Poetry Friday. Be sure to stop by for some Halloween fun!