Living Life Twice

This poem began with the words, 'I write' and grew from a question I was once asked as to  my personal motivation to write. I have also tried this approach with the words, 'I Remember.' It is a way to reveal much of what you know about yourself and the repetition helps maintain the writing focus .  I WRITE I write in the early morning light I write at night when the house falls quiet I write when the urge is too great to ignore I write when I have the need to understand I write to record the events of my fortunate life I write because I am curious I write poetry to capture rainbows in a jar I write wearing my favourite jeans because I want to feel comfortable and relaxed I write to entertain myself I write to sort out my confusion I write when I am angry or annoyed I write because it fulfills a need within me to communicate my ideas. I write using my computer I write scribbled thoughts and ideas on scraps of paper. I write with gel...

The lure of the limerick has always provided a strong pull for me. However, it is a highly structured form of poetry with distinctive rhyme and rhythm patterns.  Teachers considering introducing limericks need to provide a lot of immersion and scaffolding if they want inexperienced poets to have some measure of success with them. Limericks contain a couplet and a triplet and these literary elements are critical to the successful completion of the form. They are meant to be humorous with the final line providing some punch! So, this morning I woke with Limericks on my mind and these ones are freshly composed as part of my Spring Into Verse celebration.  LIMERICKS A one eared cat name of Abby Had fur, particularly shabby All through the night She would hiss, scratch and fight Abby, was one crabby tabby A man who lived in Kildare Found a large purple mouse in his hair He named the mouse Milton And fed it on Stilton Although, it preferred Camember...

I have always enjoyed the cautionary tales made famous by writers such as Hilaire Belloc and Ogden Nash. Cautionary tales were designed for the admonition of children and were quite popular more than a hundred years ago. Belloc's Matilda  (who told lies and got burned) and Nash's Isabella  (who didn't care) have always resonated for me. It was the writing of these authors that spurred me to write some cautionary tales of my own. The poem I'm sharing today is about a boy called Desmond DESMOND DOVE'S DEMISE A child that only a mother could love Was an apt description for Desmond Dove  With a rough tough head and hair so wooly -Desmond was a fearsome bully Every day around the school Desmond’s reign was oh so cruel In line, Des knocked heads together And then announced – Boy, aren’t I clever! He stole food from little kids Then bopped them with their lunchbox lids He always pulled on Polly’s hair And told the teachers- I don’t care! ...

This poem took exactly a year to write! Well, let me explain. I started writing it in the month of August and was having trouble finding a suitable ending, so I put into a folder of unfinished poetry pieces. Almost a year to the day, I stumbled across it again and immediately knew the words I wanted to use. The problem had resolved itself. It serves as a clear example of why writers need to distance themselves from their writing occasionally. A little distance provides a clearer appreciation of the words. Maybe not a whole year though! Sneaker Look Discarded sneakers Scuffed and mangled Laces frayed Twisted Tangled Both lay rejected by the door They ‘ll not see action any more No more housing smelly socks Running Leaping Scrambling rocks The sole is smooth Colour faded Worn out torn out Dejected Jaded And worst of all On each sad shoe Is a giant hole Where a toe pokes through Their value has at last diminished Sad to say Their sn...

It's fun to create new words and apply them to various situations. I can't imagine Lewis Carroll didn't have a smile on his face when writing his famous poem, Jabberwocky with its numerous invented words: `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe All mimsy were the borogoves,   And the mome raths outgrabe. Well, today's humble poem contains a single invented word. 'Neelywos' but I have written it how I imagine it should be written, and the poem was fun to write. Word play and fun and inventiveness are an integral part of poetry. So, dive in at the deep end and enjoy a little bit of serious silliness and encourage your student poets to follow your lead... Neelywos I neelywos a plumber But that became a drain I neelywos a pilot But I found it somewhat plain I neelywos an author Things didn’t work out write I neelywos an electrician Until I saw the light I neelywos a juggler But things got out of ...

Today's poem is quite a personal piece. It's origins spring from my earliest school experience and involves my left hand. Being left handed didn't seem to matter until I started school and then my teacher felt it was imperative that I change. She informed me my writing would never be neat. I have heard stories of fellow left handed writers being hit with rulers or having their left hand forcibly restrained to restrict them from doing what was natural for them. Thankfully educators have a more enlightened view of we left handed writers.  Leave My Left Hand Alone, Right ! When I started school A prep still unbranded They looked at me strangely And observed He's left handed ! Well I was just five And my left hand felt right I didn't consider its use was a blight You'll have to change hands Learn to write like the rest The news didn't please me I found it a pest They handed me crayons Scissors and chalk All in my righ...

I actually quite like peas, but over the years I have met many kids who don't like them, so this list poem is for them. I recall those far off days when my Mum and my Nana would sit together shelling fresh peas picked directly from the garden. Now, most of us reach into the freezer at the supermarket and get our peas in a snap frozen plastic bag. Anyway, today as I reach the mid way point in my Spring Into Verse poetry challenge,  it's poetry to peas... I DON'T LIKE PEAS I don't like peas I really don't like peas So I always say to Mum No peas please And my dear Mother says to me Give me ten reasons why I shouldn't serve you peas Number 1. They're green. Number 2. They're the wrong shape. Number 3. They roll off the fork. Number 4. They roll under the table. Number 5. They get squashed in the carpet. Number 6. You always make me clean up the mess. Number 7. Even the dog refuses to eat them. Number 8. The baby gets ...

The Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda exalted the basic things of our daily existence. He celebrated the mundane in ways that were quite extraordinary. Through his poetry he discovered beauty in everyday  moments and objects, making them appear remarkable and worthy of sharing. Check out Pablo Neruda's  Ode To My Socks . I also recommend Valerie Worth's book, 'All the Small Poems And 14 More. '  Worth celebrates a range of everyday earthly wonders. Each poem a precise tribute to ordinary things. These poets have taught me to recognize the innate value of everyday objects and events. When we sit quietly for a while, we begin to notice the beauty surrounding us. We develop a renewed appreciation for the seemingly invisible events that make up our lives. Young writers and poets need exposure to such potentially rewarding activities. We must show them how we engage in the celebration of the everyday. Smell the roses... Dishes We share the kitchen Washing the dishes...

Today's poem has a refrain that aims to be lighthearted and provide a sense of fun and enjoyment. New shoes often have that effect on the wearer. New shoes tend to improve your spirits. The use of repetition in a poem is a literary device that young poets love to employ. It's just a line or lines repeated throughout a poem.  I can recall  once having Prep students parading around a classroom wearing preposterous shoes while reciting this little poem.  Groovy Shoes Groovy shoes Groovy shoes I just can't lose with groovy shoes Pink shoes laces Oh so groovy I could be in any movie Ripple soles Watch me walk All my friends stop and talk Groovy shoes Stripey green When I walk by it's such a scene Every body stops to stare They all shout I want a pair! Groovy shoes Groovy shoes I just can't lose with groovy shoes. Groovy shoes Groovy shoes I just can't lose with groovy shoes Alan j Wright ...

Today I offer two short poems that employed emotion to convey an idea.  Each line employs a simple noun-verb pattern to build a vision for the reader. The idea came from Sara Holbrook in her book, Practical Poetry. Sara writes, ' We need to look inside to find physical description s to enhance our writing, to show don't tell. ' Embarrassed I’m embarrassed Pants wetting Cheek burning Step tripping Food spilling Banana slipping Mom dancing Dad singing Embarrassed Alan Wright Bored I’m bored Horse yawning Eye blinking Time dragging Sleep craving Foot twitching Sigh heaving Brain bulging Fly watching Freckle counting Fun fading Hope sinking Bored Alan Wright