Warm Summer Sun by Mark Twain

It's been a while since the last post...my apologies! Here is a poem by Mark Twain in honor of the impending summer.

Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.

Read the rest at: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=175308

A Young Lady of Lynn

There was a young lady of Lynn,
Who was so uncommonly thin
That when she essayed
To drink lemonade
She slipped through the straw and fell in.

I have an unhealthly love of lymmericks. I like the humor and the rhythm. In this one, the use of the "essayed" is a little unusual--what do you think? What's your favorite lymmerick? Here is one I wrote:

Eye was struck buy lightning last knight
Sew know won can reed what eye right.
It is this weigh
Four my spelling's changed
Tell me if eye'm wrong oar knot write!
~Mr. Paulson

Fireflies in the Garden by Robert Frost

I would agree with Karen Glenn that Robert Frost may be the greatest American Poet of the 20th century. Here is a short poem comparing fireflies to stars that pulls up questions of science and employs powerful vocabulary. Enjoy! (And if you do enjoy, consider leaving your thoughts for other readers--click on the "comments" link below the post here.)

~Mr. Paulson

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,
And here on earth come emulating flies,
read the rest at: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=171622

Poem for week of February 11

Karla Kushkin's poems are simple and delectable; each word is carefully selected to roll around in your mouth with the others. This is a poem that is meant to be read aloud--listen for the rhythm and how it haltingly changes as the story unfolds; listen for the alliteration. It's a thoughtful poem that also has some wry humor...I hope you enjoy it!

~Mr. Paulson

A bug sat in a silver flower
thinking silver thoughts.
A bigger bug out for a walk
climbed up that silver flower stalk...
read more (click, and then scroll down)

Also, check out Karla Kushkin's poetry writing idea at Scholastic.com

Poetry Monday
Jack Prelutsky has been named the first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. He's one of my favorite authors because he is wacky, weird, and wild. Plus he uses great vocabulary. I can almost imagine the mischevious grin on Jack Prelutsky's face as he thoroughly plays with words in our first Poetry Monday poem.

~Mr. Paulson

I Wave Good-bye When Butter Flies
by Jack Prelutsky

I wave good-bye when butter flies
and cheer a boxing match,
I've often watched my pillow fight,
I've sewn a cabbage patch,
I like to dance at basket balls
or lead a rubber band...read more