Monday, February 8, 2016

DMC: "What About A Ditty" by Jane Yolen





WHAT ABOUT A DITTY

It’s not too deep
And seldom pretty,
Partly poem
And that’s a pity.

Takes a leap,
A high, a fall,
A lousy rhyme
Or two—that’s all.

Won't save the world,
Won’t change a mind,
Won’t move a mountain,
But you’ll find

An entertainment,
Sometimes witty.
Daft, and different.
That’s my ditty!

© 2016 Jane Yolen. All rights reserved.

This poem was also shared on Jane's poem-a-day subscriber list.  (Subscribe HERE.)


David L. Harrison has challenged us to write poems inspired by the word "ditty" this month. Click HERE for more details.

Send your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, February 26th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of his newest collection for children:



For an additional chance to win, write a poem inspired by "leaves" for David's Word of the Month (W.O.M.) challenge HERE. 



14 comments:

  1. Thank you, Jane, for getting us off and running. As usual (always?), you're ahead of me. But I promise to catch up before long. Come on, everyone, follow Jane!

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  2. And we're off to a great start!!!

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  3. Exactly right. What fun to start with a lovely description. Now I need to remember all the fun "ditties" my mother sang to me.

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  4. Daft and different work for me! Thanks, Jane.

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  5. I enjoy the rhythm rolling down the lines, then slowing down just a bit to tie it together on the last refrain.

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  6. wonderful poem to start us off I love the sound of the words together as I read them Thank you for sharing you poem Jane !!!

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  7. Does this "paroditty" count"?

    Jenny Dumped Me

    [Pace Leigh Hunt]

    Jenny dump’d me when we met,
    Bolting from the store she walked in;
    Time, that burglar, stole my pet
    Seconds after I had clocked in.
    Say I’m happy nonetheless.
    Say that life has not speed-bump’d me.
    Say whatever. I confess,
    Jenny dump’d me.

    J. Patrick Lewis

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    1. For you, Pat, it ALL counts. :) And here's a link for those not familiar with the original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_kiss'd_Me

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    2. Pat, I just now read this so I'm just now smiling for the first time. Well I just read it again so I'm smiling for the second time. And on it will go.

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  8. Oh, it's a ditty party. Love being a guest among Pat and David and Jane. Such masters and so funny.

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  9. Jane's ditty poem is ditty-licious! Lots of fun!

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  10. Terrific stuff, but then we expect that from Jane Yolen, no? It's a pretty little ditty.

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