New subject -- same style

Chloe has an amazing jump. She can clear the four-foot wide area around the bathtub and jump up about six feet to the windowsill. Buster, who is just and ordinary cat and not apparently part grasshopper, is left on the edge of the bathtub. He can't even reach her tail when she hangs it down to tease him. Pop! Goes the Weasel seemed a good choice for Chloe's poem. Everyone knows the first verse -- the second one is "A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle. That's the way the money goes, Pop!..."

All around the master bathroom
Buster chases Chloe
Buster thinks he’s caught Chloe’s tail
Pop! Jumps little Chloe

Sophie tries to join in the fun
By chasing little Chloe
When Chloe’s done and had enough
Pop! Jumps little Chloe

New subject -- same style

I tackled another one of my least favorite nursery rhymes today -- Rock-a-bye Baby. Seriously, who would hang their baby's cradle in a tree, especially on a windy day. And that whole thing about the baby and cradle falling, not very comforting when you are trying to sing an infant to sleep.

So here is mine:

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Rocking the baby
In the white chair
Buster and Chloe
Also are there

I'll read you a story
Holding you tight
At the end of the story
I'll kiss you goodnight

New subject -- same style

Today I took one of my least favorite nursery rhymes -- Ring Around the Rosey -- and rewrote it So, in mine, the fish lives, which is so much nicer than singing about the Bubonic Plague.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Ring around the fish bowl
I filled the water too full
Slippery, slippery
The fish falls down

Ring around the bathtub
Give the scum a good scrub
Shredded, shredded
The sponge falls down

Ring around the night moon
Storm is coming very soon
Lashes, lashes
The rain falls down

New subject -- same style

The revised nursery rhymes/songs are so much fun, I decided to do them for another week. This week, though, I'll be writing about the animals. Today was Chloe's turn. Her nursery rhyme used to be Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.


“Chloe, Chloe very showy,
Where have you been all day?”
“I chased a frog, and teased the dog,
And thought about running away.”

New subject -- same style

It's a new week so I thought I should at least have a new subject. I do like changing the nursery rhymes so much, though, that I kept the same style.

Today's used to be Simple Simon --

Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair
Said Simple Simon to the pieman
"Let me taste your wares"

Said the man to Simple Simon
"Do you mean to pay?"
Simon said, "Of course, I do"
And then he ran away

What I think is interesting is the tune to this nursery rhyme is the same as "Yankee Doodle". Humh.

So mine is

Buster Kitten

Buster Kitten wears white mittens
On his two front feet
Buster Kitten with Chloe’s smitten
He thinks she is sweet

Says Buster Cat to Chloe Cat
“You are very pretty”,
Says Chloe Cat to Buster Cat
“You’re a silly kitty”.

New subject -- same style

It's a new week so I thought I should at least have a new subject. I do like changing the nursery rhymes so much, though, that I kept the same style.

Today's used to be Simple Simon --

Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair
Said Simple Simon to the pieman
"Let me taste your wares"

Said the man to Simple Simon
"Do you mean to pay?"
Simon said, "Of course, I do"
And then he ran away

What I think is interesting is the tune to this nursery rhyme is the same as "Yankee Doodle". Humh.

So mine is

Buster Kitten

Buster Kitten wears white mittens
On his two front feet
Buster Kitten with Chloe’s smitten
He thinks she is sweet

Says Buster Cat to Chloe Cat
“You are very pretty”,
Says Chloe Cat to Buster Cat
“You’re a silly kitty”.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

In anticipation of the Alice in Wonderland play at the library and the Tim Burton movie, I've been re-reading Alice this week. So, of course, I had to write a poem somehow based on Carroll. I decided to parody the Carroll poem that parodied the Robert Southey poem (both called You Are Old, Father William -- although Carroll's is vastly more entertaining.)


You Are Young, Thomas William

“You are young, Thomas William” the grey cat cried
“And your hands are all chubby and fat,
And yet when I lay quietly by your side,
You grab at this poor, little grey cat.”

“Gabble,” said Thomas to the startled grey cat.
“Gabbledy, gabbledy, gack!”
The grey cat could think of no answer to that
So she rolled from her side to her back.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Thomas has a car toy that fits inside his high chair tray. I start the "engine" and give the toy to him while I'm fixing his meal. Today I heard a beep and a loud crash as Thomas threw his toy off the tray and it skidded across the floor. The cats ran away and the dog nearly was hit. Today's nursery rhyme used to be Old King Cole. Now it's Little Thomas K. :)

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Little Thomas K had a lot to say
And a lot to say had he
He could dish with the fish
And could chat with the cats
But he puzzled our poor dog, Sophie

Little Thomas K threw his toy away
Threw his toy away did he
From the floor to the door
Did the cats have to scat
And it just missed our poor dog, Sophie

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Today's rhyme used to be Humpty Dumpty. Thomas has a plush toy Humpty Dumpty music box that hangs on the handle of his door, so now when I pull the cord to play the music, I sing the new lyrics for him.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Thomas William sat on a mat
Thomas William petted the cat
Although she wiggled and although she wailed
She couldn’t make Thomas William let go of her tail

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

For the revised nursery rhyme today, I used Mary Had a Little Lamb. I sang the new lyrics to Thomas on the way to the library so that when the beginning recorder kids played Mary Had a Little Lamb, Thomas would think it was his song.


Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Thomas had a big red pup
Big red pup
Big red pup
Thomas had a big red pup --
That never would grow up

The puppy liked to lick his face
Lick his face
Lick his face
The puppy liked to lick his face --
His formula to erase

Thomas loved his puppy so
Puppy so
Puppy so
Thomas loved his puppy so –
Why we do not know

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

I used "London Bridge" for my revised nursery rhyme today. Thomas helped, by inspiring me this morning as he took his diaper off.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

My Silly Baby:

Thomas, keep your diaper on
Diaper on
Diaper on
Thomas, keep your diaper on
My silly baby

The plastic tabs go rip, rip, rip
Rip, rip, rip
Rip, rip, rip
The plastic tabs go rip, rip, rip
My silly baby

The ripping noises make you laugh
Make you laugh
Make you laugh
The ripping noises make you laugh
My silly baby

Diapers catch a lot of leaks
Lot of leaks
Lot of leaks
Diapers catch a lot of leaks
My silly baby

So,
Thomas, keep your diaper on
Diaper on
Diaper on
Thomas, keep your diaper on
My silly baby

Nursery Rhymes/songs rewrite

Today's poem used to be Lavender Blue.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Roses are red
Thomas William
Roses are white
When you’re in bed
Thomas William
I’ll kiss you goodnight

Let the stars peep
Thomas William
Let the stars play
Softly you sleep
Thomas William
At the end of the day

Nursery Rhymes/songs rewrite

Today's poem used to be Lavender Blue.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Roses are red
Thomas William
Roses are white
When you’re in bed
Thomas William
I’ll kiss you goodnight

Let the stars peep
Thomas William
Let the stars play
Softly you sleep
Thomas William
At the end of the day

Nursery Rhymes/songs rewrite

It's a new week. Yay! I decided to take familiar songs/nursery rhymes and rewrite them for Thomas. Yesterday's was Frere Jacques.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Thomas William, Thomas William
Go to sleep, go to sleep
The tree-frogs are singing, the tree-frogs are singing
Peep, pip, peep. Peep, pip, peep.

Nursery Rhymes/songs rewrite

It's a new week. Yay! I decided to take familiar songs/nursery rhymes and rewrite them for Thomas. Yesterday's was Frere Jacques.

Revised Nursery Rhyme/Song

Thomas William, Thomas William
Go to sleep, go to sleep
The tree-frogs are singing, the tree-frogs are singing
Peep, pip, peep. Peep, pip, peep.

My day poem

Here's is my final "my day poem". Tomorrow starts a new poetry week.

What a Day!

Cleaned up cat sick from
The counter and bowl
Ran the bath till it
Was filled too full
Busted up a pair
Of baby socks
Stubbed my toe on an
Elephant that rocks
Saved the cat’s mouse
From the puppy
Think I overfed
Our guppy
The entry gate nearly
Winged my car door
Cleaned up cat sick from
The counter and floor
Accidentally
Toppled Shaun the Sheep
Sang my sleepyhead
Baby to sleep

My day poem

Today wasn't very exciting unless you count a shuttle launch scrub and a pet fish death.

I did have a reminder email about Storytime on Thursday morning, so this poem is a projection -- what I expect will happen tomorrow based on what has happened in the past when Thomas goes to Storytime.

Thursday

Tomorrow is Thursday
Storytime morning
A dozen wild children
Who should come with a warning

If the moms would help –
At least corral their child
Storytime mornings
Would be a little less wild

I’ll glare at those mothers
And shoot dirty looks
And be grateful that
I’m not reading the books

My day poem

I had nothing today until the baby's bedtime. Then inspiration struck -- so to speak.

Nighttime Storytime

Tonight during the reading of Good Night, Moon
A mighty big boom of thunder shook the room
Rain beat the windows; the lights began to flash
It was Good Night, Kittens, and then a loud crash
The baby was anxious and started to cry
Until he danced and sang to a lullaby
The rain slowly lessened; the thunder lost its power
Baby fell asleep as the storm became a shower

My day poem

You've got to love Mondays...

Monday

Dirty room
Clogged vacuum
Mommy sweeps
While baby sleeps

My day poem

We have four fat rabbits in our side yard so I just had to write about them.

Silly Rabbits

Rabbits in the grass
Rabbits in the weeds
Rabbits in the bushes
Rabbits in the reeds

Soft, fat brown bodies
Of the rabbits four
But wait a little while –
There’s sure to be more.

My day poem

Since we haven't picked out a specific topic/style, I again wrote about my day. I'll probably just do that for the rest of the week, so you'd better hope I have an exciting week. :) This is a three-word poem.


4:30 this morning

Home hours early
Hours early shuttle
Early shuttle launch
Shuttle launch scrub
Launch scrub called
Scrub called midnight
Called midnight leak
Midnight leak fuel
Leak fuel tank
Fuel tank later
Tank later date
Later date try

New week. Yay!

My partner-in-poetry and I have not yet decided on a style of poetry for this week, so I just wrote about my day. Now I'll go tackle the ironing.

Shuttle Launch

The shuttle launches
Tomorrow, Saturday
So I see my husband
Very little today

First he works early,
Then home for rest,
And then in for the launch –
The part he likes best

All day I try to keep
The baby quiet
And the dog calm, it’s not
Easy, you should try it

Picture poem

Here is today's poem:

Teething Ring

Simple round
Water-filled beads
Connect to make
A ring

A ring
The baby wears
As a colorful
Bracelet

Bracelet
He slips off
And chews on and
Quiets down

Picture poem

The High Chair

High chairs come in a variety of style
I considered them all for a while
Then plastic and metal I eschewed
Deciding instead on solid wood

We moved the chair all around our table
Until we found a place acceptable
So convenient it was, in fact,
That the tray was where our mail was stacked

Later, the mail was moved and it became
A plant-stand for ivy, in all but name
Then a bear in pj’s sat in the seat
Where now our little one sits to eat

Picture poem

Here is my picture poem for the day:

Chunky Baby

Fisher Price
Little People
Chunky baby:

A teething toy
To gnaw on for
My chunky baby
A finger puppet
To entertain
My chunky baby

Fits in
A plastic house
Fits in
A plastic tricycle
Fits in
The hand of
My chunky baby

Fortunately
Too big
To all
Fit in
The open mouth of
My chunky baby

Picture poem

I learned today that Thomas does take after me in some things -- he does NOT like a bowl of oatmeal. So far this is the only thing that he spits out as soon as it's in his mouth. So, although I had much laundry to do after feeding time, I did get a poem out of it. (I drew the frog bowl.)

Frog Bowl

Nothing can make oatmeal taste good
Not even the green bowl with frog eyes
Applesauce in this bowl tastes as it should
You’ll even eat a bowl of brown rice
Still, I’m the Mommy, I have to try it
Although you screw up your face and gag
I don’t want you lacking in your diet
So, spit-up I wipe up with the burp rag

Picture poem

This week (as possibly next) my challenge was to draw, paint or take a picture and write a poem about it. I've been drawing my image with a calligraphy pen, because it was handy, and so far, my images/poems are very baby-centric. If nothing else, it will be a nice collection for my son.


Silver Rattle

The first thing I bought
When I found out
I was having a baby
Was a silver rattle
Not a silver-coated
Clunk clunk in base metal rattle
But a shivering tinkling
Chime chime in sterling rattle
I was embarrassed
By my impracticality
And kept my purchase to myself
Then along you came
And almost immediately
You gripped the center
Of the barbell rattle
In your small strong hand
And gnawed on the rounded end
Later you noticed your face
In the curved mirrored surface
As you were gnawing
And you laughed
At the funny-looking baby
Then you shook the rattle
To happy music
Jiggling a beat with the
Shivering tinkling
Chime chime in sterling rattle
And I knew I was right
To buy a silver rattle
Not a silver-coated
Clunk clunk in base metal rattle
But a shivering tinkling
Chime chime in sterling rattle

Picture poem

You'll just have to trust me -- I drew a fishbowl with three fish and sea-grass. I've decided to use a calligraphy pen for all my illustrations because it's been sitting on the kitchen table for the last few months, so it's really handy.

And now, the poem --

You love the water:
The cool, soapy bath
The trickle from the tap
The manatee splashing in the canal
We took you to pet stores –
A free aquarium –
Where you watched
Mesmerized,
As fish swam in circles
So we bought three fish
And a bowl
And some sea-grass
And brought them home
We set the bowl where you could see it
But not where the cats could reach it
The dog was more interested
Than we thought she would be
But a stream from a squirt bottle
Discouraged her
And when you were tired
And as squirmy as a caught fish
We held you before the bowl
Until the circling fish
Calmed you down
And you could sleep
In your bed
Comforted by
The soft gurgle
Of the humidifier

New challenge -- picture poem

My new challenge was to draw, paint or take a picture of any physical object and then write a poem about it in any style. My first poem was baby-centric, and, alas, I fear all the others will be too. This one was a shape poem, which will not retain its shape when it is transfered to the blog. I did draw the pacifier as well.

The Pacifier


I put it in.
You take
it out
To talk,
to listen
to music,
To eat the ice cream that was headed for my mouth
I know its purpose is to quiet, calm and soothe.
But does it
Quiet,
Calm and
Soothe
You or
Me?

Repeating line poem

Tomorrow we start something different. Hooray!

Feed the Baby

Pick up the baby
Change the baby
Dress the baby
Feed the baby

Hold the baby
Play with the baby
Change the baby
Feed the baby

Put down the baby
Pick up the baby
Change the baby
Feed the baby

Walk the baby
Sing to the baby
Read to the baby
Feed the baby’s mind

Repeating line poem

Today's poem came to me around 5 am this morning.

All Through the Night

Teething pains keep
The baby awake
All through the night

Infant Tylenol works
A few hours, but not
All through the night

The baby’s whimpers
Keep me awake
All through the night

In morning’s early hour
I sing to baby
“All Through the Night”

I can’t remember
The last time I slept
All through the night

Repeating line poem

I was inspired early today to write my poem. :)

Early Inspiration

He can fix a broken sink
A broken lamp
A broken toy, but
He can’t change a roll of toilet paper

He can mow the rain-grown grass
Tackle the wild weeds
Make a concrete edge, but
He can’t change a roll of toilet paper

He can make the baby laugh
Help with the baby’s bath
Even change a dirty diaper, but
He can’t change a roll of toilet paper

Now I think of it, I’ll keep him
The ledger’s in his favor
He’s pretty useful, even if
He can’t change a roll of toilet paper

Repeating line poem

I just had fun with today's poem. It probably also explains why I haven't been losing weight. :)


I Love Chocolate!

Dark chocolate
Milk chocolate
Not so much the white chocolate
I love chocolate!

Swiss chocolate
English chocolate
Most especially Belgium chocolate
I love chocolate!

Chocolate-covered raisins
Chocolate-covered nuts
Chocolate-covered peanut-butter cups
I love chocolate!