Thursday, July 11, 2013

Habits + the Poetry Friday Roundup


At my house, summer is a time to kick, stick, and pick-- kick back and relax, stick our tongues out at deadlines, and pick some new personal projects (or at least reaquaint ourselves with some old ones).

But let's not stop there!  Without the rigors of too much homework and an overload of extracurricular activities, my hope springs eternal.  Ten unencumbered weeks is surely enough time to revisit our priorities and develop some new habits... regular exercise; more family time; children who pick up after themselves, help around the house, and keep their rooms clean?  Oh yes.  That would be nice.

Today's little ditty is about habits-- bad habits, actually.  I confess to having a couple doozies of my own (and I'm not just talking about losing my keys), but that's for me to know and you not to find out... at least not yet.

Will my children object when they read this post?  Undoubtedly.  But, you see, this is my blog, kids; you can write about my bad habits in your own blogs one day.


          Bad Habits

          When I was young I sucked my thumb
          and now I bite my nails.
          I dawdle when I shouldn’t
          and I’m prone to telling tales.

          My mother says, “Your room’s a mess!
          Your clothes are on the floor!”
          My sister shrieks, “You didn’t knock!”
          when I come through the door.

          “Raise your hand!” says teacher,
          “There are rules you must abide.”
          And Dad says if I have to fart
          to please take it outside.

          I’d like to break these habits
          but there’s one thing folks are missin’—
          the worst of all my habits
          is I simply do not listen.

          © 2008 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.


Now here's your reward for sitting so nicely in front of your computer and smiling politely at the end of my poem: THE POETRY FRIDAY ROUNDUP!   In the comments, please leave a one-line description along with a direct link to your post, and I will list below.

1. Charles Ghigna puts up the sunbrella today at Father Goose

2. At The Writer's Whimsy, Tamera Will Wissinger features her ALA Poetry Blast! experience.

3. Iphigene at Gathering Books shares an original poem about the heartbreak of a man who can never really have what his heart desires.

4. At Reflections on the Teche, Margaret Simon has a found poem from an art magazine, made especially for Linda Baie in the Poem Swap.

5. Today's trio from Diane Mayr includes an original poem about bee vision on Random Noodling; "Fishing on the Susquehanna in July" by Billy Collins on Kurious Kitty; and a quote by Norman Maclean over at KK's Kwotes.

6. Keri, at Keri Recommends, is in with a poem she wrote for Week 2 of the Poem Swap -- also for Linda Baie!

7. Laura spotlights Lord Byron's quarto of "Childe Harold" on Author Amok, while experiencing her own personal "Bridge of Sighs."

8. At Wee Words for Wee Ones, Bridget Magee has an original riddle poem that humorously tests readers' sea life knowledge.

9. Tara has summer on her mind at A Teaching Life.

10. Given the prompt "fishing," Linda Baie at Teacher Dance surprises herself with the direction this original poem takes.

11. At Check it Out, Jone has a juicy, summer-inspired poem by Janet Fagal.

12. Mrs. Bennett discusses the worlds shortest poem, "Fleas," at Used Books in Class.

13. Tabatha has poems by Alfred Kreymborg today at The Opposite of Indifference.

14. Liz Steinglass introduces us to the idea of "wordless" and "circular" haiku, with four originals on her blog.

15. At Tapestry of Words, Becky Shillington talks about writing poetry with kids, and shares a fun poem written by some super smart kiddos.

16. On Poet! Poet!, Anastasia Suen has a haiku about the all too frequent summer phenomenon, the power blackout.

17. Matt Forrest shares an original weather-themed poem on Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme.

18. At A Year of Reading, Mary Lee shares an original poem about weeding the garden.

19. Jennie at Biblio File takes a look at the song "Hallelujah" with her review of The Holy or the Broken.

20. M.M. Socks is here with an original poem titled "Shepard," about a boy who lives up to his name.

21. Over at The Poem Farm, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a wee poem and a special guest teacher sharing some teaching ideas and student poems.

22. Sylvia Vardell's post at Writing for Children includes film footage from her recent ALA presentation with Janet Wong-- on poetry and the Common Core.

23. Little Willow has selected lyrics from "Low" by The Good Mad at Bildungsroman.

24. Betsy at I Think in Poems offers a peek at her recent vacation in words and pictures.

25. Feeling nostalgic, Catherine shares one of her favorite poems, "When You Are Old" by William Butler Yeats, at Reading to the Core.

26. The theme at Kerry Aradhya's blog, Picture Books & Pirouettes, is flowers and dance -- including a poem by her 8-year-old daughter.

27. At Crackles of Speech, Steven Withrow has an original poem titled "At Crescent Park Carousel."

28. Irene Latham continues her Valerie Worth series with poems about birds at Live Your Poem.

29. Like so many of us, Catherine Johnson also has summer on her mind, in poetry and pictures.

30. At All About the Books, Janet Squires reviews Edward Lear, edited by Edward Mendelson and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith, from the Poetry for Young People series.

31. The poetry of Langston Hughes figures prominently in Blue Balliet's latest novel, HOLD FAST, reviewed today on Carol's Corner.

32. Joy has an original poem about a street performer and a poetry challenge at Poetry for Kids Joy.

33. At Teaching Tomorrow's Leaders, Robin shares a heartfelt, reflective poem.

34. Let's extend a warm welcome to Kim, our newest Poetry Friday blogger!  You can find her original poem on Flukeprints.

40 comments:

  1. Thanks, Michelle. Enjoy your "ten unencumbered weeks!"

    We're putting up our sunbrella today at the FATHER GOOSE Blog

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  2. Hi Michelle,

    Thank you for hosting Poetry Friday, and thanks for your Bad Habits little ditty! Great insight into kids' behavior.

    At The Writer's Whimsy I'm belatedly featuring my ALA Poetry Blast! experience. Http://www.tamerawillwissinger.com/the-writers-whimsy/2013/7/11/my-ala-poetry-blast-recap.html

    Tamera

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  3. Hi Michelle,

    That end just made me laugh, for that indeed is the root of all bad habits.

    Today, at gathering books we're sharing a poem on the heartbreak of a man who can never really have what his heart desires and must settle on the closest thing possible.

    gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/poetry-friday-of-loss-desires-and-widows/

    Thanks for hosting today's poetry Friday.

    -iphigene

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  4. Michelle,
    Silly me, I put my link in your contact form. Anyway, here it is in the right place.
    http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/introduce-play-into-your-art/
    My poem today is a found poem from an art magazine made especially for Linda Baie in the Poem Swap.

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  5. I love today's ditty, Michelle--especially the last line!

    All my posts will be up after midnight. There's an original poem about bee vision at Random Noodling http://randomnoodling.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday-bee-vision.html.

    Kurious Kitty's sharing "Fishing on the Susquehanna in July" by Billy Collins. http://kuriouskitty.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday-fishing-on-susquehanna-in.html.

    Over at KK's Kwotes you'll find a quote by Norman Maclean http://kkskwotes.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday_12.html.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, Michelle! You captured him perfectly -- someday you can read it at his wedding rehearsal dinner. ;-)

    I'm in with a poem I wrote for Week 2 of the Poem Swap -- also for Linda Baie!

    http://kerirecommends.com/2013/07/11/poetry-friday--one-of-my-poem-swap-offerings.aspx

    Thanks for hosting and for sharing your poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Keri, but to be fair (and in case they read this), my daughter's no Mary Poppins either... some of these bad habits are/were hers as well!

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  7. Hi, Michelle. Thanks for the poem. Yep -- that explains why my kids never make their beds.

    Speaking of kids, my son is in Italy this week. I'm experiencing my own "Bridge of Sighs" -- he's far away in Venice, only sending the occasional text. Oh well, at least Lord Byron knew how to describe the sites of Venice. I have a quarto of "Childe Harold" posted at Author Amok, where the poet "stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs."

    http://authoramok.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mothers-bridge-of-sighs.html

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  8. Love your poem! We have some similar habits in our house...

    I have an original riddle poem entitled, Who Am I?, that humorously tests readers sea life knowledge. (the poem goes "live" at 12am PST)

    http://weewordsforweeones.blogspot.com

    Thanks for hosting this week! =)

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  9. Bad habits...but perfect for summer! I have summer on my mind, too, at A Teaching Life:
    http://tmsteach.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday-summer-poemand-blogging.html

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  10. Hi Michelle, I wrote about your 'bad habits' in my intro today. Fun poem, and I think your kids would love to write about the 'other side'! Thanks for hosting!

    I wrote today from a prompt word "fishing", but it turned out to be quite different from my initial writing. http://teacherdance.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-different-kind-of-fishing.html

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  11. Thank you for hosting. I have a poem from Janet Fagal: http://maclibrary.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/poetry-friday-peaches-by-janet-fagal/

    Bad habits: losing keys and phone.

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  12. I offer the world's shortest little ditty, "Fleas" http://usedbooksinclass.com/2013/07/12/poetry-friday-close-reading-the-worlds-shortest-poem/
    Proving that even a tiny poem can generate a a multitude of responses.

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  13. Hi Michelle! Thanks for hosting! Fun poem :-) I was just wondering yesterday about how to make a new habit for myself. It's such a challenge. Maybe I'm not listening?
    I have poems by Alfred Kreymborg today: http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2013/07/an-unspeakable-adjective.html

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  14. Michelle, Thanks for hosting. I love your poem, especially the last line.
    Today I have four original haiku and I explain how haiku are wordless and circles. http://elizabethsteinglass.com/2013/07/haiku-the-wordless-poem/

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  15. Michelle, I LOVE your poem! Thanks for the laugh so early in the morning! = ) Today I am talking about writing poetry with kids and I've posted a fun poem written by some super smart kiddos.

    www.beckyshillington.blogspot.com

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  16. Thanks for hosting, Michelle. I have a haiku about the all too frequent summer phenomenon, the power blackout

    http://www.asuen.com/poetry/blackout/

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  17. Terrific poem, Michelle! And a perfect ending - I can so totally relate. Today I have a weather-themed poem that began as a prompt from David L. Harrison:

    http://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/poetry-friday-the-old-man-and-the-rain/

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  18. Oh, my! I didn't smile politely at the end of your poem, I snorted with laughter! (Good thing I wasn't sipping tea at the same time!) I'm with you -- I'll keep my own bad habits to myself!!

    Today I'm sharing an original about weeding the garden.

    http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday-gardening.html

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    Replies
    1. Your snorting is much appreciated, Mary Lee-- one of the few bad habits I will happily put up with. ;)

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  19. Thanks for hosting today! I'm in with a review of The Holy or the Broken-- a book about the song "Hallelujah" so of course, that's the featured poem! http://www.jenrothschild.com/2013/07/poetry-friday-holy-or-broken.html

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  20. thanks for hosting and nice to meet you! "Shepard" is a poem I wrote about a boy who lives up to his name. enjoy http://mmsocks.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/shepard/

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  21. Thank you for hosting today, Michelle! My bad habits could fill too many blog posts to mention. :) Writing about habits is a fun idea, one I might just have to try. Thank you!

    Over at The Poem Farm, I have a wee poem and a special guest teacher sharing some teaching ideas and student poems too.
    http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2013/07/sticky-hands-and-shirleys-poets.html

    Happy PF!

    a.

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  22. Hi, Michelle, thanks for hosting Poetry Friday and with a sense of humor, too! My post today includes film footage of my recent ALA presentation with Janet Wong-- on poetry and the Common Core. http://www.PoetryforChildren.blogspot.com

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  23. Good morning, and thanks for hosting!

    I posted Low by The Good Mad at my blog, Bildungsroman.

    Happy weekend, everyone!

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  24. What a great midday humor for me! Thank you for hosting and sharing your funny little poem.
    My share today is a peek at my recent vacation in words and pictures.
    http://ithinkinpoems.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-poetic-peek-at-my-recent-vacation.html

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  25. Thanks for hosting today, Michelle!

    I'm feeling nostalgic today, so I have one of my favorites, "When You Are Old" by William Butler Yeats.
    http://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/poetry-friday-when-you-are-old/

    Catherine

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  26. Hi, Michelle. Love your poem. I, too, had plans for re-establishing good habits this summer. So far, so bad...but I will keep trying! Today at Picture Books & Pirouettes, the theme is flowers and dance -- including a poem by my 8-year-old daughter :) http://kerryaradhya.blogspot.com/2013/07/flowers-and-dance-for-poetry-friday.html
    Thanks for hosting!

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  27. By the way, I love your poem! I can totally relate!
    Catherine

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  28. Thanks for hosting, Michelle! I enjoyed your poem.

    Today I have an original poem at my Crackles of Speech blog titled "At Crescent Park Carousel":
    http://cracklesofspeech.blogspot.com/2013/07/poem-at-crescent-park-carousel.html

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  29. Super post and poem, Micelle. I am determined to get my two to tidy their rooms today for once ;)

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  30. Thanks for hosting.
    My selection is "Edward Lear" edited by Edward Mendelson and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith from the Poetry for Young People series.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Michelle,
    Can't wait to share "Bad Habits" with kids! I know they will love it! Thanks so much for a fun start to Poetry Friday. I'm in (a little late- sorry!) with a review of Blue Balliet's latest novel, HOLD FAST. It's the story of a family that becomes homeless after the father mysteriously disappears. The poetry of Langston Hughes figures prominently throughout the book, which is why I'm sharing it today. http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/2013/07/poetry-friday_12.html

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    Replies
    1. Glad you made it, Carol-- Poetry Friday wouldn't be the same without you!

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  32. Michelle,
    Sorry I'm so late to the party. I just can't seem to get moving lately. I have an original poem about a street performer and a poetry challenge up today at http://www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com

    JOY

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  33. Thank you for hosting! Here's my reflective poem for today.

    http://teachingtomorrowsleaders.blogspot.com/2013/07/if-i-had-known.html

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  34. Michelle,
    It has been a bit too busy to get a poem posted, but I did want to stop by to see what was happening and to comment. If you figure out how to get kids to pick up after themselves, please let me know. I think I must have made my mistakes when my kids were little and it is too late now.

    I enjoyed your poem. I was feeling a little sorry for the child with all those rules to follow until the end. Of course, I loved its message --- but I found its rhythms enjoyable as well. Thanks for,delighting me with another great poem. Now off to check out other posts.

    Cathy

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    Replies
    1. There were a few "regulars" that I missed last Friday... you being one of them, Cathy. But thanks for stopping by anyway-- catch you next time!

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