Showing posts with label sunshine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunshine. Show all posts

Monday, April 25, 2022

Filling the Well: Romain Rolland, Georges Lemmen, NASA, and The Jive Aces

 
 
 If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself.
 
 – Romain Rolland
 
 
 
 
 
The Jive Aces
"Bring Me Sunshine" from King of the Swingers
 
 
 
 

April 12: Beverly Cleary
 
 

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Two Line Tuesday: Og Mandino






"Sunset @ Gandipet" by Vijay Bandari


I will love the light for it shows me the way;
yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.

– Og Mandino
from The Greatest Salesman in the World (1968)




Wednesday, May 29, 2019

DMC: Instructions for the Sun and a star, by Isabella and Ani




Today I'm delighted to feature two students from Rebekah Hoeft's 3rd grade classroom. As you can see with these celestial poems, her young poets really do shine! Read more of Mrs. Hoeft's students' poems on the May 2019 padlet.


SUN INSTRUCTIONS

Shine real bright.
Don't come at night.
Don't come close to Earth.
When Winter comes, knock him back to
Aunt Artica.
Be the star of the show.
Let everybody know:
you shine bright.
 

© 2019 Isabella, 3rd Grader. All rights reserved.


STAR INSTRUCTIONS

Star in the sky,
shine so bright.
Only come
out in the night.

Be sparkly
and shiny
when you glow.

© 2019 Ani, 3rd Grader. All rights reserved.



Elizabeth Steinglass has challenged us to write a poem giving instructions to an inanimate object about how to do its job. Click HERE for more details and to read this month's Spotlight ON interview.

Post your poem on our May 2019 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, May 31st, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her fantastic debut poetry collection from WordSong:





Wednesday, May 16, 2018

DMC: "Sunny Day" by Dianne Moritz




SUNNY DAY

Lilac bushes
Bud and bloom,
Wafting perfume
In my room.

Purple Iris
Dance and sway
On this perfect,
Sunny day!

© 2018 Dianne Moritz. 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 on Friday, May 25th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her stunning new picture book from Roaring Brook Press:





Monday, August 21, 2017

Monday Musing: Solar Eclipse



Habbal/NASA

How then does light return to the world after the eclipse of the sun? Miraculously. Frailly. In thin stripes. It hangs like a glass cage. It is a hoop to be fractured by a tiny jar. There is a spark there. Next moment a flush of dun. Then a vapour as if earth were breathing in and out, once, twice, for the first time. Then under the dullness someone walks with a green light. Then off twists a white wraith. The woods throb blue and green, and gradually the fields drink in red, gold, brown. Suddenly a river snatches a blue light. The earth absorbs colour like a sponge slowly drinking water. It puts on weight; rounds itself; hangs pendent; settles and swings beneath our feet.
                                                                       – Virginia Woolf, from The Waves



For more information about the photograph, visit Goddard Space Flight Center.



Thursday, May 14, 2015

DMC: "Sun" by Diane Mayr





SUN

Sun is an "ess" word:
sneaking over windowsills at dawn,
striking at noon,
sinking at dusk.
Swaddled in clouds
or stark-nakedly shining.
Soothing or sizzling.
Simply sunsational!

© 2015 Diane Mayr. 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 on Friday, May 29th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Nikki's brand new picture book:






Thursday, September 25, 2014

DMC: "Peppermint's Gratitude" by Tabatha Yeatts




Peppermint's Gratitude

My scent is sent
to salute you --

a clear cloud
of praise,

a tribute to you
for my roots,

stem,
and veins.

I push out --

my rough edges
reach for your rays,

striving to be
closer to you

all my days.


© 2014 Tabatha Yeatts. All rights reserved.

Photo: Suzie's Farm


Irene Latham has challenged us to write a poem of address this month (click HERE for details). We'd love for you to join in! Send your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right.

Submissions will be accepted until September 30th, but stay tuned for the end-of-month wrap-up TOMORROW!  All participants will be entered to win a copy of Irene's beautiful new children's poetry collection:




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Two Line Tuesday: Frances Hodgson Burnett





First Spring Rain, Nevena Uzuroz, via Wikimedia Commons


"Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine..."

–Frances Hodgson Burnett 
from The Secret Garden




Monday, February 3, 2014

Haiku Garden: Matt Forrest Esenwine



While some are still getting more of the wintry white stuff...

Birdfeeders in the snow.  Photo by George A. Heidenrich

Others are beginning to enjoy warmer temperatures and the first signs of spring...



I'm quite sure Old Man Winter is not done with us yet (even here in North Florida), but while we enjoy a breather, I'm delighted to welcome the sunny and talented Matt Forrest Esenwine to the Haiku Garden.  Many of us have been missing Matt while he recovers from an injury and his blog Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme has been on hiatus. 

It's a special treat to have you here today, Matt!

Thank you for inspiring us with this little beauty:

The Nature In Us


           beside her chrysalis
           butterfly rests
           church-window wings
                               - © Matt Forrest Esenwine, 2014

Ever the optimist, much of Matt's writing reflects a refreshing, hopeful, and positive tone.  That's one of the things I like best about his poetry.   Whether playful or heartfelt, his writing is always thoughtful and full of life.  And if Matt says warmer days are coming, you can bet that I'm a believer!

faeryhearts

If you would like to share a haiku on Today's Little Ditty in the future, please contact me at michelle (at) MichelleHBarnes (dot) com, or by commenting below.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Just call me Little Miss Sunshine



There's nothing like a wagon load of sunshine as a pick-me-up, especially in winter.  This past week my allowance of Vitamin D came in the form of Sunshine Awards from two blogging friends, Margaret at Reflections on the Teche and Keri at Keri Recommends.  My warmest thanks to both of these fabulous, sun-toting writers!


This is how it works:
  1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger(s).
  2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
  3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created for you.
  4. List 11 bloggers who inspire you.
  5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they’ve been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

Eleven Facts:
  1. I am an INFJ and an Aquarius. 
  2. I enjoy snacking on dark chocolate covered edamame.
  3. I was named after the Beatles song.  The intention was to call me Mickey, but thanks to long hair and nails at birth, I narrowly escaped that fate.
  4. A record producer once told me I would be the next Tracy Chapman and suggested I change my name to Cindy Timberwolf.
  5. In my next life, I would like to be a dancer or a bird... or both. (I'll pass on the timber wolf-- Cindy or otherwise.)
  6. I once got my foot stuck in the back wheel of a moving bicycle and my family called me "Gross Foot."  (I would have preferred Mickey.)
  7. I have been fortunate to have lived in some beautiful places.  I especially miss the big sky of New Mexico and the eastern coastline of Australia.
  8. I have a talent for making wonderful friends, both in person and online, wherever I call home. 
  9. Each time I move, I have an irrational fear that I will be forgotten.  This is likely due to a favorite 5th grade teacher who didn't recognize me when I returned to visit the following year.
  10. Prior to creative parenting and creative writing, I worked my way up from Department Secretary to Human Resources Manager at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
  11. For many, many years I sang "Lullaby and Goodnight" to my children at bedtime.  Not once did I make it all the way through without yawning.  Still can't, but I hope you made it through my list of random facts without yawning!

Eleven Answers:
          (I've taken some questions from Margaret's list and some from Keri's)

1. What is your favorite movie of all time?  The Secret of Roan Inish

2. When did you first begin to believe you were a writer?  After being discouraged in high school, I only began to believe I was a writer when I got my first greeting card copy acceptance in November of 2004.  Unless songwriting counts... then it was when I was about 20 or so.

3. Who was your favorite author when you were growing up?  Dr. Seuss

4. Do you collect anything?  Suns and unpacked moving boxes

5. What book have you read lately that influenced you and how?  Views from a Window Seat, by Jeannine Atkins.  This is why.

6. What is a poem you know by heart and can recite?  In my childhood bedroom, there was a plaque that hung above my bed.  I read it every night and remember it to this day.

A Child's Prayer
(author unknown)

Dear God, 
I thank You for Your care
You've been right with me everywhere
At school, at play, You're by my side
My special Friend, my loving Guide
And when the sun has said goodbye
And little lights shine in the sky
You're still with me, not far above
Right in my heart, for You are Love.

7.  A popular children's book you feel guilty about NOT reading?  A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle.  I know, I know... I'll be reading it next!

8. Next place you hope to visit?  Prague

9. Unusual skill you possess?  I'm a self-taught cups percussionist for "The Cup Song"... but please don't ask me to sing at the same time.

10. Something you loathe?  Downhill skiing.  The one and only time I went, I left a trail of blue dye from the seat of my new jeans all the way down the mountain.

11. Something you love?  Music, morning walks, and my muse when it comes out to play.

Eleven Bloggers:

Note: I realize that several of you have been nominated over and over, and I don't actually expect you to participate.  Just wanted to thank you for the inspiration, and for leaving the light on.

And the Sunshine Awards go to...

Robyn Hood Black: Life on the Deckle Edge
Mary Lee Hahn: A Year of Reading
Renee LaTulippe: No Water River
Liana Mahoney: Commas Have Wings
Diane Mayr: Random Noodling
Sarah Monsma: Sarah Monsma, Writer and Editer
Jama Rattigan: Jama's Alphabet Soup
Laura Purdie Salas: Writing the World for Kids
Laura Shovan: Author Amok
Liz Steinglass: Elizabeth Steinglass, Poet
Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference


Eleven Questions:
  1. Choose three words to describe yourself.
  2. Choose three words others might use to describe you.
  3. What is your secret snack or guilty pleasure?
  4. Other than your immediate family, who is/was your role model?
  5. Favorite music?
  6. Favorite book or author as a child?
  7. What are you reading now?
  8. Share an embarrassing childhood memory.
  9. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
  10. What is one of your favorite things about where you live?
  11. What was the best advice ever given to you?