PINK CARPET ALPHABET
After her bath,
cavorting diaperless
(ever the fearsome gymnast)
heroically
she imitates Jiminy:
kangaroo-leaping miles
(nearly over her pillow),
quaquaversal,*
repeating somersaults,
tumbling up valiantly—
wiggle-limbed X
yelling “ZOOM!”
© 2001 Heidi Mordhorst. All rights reserved.
* quaquaversal: outwards in all directions from a common center
Click HERE to read this month's interview with Carole Boston Weatherford. She has challenged us to write an abecedarian poem.
Generally each line (or word) of an abecedarian poem begins with A and continues in alphabetical order until you reach Z. For this challenge, you may start and end with whichever letters you choose, as long as they are sequential.
Post your poem on our September 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, September 29th. One lucky participant will win a copy of Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Candlewick Press, 2017).
The best "Q" word yet!
ReplyDeleteIf only I could capture this little ball of energy, this kangaroo-leaping Jiminy, this wiggle-limbed X, I would give her a great big squeeze. Such a fun poem, Heidi!
ReplyDeleteA familiar scene at our house! I love "wiggle-limbed X yelling" -- such a clever use of the X!
ReplyDeleteFantastic word choices, Heidi!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone--I wrote this 17 years ago and probably thought I invented the abecedarian form--but then I am a collector of alphabet books!
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense--I was amazed at how you captured the toddler spirit. You had one in front of you at the time! Quaquaversal is my new favorite word.
DeleteI love this image of the dancing toddler! I wouldn't know where to find any poems I wrote 17 years ago and certainly nothing quite so original. That Q word is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe sweetest!! Makes me miss the toddler days.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful picture of a toddler. And you have to love a poem that uses quaquaversal. Such a great word. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a dynamite tumbling tike, and "quaquaversal" seems perfect too! Thanks Heidi.
ReplyDelete