Back to School: GREAT MORNING! (Giveaway!)

Can you find six year old me? At the end of this post I'll let you know if you're right.

How I adored my first grade teacher, Miss Liles—Dori, as she invited us to call her. She was progressive, creative, nurturing, fun, and she instilled a love of learning that I never outgrew.

You may have guessed, I was one of those children—the kind who treated each school year as an exciting new adventure, the kind who liked to hold my teacher's hand, the kind who lived for storytime and painting at the easel (but not so much for climbing the rope in gym class), the kind who enjoyed playing school and completing worksheets at home just for fun. 

"Playing School" Boston Public Library

Those were the days before too much homework and standardized testing, mind you. But my kids, before the jaded teen phase set in, felt the same. The eagerness may have worn off some, but the anticipation of a new school year is pretty darn compelling, even for them. As adults, I think many of us still crave that feeling of a fresh start, whether it comes in the form of a New Year's resolution, a new job, a new creative project... a new ditty challenge perhaps (wink).

Kenn Nesbitt's delightful poem to welcome the new year can be found in Sylvia Vardell's and Janet Wong's most recent gift to educators, GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud (Pomelo Books, 2018). 

GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud
Pomelo Books, 2018
ISBN: 978-1937057282
Available for purchase at Amazon.com

As is the case with all of the Pomelo Books offerings, the concept of this anthology is brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness.

Sylvia and Janet have made it easy for principals, parent volunteers, student news crews, or a rotation of teachers and staff, to bring poetry into the lives of young people on Poetry Fridays or any other day of the week. To start with, they've chosen nearly 40 short poems relevant to the school year that can be read to students as part of morning announcements. I'm so pleased and honored to have my own "Look for the Helpers" included among them!

To make it even easier, they've also provided an attention grabbing introductory ("Did you know?") paragraph for each poem and a "Follow up" paragraph to help students personalize and carry the poem's positive message into their day. Watch the video of principal Steven Wilfing on Poetry for Children to see just how simple it is!

from GREAT Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud
by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong ©2018 Pomelo Books

You'll also notice a third section titled CONNECT. Here, you'll find a poem recommendation to partner with the original poem as a reinforcing set. The recommended poem might be read and discussed in the classroom by a teacher or librarian, for example, to expand upon the theme, or to discuss the hidden language skills that are regularly used in writing poetry.

"New Year is Here" connects with "What We're Learning" by Janet Wong.

This poem makes me think of my son, who we recently delivered to his new temporary home on the campus of the Florida Institute of Technology.  He's not only building new skill sets having to do with aerospace engineering, but also time management, money management, roommate management, laundry management, and other such college survival skills. I, too, am learning new skills as I struggle to adapt to the empty chair at the dining table. But I digress.

What makes GREAT MORNING! so incredibly user-friendly is that Janet and Sylvia have done all the preparation—they supply the instructions, poem topics, connections to more poems and poetry resources, teaching tips, follow up activities, mini lessons, and even a sample letter to send home to parents to get them involved. It's all there. The only thing you need to supply is your enthusiasm and an understanding of the value poetry brings to students' lives.

I recently ran across a 250 year old quote that applies well when it comes to Janet and Sylvia, and the role Pomelo Books plays in the teaching lives of educators:

"Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Letter to A.F. Oeser, Nov. 9, 1768)

I cannot overstate the impact Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have made, and continue to make, when it comes to poetry advocacy in the schools. I was lucky enough to see them in action at ILA last year in Orlando. As excellent as the instruction was, what won the audience of teachers over was Janet and Sylvia's enthusiastic and encouraging approach to delivering that instruction. They make poetry seem simple and doable—which it is.

An interactive poetry session with Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong at ILA, July 2017.

I honestly think that many (most?) teachers see the importance of incorporating poetry into their classroom routines, but they're just not sure how to go about it. They need tools, resources, and, maybe most of all, confidence. Pomelo Books supplies all three. But don't just take my word for it! Paul Hankins knows what an asset Sylvia and Janet are to the educational community. Don't miss his comprehensive (and glowing) review of GREAT MORNING! from a teacher's perspective on Goodreads. 

Click HERE to learn more about Sylvia and Janet in my spotlight interview from 2014.

If you'd like to win a copy of GREAT MORNING!, leave a comment below or send an email with the subject "Great Morning Giveaway" to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com by Tuesday, August 28th. Three winners will be chosen at random and announced next Friday. Many thanks to Pomelo Books for providing these copies!

So, did you figure out which one of those adorable and well-behaved children at the top of this post is me? I'm in the second row on the far right wearing an orange turtleneck that my mom ordered from the Sears catalog. You can't see it in the photo, but it had a small Winnie the Pooh embroidered on it. Sigh. I miss that shirt.

Mike Mozart

Who's ready for a ditty challenge?

It's great to be back! And I am SO excited about TLD's featured author for September! While I usually post interviews on the first Friday of the month, I've decided to move this one up by a week to make sure I can share as many daily ditties as possible. I'm keeping the author's name a surprise for now, but do be sure to come back next week to find out who is in the spotlight.

Join teacher and poet Margaret Simon for this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Reflections on the Teche. She introduces a fun poetry project called a zeno zine.

Some words to carry with you . . .

"Sorry No Image Available" by n e o g e j o

"Searching for meaning is like searching for a rhyme scheme in a cookbook. You won't find it and it will bugger up your soufflé."       

                        – Tim Minchin


June 1st.

Phew, I made it! At certain points last month, I was doubtful I would. Life has been unfolding at such a fast clip, it's been a challenge simply to keep pace. No wonder I struggled to come up with a window poem last month—quite frankly, I couldn't sit still long enough! But thanks to Diane Mayr's helpful link to a marvelous series of "Haiku Windows" at the Haiku Foundation, inspiration appeared in the nick of time. (Read my window haiku here.)

My Wave Pics

I imagine many of you are also finding yourselves racing at breakneck speed toward summer's open door.

It's not just students who are smelling the lusty scent of freedom. Teachers wrapping up the school year are ready for something new, and parents, too, are suffering from physical burnout and mental malaise. While some teachers are putting their final marks on the year and others are envisioning what comes next (ie, life after teaching), there are parents like myself who have children embarking on new life adventures. Whether a teacher or parent, it's exhausting walking that line between trying to be helpful and letting our children find their own path. We all wonder whether we've done enough.


Time marches on.
My oldest is graduating high school tomorrow.

          Is he ready?
                                     I think so.

                      Am I?
                                     Doesn't matter. It's happening whether I'm ready or not.

To commemorate Dylan's graduation, I'd like to share some words from Australian entertainer Tim Minchin—his nine life lessons. While it's not poetry—it's a commencement address that took place at the University of Western Australia in 2013—you'll certainly find aspects of poetry, including metaphor, observation, introspection, and a fresh perspective.

(If you'd rather read a more traditional graduation-themed poem today, I suggest the one Linda Baie shared last week by William Stafford or my own from the Carol Boston Weatherford's abecedarian challenge last September—"A Mother's Advice.")

Comedian Tim Minchin has been described as "unabashedly offensive," but this video is fairly tame. There are just a couple of moments where parental guidance is advised. Minchin's recommendations include atypical notions like "you don't have to have a dream," "don't seek happiness," and "remember, it's all luck," as well as heartfelt pleas to "be a teacher," "define yourself by what you love," and "respect people with less power than you." You may not agree with everything he has to say (or how he says it), but he's funny, thought-provoking, insightful, and surely deserves twelve minutes of your time.

Listen up, Dylan—this is for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoEezZD71sc

Minchin closes his talk with this:

Life will sometimes feel long and tough, and God, it's tiring. And sometimes you will be happy and sometimes sad, and then you'll be old, and then you'll be dead. There is only one sensible thing to do with this empty existence, and that is— fill it. ... It's an incredibly exciting thing, this one meaningless life of yours.

His advice prompted me to check in with my one little word for 2018—RESOLVE. At the beginning of the year I resolved to find out what I was capable of.  How was I going to fill up this one wild and precious year of my lucky life? Reflecting on my specific goals, I've completed one of the two new manuscripts I intended to write this year. This is good—yay me! On the other hand, I haven't sent off nearly as many submissions as I *should* have by now. (I'm really terrible about submitting my work.) But that's okay. Perhaps I'll do some catching up this summer. Or, maybe I won't put extra pressure on myself to catch up. I'll just take things as they come.

If I'm to heed Tim Minchin's advice, Life Lesson #1 entails "passionate dedication to the pursuit of short term goals":

Be micro-ambitious. Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you. You never know where you might end up. Just be aware the next worthy pursuit will probably appear in your periphery. Which is why you should be careful of long term dreams. If you focus too far in front of you, you might not see the shiny thing out in the corner of your eye.

"Noticing" by Mark

While Today's Little Ditty is on summer hiatus, I'll be enjoying some overseas travel, helping my son pack up for college, and, if all goes according to plan, welcoming my parents who are also undergoing a major life change this summer. If I commit to any more than that, I'm in danger of crowding out the shiny things. So for that reason, one thing I won't be doing this summer is forming a new ditty committee or working on a new volume of The Best of Today's Little Ditty. Instead, I anticipate a 2017-2018 edition coming out in 2019. I do have some very exciting Spotlight ON interviews scheduled for this fall, however, so stay tuned for those!

For now, I'd like to leave you with one final thought:

"Paper Trails" by Leland Francisco

Poetry is everywhere; it just needs editing.

                                                                                                                         – James Tate

Remember that even when I'm not here, you can satisfy your ditty-writing itch by using these handy-dandy alphabetical listings of Spotlight ON interviews and DMC wrap-up celebrations.

As for last month's fabulous challenge brought to us by Julie Fogliano, we've had several more window poems added to the padlet since last Friday. I've added them to the wrap-up presentation and sincerely hope that you'll take another look.

Diane Mayr has carried the window poem challenge into June! Be sure to check out the one she is featuring today at Random Noodling.


Random.org has determined that the winner of a personalized copy of a house that once was by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Lane Smith, is . . .

JUANITA HAVILL

Congratulations, Juanita!

Join Buffy Silverman for a celebration of summer helicopter seeds and this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

Book Love: WITH MY HANDS (Giveaway!)

Valerie Everett

Because I share poetry daily, National Poetry Month can get a bit tricky with all the "extras" I want to to squeeze in! I hope you'll indulge me if I step away from the dinosaur party a couple times this month to share something a little different. (Besides which, those dinosaurs can get pretty LOUD!)

Today I'd like to talk about Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's latest book...

WITH MY HANDS: Poems About Making Things
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson
Clarion Books (March 27, 2018)
ISBN: 978-0544313408
Find a copy at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or via Indiebound.org.

Amy was featured on Today's Little Ditty in March 2016. If you haven't read that interview, I sincerely hope you will, since it brings to light what a special poet, teacher, and human being she is. At the time, we were discussing Every Day Birds, but since then, her fans have gratefully welcomed a few more of Amy's books into the world: Read! Read! Read! and Poems Are Teachers in 2017, and Dreaming of You and With My Hands in 2018.

Along with her books, don't miss Amy's website and blogs, especially The Poem Farm, which I've recommended time and time again to teachers and parents of creative young poets-in-training.


With My Hands is a collection of poems about making things.

It's about the personal experience of building, baking, folding, drawing, shaping... starting from scratch with "empty space, ideas, hope and stuff" and creating something new "that never was before." This is something that all makers can relate to, and if you're reading this blog, I suspect that you're one of them! You'll also love Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson's joyful, collage-style illustrations that help bring Amy's words to life.

Among Amy's many gifts as a writer, probably the one that impresses me most is her ability to tap into her inner 7-year-old while simultaneously presenting a safe and accepting place for young readers. She's a lot like Mr. Rogers in that regard. It's a quality that comes from unconditional love and writing from the heart. For young readers, Amy's voice is as familiar as it is nurturing, providing children with the confidence to grow into themselves.

There are so many delightful poems in this collection (visit Jama's Alphabet Soup for an in-depth look), but the poem I'd like to share today is one of my favorites. It brings back lots of memories from my own childhood and from my chidren's growing-up years as well.

From With My Hands, © 2018 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, used with the author's permission.

From my own childhood, I remember snow forts my brother and I enjoyed when the picnic table in our backyard was heaped with the freshly fallen white stuff. I also recall how my bedroom closet served as a hideout when I needed time to myself.

My children were fort makers too. Dylan's favorite "toy" was his useful box. When he was eight, he made this elaborate castle fortress for his sister's fifth birthday.

Beware the crocodiles in the moat!

He also made fort-like structures using legos, blocks, and even groceries when Mummy came from food shopping. (I had to put the refrigerated and frozen items away quickly lest he get to them first!)

For his eleventh birthday, Dylan's party guests were divided into two groups. Each team was asked to design and build their own fort using masking tape and packing paper left over from our move. After that, they battled it out with slingshots and ping pong balls.

Ready... aim... Oops! Wait for the photographer to get out of the way!

From an early age, Miranda was a lover of cozy forts—the kind you can spend hours (or days) in, since they were usually equipped with books, toys, snacks, stuffed animals, and blankets for impromptu napping.

The book selection was as vital as the fort itself.

 In a pinch, a clothes line or dining room chair would do.

As she got older, her forts became more elaborate and included seating for guests. (Lucky me!)

There's no place like home!

What memories of childhood forts do you have? 

Does anyone besides me remember this wonderful poem by Buffy Silverman?

Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of With My Hands: Poems About Making Things courtesy of Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Alternatively, you may send an email to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject "With My Hands giveaway." Entries must be received by Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The winner will be selected randomly and announced next Friday, April 20th.


And speaking of giveaways, don't forget The Best of Today's Little Ditty giveaway I'm running to celebrate National Poetry Month and my blog's fifth birthday! I'm giving away five sets (volumes 1 & 2) to educators—teachers, caregivers, volunteers... anyone who shares their love of poetry with students of any age. To enter, just contact me at some point during the month—via blog comment, email, Facebook, or Twitter. I'll be compiling a list (separate from the With My Hands and Don't Ask a Dinosaur giveaways) and drawing five names at the end of April.

Book Love: TOO MANY FRIENDS (Giveaway!)

KATHRYN APEL

Today I'm singing the praises of an Australian children's poet and author whose books we don't see enough of here in the States. That's going to have to change.

Kathryn Apel (Kat to those of us who follow her blog) is a born-and-bred farm girl who’s scared of cows. She lives with her husband and two sons among the gum trees, cattle and kangaroos on a Queensland grazing property, and is the author of five books for children, including three novels in verse.

Kat loves pumping poetry because she can flex her muscles across other genres, to bend (and break) writing rules. She also teaches part-time and shares her passion for words at schools and festivals. There's lots to explore at Kat's website, including information about her books, kid's stuff, kidlit tips, useful links, and a "whisker of poetry."

Order paper copies via the publisher
or the Kindle edition via Amazon.com.
Watch the trailer HERE.

Too Many Friends (UQP, 2017) is Kat's latest novel in verse for young readers. It tells the story of a Tahnee, a second grader who prides herself on having lots of friends, and who loves to spend time with them all... even the ones who can be bossy. But sometimes she gets frustrated. She feels pushed and pulled in too many directions and doesn't understand why her friends can't get along with each other. Tahnee's efforts to strike a balance and keep the peace—to be inclusive, thoughtful, and understanding in and outside of the classroom—make her an ideal role model. Although she recognizes faults, she chooses to celebrate strengths instead, and she shows readers how to be a good friend in a way that's not preachy or show-offish.

For me, reading this novel brought back a flood of memories from my own kids' early years in Sydney. But even without the first-hand memories, there's much to be gained by reading this book. The fact that American children may not be familiar with honey crackles, or know that fairy floss is another name for cotton candy, or have played pass the parcel at birthday parties, won't stop them from identifying with the characters. Besides, there's great value in children (and adults) gaining insight into what it's like living in another part of the world, don't you think? We live in a global society; why not introduce our children to their "neighbours"?

In Australia, my little ones were proud
to wear their school uniforms.

My son was Tahnee's age when we left Australia to return to the US. Although their transition to the Florida school system wasn't perfect, when it came to friendship, there were few differences between these two cultures from opposite sides of the planet. Slightly older children will relate to Too Many Friends, as well. When my daughter was in fourth grade, she had her first run in with what it's like to have... and then lose the attention of a close friend she'd had since first grade, a friend who suddenly became popular.  It wasn't fun—there were many hurt feelings. But to be fair, the popular girl never asked to be "fought over."

The push and pull of friendship is something young readers will relate to no matter where they call home. I can so easily see this book being read aloud in the classroom to help navigate playground dramas, learn what it means to be a good friend, and discover how to get along with others regardless of whether or not they are friends. My children may have missed out on Miss Darling's classroom, but if you'd like to bring Tahnee and her friends into your classroom, check out the additional resources at Kat's website, including downloadable Teachers' Notes and activity suggestions.

For now, though, please help me welcome Kathryn Apel to the TLD classroom!


Thanks so much for joining us, Kat!

Tell us a little about your experience of writing TOO MANY FRIENDS. What drew you to the story and why did you choose a novel in verse format?

A friend was sharing her mother-heart, about her young daughter who was perpetually wearing herself ragged trying to always be a good friend and meet the needs of all her friends, so that her friends were almost a burden for the little girl to bear.

I’m sure at some stage we’ve all looked at the popular kids and wished a little, but I’d never considered that lots of friends could be a ‘difficult' thing. I wrote a note on my phone; ‘a story about too many friends’ … and started writing it soon after. The words flowed. I think I’d finished my first draft in under a month. The editing process was also so much quicker/easier than my previous verse novels. (Just as well, since we had an unscheduled and exciting holiday opportunity in the middle of that.) I think writing this one from the teacher-heart, as opposed to the mother-heart, perhaps enabled this… and all those wonderful years in the classroom!

It was always going to be a verse novel. I’m finding it hard not to write in verse these days. Partly because words seem to have more resonance in the verse novel format—like they’re buffed and polished and warmed to a golden glow, and there's nowhere for superfluous words to hide. But also because the stories that I’m needing to tell are stories that have heart, and the verse novel seems to be the right way to engage readers in those stories.


In the United States, novels in verse are on the rise, while children's poetry collections seem to be less marketable. What is your overall sense of the children's poetry and verse novel markets in Australia?

*Snap!*

It is so hard to get poetry published in Australia! But as you’ve noted in terms of America, there is a growing number of publishers who are taking on verse novels here—which is, of course, a good thing! My publisher, University of Queensland Press (UQP), has long been a champion of the verse novel, publishing Steven Herrick’s collection of novels in verse and Margarita Engle’s Silver People amongst others—including my three.

Kat makes some new friends at a recent book event.

How is poetry viewed in the Australian educational system? Is it embraced, or is it more like here in the States, where teachers are generally uncomfortable teaching poetry?

Funnily enough, I was surprised by your questions/comments about poetry in education, because for as long as I’ve been involved in Poetry Friday, I’ve (a little jealously/yearningly) had this really lovely, rosy view on poetry in America. But apparently Poetry Friday isn’t an accurate reflection on the education system and its approach to poetry as a whole?

What is it that shakes up our confidence with poetry! Kids are drawn like magnets to rhythm and rhyme. What happens along the way, to turn poetry into ‘the baddie’?

Because yes, in Australia poetry is also seen as an intimidating subject. People worry that they don’t really ‘get’ what the poem is about. Or the curriculum requirements make the analysis of poetry arduous, not magical. Or the poems studied don’t relate to kids of today. It’s about right and wrong answers, not joyful word play and experimentation.

More and more I’m realising that poetry is not about one right meaning. It’s about how it makes you feel—when your heart skips… or lurches—and the feel of the wordplay rolling around in your mouth. It’s about creativity and discipline, wordplay and writing muscle, engaging and enabling a wide range of abilities.

I keep hoping that this giant penny will drop—people will realise that poetry is such a HUGE and diverse genre, and there really is a form of poetry for every person and every occasion. Just because one form doesn’t resonate, another one will! You may not love all forms of poetry—and that’s okay! You can still enjoy poetry! :)


In a blog post, you describe TOO MANY FRIENDS as your "most joyous book." How did writing it compare to your previous novels in verse? Was there anything that particularly caught you by surprise?

Bully on the Bus follows the story of Leroy, a small boy who is bullied throughout the book, on his school bus. There is sadness and anxiety throughout the book, and whilst Leroy is ultimately empowered, that’s towards the end of the book. It's an important story, very much a story from the heart, and I love what it has the potential to do for kids who are being bullied—but there are more tears than laughs in that book.






Similarly, On Track deals with sibling rivalry, self-doubt and imperfect bodies. As one brother’s story takes a turn for the better, the other’s takes a twist for the worse. There are light moments throughout, but there is also a lot of the angst that comes with those themes.
  

Too Many Friends is about a sweet, caring girl who just wants to please—and constantly tries to find ways to be a friend to everyone. (Perhaps my biggest ‘problem’ with this book (through the editorial process) was getting rid of excess ‘smile’s. :) ) Yes, there are points of conflict—and there are moments that catch your heart—but Tahnee’s story is mostly a joyous story.


Please share a favorite selection from TOO MANY FRIENDS and tell us why it's meaningful to you.

So many of the activities in Tahnee’s classroom are things I’ve done with classes I’ve taught, and collage picture books are up there are as one of my favourites!

(Click images to enlarge.)

From Too Many Friends by Kathryn Apel (UQP, 2017), used by permission of the author.

One of the best parts of the project is that buzz of energy and enthusiasm as ideas and edits bounce around the room—kids engaged and enthused with a purposeful real-world project.

Sometimes, with all the standardised assessments and increasing curriculum demands, that joy of shared teaching and learning is squeezed out of classrooms. A teacher’s passion counts for everything within the classroom! If Too Many Friends helps to validate or reignite that passion and enthusiasm—for kids and teachers—that would be a beautiful thing!


What's coming up next for you?

There are works in the pipeline that I can’t yet discuss… but can’t wait until I can share!

In terms of current works in progress, I have a number underway, including something a little different, for me: a historical verse novel for middle grade/young adult, inspired by our recent trip to Antarctica. So amongst the fun of new book release and all that involves, I have also been delving deep into research. And thanks to different posts from Poetry Friday members, I’ve jumped in at different story points to play with some of the poetic forms I’ve seen on the rounds. I’ve not approached a story quite like that before, but I’m having lots of fun! And so far it’s been working. So not only is the historical genre new for me, but so too are many of the poetry forms.


Sounds exciting, Kat! Keep us posted. And thanks for traveling all the way here to be with us today. :)

Thank you so much for having me visit, Michelle. Today’s Little Ditty is like a virtual playground and gym rolled into one. You do a great thing here!


Speaking of great things . . .

Since it's not so easy to grab a copy of Too Many Friends at your local US bookstore, I'm giving away the copy I was sent by University of Queensland Press to one lucky reader of today's blog post! All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment below or email me at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com. Make sure you do so no later than Tuesday, May 23rd. The winner, selected randomly, will be announced next Friday.

** Sorry. This giveaway is now over. **

I sure am enjoying the wide variety of poems for Melissa Manlove's challenge to write about how writing (or a book) is like something else! This week's featured ditties included poems by Jesse Anna Bornemann, Diane Mayr, Elizabeth Steinglass, and Irene Latham. Linda Mitchell is sharing hers at A Word Edgewise today. Post your contribution on our May 2017 padlet to be included in next week's wrap-up celebration!

Join Kiesha at Whispers from the Ridge to discover everyday gifts and explore this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

Dylan T. for Dylan B.

G.Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO

Sharing this video and excerpt from Dylan Thomas' essay "Notes on the Art of Poetry" in honor of my Dylan, who casts his own "delight and glory and oddity and light." 

Happy 16th birthday, Sweetheart!

Notes on the Art of Poetry
     ~ Dylan Thomas, 1951

I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on
in the world between the covers of books,
such sandstorms and ice-blasts of words...
such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,
such and so many blinding bright lights...
splashing all over the pages
in a million bits and pieces
all of which were words, words, words,
and each of which were alive forever
in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.

My Sister's First Haircut

There are consequences for our actions...

and few childhood pastimes drive that lesson home 

like playing hairdresser.

Who else remembers the Crissy dolls from the early '70s, with hair that "grows and grows"?

Crissy Doll

Denise Van Patten

She had a pony tail that you could pull out while pressing a button on her tummy, and wind back in by twisting the knob on her back.

Well, I cut it off.  Her pony tail.  Cut it. Right. Off.

And guess what?  It did not grow back.  Darn you, Ideal Toy Corporation!  This was not my ideal toy by a long stretch.

Fast forward 30 years when my daughter, Miranda, was born with lots of dark, straight hair, just like her mommy.  But then something miraculous (and possibly hormonal) happened-- her hair grew out in soft, loose curls.  The kind her mommy always wanted, but was never lucky enough to have.  Her doctor said it wouldn't last, but I vowed then and there that I would not be responsible for cutting it off.

(Dylan, if you're reading this, please don't feel bad... I forgave you long ago, and am since grateful for the little ditty that came of it!)

 

MY SISTER’S FIRST HAIRCUT

Today I cut my sister’s hair

(she told me to, you see)

but then my mother had a fit—

not at her, but me!

She said I should know better

since my sister’s only three.

So I just sighed and said, “Okay…

this time the cut is free.”

© 2008 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes.  All rights reserved.

With thanks to Linda Baie, whose "15 word or less" poem on Laura Purdie Salas' blog yesterday inspired today's post.

Oh, do you want to be inspired too?  Well then head over to The Poem Farm, where Amy has today's Poetry Friday roundup!

My Garden is Your Garden

Welcome to Haiku Garden— a place to ponder some of poetry's littlest ditties, planted with love for our reading pleasure.  This is not just my garden, it is a community garden.  If you would like to take part in this new and recurring feature on Today's Little Ditty, please contact me at michelle (at) MichelleHBarnes (dot) com, or by commenting below.  I happen to know that there are many wonderful poets reading this blog post who excel in Japanese short form (haiku, senryu, haiga...). Please join me!  Or maybe you don't typically write in this form, but would like to try your hand at it just for fun.  Please join me!  Here, it's all ditties and it's all good.  Haiku Garden will only grow as beautiful as the community that gathers to appreciate it, and I look forward to featuring you and your blog!

In the meantime, today's little ditty was inspired by a memory that I've kept close to my heart for the past seven plus years.  It was January, summertime in Sydney, Australia, and the beginning of the school year.  My 5 year old was starting Kindergarten.  Each morning, we walked up a steep hill on a street lined with Frangipani trees to get to his school.  Along the way, he liked to collect the best blossoms from those that had fallen to the ground-- his daily ritual which I accommodated as best I could without being late for the morning bell.

Frangipani

Cradled in his hands

like newborn chicks, Here Mummy,

keep these forever?

© 2013 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes.  All rights reserved.

Hungry for more?  Laura Purdie Salas has the Poetry Friday roundup at Writing the World for Kids.  See you there!