Monday Poetry Stretch - Postcards and Letters

Since my mother entered a nursing home last fall I've been writing more cards and letters. Letter writing is a lost art. I wish I could say my short missives are interesting or important, but they're more like the grade-school version of the "how I spent my summer" paper.

I've been pondering writing, postcards and letters and think this might be a good topic for a poem. (My choice is serendipitous, as today's Poem-a-Day from the American Academy of poets is the poem Postcards by E. Ethelbert Miller .)

I hope you'll join me this week in writing about writing. Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.

Monday Poetry Stretch - Fairy Tale Props

I've been re-reading my well-worn copy of is The Poets' Grimm: 20th Century Poems from Grimm's Fairy Tales, edited by Jeanne Marie Beaumont & Claudia Carlson. I love this book because I'm particularly fond of poetry that reimagines fairy tales.

While reading through some of these poems I started thinking a bit about fairy tale poetry. We've actually written quite a bit about the stories and characters for stretches, but never really about some of the more memorable items, like the magic mirror, magic beans, a poisoned apple, red cape, golden ball, spinning wheel, and more.

So, let's write about a magical or fairy tale item, one of those things you can't imagine a story without. Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.

Poetry Friday - A Valentine

I know I'm a week early, but I read this poem a few days ago and just had to share it.

A Valentine
by Laura Elizabeth Richards

Oh! little loveliest lady mine,
What shall I send for your valentine?
Summer and flowers are far away;
Gloomy old Winter is king to-day;
Buds will not blow, and sun will not shine:      
What shall I do for a valentine?

I’ve searched the gardens all through and through
For a bud to tell of my love so true;
But buds are asleep, and blossoms are dead,
And the snow beats down on my poor little head:      
So, little loveliest lady mine,
Here is my heart for your valentine!


Do check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Renee at No Water River. Happy poetry Friday friends.

Monday Poetry Stretch - Clerihew

Haven't you heard that Tuesday is the New Monday? No, it wasn't a Super Bowl hangover. Between hosting Poetry Friday and the work that had piled up, I completely forgot to post!

Since I'm feeling a little blue (it's the time of year and lack of sun), I'm in need of poetry for the funny bone. A clerihew is a short verse that is biographical and humorous. Here are the rules for writing a clerihew.

• The poem must be four lines long.
• The rhyme scheme must be a/a/b/b.
• The first line should consist of the name of a person.
• The poem should be biographical and humorous. Often times clerihews poke fun at famous people.

You can learn more about clerihews at Poetry for Kids and Wikipedia. You can get some advice on writing clerihews at Giggle Poetry. Here's an example.

The enemy of Harry Potter
Was a scheming plotter.
I can't tell you what he's called; I'd be ashamed
To name "he who must not be named."

So, what kind of clerihew will you write? Will your subject be literary or political? I hope you'll join me this week in writing one (or two!). Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.