Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Poetry Stretch Results - Poems of Work

The challenge this week was to write poems about work or particular profession. Here are the results.
Jane Yolen left this poem in the comments.
    The Best-Selling Author

    Getcha red hot metaphors here,
    Your poetry stretches line by line.
    Yes, you can handle the similes
    I think you’ll find they’re rather fine.
    Alliteration always sells,
    Even in recessions,
    But slant rhymes are another kettle
    Of fish, of flesh, of fissions.
    I’ve got some second-hand paragraphs,
    Some small, used punctuations
    Suitable for a senior prom
    And for most graduations.

    And pssst, if you will come back here,
    You’ll find that you’re in luck.
    I’ve got some first class sentences
    That just fell off the truck.

    c 2009 Jane Yolen, all rights reserved
Laura of Author Amok also left a poem in the comments.
    STORY LADY

    Mom drags me to the bookstore every Saturday.
    I grump and groan,
    complain and moan,
    “Can’t I stay home and play?”

    She puts her yellow apron on,
    with its shiny flowers.
    “Make yourself comfy,” she says. “We’ll be here a few hours.”

    I straighten the tiara that sparkles on her hair
    So she can be Queen Barbara Jean -- Story Lady Extraordinaire.

    When we go in the bookstore, kids rush up and hug her.
    They shout, “Story Lady! Barbara Jean!” acting like they love her.

    Mom stands on a small platform and takes out her guitar.
    Kids smoosh and squish to sit in front, as if my mom’s a star.

    Mom sings about a car. The audience goes, “Vroom!”
    They honk like horns. They beep and laugh. Those kids shout, “Crash!” and “Boom!”

    Then Mom puts on her glasses. She opens a big book.
    Thirty kids lean toward her, trying to get a look.

    I sit in the back and yawn. I’ve heard this book before.
    Mom must have read it 50 times to kids at this bookstore.

    When we’re home alone tonight, we’ll have a cup of tea
    And Mom will read a special book to no one else but me.

    We’ll hold the book on our laps, so no one blocks my view.
    And Mom will say, “You’re my best audience. This book is just for you.”
Laura Purdie Salas left this poem in the comments.
    Old Yeller

    I’m right-on-time dependable.
    I rarely whine or fuss.
    I get them to their school on time
    But they’re not happy. Plus
    They sometimes—oops—have accidents,
    Or spill their lunch, or cuss!
    They hate to see me pulling up—
    It sucks to be the bus.

    --Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater left this poem in the comments.
    Snowflake Designer

    She’s quick.
    She’s careful.
    She makes no mistakes.

    She’s cool.
    She’s quiet.
    She does what it takes.

    Each winter
    she sketches
    she measures
    she makes
    flakes
        and flakes
            and flakes
                and flakes.

    (If she finds a double
    she takes it and breaks it.)
Here's what I'm offering up this week. Please forgive the little conceit at the end! (I just couldn't figure out how to wrap this one up. Once that line stuck in my head, I was sunk.)
My Job (24/7)

Hand holder
Clothes folder

Costume maker
Cookie baker

Meal feeder
Troop leader

Chauffer driver
High fiver

First teacher
Top-shelf reacher

Back rubber
Face scrubber

Tear wiper
Pied piper

Leaf raker
Morning waker

Shoe lacer
Go-kart racer

Hurt healer
Kiss stealer

Secret keeper
Ice cream heaper

Party thrower
Answer knower

Book reader
Dream seeder

    Tired mom
    Who's the bomb?
It's not too late if you still want to play. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll add it to the list.

6 comments:

  1. This is one I wrote a while ago...


    Snowflake Designer

    She’s quick.
    She’s careful.
    She makes no mistakes.

    She’s cool.
    She’s quiet.
    She does what it takes.

    Each winter
    she sketches
    she measures
    she makes
    flakes
    and flakes
    and flakes
    and flakes.

    (If she finds a double
    she takes it and breaks it.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. PUBLIC LIBRARIAN

    At her fingertips--
    explanation,
    calculation,
    information,
    documentation.

    From her lips--
    brief summations,
    recommendations,
    implications,
    conversations.

    What makes her good--
    imagination,
    dedication.

    What she lacks--
    appreciation,
    compensation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Have one called Library Lady: http://maclibrary.edublogs.org/2009/09/11/poetry-friday-work-poem/

    ReplyDelete
  4. NOSEY NEIGHBOR?

    I’M NOT YOUR NOSEY NEIGHBOR,
    I LOOK TOWARD YOUR HOUSE ‘TIS TRUE,
    ‘CAUSE IN FACT I’M GAZING
    INTO THE WILD BLUE.

    I AM THE WEATHER EXPERT.
    TWILL RAIN OR NOT FOR YOU?
    I RUMINATE, I WONDER,
    SKIES GRAY OR SUNNY VIEW?

    YOU ASK ABOUT A PICNIC,
    NOW THIS DAY OR THE NEXT?
    IF I PICK THE WRONG ONE,
    FOR SURE I WILL BE VEXED.

    HARRY’S KNEE IS THROBBIN’,
    ELMIRA’S CORNS ARE SORE,
    A LIVING INDICATION
    WHEN THERE’S RAIN IN STORE.

    AND IF OLD ZEB IS YOWLING
    STORMY WINDS ARE BREWING.
    BEST YE HEED THE WARNING,
    HEAVEN’S WRATH IS STEWING.

    POWERFUL SIGNS, WHAT WONDERS
    ACROSS THE TROPOSPHERE.
    UNFORGIVING NATURE’S
    PHOTOGENIC PAGEANT FEAR.

    MONOLITHIC CLOUD FORMS
    LOOM MAJESTIC OVER
    EVERY WAKING NERVE END
    FERTILE SEED AND SOWER.

    NO,
    I’M NOT YOUR NOSEY NEIGHBOR,
    I LOOK TOWARD YOUR HOUSE ‘TIS TRUE,
    ‘CAUSE IN FACT I’M GAZING
    INTO THE WILD BLUE.

    Cindy Blair

    ReplyDelete
  5. These are all great! Trisha I really love yours. It has made this tired mom all the more appreciative of the good parts of our #1 job! "Dream seeder" is my favorite line.

    ReplyDelete