Poetry Month MashUp: Day Four

I had such a busy day today, I didn't have time to start a poem from scratch - it may be a lame excuse but - oh well!  Instead, I took an old joke and turned it into a poem.  Here it is:

D is for Doctor  

I think I need a doctor 'cause I've got this awful pain.

It hurts no matter where I press - it's driving me insane!

I told him, "Every place I touch, the pain is sharp, then lingers."

He said, "My diagnosis is - you simply broke your finger!"

Here's how to sign DOCTOR:

Here's how to sign DIAGNOSIS:

Poetry Month MashUp: Day Three

     For her A to Z Poetry Month post today, Rena Traxel offered up the word Contest.  So, I was going to write a poem about contests.  After all, I've won a bunch of them - all the purely lucky - pull your name out of a hat type.  Actually, I think the way I bend my entry forms might have helped me - but still, it's just dumb luck!  

     But, farther into her post, she challenged us to write a Cento - or Patchwork Poem - and I love a good challenge!  I had never heard of a Patchwork Poem so I was eager to try it.  It's pretty simple -  according to Poets.org, it's "a poetic form made up of lines from poems by other poets.  Though poets often borrow lines from other writers and mix them with their own, a true cento is composed entirely of lines from other sources." 

     I had no idea where to start so I googled "famous lines from poems" and I found a site that listed the ten most famous poetry lines.  Then, I rearranged them so it would make some sort of sense and I think it actually does!  You be the judge.

Putting in My Two Centos

(I can't resist a pun)

Once upon a midnight dreary, 

while I pondered weak and weary

Into the valley of Death 

Rode the six hundred

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole, 

By the shore of Gitchie Gumee, 

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

Shall I compare thee to a summers day

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

Here's how to sign CONTEST:

Here's how to sign CHALLENGE:

You can find more signs on:

 ASL Browser, ASL Pro, or Signing Savvy.

Poetry Month Mash-Up: Day Two

Don't forget to check out these challenges:

~ A to Z Poetry Month ~ Blogging from A to Z  ~  NaPoWriMo ~ Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem (the list of dates and sites is on the right-side panel of this page).

   B is for Book

   Books can be funny.

   Books can be sad.

   Books can be good.

   Books can be bad.   

   Books can be silly.

   Books can be scary.

   Books can be written

   By people named Harry.

   Books can be short.

   Books can be long.

   Books can be right.

   Books can be wrong.

   Books can ask why.

Books can explain.

   Books can be written

   By people named Jane.

   Books tell you where.

   Books tell you how.

   Go grab a book.

   Read it - right now!

Here's how to sign BOOK:

Bonus sign - BRAIN:

You can find more signs on:

 ASL Browser, ASL Pro, or Signing Savvy.

Poetry Month Mash-Up: Day One

     I've overextended myself - again!  I've signed up for A to Z Poetry Month, Blogging from A to Z, and NaPoWriMo!  But - I've figured out how to do a mash-up so I can combine all three into one post.  Both A to Z challenges post 26 days, with Sundays off for good behavior.  That means, on Sundays, I'll just write a post for NaPoWriMo, which is 30 posts in 30 days.
     Also, I've decided to teach you a sign a day to match my alphabet word.  Look for the demonstration video below the poem.
     I forgot to mention Irene Latham's Progressive Poem!  She write the first line of the poem today and a different poet will add a line everyday until the end of April!  I'm slotted for April 19th so make sure you come back and visit my blog then!  You can follow the progression of the poem on Irene's blog. Live Your Poem.
     I'm excited to get started!  So, without further ado, here's my poem for April 1st - no fooling:

A is for Ability

I have a strange ability - I see things no one sees.

I guess, you'd say, that I can see the forest for the trees.

Like spotting famous faces in most people passing by.

My neighbor - who is Indian - looks just like Princess Di.

And take a look at president, Lyndon B. Johnson,

Add some hair - he's Golda Meir! (She grew up in Wisconsin).

I recognize the faces of my friends from decades past.

They think that I'm a stalker so they make their exits - fast!

At times, it comes in handy and at times, it's just a pain.

You should all be grateful you don't have my twisted brain!

Can you see it?

Here's how to sign ABILITY:

Here's a bonus sign - it was the ASL sign of the day on ASL Pro: AUTHOR:

You can find more signs on:

 ASL Browser, ASL Pro, or Signing Savvy.

  

April is Poetry Month - Take These Challenges - UPDATED**

Sorry to be getting to this so late but there's still time to enter these two awesome challenges! 


~ Rena Traxel is hosting A to Z Poetry on her blog.  I was excited to find it because I had a very similar idea but, of course, I waited too long to put it into action.  Now I have the best of both worlds - I get to participate without all the work (sorry Rena)!  

Here's a bit about the challenge:
Starting with the letter 'A' on April 1, 2012 write a poem based on that day's lesson and challenge. There are 26 letters in the alphabet so you will create 26 poems in the month of April. Take Sundays off to revise (except for Sunday, April 1). If you have kids get them involved.  

~ Maureen Thorson is hosting NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) on her blog.  You can find out all about it on her 

FAQ page.

I used to be afraid to take on writing challenges because I didn't think I could keep up with the demand.  I surprised myself and did pretty well.  What I've written may not be my best work but they're starts and who knows what they'll grow into.  I actually have a story I love that I thought of during National Picture Book Idea Month (NaPiBoIdMo) and finished writing during 12X12 in 2012.  Even if you don't end up writing a poem a day, I guarantee you'll write more than if you didn't take these challenges.


So, what are you waiting for - go on - sign up NOW!


** I found a fabulous list on Jamma's Alphabet Soup.  I bet she didn't wait until the last minute to put her list together!  Darn you, procrastination gene!!!