When I was down in bed recovering from surgery and then an extra week with bronchitis I had a lot of time to sit and write poetry. Because he was constantly with me I wrote quite a few poems about our dog, Alex. (He also couldn't complain or gripe that I wrote something about him like his human siblings.) He truly is a very funny dog and does about all the things I wrote about here.
Hope you enjoy.
Alex (Haiku)
by Doreen Blanding
In the early spring
To those who chase cotton tails
Slumber comes easy
Alex
by Doreen Blanding
One day in walked a little fur ball
Ne’r did I think my heart would fill
With love for something so very small
He waits for me on the window sill
He has learned to be our friend
To run and fetch a tossed ball
He waits for all to come in the end
And chases leaves in the fall
He loves to keep us sound and safe
Barks at every sound at the gate
Even as our four pound waif
He thinks he’s Alex the Great.
by Doreen Blanding
Alex
Tiny, dog
Running, jumping, chasing
Canine, Terrier, Bunny, Hare
Hopping, munching, scurrying
Fluffy, Rabbit
Peter
Alexander the Great
by Doreen Blanding
I see him from a far chasing that bunny
All the time we laugh because he is so funny.
We watch him chase a leaf across the lawn
He even scratches glass trying to scare the fawn.
He is small in stature but can jump a large log
We love our Alexander because he is our dog.
The Attack
by Doreen Blanding
Upon his haunches he waits
Muscles rippling on his back
Yellow stained teeth ready to grab
Instinct tells him to bound and strike
The unexpected prey
A leaf
Doreen
Poetry continued--GRATITUDE
I took the letters of the alphabet and tried my hand at something different. I thought of something I was most grateful for. It may look pretty easy, but it really was hard because some of the letters I had two, three or even four things I was thankful but I could only choose one. Another rule I had was I couldn't use any proper nouns. You might want to try it.
Gratitude
by Doreen Blanding
Air
Books
Church
Daughters
Earth
Faith
Gospel
Husbands
Intelligences
Joy
Knowledge
Love
Muscles
Neighbors
Opposition
Pain
Quiet
Rocks
Sons
Teachers
Understanding
Victories
Water
X-ray
Youth
Zion
Doreen
To My Mother
This poem I wrote as I was thinking about my wonderful mother. She has this bulletin board in her bedroom that she keeps the current pictures of her family on and I can just envision her turning her chair around and smiling as she looks at those pictures and then a tear comes to her eyes as she sees in those grandkids her own sweet children many, many moons ago doing the same things her grandkids are doing--hamming for a photo.
I love you mom!
Family History
by Doreen Blanding
Pictures of by gone years
Hang upon the wall.
Eyes with loving tears
Look, walking the hall.
Doreen
My Love
To know me is to know that I love to read. I love to read just about anything and everything. I read history books, science books, cook books, boring books, boy books, girls books, western books, mystery books, alphabet books, picture books, photography books, thriller books, gospel books, sappy books, poetry books, travel books, phone books, quote books, spelling books, grammar books, books on books and any book. In fact to end a perfect date is to end with a trip to the book store. When my husband and I were still at school our favorite place was to end up at the library. It really hurts my feelings and I take it as a personal insult that our local library closes its doors at 6 pm on Friday nights. Don't they know that is where I want to hang out on Friday night!
I love to read so much I belong to two physical book clubs and a couple of online book clubs. I would go to more, but I just can't fit anymore books into my life when you consider that I have to read a couple books just for my homeschool.
I would love to write a book so I know what it is like to do it, but right now it isn't the time to write a book, just dreaming will have to suffice right now. But I did write a few poems about books.
My Library
by Doreen Blanding
Books are my friends, my confidants, my love.
They speak to me as if given from above.
They teach me of things close and far away,
Times gone past, people, and what they say.
They entertain and plant the seed
Of all the great things that I may need.
A Book
by Doreen Blanding
I read books by candle light.
I smile as tells are told.
I cry as loves are lost.
I scream as villains triumph.
I cheer as heroines conquer.
I chuckle at their folly.
I squirm as trouble comes.
I sleep when it is dull.
I turn the pages until,
I sob when the end comes.
Doreen
In a Child's Bed
Here is another poem that I wrote. This one was inspired in the middle of the night when my daughter asked me to come lie down with her in her bed becuase she had a bad dream. My mind started spinning and it wouldn't stop. I grabbed her notebook and wrote down a couple of lines before I heard her deep rhythmic breathing that meant she was asleep. I went to my bed and wrote a few more lines before drifting off to sleep. Over the next few weeks I continued to write my thoughts, revise and eventually came up with this gem. I am acutally pretty pleased with the way it came out.
Doreen
In a Child's Bed
by Doreen Blanding
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
The tiny bundle of pink is placed softly down
With parent’s lovely dreams for a happy future.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
When daylight is filtered through the blinds
A pirate stands looting the treasure amidst the stuffed bears.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
When moonlight reflexes off the glass ballerina on the sill
A princess bed with golden hair flowing over the silken pillows.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
As midnight strikes the chimes downstairs
A mother's arms comfort a troubled mind and her lips touch a worried forehead.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
When illness strikes a small body racking it with chills
A healing kiss is bestowed upon a fevered brow.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
When brothers and sister join the fun
A castle with knights guarding the King's gold.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
As a father sits on the edge with a book in hand
The characters come alive through the melodic sound of his telling.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
As her youthful friends come to visit
A place where secrets are told of beautiful young men and magic make-up.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
As her heart is broken over a first love lost
A mother's warm hug and listening ear lessens the sting.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
When she comes back after years gone past with suitcase in hand
Smiles, wedding dress, flowers, shoes, and sparkling diamonds replace the bears.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
The tiny bundle of pink is placed softly down
With parent’s lovely dreams for a happy future.
In a child's bed many wonderful things can happen.
A cycle that never ends happens in a child's bed.
Life Lines
I tried my hand at another poem I titled Life Lines and dedicate to my children.
Life Lines
by Doreen Blanding
What are those lines I see
Staring so faintly back at me?
Lines around my clear blue eyes,
From worries of the days gone by.
Lines around the mouth I fear,
From smiling, giggling from ear to ear.
Lines on knuckles snarled with scars,
From driving with our teens in cars.
Lines in places not many view,
From babies that were long ov'r due.
Lines of love, joy, worries and fears,
Because I've loved you all these years.
Doreen
My Budding Poet
We have just completed the project for our poetry unit. I will share a few of the most precious poems my children wrote. Here are two from my 5 year old daughter, Jessie.
by Jessica Blanding
Dad
Mom
Jessie
Wear A
Crown
Go
To
The
Grandma's
House
(I spelled dad and grandma's the correct way.)
by Jessica Blanding
Alex
Hannah
Rebecca
Go
To
The
Zoo
Wear A
Crown
Alex is our dog, Hannah and Rebecca are Jessie's best friend and she loves princesses, crowns and anything to do with girl types of things.
This reviewer loves these two poems and will givebthe student the highest mark in the class.
Doreen
Poetry
In our homeschool we are doing a mini unit on poetry. I assigned my children to do a poetry notebook. The rules of projects is that mom has to do them too, so I had to write 30 poems too. We had to write a 10 line "I verb" poem and this is mine.
A Book
by Doreen Blanding
I read books by candle light.
I smile as tells are told.
I cry as loves are lost.
I scream as villains triumph.
I cheer as heroines conquer.
I chuckle at their folly.
I squirm as trouble comes.
I sleep when it is dull.
I turn the pages until.
I sob when the end comes.