Poetry Friday is hosted by Donna Smith, at Mainely Write, a clever poet and long-time blogging friend. I hope you join her today to see all the poetry love shared. Donna shares a beautiful poem today titled "Halfway To Somewhere", exactly where we all appear to be. It's wonderful! Thanks for all, Donna.
I am filled up with poetry this month, writing a poem each day for Laura Shovan's birthday challenge has been delightful. Go here for Laura's explanation of the challenge. With Laura, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Rosemary Marotta and Jone McCullough leading, I also recently finished the poetry judging for the Cybils award. Our winner was announced on Valentine's Day:I love visiting and reading the challenges by Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. This month her guest is David L. Harrison, under whose guidance I've had the honor and pleasure of taking a workshop at the Highlights Foundation. You can find all the instructions for his challenge here, but the main part is to write a poem using the word "ditty". It's a fun word, and pays brilliant attention to Michelle's blog, doesn't it? Be sure to visit Michelle to see everyone's responses.
It’s A
Ditty-Full Day
It
might be a song
of
rhyming words sweet,
or relaxing
music
while
rocking to sleep.
A
to-and-fro sound
like
love back and forth
takes
time to go round
as a
ditty.
Or it
could be a rhyme
in the
bright morning sun
for a
dance in the kitchen
when
breakfast is done.
We can
sing it through chores
while
we sweep and we sway,
then we’ll
skip outside
humming
into the day
with a
ditty.
Whatever
you choose,
with your
voice or a tap
the
ordinary notes
fit a warm,
cozy lap.
For a
child getting sleepy
with words
spoken low,
there’s
no better thing
than a
song that we know.
It’s a
ditty!
Linda
Baie ©All Rights Reserved
Yes! It's a ditty of a challenge-ditty you did! ..."then we’ll skip outside humming into the day"...as someone who ditty-hums a lot, thank you for giving voice to what I find I do! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I hum and whistle a lot.
DeleteSo swingy! I love it. I especially loved
ReplyDelete"Or it could be a rhyme
in the bright morning sun
for a dance in the kitchen
when breakfast is done."
I could just picture it so well!
Love it, love it!
Thanks, Donna. It was very fun to do.
DeleteI love your ditty, Linda. These words were a great addition: A to-and-fro sound/
ReplyDeletelike love back and forth/takes time to go round/as a ditty.
There was a great deal of poetry love going around this week. I hope you have time to visit the #ISTELitChat on Sunday night for more poetry love.
Thanks, Carol. I have the chat on my calendar. Sometimes "life" gets in the way, but I'm planning on it so far.
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteYou have your hands in everything! I am inspired by your ditty and the links to Michelle's blog. I have enjoyed playing with the found objects on Laura's blog too.
Thanks, Julieanne. Laura's challenge is fun, and definitely a challenge, isn't it? I'm glad you're doing some of it, too.
DeleteI love the dance in the kitchen, the singing and joyful tone. It's a ditty worth reading again and again. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda, I've never tried a ditty before, & it was fun.
DeleteFor me, this whole poem is a ditty lullaby, Linda. It personifies what I call "dittylove."
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle, your challenges always inspire.
DeleteLinda, this poem really captures your own warmth. I like sending love back and forth :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tabatha.
DeleteLove your upbeat poem, great rhythm and energy! I like picturing you dancing and singing in the kitchen. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I might have to memorize this one, Jama, and then there's the tune to create! Thanks!
DeleteThis is wonderful, Linda. I especially love "we’ll skip outside/
ReplyDeletehumming into the day" What a cheerful way to begin the day!
Thanks, Catherine, fun to do!
DeleteYour ditty is beyond compare, Linda! "there’s no better thing /than a song that we know" - so true. We take ditties with us all day, everyday. They are a comfort as your poem expresses so eloquently. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bridget. I still remember the ditties that were sung to me! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteLook at Linda, all humming and dittying! What joy. Thank you! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, too, Irene.
DeleteA fun ditty you have there, Linda - I think we can all identify with the joy of a song we can take with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt, it was fun to write!
DeleteDespite your poetic busyness, you manage to come up with this treasure! (Although perhaps all that writing probably means your writing muscles are more toned than tired.) I love it, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Violet. I agree that the more I write, the more I seem to be aware. This was lots of fun, too.
DeleteThat last stanza-- such important words! And such truth!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. certainly important to me!
DeleteIt IS a very poetrifull month! Your ditty honors the little, not-polished, not-published pieces of rhythm and rhyme that created language in the first place. Nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heidi.
Delete
ReplyDeleteLinda,
Thanks for the happy, lilting, fun, uplifting, bright, song to sing ditty. Well done.
You're welcome, Joy.
Delete