Lori Degman's Blog, page 6

Poetry Month - Day 23: Spunk

Today's word comes from the spunky, Penny Klostermann!  I'm just guessing she's spunky because I've never met her in person, or seen her on video, but I have a feeling she is, based on my written conversations with her and her great sense of humor!  So, here's my Spunk poem - I hope you don't think it stinks!

Spunk There’s nothing like skunkto instill you with spunk
To run for the hills -‘cause that skunky stink kills!
When out on the streetIt is so far from sweet
But when it’s on dogsit’s like living with hogs.
It’s just like the stenchof a World War 1 trench.
The skunky perfumewill pollute the whole room.
It sits on the chairsand it climbs up the stairs
It clings to your clothesand it sticks in your nose.
It wafts off your skinwhich will make your head spin.
You'll feel a bit sick‘cause the air is so thick.
So heed my advice.I will not say it twice!
Avoid getting sprayedor you may need first aid!


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Poetry Month - Day 22: Earth

I wrote my poem using the word Earth, in honor of Earth Day.  I've made suggestions for helping the environment, but it's only a drop in the bucket.  If you add some more ideas - I'll add them to the poem!



Earth
What is it worthto save the Earth?
Here are a fewthings you can do:
Don’t be disgraced,recycle waste.
You can go farwithout a car.
Walk if you likeor ride your bike.
Tell your daughter,“Save some water.
Please don’t showerfor an hour.”
Lower the heat,cover your feet.
Show that you care,turn off the air.
The ozone's thinned,so switch to wind.
Or get it doneby using sun.
Turn off the light,except at night.
Driving to school?Try to carpool.
Make yourself heardand spread the word.
Tweet on Twitter,“Please don’t litter!”

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Poetry Month - Day 21: Cryptic

Today's word, Cryptic, was suggested by my writer-friend, Penny Klostermann. I wrote my poem, using Cryptic, and because I LOVE cryptograms, I turned it into one! If you've never done a cryptogram before, go to this website - it teaches how and gives helpful pointers.  If you get stuck, I've provided three hints at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please don't reveal the answer or you may spoil the fun for someone else!



Cryptic
HUSC GDVSDCS’G ASYCW JBENKYJ YK JRC LSSO RNDJROENKYJ. APK KRQS EDPB KYVS - EDP’OO WSK YK YL EDP FD, EDP HDC’K BSWBSK YK!
WARNING!!  DO NOT GO BEYOND THIS POINT 
UNLESS YOU WANT HELP SOLVING THE CRYPTOGRAM!



Here is hint #1: B = R
  Here is hint #2:   S = E      Here is hint #3:   O = L



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Poetry Month - Day 20: Bewitch

Today's word, Bewitch, was given to me by my writer friend, Joanna Marples.  Immediately, I thought of the 1960s TV show, Bewitched.  So, I wrote this poem for all the other baby boomers old enough to remember watching the show - before it was in reruns!



Bewitch
On Thursdays at eight, every channel was switchedto ABC station, where we’d watch Bewitched!
And like Gladys Kravitz, we’d spy on the lifeof Darrin Stephens and Samantha, his wife.
His boss, Larry Tate, was a white-haired buffoon.Who’d always be drinking martinis at noon.
And then there’s Endora, a son-in-law’s curse.He calls her a “witch” - but he could call her worse!
Aunt Clara “appears”, in a flustered condition.“Call Dr. Bombay!”.  He’s the family physician.
And dear Uncle Arthur, portrayed by Paul Lynde,plays practical jokes that he’d like to rescind.
And, then they had Tabatha, cute as could be.Samantha and Darrin and baby made three.
Then, something strange happened in year number four,Suddenly, Dick York was Darrin no more!
And, odder than that, it seemed nobody noticed.As if they’d been drinking, like Mayberry’s Otis!
Though, watching it now, it can feel a bit dated,For eight happy seasons, it kept us elated (or sedated)!
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Poetry Month - Day 19: Simple

Today's word was really simple.  No, really - it was Simple!  My writer-friend, Christine Wolf gave it to me!  Of course, the first rhyming word that "popped" into my head was pimple!



Simple
Do you think it’s simpleto cover a pimple?

Here are suggestions
for all of your questions:

A “seal the dealer”will use concealer
Or put on some blushwith a makeup brush.
You can add some flair -stick a Band-aid there.
I've heard what works niceis a piece of ice.
Some kids will pop 'emUnless you can stop 'em.
So, go ahead - do it!
There is nothing to it!

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Poetry Month - Day 18: Skip

My son, Sean is getting married in September and I'm trying to lose weight before the wedding. I think it's obvious, from the way I used the word Skip in my poem, that it's weighing on my mind (pun intended)! Thanks, Julie Rowan-Zoch, for suggesting today's word!!

Skip

To lose some weight, I’ll need to skip:potato chips with onion dip,pepperoni pizza pies,hamburgers with salty fries,milkshakes that are thick and rich,white bread meals that end with “wich”,pasta with a creamy sauce -that’s the way to see some loss!
Cut out cakes and cookies too,yummy donuts filled with goo,chicken nuggets fried in lard,candies, whether soft or hard,pancakes, bacon, sausage links,even alcoholic drinks.Skipping these will make me thinner.Not today - it’s time for dinner!

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Poetry Month - Day 17: Bosk

Today's word, Bosk, came from a fellow author, B.J. Lee. Did you know that a bosk is "a small wood or thicket, especially of bushes?" I sure didn't. The only bosk I've heard of is Bosc pears :-) Guess what? There is no word that rhymes with bosk (except mosque, but I found that out after I wrote the poem. So, I kind of cheated a bit with the pronunciation. Here it is:



Bosk
If I were from England, I’d take her to “tosk” for giving a hard-to-rhyme word, such as bosk!
If I were from England, I wouldn’t be “hoppy”while wasting my time on a word that’s so “croppy”!
If I were from England, I’d be in a “ponic”A bit like the passengers on the “Titonic”!
If I were from England, I’d need a long “nop”‘Cause, I’d be asleep - it’s an eight hour “gop”!



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Poetry Month - Day 16: Juxtaposition

My sister, Mindy gave me the word Juxtaposition - thanks a lot! Seriously, Min - thanks a lot! I ended up really liking this poem - and it's about two sisters!

Juxtaposition
There we both stood in juxtaposition.Each of us holding our own composition.
Because it was April, they’d asked us to writea poem to read just for poetry night.
The judge would determine which poem he liked best,and pin a blue ribbon on somebody’s chest.
Just two of us left, he had sent off the third.We knew what to do, without saying a word.
My sister and I gave a wink to our mother,then shuffled our pages between one another.
We chose not to tell who had written each verse.‘Cause we stick together - for better or worse.
I wish you had seen the odd look on his face,while pinning the prize on the girl in third place!
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Poetry Month - Day 15: Itinerant

Today's word, Itinerant, was suggested by my friend, Sibby! We're both Itinerant Teachers who work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. After a long day at work, it was pretty easy to write this! I love being a hearing Itinerant and I love my students! I'm so lucky I get to work with kids from 3 - 18 year old! No classroom teacher has that wide a spectrum! This poem is dedicated to my fellow itinerants!!


Itinerant
I work as an itinerant.I go from school to school.It’s been a very lengthy stintand I still think it’s cool!
My sons say I don’t really teach,since I don’t have a class.And that’s when I begin my speechin answer to their sass.
I teach my students many skillsto help them do their best.My lessons aren’t just boring drills,to which they will attest.
It helps to have a specialistwho’s always on their side.Who makes sure they are not dismissed; their hearing needs denied.
An advocate who fights for themand leads them toward success.Who turns a rock into a gem -and settles for no less.
So, maybe I work one-on-oneinstead of with a class.I think my job is lots of fun.In fact, my job kicks ___!
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Poetry Month - Day 14: Yurt, Periwinkle, Spumoni & Breve

Last week, a FB friend suggested not one - not two - not even three - but four words for me to use! I thought I'd pick the one I liked best (aka: the easiest to rhyme), but, since it's Sunday, I knew I'd have more time to work on it, so I used all four. It's not my best poem, but I'm kind of proud of myself for working in all four in a fairly cohesive poem.


Yurt, Periwinkle, Spumoni, Breve

I spent the day in a yurt.I figured, it couldn’t hurt.
It’s a shade of periwinkle,and has canvas sides that crinkle
I dined on macaroni,which tasted like spumoni,
and was shaped, I do believe,like the grammar mark, the "breve".
Then I wrote a poem that’s merry,using words from my friend Cherie.

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