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Perfect day for chalk! Why does Sunday always slip away so quickly? Hard to believe tomorrow is the last day of poetry month.

A Sunday afternoon Chalk-ku seems like a perfect beginning to a Monday celebration! Thank you for the shout-out and for chalking.

Very nice & lazy & perfect for this afternoon, that slipped away just as you said.

Yes...that was our day too! You're just wise, and this looks as good as it sounds. 'Gotta say that I love your initials as well! a.

I'm so glad you listened to the radio! Nice to have a little funny slice from your day, Mary Lee.

I popped over here for a wee break from a freelance writing project, and what a perfect little break it is! Thanks for sharing this great story. After reading the post, I looked at the picture again and I'm sure seeing a comical face in that composition... ;0) (Love your taste in NPR shows, too.)

Yep, that actually works. I laughed again when I read it for the fourth time at the end!

Ha! You got me smiling too! Thank you once more, Mary Lee! a.

Flaming Poo Poo Platter is all I need to for the next four days thanks for making me smile!

Just saying Flaming Poo Poo Patter makes me laugh. I can only imagine what saying this to my first graders would do. Glad your day turned around.

{new follower here}

That is a really nice poem. Thank you for sharing.

{http://www.justonemorechapter.net}

What a perfect metaphor, Mary Lee. I think often of the teachers who completely changed the course of my life without ever knowing it. I tip my hat to all teachers with receipts in their pockets and hearts. Thank you for this one! xo, a.

This poem touched my heart thank you for including 5th grade. It is a perfect poem to read on Saturday morning and then take the time to reflect on the next five weeks.

Love the lose the receipt... I always feel that a piece of my heart is going on with them... thanks for your touching words.

Beautifully said Mary Lee. I agree wholeheartedly, like when people won't vote for bond issues, I always tell them you are investing in the future leaders, the ones who will take care of the world, our world. Thank you for this wonderful thought.

Well said! Would be so nice to know what everyone becomes.

After teaching this all day, I REALLY appreciated this poem!

Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade

I'm really glad someone else's fourth graders are confused by perimeter and area. All year long, I have used the words "perimeter" and "area" in talking to kids about coming to our class meeting area, "sit on the perimeter" for share or class meeting, sit in the "area" for a mini-lesson or read aloud. I thought for sure they would understand it by now, but I just finished a math unit on perimeter and area and ummm, not so much…I thought it was just because I am a bad math teacher!

Clearly, you teach math, & keeping all these straight requires more than a ruler. Neat poem, Mary Lee that tells exactly how it is!

You are so right! My iris are up, not blooming yet, but the color is there. And it's supposed to be 90 today, while it's snowing in the northeast. Wacko for sure. The haiku makes just the right comment!

I watch the rhubarb grow every year. It's a part of what makes me, me. I tend to the smaller shoots passed down from generation to generation. And I also equally water and surround with compost the new hybrids. The people I have loved and some of the people I love still love rhubarb and rhubarb pie. What else matters!

I can't be too positive for this one, Mary Lee, because I can't see the redeeming quality of this rhubarb stuff. I do not like rhubarb & constantly wonder why so many others do. I like your beginning, wonderful to see the 'downside' of rhubarb, those big leaves, etc. Thanks for all, Mary Lee.

That beautiful photo pulled me in, and then your surprising opening grabbed me. What an unexpected way to look at rhubarb! Makes me wish I had some to stew for hours with shocking amounts of sugar...

Love rhubarb! My favorite pie used to be rhubarb & strawberry. Used to be since I don't have either in my garden and haven't had that pie for years... I ought to do something about that! I love your photo and your poem here. Good job with the poem a day!

THIS is how I like to learn about plants. I'm a horrible gardener, but so curious about how it's done well. I had no idea rhubarb was blessed with large ears of leaves. I only know its tartness in pies, and since my mom thought too much sugar was a bad thing, the pie of hers I sampled was not dessert in my book. I made the error of saying so... Oh, I still remember me and that piece of pie sitting at the table staring at each other long after everyone else got to leave. Maybe one day someone will make me a sassy rhubarb cocktail and the damage will be undone.

Totally love rhubarb-let's trade this summer during summer PD!! I've always wanted to grow it and haven't yet-this poem makes me want to start some in our garden.

Your poem brought back memories. When I was a kid, I loved to dip raw rhubarb in sugar and chew on it...till my jaws got tired. My mother has always loved strawberry rhubarb pie.

So right. While I love all the tech stuff, sometimes it's just too much. I love how you made this "quick", but most of it is not. Ah, the irony of that which is supposed to save us time.

Loved the breath of fresh air at the end!

Well needless to say, Jim and I sitting here hysterically laughing and I am guessing that he has never had a poem go out to him before! What fun and you pulled it off, shall we say without any "inappropriate" words. He was just talking about the tutu - and his need for a fourfour! We are honored to be mentioned, Merci beaucoup! And NO this shout out will NOT keep me from encouraging you...
ps - Jim just shouted out to me, "she is a good writer" :)

Très bien!

Voila...another winner! Well done...

Oo la la-c'est belle! And Merci, too!

Love it! Those lines all bring vivid images to mind.

This poems says it all and brings back special memories and extends to my life today where I am still dreaming.

I love this!

Love this! What fun! Can I copy and share it with our teachers (K-6, Title I school in Utah) to share with students? I will (of course)include your copyright and website info at bottom.
I love writing poetry--you've inspired me to post some on my blog, too! Thanks! Happy writing!
-janiel

Love this too! A fun way to capture childhood with the rhythm and the rhyme!

Love this, ML. Never pegged you for a booger flicker, though :).

LOVE THIS!

What fun, Mary Lee!

Oh, yeah. I've flicked with the best of 'em!!

Yes, you certainly may share my poem (with attribution/copyright)! Thank you for the honor!!

In a nutshell, you've written it! Such fun!

Mary Lee,

Great list poem--one that I'm sure kids will enjoy.

These lines came to me today in the shower -- whaddaya think, too much potty humor, or just right for kids?

Fart -- rip it.
Tooth -- chip it.

Mary Lee,
Thanks for allowing me to share your poem!
Lots of students have enjoyed it already!
-j

I love how you are able to write beautifully, quirkily, seriously, nature-fully...this nailed childhood! a.

I saw you comment that you are so careful about titles, & this is a great one, Mary Lee. If you don't "look down" there is so much to miss. Guess those mushrooms are having a feast on the trunk!

I have always been intruiged by mushrooms, they are so ninja like! One day there is nothing and the next morning there can be a big surprise. Love how you captured that in this poem.

I am finding a good title to be one of the hardest things to accomplish. I agree with Linda, Mary Lee, you are quite good at it. What do you consider when titling a poem. I've been trying to take a surprising line or interesting phrase from the poem, but it doesn't always seem to work. Suggestions from either of you?

Mushrooms freak me out and fascinate me...love that last line, and shall now always think of the mushrooms I see on my hikes this way.

What a neat photo. The forest is really alive and full of surprise.

Your haiku brings to mind the first field trip I'd take my students on every school year. We'd go for a walk in the woods and find all kinds of fungi, lichens, insect galls, salamanders. My students looked down...over, under, and all around.

I really love this one! I felt like I was right there with you in the kitchen. Maybe my pans have had a mind of there own on occasion! I hope your next batch went a bit more smoothly!

Clever use of experience, sad to hear however. I was waiting for some kind of culinary delight!

Big smile from me who understands this...and strives for your response. Love the nouns! a.

And me as well...writing mostly haiku.

I use Newspaper Blackout with my students. They love it. Go on you tube there is a fantastic trailer for the book : o )

I tried to do a Newspaper Blackout poem just a few days ago but it was a fail.... Maybe I should try again too, and maybe I need a bit of that resource you mentioned by Austin Kleon. Thanks for the inspiration.

I have never tried a Newspaper Blackout poem but I will soon - with students. Thank you for the idea.

No, you shouldn't wander into B & N. I can't go near Tattered Cover, like Carol does-it's just too tempting. This is terrific, Mary Lee-what fun. I've never seen it before, so will have to try, maybe tomorrow in the Sunday paper? When I freewrite I am often surprised at the outcome, so maybe this is kind of like that? I do like the back & forth feelings of the person speaking.

I have tried blackout poems before but have never had much success. I'm willing to give it another try. Hmmm, maybe it needs to be an episode of Poetry Can'ts? :)

Love Kay Ryan!

Love this idea! Thanks for sharing. I tried the Book Spine poems with my students last week and they had loads of fun creating them. This should inspire them too!

Giggling...I hope I haven't offended the plants.

HA! I love that little sick side you have, Mary Lee! xo, a.

I can't let my husband, Jeff, read this. He'll be devastated. He's a bit obsessed with sunflowers. As a matter of fact, he came back today with two packs of sunflower seeds to plant. The title is so important in this poem. I find choosing a title to be much harder than I anticipated.

Eeek!

Why does this seem worse that cracking sunflower seeds between my teeth?

This Is Just To Say

I have eaten
the sprouts
that were on
my sandwich

and which
you were probably
saving
for the garden

Forgive me
they were delicious
so young
and so very green

I am LOVING choosing titles! Ever since Final Page of Oak Leaf's Memoir, I have realized how very integral the title is to the poem. Not a descriptor tacked on after the poem is written, but sometimes almost the first line of the poem, or an early punchline, or the bit that makes the poem mean more than it ever could on its own.

Ha! I'm glad I wasn't the first to comment; I might have missed this reply to Murder? But-I do love Inplanticide-It will give my online dictionary a challenge!

So, although you may not have liked the word at first, skitter turns out to be quite useful! Mary Lee, your poetry writing is spare & sets the scene very well indeed. The poem itself just rolls along, like the river or stream.

Yes, thank goodness for notebooks! They don't judge what you put in them, and never lose a thing.

I love the way the rhythm of your poem evokes the strolling and rolling. I need a stream nearby!

Mary Lee,
Like you, I've been thankful for my notebook. I put it aside for technology a few years ago. I just was a little between collecting ideas on a device and on paper. While writing Slice of Life posts I realized that the best pieces were those that had some fragment from my notebook. I had played more with the writing in my notebook. I was able to cross out, write numerous possibilities, and discover lines that work. So...I'm back to my notebook. Lesson learned. Now if I could just figure out how to organize it!?

I enjoyed your poem. I loved the rhythm of it. It just made me want to fun beside the stream and enjoy the life around it.

That is so lovely!

They should put your picture and poem into a nature calendar. :)

Hey, thanks for the mention. I'll do the same, Mary Lee. I love that first line "They''ve made their home, in a commercial zone." How many stories every spring arise because of the ducks and geese. We complain about them year round, yet most of the time, people protect them at this miracle time. Your poem captures just that moment beautifully.

This one made me smile :). Cute and clever!

Mary Lee, what an interesting predicament for the goose and gander. I loved this line, "The vigilant gander / threatening human bystanders." Thanks for continuing to shout poetry and causing me to want to join in the fun. I enjoy being on the lookout for poetry.

Thanks for letting me know about other blogs joining in the celebration of National Poetry Month. I'm trying to add them to the sidebar of my blog.

So little space left for our feathered friends.

I love the ending.

You picked a perfect word for you, and you nailed it. Love those last two lines. I hope to hear how N. used her word - noun or verb? My daughter got GLIMPSE, and I got ANCIENT. See you in the dictionary! a.

Ah and so the month begins... with your glorious words. Love the theme of this poem and the perfect words you have chosen.

Glad you started with this one. Such smart advice.

LOVE that final line!

I'm with Laura. I love the whole poem really love that last line. I am so trying NOT to get hooked into the dictionary hike this year. Later. On an off month. But I'll be watching to see how your journey goes.

Maybe I'll try the dictionary hike once in a while, but I'm going to go with my own flow this time, trying some different structures I've seen on the slice of life challenge and on Poetry Friday. It's so exciting to see what you & everyone else is doing, Mary Lee. Your poem is so concise, just right! I too love the way you wrapped it up so nicely.

Susan and Linda,
I am so NOT going to stick with the dictionary hike all month. That is just ONE way for me to get ideas! I had quite enough of being stuck with a word during Madness! 2012. I also like to write from my photos and just from whatever seems to need to be written about at the moment!

I was pretty proud of that line! Thanks for noticing it!!