  Poetry
This week: Edited by: Becky Simpson  
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If you are a parent the chances are you have one or more of these held to your refrigerator by some small magnetic creation: a child’s poem written by the wee small hand of the smallest loved ones in our family. We display them with pride for all to see. They are works of love and contain beauty hidden from the naked eye. They can be simple and at the same time deliver ultimate truths that are reserved for the minds of the innocent. They can be silly and fun such as this little thing:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
My toes are wrinkled
And so are you.
Okay, so it is silly, but as I said, it holds a grain of truth: Toes are wrinkled. Here I suggest you throw off the years and all that education as we have a peek at poetry written by and for our children. Then we will see if we have any child poets who bless us with their works here on Writing.Com. Along with that, I will provide you with this week’s list of favorite poets. In closing I will answer the feedback from the last edition, listing the winner of the gift points.Becky Simpson
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Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote? I do. It was entitled Spring Flowers, and I presented it with a bit of pride and excitement to my mom. She read it carefully and dutifully pointed out to me that remember has two “M’s” in it. Once the error was fixed, she pronounced it fit for display on the refrigerator door.
There is within a child the promise of the future not yet tainted with failures and a view of the world we often forget exists as we grow older. I would like to open this newsletter with a poem from one of our older poets who writes for children. I think she has a special point of view about life and captures one of the things about being a child that is so important, the ability to imagine.
b_boonstra "Invalid Item"
Not so long ago, somewhere in Ohio,
a cowboy was invited, to ride a rodeo
He stopped at a restaurant, where he met Indian Joe;
he made the best cherry pancakes, in ol’Ohio.
The cowboy went on and rode in the snow,
soon he was lost; did not know where to go.
Then bumped up to a snowman, who stood in a row,
to get him a new broom, in ol’Ohio.
The snowman was delighted, he yelled: ”Yippeeo
I smell cherry pancakes from Indian Joe.
I’ll tell you the way to the rodeo show,
if you give me a cherry pancake to eat in the snow. ”
The cowboy was glad, left his pancake in the snow,
now he did know where he could find the rodeo.
As he arrived he saw a cheerleader show,
as guest in the middle, our own Indian Joe.
The cowboy, the snowman and ol’Indian Joe,
had so much fun in the Ohio snow,
that they forgot to go to the rodeo show.
It happened, it’s true, in ol’Ohio
© Bianca 2005
Thank you, Bianca, for sharing such an interesting and imaginative poem. As I read it, I had to smile at the thought of a cowboy, snowman, and an Indian participating in a rodeo. Keep writing and keep helping our young ones to see the world through your eyes.
Now in case you didn’t know it, I thought I might share with you the fact that there are contests to encourage kids of all ages to write poetry. Some of these contests offer fairly significant prizes. I must warn you I have not researched these heavily, and it would be wise for you as a parent to be sure the contest is legitimate. In any case here is an example of one of these contests:
The Foyle Young Poets of the year Award is Britain's most prestigious poetry prize for young writers between the ages of 11-17. The closing date each year is 31st July; the judges in 2006 are:
• Paul Farley
• Kate Clanchy
Winners will be invited to the prize-giving on National Poetry Day 2006, to attend a week-long residential course at the prestigious Arvon Centre in Lumb Bank, and will have their poems printed in a specially published free anthology. Previous winners have also gone on to appear in books, magazines, and on the Poems on the Underground project.
How to Enter
• Entry is open to poets aged between 11 and 17 on July 31 2005.
• Entry is free.
• You can enter as many poems as you like, of any length, on any subject
• You can enter by post or online:
o By post: ensure your name, address, date of birth and school (if appropriate) are on the reverse of each poem entered and send entries to:
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award (W)
Poetry Society
22 Betterton Street
London WC2H 9BX
UK
o Online: use our online entry form [available in March]
• Please do not email entries
• To receive a free copy of the 2005 winners' anthology When The Thunder Woke Me, send a stamped addressed envelope (37p) to the address above.
We look forward to your entries!
There are similar contests in America as well as other nations. I found these when I did a search for “young poets” on MSN.
When I was little I had rheumatic fever. I was so sick I could not stand any light and was delirious part of the time. It left me with a heart murmur. Through it all I remember hanging onto my best friend, my teddy bear. Later Mr. Bear grew up in my dreams and haunted me by being outside my window wanting in. Maybe it was because Mr. Bear had to go once I became sick, maybe it was because he was never replaced. I do not know but I do know that for many a child their teddy bear is their best friend. Let’s join Lizzy as she tells us about her bear.
A Teddy Bear Poem
by Lizzy, age 9
My teddy has a lot of fluff,
He is round fat and tough,
I hug him every day,
And I get up and I play,
Sometimes I get a bit tired ,
So I snuggle down with my teddy,
And cuddle him every night.
Lizzy is a published poet. One thing I noticed, as I worked with the poems and poets to put this newsletter together, was what happened with the procession of time. I will give more examples of this in a little while.
Our next offering is from nature, and though the site was not allowed to give names because of the age of the children, I am willing to bet this was a boy. Relax and enjoy as SH tells us all about what he imagines the life of a frog to be like. Watch out: this one has a tidbit of information at the end that I found very interesting.
Frog
by S.H.
I live in the rain forest so happy and plump
because I have my choice of any bugs.
For breakfast it's slimy slugs, for lunch it is snails.
For dinner it's dragonflies with a side of katydids.
I live high up in a tree above the canopy,
where I have my one little hole with my siblings.
But I always do shudder at what is down
below, creeping along on the forest floor.
Many frog eaters and gruesome they are.
But to look on the bright side, I was one of the few
to survive in an egg out of two hundred four.
I also enjoy the emergent layer while
watching my relatives down in the canopy.
My cousins are wood frogs, my aunts are all toads.
My uncles are cane toads that grow larger than newts.
Many stories are told of great heroes of frogs,
Even the French frogs who are really just meals.
And the Australian cane toads with the road kills and such.
And of Croaker (Grover) Cleveland who was named president.
One day I'd like to become a hero,
But for now I'll stay as humble me
Michael B. Plump.
-- Pennsylvania, grade 5
Such disrespect for a President of the United States! Made me smile and choke a giggle down. Great job S.H.! Did you also notice the end? Is there not some truth in that and do you not think that at some point we all wanted to be a hero? Our next selection is by C.L. another fifth grader, who does a good job of expressing what spring means.
Spring into Spring
by C.L.
Water ice, candy, Easter, and flowers
Babies, green grass, baseball, showers.
Birds, lollipops, ice-cream, and shorts,
Squirrels, chicks, shells, tennis courts.
Eggs, cake, family, bunny,
Warmth, bright, chocolate, sunny.
Games, ball toss, prizes, fun fair,
Blue skies, frogs, fish, fresh air.
So let's set everything aside,
And go outside.
Pennsylvania, grade 5
We are still in the fifth grade. Let’s look at some of our Writing.Com young poets. Our first offering comes from a family of poetic children. I would encourage you to spend some time and look at the ports of Celestial Hunter , Princess Bright as Star , and Gracious Palm Tree . Two of our offerings are from their other siblings Bright Grace and Courageous Stone . We will start with Courageous Stone , one of the youngest of the group. In this work we learn about the poet.
Courageous Stone "Courageous Stone"
Courageous
Smart, intelligent, kind, gentle.
Brother of Priceless Flower.
Lover of mom, Princess Bright as Star, myself.
Who feels anger, happiness, sadness.
Who gives love, caring, happiness.
Who fears spiders, my sisters, vampires.
Who would like to see happiness, kindness, goodness.
Who lives in Ontario.
Stone
okay now I invite you to watch the depth and content of the following poems which are still written by young poets; however we are about three years older than any of the previous poets. I think you will have no problem seeing what I am talking about. Let’s start with Courageous Stone ’s sister Bright Grace , who is thirteen.
Bright Grace "Love on the Line"
Love on the Line
My heart goes for you,
And you alone.
I can not bear,
The pain inside.
With all the heartache you have caused,
Let me be as free as can be.
Let the pain fly away.
I would hope that I do not have to point out the change in the subject matter. As our children grow older and their perception of relationships change, the subject changes from inanimate objects to personal feelings or interpersonal relationships. This trend continues as we present our next young poet, who is fourteen, and as you can see, the subject and vocabulary are changing.
srg_writingcom "Invalid Item"
In a field of daffodils
My lady loves to play.
In a field of daffodils
My lady is so gay.
While we walk hand-in-hand
Through that glorious field,
My heart somewhere lands
Where none other yields.
Thank you, Stefan, for a wonderful example. Our last offering is a young lady who has some great skills. She displays all of the makings of a fine poetess. Her acrostic poem is well done, and I think strikes home with many a girl.
bixbygirl "Love Not Returned"
Love Not Returned
Love not returned is pain,
Overwhelming hurt
Vexed with loneliness,
Ever present heartbreaking.
Never is there a reprieve,
Obstacles blocking
The way to you and to healing.
Ready to move on from this love,
Ever chained, though I am,
Trapped forever in my love
Unrequited for eternity.
Return to me my freedom, my heart.
Now release me from your hold,
Ever your slave till you let me go.
Damn you for stealing my soul!
Finally I would like to offer help for your young poet who may be having trouble with forms of poetry. I found the following site that may help our young poets with form. It is http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/poeform.htm ; hope it proves useful.
That finishes another newsletter. I hope you discovered something you enjoyed, and let me encourage you to visit our young poets and give them all the advice you can.. Until the next issue, keep writing. See you next month when I hope to have some American Indian poetry for your reading pleasure.
Tip of the Day: Until you start a poem you can’t finish one. Pick a subject and get started.
I am always at your service.
Becky L Simpson
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The following members of Writing.Com are some of my favorite poets on Writing.Com. They exhibit and understanding and skill that, simply put, amaze me. I hope those I have forgotten will forgive me, but as time goes on and my memory prods, me this list will change.
Vivian 
reblackwell
COUNTRYMOM-JUST REMEMBER ME 
Ann Ticipation 
Tornado Day
b_boonstra
daycare
SUGGESTED READINGS:
My suggested readings for this month are simple. Read your kids’ poetry and if they aren’t writing any see if you can encourage them.
CONTESTS:
This issue’s challenge is all or nothing: I will give the prize to the best poem I receive about any subject written by either a paying or non-paying member of Writing.Com under the age of eighteen. I will be the only judge, and as such I would ask you to submit your work to me by email in bitem format. The prize for this challenge is a Writing.Com tee shirt, and I shall highlight your work in a coming newsletter. Good luck!
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Questions and comments from last week, my thanks to those who wrote in:
Submitted By: larryp
Submitted Comment:
Thank you Becky for featuring my poetry in this newsletter. As I travel about the country attending cowboy poet gatherings, I realize how far I have to go in my writing skills. Most of these poets are true cowboys who have lived the life. I want to walk the paths my forefathers walked, and the only way I can do so is in the heart, for their lifestyle is long since gone, but must never be forgotten. The poem you featured "Front Porch Swing" was inspired by a close friend, eighty years old, who just lost his wife of 60 years. When I went to his home, he sat in his front porch swing. I wanted to capture the loneliness of that man whom I dearly love. That loneliness lies within the heart of each one of us. The best way I have found to express it is in the style of cowboy poetry. I guess that's why I call my folder Sentimental Cowboy Poetry. Thank you Becky.
Larry, the grandson of a cowboy
Larry,
You are most welcome, but I must insist that you wrote a wonderful poem that I thought fit the newsletter perfectly. I hope my comments did not offend you. They were not meant in that way at all, my observation is made purely from a amateur point of view. Your work is some of the best I could find and I thank you for sharing it with us. – hugs Becky
Submitted By: (user:iammark301}
Submitted Comment:
Feedback and writing gratification in the form of awards and ratings are wonderful and inspiring things, but what I learn in your newsletters outweighs all of it. I don't learn well from a "lesson" typically, but you present such spot on examples and articulate the idea so well, that I am spellbound by your newsletters. I hope you never stop, and thank you, thank you thank you!
Hi Mark,
 You and the other tremendously talented poets on Writing.Com are totally to blame for anything I am able to discover and offer for all to read. I often feel very unfit for the editorial position but, with comments as kind as yours, I will find it difficult to stop trying. – Hugs Becky
Submitted By: billwilcox
Submitted Comment:
Beckster!
Man, I can't believe you didn't use MY cowboy poem "The Legend of Wild Bill" . A very indepth look at cowboy songs and poetry--very entertaining.
Hi W. D.,
Wow, did I ever miss a good one. I read your work after reading your comment. All I can say in my defense sir is that it is necessary to limit myself or you guys may still be reading last months [ month’s ] newsletter when I finish this months [ month’s ] . Don’t think the readers would have as much fun if they were forced to read a book. - Hugs Becky
Submitted By:
Submitted Comment:
I was hoping to read about Indian poetry... well maybe next time lol
John
Hi John,
All I can offer sir is that you check April’s newsletter, I think you will find what you were looking for. Hugs – Becky
Submitted By: popeye
Submitted Comment:
I just joined writing.com and I have to say this is a great websites. I have seen the rest, this is definitely the best. The newsletter is absolutely fantastic, the poems are great and the poets are talented. This is a well thought of newsletter that portrays certain qualities that makes it unique in a good way. I can't wait for the next issue to come out. I'd also like to say well done to Becky Simpson that made all this possible. Keep up the good work.
Hi popeye,
I truly hate to disappoint you but I had nothing to do with the creation of this site although I agree wholeheartedly, that it is the best. As for the newsletters, I am sure I, and the other editor’s thank you very much for your dedicated reading of them and the beautiful compliments. I cannot take credit alone for the interest and devotion to poetry on this site, all of the editor’s work very hard to bring useful information to you our gracious readers. – Hugs Becky
To the rest of you kind readers who made comments about October’s newsletter; thank you. If it were not for your kind words I would be inclined to find another way to spend the time I spend here.
If you have a question, comment or just an observation concerning this edition of the Poetry Newsletter please feel free to send it to me. I would also like our poetry newsletter readers to send me their favorite poem. Please include the poet’s name. I prefer poets from Writing.Com.
Next weeks editor:Stormy Lady 
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Poetry: March 01, 2006 Issue [#903]
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