DMC: "If I Were Small" by David McMullin

IF I WERE SMALL

If I were small, so very small
that stones were big and grass was tall,
I’d have the pill bug stop its crawl
to be my tiny basketball.

And we'd have fun. Oh, so much fun.
I’d toss him up. He’d roll, I’d run.
But when we saw the setting sun,
He’d crawl away – our game all done.

© 2020 David McMullin. All rights reserved.

TLD reader Tabatha Yeatts has challenged us to write a poem about a game (any kind). Click HERE for more details and to add your poem to the padlet. While some poems will be shared as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, March 27th.

DMC: "Papa Slime" by David McMullin

Ampersand72

PAPA SLIME

Ding dong

“Gerry,” Mom twitters, “that sounds like the chime.
Would you be so kind as to get Papa Slime?”
Just what is she saying? Who can this Slime be?
He sounds like some mutant from deep in the sea.
Or maybe a ghoul from some bottomless caves.
Regardless, I’m sure it’s my brain that he craves.

Diiing dooong

“Gerry.” says Mom, “Where’s your reason and rhyme?
Just answer the doorbell. We need Papa Slime.”
My parents have lost it or possibly worse,
I’m thinking they’re under this Papa Slime’s curse.
He’ll rip me to bits (what a terrible guest),
then stomp on the pieces and feast on the rest.

Diiiiiiiiiiiing doooooooooong

“Gerald Jay Jones! I won’t ask one more time.
Now open that door and receive Papa Slime!”
I sink to the carpet and slink ’cross the room,
then fling the door open expecting my doom.
It’s only my neighbor (he’s gentle and cute),
and there in his hands is a little green fruit.
He smiles. “Hey Gerry, you’re moving so slowly—
Your dad needs this lime for his fresh guacamole.”
Oops! Now I get it—there’s no Papa Slime.
My mom simply asked me to get Papa’s lime.

© 2019 David McMullin. All rights reserved.

TLD reader Kate O'Neil has challenged us to write a poem with words at play—malapropisms, ambiguities, unintended meanings, puns, clichés, etc. Read my interview with Kate HERE and add your wordplay poem to the padlet.

While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, November 29th.

DMC: "Kraken Fears Nothing" by David McMullin

Bryan Alexander

KRAKEN FEARS NOTHING

Christopher McKraken here
and there is nothing that I fear.
I’m bigger, stronger, tougher, faster.
One might say – the Ocean Master!

Hurricane or dumb tsunami?
I’m not cryin’ for my mommy.
Fear no whale, or snarling shark,
creepy trenches dank and dark.

Sneaky, snarky mermaid queen,
torpedo blasting submarine.
Pirate with a sharp harpoon,
creature from the black lagoon.

Calving glacier, serpent swarm,
turny-churny lightning storm.
Lava flow, Poseidon's spear.
All things that I’ll never fear.

Wait! What’s that? Okay, I lied.
Better hurry up and hide.
Terrifying! that’s what this is...
Kraken Girl with slimy kisses!

© 2019 David McMullin. All rights reserved.

TLD reader Rebecca Herzog has challenged us to write a poem about something a monster is afraid of. Read my interview with Becky HERE and add your poem about a monster fear to the padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties leading up to Halloween, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, October 25th.

A DMC Meet and Greet

"Shadow meets Mirror" by Markus Koller

The wise and illustrious ditty master, Dr. Seuss, once wrote, "There is no one alive who is youer than you."  So true! And thanks to Jane Whittingham's DMC challenge for September, I've been having the best time hobnobbing with the "all-about-me" acrostics that have found their way onto the padlet so far. All back-to-school open houses and PTA meet and greets should be this much fun! Wouldn't it be great to see what a classroom of students might come up with?

I've learned about your dreams—

CONTRADICTION 

Cheriee is an aging dreamer
Hoping for a healthy planet
Even when the news is dire, she
Resists despair, revelling in nature, but
Is afraid of spiders,
Entrancing as they may seem to
Everyone else 

                    © Cheriee Weichel, 2019

and aspirations,

NAME GAME

Lost in thoughts
Imagination whirling
Next poem, book, task
Determines the days
Accomplishments appreciated

Sometimes
Undecided, but always
Enthusiastic!

                     © Linda Baie, 2019

your writing strategies—

LIMERICK MAKER

Linda likes to pen poetry

Iambic and non-rhyming schemes

Noting word syllable counts
Drafts and revisions – look out!

Anyone’s fair game for her themes

                    © Linda Mitchell, 2019

FOREVER WRITER

Just a writer and a poet

Always  jotting notes and such.

Never tires of seeking whimsy

In kind words that move and touch.

Ever writing, ever writing, ever writing.

                    © Janie Lazo, 2019

and culinary preferences,

TASTE

Joyce adores 

Olives, roti, miso soup and 

Yearns to taste

Cultural meals that don’t include

Eels

                    © Joyce Ray, 2019

WHO I AM

Cindy eats handfuls of cherry tomatoes.

In her garden she digs up potatoes.

Never resists a good mystery book.

Doesn't ever desire to cook.

Yearns for dark chocolate to be totally calorie free.

                    © Cindy Breedlove, 2019

your inclinations toward travel—

THE TRAVELER

Doing whatever I can to

Accrue more funds to

Venture forward again and again

In a quest to explore

Distant (and not so distant) lands.

                    © David McMullin, 2019

NOW

Kathleen is

A lady who likes to

Travel to different countries 

Having already been to all 50 states.

Loves reading and writing poetry,

Especially haiku,

Even if she doesn’t quite get all the 

Nuances.

                    © Kathleen Mazurowski, 2019

and the ways you find your bliss at home,

CORY'S WAY

Can perch for hours in her backyard

Oasis―observing, listening, communing―picture taking;

Reveling in the buzziness of bees and antics of squirrels, all

Yielding as much joy as flowers of sun and glories of morning.

Can perch for hours in her backyard

Oasis, oblivious of time―totally immersed.

Re-energized. Inspired. Amused . . . by

Robins sparring for equal time at the bath. 

And bunny rabbits nibbling greens they should not.

Daily wonders, weaving joy into poems-pics-books

One-of-a-kind      spun the Cory-can way.

                    © Cory Corrado, 2019

and I can't wait to be introduced to many more of your all-about-me acrostics over the coming days! Post 'em HERE.

Laura Purdie Salas is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Writing the World for Kids. Congratulations are in order for the release of her latest nonfiction rhyming picture book—Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle! Be sure to enter her giveaway for a signed, personalized copy.

DMC: "Cough & Sneeze" by David McMullin

COUGH & SNEEZE

Cough and Sneeze are a terrible two,
Wanted on charges of cold, strep, and flu.

Cough is the brawn, so victims take note,
He'll vandal your lungs and plunder your throat.

Sneeze is impulsive, the sneak of the pair,
With rash wild sprays he graffitis the air.

Their victims can often take weeks to recoup,
So lock up your doors and make lots of hot soup.

© 2018 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Calef Brown has challenged us to write a poem that tells the story of two anthropomorphized objects. They can be an odd couple, close friends, mortal enemies, or meet each other for the first time. The poem can be about an adventure they have together, a conflict, a game they play, anything. Click HERE for more details and to read this month's Spotlight ON interview.

Post your poem on our October 2018 padlet by October 31st. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up presentation on Friday, November 2nd, and one lucky participant will win a signed copy of Calef Brown's latest collection of ghoulish poetry from Carolrhoda Books:

DMC: "Dinosaurs, lol" by David McMullin

DINOSAURS, LOL

If dinosaurs were here today,
they'd be a bit confused
about the flattened stones we hold,
and how these things are used.

They'd see us poking at their fronts
until they buzz and chime,
and wonder why our eyes are glued
upon them all the time.

Now, dinosaurs are curious,
they'd like to try, perhaps,
to understand the differences
in memes, and texts, and apps.

If dinosaurs were here today,
they'd work hard to evolve
but cell phones are a puzzle
mammoth fingers just can't solve.

© 2018 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Deborah Bruss and Matt Forrest Esenwine. They've challenged us to write a poem about something you would not expect a dinosaur (or another kind of animal) to do.

Leave your poem on our April 2018 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, April 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of their fun new rhyming picture book from POW! Kids:

DMC: "A Perfect Storm" by David McMullin

A PERFECT STORM

The weatherman's predictions are unclear.
I venture forth with pencil in hand.
Balmy prose are expected, but I prepare for inclement choices.
My umbrella is a well researched outline.
Writing is a breeze.
Idea clouds swirl above.
The sky opens up.
Lightning strikes.
I throw aside my umbrella, letting myself be drenched in inspiration.
Words flood my mind.
A flurry of letters pelt my paper.
Drifts of pages accumulate by my side.
Then,
As quickly as it came, the storm gives way to clear blue.
All is still except one fresh draft.
A draft carrying with it the promise of sunny skies.

© 2017 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 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, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.

DMC: "Preparing for the Day" by David McMullin

PREPARING FOR THE DAY

Curiosity whispers in your ear, waking you from a deep sleep.
Curiosity tosses back the covers, splashes water in your face, 
     fills your belly, and packs your bags.
Curiosity turns the knob and throws the front door wide open.
Curiosity nudges you, to step out into the waiting world.

© 2017 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Jeannine Atkins has challenged us to write a poem that uses personified feeling. For more details, click HERE.

Post your poem on our February 2017 padlet.  All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, February 24th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her latest novel-in-verse from Atheneum Books/Simon & Schuster:
 

DMC: "Syllables" by David McMullin

SYLLABLES

Syllables are funny things.
Some rush by at a brisk clip,
others stretch and twist the tongue.

Quick as did-dle did-dle dee,
or taking a bit longer
like schwarmfst skwirlp twoolm preefts brawlg thrunch.

© 2016 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Jane Yolen has challenged us to write a septercet that features reading or writing this month. What is a septercet?  Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our September 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, September 30th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her fabulous new collection of science poetry: