March 21st was declared World Poetry Day by UNESCO in 1999. It celebrates the power of words. Connecting our kaleidoscope of languages and cultures throughout history, how will you participate? What might you do, think or read to commemorate this day of diverse verse?
Counting the syllables in each line of a poem is a great exercise for finding and feeling its rhythm and pattern. Remember, rhyming is only one of many ways that can make writing poetic.
This MID-MONTH PROMPT calls for a NONET on any topic of your choosing. This nine-line poem begins with 9 syllables in the first line, finishing with 1 on the last line … or it could be the other way round, starting with 1 syllable and ending with 9.
We’d love to receive your examples!
Do children’s calls
and laughs get past
this giant plate
of strengthened glass?
Do fish hear words
or muffled hums
inside this
grand aquarium?
Aquarium Query by Celia Berrell
Inspired by March Picture Prompt
AQUARIUM by Kaushani Mufti
Dynamic birds in black and white
with flapping wings zoom by.
Darting, diving, chasing prey …
can penguins really fly?
Their thin small wings are more like fins.
Their bodies, large and plump
have webby toes and stubby legs.
Poor penguins barely jump!
Their sturdy bones can help them dive.
Their plumpness keeps them warm.
Eight hundred times as dense as air
the seas are where they roam.
Penguins can’t fly in the sky
but fly in oceans blue.
Darting, diving, chasing prey …
so, do the fish fly too?
Aqua Dynamics by Celia Berrell
First published in Science Rhymes in the Sea
Celebrating SEA WEEK!
Image from Pixabay
There’s motion in the ocean
where these little boats just bob afloat.
Their sailors rarely see us
as they venture most along the coast.
But down, below those choppy seas
and sloppy waves that slap that hull,
you’ll find us playing happily.
Our vibrant lives are rarely dull.
Always active,
never still.
See Sea’s Secrecy by Celia Berrell
Artwork: YOU ARE HERE by Hayley Gillespie
I had a dream the other night.
At first, it gave me quite a fright.
I thought the Moon was falling, ’til
it landed on my windowsill.
She fluffed her fur and shook her head
then gracefully leapt onto my bed
It’s not the Moon, it’s not a spider.
Instead, a silver Greater Glider!
At 12pm, the midnight hour,
a clock struck twelve. A sense of power
shimmered through her moonshine coat,
as she began to grow and float.
“Climb aboard”, she said with pride
and took me on a midnight ride.
Swooping through the starry night,
two new-found friends in sheer delight.
from the painting TIME TO GROW by Sharon Davson
I’ve got a kite
whose tail’s quite white.
It’s strong and light
in colours bright.
With wind just right
my kite gains height.
The string’s pulled tight.
My kite’s in flight!
But my delight
soon turns to plight
when wind-gusts bite
with forceful spite
and push my kite
with such great might
the string can’t fight
and snaps in fright.
My falling kite’s
no more in flight
and lost to sight
as day turns night.
Image by Pixabay
Eight hours, eight hours of sleep is best
to keep us healthy. Give us rest.
Eight hours brings opportunities
to strengthen our immunities.
To fight off winter’s colds and ‘flu.
Protecting us from cancer too.
For young and old; both short and lanky
lack of sleep can make us cranky.
Take away that eight-hour chunk
and brains act like they’re getting drunk!
Eight hours, eight hours of sleep a day
helps keep us well, live long and play.
Image from Pixabay
Australian Children’s Poetry 