Poetry Challenge #215-Meow! Scat! Hiss!
Meow! Scat! Hiss!
Don’t let a black cat cross your path. But to avoid one you’ve got to see it coming, so beware, it’s Black Cat Day! Or maybe hurrah!
In some parts of the world, Scotland, England, parts of Asia, black cats are welcomed. A white hair resting on a black cat is a portent of good luck. In Scotland, a black cat on your porch is a sign of imminent prosperity for the owner, according to a Scottish tradition and a black cat walking in your direction is also thought to bring good fortune. In my house, a black cat means sneezes and wheezes. . . great for tissue sales.
How did black cats get a bad rap? (Say that 5 times quickly.) Here’s a timeline from NationalToday.com
Poetry Challenge #215
Meow! Scat! Hiss! . . . Hello!
Whether fearsome or harbinger of fortune, imagine yourself a black cat.
Write a Monostitch poem from the point-of-view of your black cat. But…DO NOT USE the words “black” or “cat” in your poem.
A monostich is a one-line poem that expresses a complete thought. Often the title of a monostitch works with the text to “create a poem in the space between.” (Thanks Writer’s Digest for this and more.)
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it! MEOW!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 2000 days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Fin Pals ask Norman "Do You Like Sushi?"
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
Wow! That’s a lot of questions for one letter! Love it! Mileah wants to know if Norman likes Sushi? Do you think he even knows what it is? Do you?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
Did you know that the first sushi —tiny strips of fish or vegetables wrapped in rice and rolled in dried seaweed paper—was made in Japan, over two thousand years ago? Here’s a link to more about sushi. And…look at the adorable sushi puppy we found. YUM!
Cute enough to eat? Here’s the recipe.
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Poetry Challenge #214-LIving the YES!
Happy Youth Confidence Day!
Are you sure?
Poetry Challenge #214
Living the YES!
What does it mean to be confident?
Write an acrostic poem with a recipe for being or becoming confident.
Use the word Confidence or Confident and put one letter on each line going down.
Use that letter to start the word for each line.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it . . .
You can do this! You’re amazing!
A bunch of confidant kids—living the YES!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000 days ago! (Yep two thousand 0-0-0H!) Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Finpal Asks Norman: Is Your Fishbowl Fun?
Hey Kids! In his new adventure Norman One Amazing Goldfish, Norman’s got a brand new aquarium. Does it look like fun?
Here’s a scene from the book showing Norman in his fish tank.
Imagine you are a finny goldfish. What would you do for fun?
Scroll down to see what Norman wrote back to Tanner:
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Everyone who writes will be entered to WIN in the Giveaway!
Poetry Challenge #213-One Grey Matter Shake Coming Up!
You can train your dog. You can train your car. But, can you train your dog to sit in your car on the train?
Think about it . . .
Hurrah! The work-out has begun!
Today, October 13, is Exercise Your Brain Day. Because, when it comes to your brain, it’s use it or lose it. Research has proven that doing routine things—same ole’-same ole’ does not exercise our brains. And just like the rest of us, without exercise, our brains get flabby.
Here are a few suggestions for ways shake up the grey stuff:
Poetry Challenge #213
One Grey Matter Shake Coming Up!
For today’s prompt, let’s exercise our brains by writing a poem that is also a riddle.
Latex on!
Pens up!
Timer set! GO!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Fin Pals ask Norman: What's Your Favorite Snack?
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
Say Kids: Do you have a favorite snack like Jaxon Wade? If so, what is it?
Do you suppose Norman the Goldfish has a favorite nibble?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down past this fintastic drawing one of our finpals sent . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
Did you know that goldfish taste with their lips? It’s true. Humans have taste buds on their tongues. But goldfish don’t have tongues. They have taste buds on their lips and on the inside and outside of the mouth.
And, goldfish don’t just smell food in the water, they can smell danger!
To find out more, click over to 41 Facts about Goldfish
FINPALS Wanted!
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter or email!
Poetry Challenge #212 Mad As a Hatter
Mad as a hatter? Join the crowd for today is officially Mad Hatter’s Day!
Mad Hatters were well-known in the 1800’s. (Lewis Carroll didn’t create them . . . neither did Johnny Depp or Ed Wynn.)
Hatters—the people who made hats—haberdashers—often used mercury in the process. People who came into contact with mercury often ended up with many strange symptoms: shaking, mood swings, unpredictable behavior, and hallucinations. The saying “mad as a hatter” came to describe those strange behaviors. Characters appeared in books—Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—or in comics illustrating these unpredictable behaviors.
Poetry Challenge #212
Mad As a Hatter
But what if your hat was mad? Why might it be mad? Is it dirty? Wet? Too hot? Tired of sitting on your head?
Write a personification poem from the point of view of a mad hat.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
VAMPIRE BABY Vants YOU!
FINALLY…finally…after 7 years adrift, my village has a bookstore! Red Jacket Books opened a few months ago—YIPPEE!!!! In an effort to spread the word and support independent bookstores we teamed up for a Vampire Give-Away! Which means you could be one of the lucky 20 pumpkins who win!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
The first 20 people who order a copy of Vampire Baby from Red Jacket Books win a swag bag of goodies—fangs included!
You can call the store or order on-line or in person. And, if you’d like it autographed, I’d be happy to!
Here’s the website link: https://redjacketbooks.com/products/vampire-baby
