Watch for Small Surprises

Cozy Smokey

Photo by Amy LV

Students - This week, my husband and I took a little trip to Murray Brothers, a nearby garden center, to purchase a pink-flowering rhododendron and a couple of periwinkle delphinium for our yard. When we approached the counter to pay, there was Smokey again, snoozing away, making our day that much cozier and happier. I asked if I could take his picture (he did not wake) and knew that I must write about this soft boy. Even though Mark and I have shopped at Murray Brothers many times, each time we smile at this kitty who dozes so dreamily on the counter, seemingly unaware of his many admirers.

Our days are peppered with small joys, and teaching our eyes to watch for them is very important. It is possible to walk through the same day with eyes for good or eyes for bad, and by looking for good, we not only feel better, but we can better help to bring more good into our world.

My suggestion this week is to look for those small joyous surprises that make you smile inside. Consider writing about one of them. In this way, you will grow that joy inside of you. You may even find ways to radiate it out to others. 

Here is another picture of that sweet Smokey.

Curled up Smokey the Cat

Photo by Amy LV

And yes, of course we donated a little to the Smokey Care Fund.

Everyone Takes Care of Smokey the Cat

Photo by Amy LV

Tabatha is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at The Opposite of Indifference with a wise and lovely poem by Laura Purdie Salas. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

Thank you to the folks at Murray Brothers for brightening so many gardeners' days...and thank you to you for all of the ways that you bring happiness and kindness into the lives of others.

xo,

Amy

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If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

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Something Unexpected

A Handful of Color

Photo by Amy LV

Students - It is good to be back. I have missed you and hope that our time apart has been healthy and good for you and the people you love. Now that it is autumn in Western New York where I live, I will be posting poems and writing ideas here again on Fridays and perhaps on other (unexpected) days.

Today's poem is a true story poem, and it happened this week (not yesterday, but in poems you can change anything you wish). When I went to get the mail, I expected to walk back to my house with a handful of envelopes. Instead, I walked back to my house with a handful of green acorns and this pretty blue feather. I expected one thing and got another.

Has this ever happened to you? You expected one thing and got another thing instead? Maybe you thought a person would act a certain way when you first met them and later realized that the person was actually quite different from what you had imagined. Or maybe a day brought a surprise you never could have thought up - good...or not so good. These things happen to me all of the time, and now that I am thinking about it, I realize that they are strong writing ideas. I'll be paying more attention and jotting such happenings into my notebook. You might wish to try this too.

Today's poem is mostly made up of lines with eight syllables. You may count them out to check, and you'll notice that two lines have only seven syllables. Sometimes when I write, I feel a beat inside and just follow it. I recommend trying to count out syllables, just to start feeling them inside of you. You can count syllables in others' poems for practice.

Another thing you might notice how many parentheses I included in today's poem. Lines with parentheses feel like little whispered asides, as if the writer is telling special extra information to a reader.

And while I did not plan to rhyme any words in this poem, the last two lines felt like they should rhyme after all. They gave themselves to me, all wrapped in a simple rhyme.

Here's my silverboy Tuck, checking out that handful of autumn mail himself!

Tuck and the Mail

Photo by Amy LV

Carol is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup at Beyond LiteracyLink with a summer cento, or poem made from the lines of other poems. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

I wish you something good and unexpected this week...and perhaps even a poem to go with it.

Please share a comment below if you wish. 

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment with a parent

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.