DMC: "Future Friends" by Janie Lazo

FUTURE FRIENDS

Someday soon I will
shake the hand of my neighbor
and say, Come right in

© 2020 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


This month we featured three challenges from My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione:

"These are the Hands": Write about the place that empathy has in your life—a time you offered compassion to another or a time it was freely given to you.

"Lost and Found": Write about a time you lost something or somebody. 

And "Into the Future: Take Yourself There Now": Write about that place called future, as you imagine it; peer into its unknown terrain, and see what you find.

Click on the challenge titles above for more details about each one and/or visit our end-of-month celebration to read other poems contributed. Submit your poem by 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 30th, to be entered in a random drawing for a copy of this outstanding guide to writing poetry, courtesy of Seven Stories Press.

DMC: "Hide and Seek" by Janie Lazo

HIDE AND SEEK

Let’s play a game of hide and seek
My best friend said to me
Then off she ran as there I sat
Leaned up against a tree
I counted up to ten and yelled
Get ready here I come
But then I went inside the house–
This game seemed quite ho hum
I watched some TV, ate a snack
And read my favorite book
When I got bored I went outside
Perhaps I’ll take a look
As I went out her mom pulled up–
C’mon it’s time to go
Our game was done– our friendship too
I guess I was too slow

© 2020 Janie Lazo. 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: "Let's Talk Turkey" by Janie Lazo

DaPuglet

LET'S TALK TURKEY

The thing that I’m most thankful for
On this Thanksgiving Day
As I gobble, gobble yummy food
And then run out to play
Is that I am The Who I am
And while that is still murky
I’m thankful that I wasn’t born
A plump Thanksgiving Turkey

© 2019 Janie Lazo. 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.

All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration tomorrow, Friday, November 29th.

DMC: "A Howling Bad Time" by Janie Lazo

Kit

A HOWLING BAD TIME

I feel an itch behind my ear
I scratch—oh no—I quake with fear
Outside the window bright and clear
A full moon glows—my fate draws near
Once nails—now claws—I writhe in pain
Once teeth—now fangs—I squirm in vain
Once skin—now fur—my certain bane
My canine ears hear gurgling drain
Mom yells COME NOW! I feel her wrath
I snarl—I growl—as no man hath
She drags me from my dusty path
From under bed—straight to the bath!

© 2019 Janie Lazo. 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, you can check out our entire monster menagerie HERE.

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: "A Grand View" by Janie Lazo

A GRAND VIEW

Sticky fingerprints
A sweet reminder of you
Window to my heart

© 2018 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Julie Fogliano. She has challenged us to stare out the window and write a poem about what we see. You might even consider writing something down every day for a week:

At the end of the week, read through what you wrote and write your favorite bits on a separate piece of paper. I bet there will be a poem in there somewhere… see if you can find it.  – J. F.

Leave your poem on our May 2018 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration tomorrow, Friday, May 25th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her stunning new picture book from Roaring Brook Press:

DMC: "Under My Bed" by Janie Lazo

UNDER MY BED

There is a darkness lurking near
This darkness fills my heart with dread
I'm not alone – I think – I fear
A darkness hides beneath my bed

As dark as pitch, with eyes that leer
And teeth that rip and pull and shred
Is that a hiss and growl I hear?
I hate this ghastly monster bed!

I feel my eyes begin to tear
The monster might bite through my bed!
Can't cry! I'm turning 12 this year
And monsters don't exist, Mom said.

But just in case, I block my ears
I take off running – out I fled
I made it safe – I jump – I cheer
No way I'm sleeping in that bed!

© 2017 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Carrie Clickard. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem about a person, place, or thing that spooked you as a child.

Post your poem on our October 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, October 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her enchanting new picture book from Holiday House:

DMC: "Ode to a Seashell" by Janie Lazo

ODE TO A SEASHELL

I see you hiding there—a  shimmer in the waves beneath my feet
I wriggle my fingers deep into the wet sand and feel the whole of you
Deep ridges—smooth curves—A spiral of mystery waiting 
     to be discovered
I lift you to my ear and hear the rushing song of the sea that lives
     within you
I breathe in your briny goodness taste the salt spray on my lips
I wonder—Who will call you home?
Toss me back and we shall see.

© 2017 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Helen Frost has challenged us to write an ode poem this month, following these instructions:  

Choose an object (a seashell, a hairbrush, a bird nest, a rolling pin). It should not be anything symbolic (such as a doll, a wedding ring, or a flag). Write five lines about the object, using a different sense in each line (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Then ask the object a question, listen for its answer, and write the question, the answer, or both.

Click HERE to read her sample poem, "Ode to a River."

Post your poem on our March 2017 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, March 31st, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her latest novel-in-poems from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/Macmillan:

DMC: "Winter Wonder" by Janie Lazo

WINTER WONDER

Swirling, falling bits of heaven
Floating down—whirling round
Gently land on snowy ground
Lying there I feel I'm flying
Through the snow—up I go
Through the whirling, swirling show
Winter's hush is all around me
Silence loud—Winter's shroud
Whispers peace she has endowed
In this perfect world of wonder
Heaven's show—earth aglow
making angels in the snow

© 2016 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Ann Rider has challenged us to write poems about places of refuge and solace this month. Click HERE for more details.

You have until tomorrow, November 30th, to join in! Post your poem on our November 2016 padlet and I will add it to the wrap-up celebration HERE. One lucky participant will win a copy of BEFORE MORNING by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

DMC: "The Escape" by Janie Lazo

THE ESCAPE

An empty cage- a door agape
One hamster gone- a great escape
A frantic search- no clues in sight
No fond farewell - a senseless plight
For safe and sound- one hamster sat
Guarded closely - by our cat

© 2016 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Diana Murray has challenged us to write a poem about an unlikely hero this month. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our August 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, August 26th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her fun new picture book from Roaring Brook Press:

DMC: "Ditty Love" by Janie Lazo

DITTY LOVE

Inside my head– a poem– a song.
Sometimes they're short; sometimes quite long.
These ditties come and must be shared.
A ditty here– a ditty there.
They do the things that ditties do–
They make us laugh; they make us blue.
I jot them on the go a lot,
Pull off the road – write down that thought.
I fear I've caught a ditty bug.
The tell-tale sign?  Pure ditty love!

© 2016 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


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.

DMC: "Kindness on the Breeze" by Janie Lazo

Kindness on the Breeze

A tiny home of twigs and moss
A magical retreat
A tiny tyke would spread his wings
To fly- his greatest feat.
But on the breeze he faltered
and soon fluttered to the ground
Stunned he lay in silence-
seeing danger all around.
His mother - in a tizzy -
quickly flitted to and fro
But her baby bird was helpless -
where he was - she could not go.
Soon small hands were wrapped around him
as he lifted toward the sky.
Little feet stood tall on tiptoes
as small arms reached way up high.
He was gently placed inside his nest-
all snug and safe and sound
A gentle act of kindness
in a world where love abounds.

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Rebecca M. Davis has challenged us to write poems about acts of kindness this month– the more specific and vivid the better.  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, November 27th, and one lucky participant will win copies of two delightful picture books published by Boyds Mills Press: THIS ORQ. (HE CAVE BOY.) and THIS ORQ. (HE SAY "UGH!") by David Elliott, illustrated by Lori Nichols.

DMC: "Cat" by Janie Lazo

Cat 

I crave her silky softness
As her slender body moves
Graceful passes so alluring
Still my touch she dares reprove
When I call to her she listens
But to hasten? no not she
Though I beckon - she ignores me
Too aloof to hear my pleas
So I sit alone in silence
I'm no fool, I shall not beg
Then this flighty, flirty, vixen
Soon is rubbing on my leg 

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Marcus Ewert has challenged us to write love poems this month– about relationships that seem unrequited, but which end up being requited after all. 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, October 30th, and one lucky participant will win an autographed copy of his fabulous new picture book:

DMC: Alphabet snacks from Janie Lazo

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed . . .

Things from my refrigerator.
Albert Allen’s alligator.

Mr. Tobin’s fresh grown squash.
Edamame succotash.

Bacon, sausage, juicy steak
Pudding, pies, and birthday cake.

                                                          – Penny Parker Klostermann, all rights reserved

My keyboard letters – gulp – oh my!
He's burping words and I know why.

                                                         – Janie Lazo, all rights reserved


Penny Parker Klostermann has challenged us to write one to four couplets following her example– things we might feed a dragon to avoid being swallowed ourselves.  Click HERE for more details.

Send your couplets to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a whopper of a cumulative poem featured at our wrap-up celebration on Friday, August 28th.  One lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Penny's deliciously funny debut picture book:

DMC: "Duck waddled through town" by Janie Lazo

Duck waddled through town posting flyers and billing 
that Woodpecker helped hang with his skillful beak drilling.
Goosander was sawing, Ms. Beaver was gnawing,
and Bear hoisted boards with his heaving and pawing.
But Moose wanted more for this leafy retreat-
an excellent tree house he meant to complete!
So he watched like a hawk and did frequent inspections,
and he pointed out flaws and minute imperfections.
His voice roared like thunder through his orange megaphone,
"Level!" He shouted "LEVEL" in a harsh, hurtful tone.
"This wall is not plumb and it must be precise!"
"You must read my blueprint! It's very concise!"
From the sting of his words Moose's friends felt defeated.
So they packed up their tools and through the woods they retreated.

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Corey Rosen Schwartz has challenged us to write a stanza or two about building a treehouse, using unpredictable rhymes of more than one syllable. Click HERE for all the details.

Send your stanzas 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, June 26th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Corey's delightful new picture book:

DMC: "Blanket" by Janie Lazo

BLANKET

Blanket is a cozy comfortable word.
I spread it on the ground and
share a picnic with my best friend.
We laugh, we share secrets, we dream, we become.
At night Mom tucks me in and pulls it up close around my shoulders.
She kisses me. I feel loved.
A patchwork of softness and memories,
I am warm and snug in it's embrace

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Nikki Grimes has challenged us to try a wordplay exercise this month and create our own free verse poems. Click HERE for all the 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 TOMORROW, May 29th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Nikki's brand new picture book: