DMC: "Dear Frozen February" by Michelle Kogan

Dear Frozen February,

Bundled so barely my eyes see,
bright rays met me on my walk, where
I spied some beaming red berries.

Baby steps traversed across the
sparkling tundra, eyes tearing
trudging through snowy scenery...

Bouncing steps joyfully captured
my eye a distance ahead, while
swaying mirthfully, undisturbed.

Above the snow covered birches,
finally, the sweet chirping din
of sparrows scouring branches.

Searching for their shape, ones undone,
for a moment, and stored in my
memories imagination.

Most humbly yours,
Explorer of the outdoors

© 2015 Michelle Kogan. All rights reserved.


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with 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 February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry:

Monday Musing: Presidents' Day

Magic Book by caffeinesoup

"The things I want to know are in books; 

my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read."

~ Abraham Lincoln

Limerick Alley: Neal Levin

Uh-oh.

It's Friday the 13th. 

Last time it was Friday the 13th in Limerick Alley....

It was bad.  

Bad. Bad. Baaaad. 

There will be no more running with scissors at Today's Little Ditty!

Today, I expect, will be different.

It's almost Valentine's Day for goodness sake.  How bad could it be?

No silly Friday the 13th superstition is going to interfere with my romantic Valentine's celebration.

Besides, we have limerick master Neal Levin here with us today. He's won the Saturday Evening Post Limerick Laughs contest EIGHT (!) times – 4 times as a first place winner and 4 times as a runner-up. I have full trust in Neal's good taste and limerick-writing ability.

Take it away, Neal....

DINNER WITH THE CANNIBALS
         By Neal Levin

We hope that this doesn't unnerve you,
But really, we'd love to reserve you
A place at our table.
So come, if you're able.
We'd truly be happy to serve you.

"Tastes like chicken."

GAH!

I should've known.


Neal is a Michigan-based writer/illustrator/cartoonist, and a leading cause of giggling in children nationwide, thanks to his generous talent for writing humorous children's poetry. His poems have appeared in several anthologies published by Meadowbrook Press, including Rolling In the Aisles, Dinner With Dracula, I've Been Burping In the Classroom, My Teacher's In Detention, and I Hope I Don't Strike Out, as well as a variety of national magazines and educational publications. Neal has also taught cartooning workshops to tens of thousands of students in the metropolitan Detroit area and creative writing classes at Camp Walden, a summer camp in northern Michigan. By sheer luck, I was honored to have him illustrate my poem "George Nissen, Boy Inventor" in Boys' Quest magazine last year. Visit Neal as his website: NealLevin.com

Thank you for being my guest in Limerick Alley today, Neal!

You are cordially invited to dinner at my house anytime... provided you leave your cannibal friends at home.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In case you missed last week's interview with David Elliott, he's challenged us to write letter poems this month. This week I featured my love letter to an Australian Magpie, as well as three other poems by Damon Dean, Katie Gast, and Matt Forrest Esenwine.  Keep those letter poems coming!

Cathy Mere is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Merely Day By Day.

DMC: "Dear Maggenpie" by M. H. Barnes

Dear Maggenpie, oh magpie dear,

Your song is heaven to my ear.
Enraptured by your melody,
I sing your praise adoringly.

A Siren, you beguile, entrance…
Poor heart! I never stood a chance.

This helmet is my badge of shame
for when you swoop and scream my name.

I watch you nesting up above
and though you don’t return my love,
all’s well, my dear – I don’t feel slighted.

Yours forever,

Unrequited

© 2015 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.


USEFUL LINKS: 

Australian Magpie Singing  
How to Keep Safe from Swooping Australian Magpies


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with 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 February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry:

DMC: "Dear Dad" by Matt Forrest Esenwine

Dear Dad,

I’m having trouble fitting in.
I feel unhappy in my skin.
The kids at school all call me names;
they carry torches bright with flames.
Teachers chase me through the rooms
with pitchforks, clubs, and wooden brooms.
When I say, “Hi,” the parents flee.
It’s almost like they’re scared of me.
Sorry, I don’t mean to whine.

Love,
your son,
        Jack Frankenstein

© 2015 Matt Forrest Esenwine. All rights reserved.


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with 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 February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry:

DMC: "Dear Cat" by Katie Gast

Dear Cat,

I love you on my lap.
I love to hear your purr.
But must your play involve a snap
And what’s with all the fur?
Oh queen, aloof. You go your way
You barely look at me.

Best regards throughout your day,
Your slave eternally.

© 2015 Katie Gast. All rights reserved.


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with 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 February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry:

DMC: "Dear Sir Roly-Poly" by Damon Dean

Dear Sir Roly-Poly,

I thank you for your inquiry
          about your pedigree.
Regretfully, appearances
          belie your family tree.

I’ve turned most every leaf and stone.
          My research seems to say—
you’re not a bug at all! Not
          in the ‘insect’ sort of way.

Instead you are crustacean!
          (Your kin are water-bound,
so how you came to live on land—
          that fact I’ve not yet found.)

Some further facts are needed. More
          ancestry should be followed.
But meanwhile I should caution you—
          don’t let yourself be swallowed.

Your rolling-up ability
          (that ‘conglobation’ skill)
Could cause some sickly creature to
          mistake you for a pill.

Sincerely,

Professor O. Possum

© 2015 Damon Dean. All rights reserved.


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with 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 February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry: