7-Minute Poetry Challenge #20-We are the Balloon
Intake! Outtake!
Writing…even poetry… is like taking a ride in a hot air balloon—soaring up! uP! UP!
If we think of the product— the words, the thoughts, the story—as the basket, then we, the creator are the. . .
Balloon
Make it stand out
Which means, due to changes in elevation, exertion, weather…
or maybe a tear or leaky value, we all need a refill.
An infusion of fresh air. That’s why today is . . .
Memorize a Poem Day!
Reading poems helps you feel the rhythm and rhyme (if there is one) and forces you to look at each word more closely. Reading poetry fills you with fresh ideas, fresh ways of writing, of thinking about creating.
When you memorize a poem, you internalize it—really take it inside—like you are sucking in deep, refreshing gulps of fresh air!
Once you’ve memorized a poem, it’s stored in a tiny secret pocket of your brain. You can pull it out whenever you want, recite it to get through a tough time, put someone—maybe yourself—to sleep, inspire, remind…Amazing the uses!
Poetry Challenge #20
We Are the Balloon
Today, instead of writing a new poem, read some favorites and pick a verse or two or the whole thing to memorize.
Say it aloud!
Say it in your head!
Say it while walking or doing chores or waiting in line.
Some of favorite poems—and ones Cindy knows some or all of—include C.S. Lewis’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter”, lots of Robert Frost (“Fire and Ice”, “The Road Not Taken”, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”), Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallot”, Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
7-Minute Poetry Challenge #18-Moody Blues
In the mood? Not in the mood?
What gets you in the mood?
It’s sort of a Catch 22 question isn’t it?
Frankly, deciding what will get me in the mood depends on what I want to be gotten into the mood for?
That’s true for most of us, right? You know what else is true…
Our moods can be changed, affected, swayed, moved by tone.
I call this image “Moody Blues.” Get it?
Poetry Challenge #18
Moody Blues
Pick two vowel sounds. Make a list of words that use each sound.
Write two verses of a poem—use one vowel sound in one verse and the other in the second. Try to use that chosen vowel sound it in as many words as you can in the verse.
What mood does each sound create for your poem?
Do you want your end words for each line to rhyme or not?
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Moody Blues Playlist:
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Lights! Camera! Action! Happy Babe Ruth Day!
Happy Babe Ruth Day! Today, April 27th, in ballparks everyone players and fans are celebrating Babe Ruth!
Babe Ruth is all of those names and more. He is the greatest baseball player of all time!
Pro players are still chasing records he set almost a century ago!
The King of Swing!
“New York City hosted the first National Babe Ruth Day on April 27, 1947, soon after Ruth's cancer diagnosis. Ruth attended ceremonies at Yankee Stadium to 58,339 fans. In the House that Ruth Built, fans cheered as dignitaries surrounded the Bambino, including Francis Spellman, Commissioner A. B. Chandler, A.L. President Will Haridge, and N.L. President Ford Frick.”—National Day Calendar
“He [Babe Ruth] was an original in every way. He had a librarian’s legs, an oversized head, wrists thick as pipes and a moon-shaped face so ugly it was lovable.”—SportsCentury
While everyone—and I mean everyone—knows the name Babe Ruth, and many know he was a baseball player, I realized lots of us—most of us—me included, aside from movies, have never seen him in action. And so, to celebrate Babe Ruth today, I dug up a gloveful of Babe Ruth movies
“The Babe’s first motion picture, Headin’ Home (1920) in which Babe played a character similar to himself, was filmed mostly at night on at Biograph Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
On August 22, 1920, action scenes were filmed at a ball field made up to look like the Polo Grounds. A crowd of 2000 movie extras as “fans” were in the stands.
While the cameras rolled, Babe Ruth’s character (also called “Babe”) used a bat he supposedly whittled out of a tree trunk to blast balls out of the park and into neighboring houses and yards.
After filming that day, Babe raced back to the real Polo Grounds for a Yankees’ game against the Detroit Tigers. During the “real” game, in 3 at bats, Babe didn’t get any hits, but he did manage 2 BB; the Yankees lost 9-11.”
—excerpt from the book I’m working on now….who’s it about? I’ll bet you can guess…
Why? Name any other athlete so popular he inspired a stadium!
Read about the April 18, 1923 opening day game in my book.
(Of course you need a copy—click on the pic for a link to where to buy)
Babe Movies Playlist: Babe appeared in reels, shorts & movies. Here are a few!
Grab a friend and play a little catch. That’s what Babe would do!
7-Minute Poetry Challenge #16-You Call This Cold!
Thanks for saying YES! to this Challenge! (or at least to looking at it…) In case you have qualms about the value of SSSSSTTTREEEEEETCH read what gazillion-times published author Jane Yolen writes about her ongoing poetry challenge. (BTW: Did you know you could read a different one of Jane's books every day for a YEAR!)
“I started writing a poem a day seven years ago as a personal challenge. I didn’t expect to be happy with any poem on the first draft. But I did it for three reasons: 1. Finger exercises 2. Brain exercise 3. Sales: This was an unforeseen plus. I’ve gotten at least a half dozen picture books out of those poems and sold a hundred or more to journals and anthologies, and used them in books of my own. My writing had taken a huge step forward. I have no plans to stop.”
Poetry Challenge #16
If You Think This is Cold…
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr! If you, like me, are feeling a bit chilly today, when after a few glorious bright spring days, it’s back to gray. It’s time for a refresher.
If you’re not:
Go to the refrigerator
Stick your head inside the freezer compartment.
Now you’re ready!
Write a poem about the cold.
Begin with the line:
“You know it’s cold when…”
Think of all the things that make you know it’s cold. Hope you’re wrapped up in a blanket!!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Can You Say COLD? Playlist:
Baby It's Cold Outside: Idina Menzel & Michael Buble's Sweet Video
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #15 Ring My Bell
Channelling Zuzu and Anita Ward today—
(although I can not for the life of me see why Patti Labelle hasn’t busted out with her own version.
RING-A-DING DING!
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
Everyone knows the refrain to Anita Ward’s hit Ring My Bell, but do you recall how it starts?
I'm glad you're home
Now, did you really miss me?
I guess
You did by the look in your eyes
Look in your eyes, look in your eyes
Well, lay back and relax
While I put away the dishes
Put away the dishes
Then you and me
Can rock-a-bye
Poetry Challenge #15
Ring My Bell!
Bells come in many shapes and sizes, with so many different uses, and sounds!
Begin by listing as many bells as come to mind. Here are a few to get you started: Sleigh bells, steeple bells, harness bells, doorbells, elf shoe bells, cow bells, Santa’s bells . . .
Next, list the different sounds those bells make. List real words and make up your own words by using letters to recreate sounds—after all this is your bell. Does it bong? Ring-a-ling? Clink?
Now, follow Zuzu’s lead and imagine what magical thing might happen each time your bell rings?
Write a poem about it. Be sure to include those sounds. Make your poem really ring!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
Is this the caller to whom I am speaking??
?
Do those words ring a bell?
First one who can tell me who used to say that—every week—wins!
Post your answer in the comments (below).
Bell Ringers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Wouldn’t it be marvelous to be there with them? Great upper body workout!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2800+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #14-Remember First
Do you remember the first of something in your life?
Maybe you remember the first time you rode a bike,
the first time you visited someone by yourself, or the first time you went somewhere by yourself.
Maybe you have early memories of learning to read, like our friend Rain!
Or writing or hiking.
Or learning to play basketball, like Aiden!
or drive a car…not like Aiden!
Who did these things with you?
Where were you?
What did you like?
What feelings do you remember?
Poetry Challenge #14
Remember First . . .
Make a list of anything you remember about some first event.
The more things you write down, the more you’ll remember.
Add detail and play with the words and order to make the best poem you can.
Try to repeat sounds for effect.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
For inspiration a few songs to rev up your rememberer:
And—how could I not!—the commercial: Times of Your Life sung by Paul Anka
Baby you can drive my car! And Baby I love you! Beep-Beep-n-Beep-Beep YEAH!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2800+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Fin Pal asks Norman "Are You Bored?"
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
But first a finny!
Q: What is a goldfish pirate’s favorite letter?
Q: What is a goldfish pirate’s favorite letter?
A: R as in “Rrrrrrrr! It B the C!”
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish- about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Don’t forget to order your copy of NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and NORMAN: ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH!!
7-Minute Poetry Challenge #13--Smell That Smell . . .
P. U. what stinks?
Which sense is most important?
My Internet research session determined, that the sense of smell wins hands-down . . .
Or, should we say noses-pinched . . .
Why? Smell lingers longer in our minds, and is more closely linked to memory than our other senses.
"Smell is the sense most linked to our emotional recollection."
It follows that tapping into our sense of smell would inspire a more visceral response to our poetry, and this give it more impact.
Easy to say, but hard to do, right?
Why is it so easy to describe things in terms of how they look, feel, taste, sound, but so hard to describe how they smell? Beats me. Let’s give it a try anyway.
Poetry Challenge #13
Smell That Smell . . .
Take a moment to recall a smell.
Now write a poem describing it—without comparing it to another smell.
I agree, this challenge stinks…
Futhermore, or What Curious Minds Want to Nose:
For some science behind smells, click here: Psychology and Smell http://www.fifthsense.org.uk/psychology-and-smell/
For a Rockin' inspirations, click here: Lynyrd Skynyrd Band singing Smell That Smell
For 19 more about smells, click here: "Fascinating Facts About Smells"
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2700+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
