Winter Haiku II

Winter Haiku II

Brother bear wanders

no longer, resting instead

in some nearby place.

Blanketed barn sleeps

in a linen field bordered

by straight stiched fences.

Starry winter nights

alive with silvery sparks –

breathe in and say ahhhh.

Stella Castella

I find Winter an especially good time of year for writing poetry.  What are you working on right now?

Welcome, Winter

Welcome, Winter

Welcome, Winter,

to this place

with your winds and

flakes of lace.

Did you miss us

much at all?

Did you kiss your

sister, Fall?

Welcome, Winter,

to this place.

Bring your charm and

crystal grace.

Stella Castella

Technically, it is not yet Winter – but you could've fooled me!

Winter Haiku I

Winter Haiku I

Steam rises in tufts

from geothermal waters

greeting azure sky.

Fresh tracks in the snow

reveal last night's visitors –

unseen, unheard, close.

Alone by the road

Mailbox waits for the return

of Blackeyed Susan.

Stella Castella

These poems (and lots of others) were inspired by a place that is special to me (McCall, Idaho).  Maybe you have a special place that you could write about!

Inevitable

Inevitable

Put your boots by the door;

let them drip on the floor,

and then tell your socks

to watch out.

Stella Castella

Is there anything more annoying than stepping into an indoor puddle and getting your socks wet?  I thought not!

A Pleasant Surprise

A Pleasant Surprise

On a see-your-breath day

in early November, the rain

had stopped doing its thing.

The squirrels and the flowers

may have thought for those hours

that we had skipped straight to spring.

Stella Castella

What could be a more pleasant surprise than a sudden burst of sunshine – right in the middle of a very big rain?  If you're like me, you rush right out in it!

Swarm

Swarm

         Some creatures employ a super-brain survival strategy,

                  Weilding tremendous power to migrate successfully or avoid being prey.

         Army ants, locusts, bees, mayflies and fourth generation monarchs know how.

Rarely, mammals make it work.  Wildebeests and bats have this capability in common.              Less surprising, somehow, is seeing some species of birds and fish flourishing this way,

  deftly dodging obstacles and predators alike, turning on a dime – time after time.

         Mysterious collective wisdom –

                 guiding a group to move as one, think as one, be as one.

              Could humans ever learn such a trick?  Would we?  Should we?

Stella Castella  

Animal behavior is very, very interesting to me.  I enjoy what I can observe firsthand, but also what I can find out by watching some of the very fine documentary films that are available to us.  Nature:  The Gathering of Swarms is one such resource; I highly recommend it to you!

O, U!

O, U!

O, U          Eater,   U!

                  Embracing it all, even

                        poison ivy (up to seven pounds) –

                        digesting the day away, like

                        any self-respecting ruminant.

O, U          Leaper,   U!

                  Eight feet or more

                        from a running start -

                        spryly springing fences,

                        to the consternation of

                        conscientious gardeners.

O, U          Communicator,   U!

                  Employing sounds, scents,

                        body language, and marking

                        for the safety of those

                        in your precious group.

O, U          Thriver,   U!

                  Widely distributed ungulate,

                        inhabiting the edges,

                        learning, sometimes, to

                        look out for traffic –  your

                        vision best at dawn and dusk.

O, U          White-tailed deer,   U!

                  From spotty beginning

                        to mature specimen –

                        crepuscular creature

                        succeeding in the shadows.

Stella Castella

Many people like to admire and photograph deer as they engage in their natural behaviors.  Others look forward, every year, to hunting season and meat for the coming winter.  Knowing many of you as I do, I see that it's possible to do one thing, the other, or both – if it suits you.

Halloween Snapshots

Halloween Snapshots

As a babe in a

clever costume,

you might have thought

me the very best thing, ever.

Ears, whiskers, tail, and

appeal of chubby cheeks!

Tiger as a tot,

my painted stripes

were too stiff

and I cried -

too tired to see the

sense of it at all.

Sang a cute song once

about little witches,

my counting fingers

and zooming arm

ready for action.

Heigh ho - no fright zone.

Heard a good story

about clomping shoes

and clapping gloves.

The part where the shirt

went SHAKE SHAKE

scared me a bit – BOO!

I’m quite ready now

for vampire teeth

(and maybe fake blood).

A little SPOOKY

can be a good thing, but

mostly, I’m up for …

Candy, candy, candy!

Wanna get on the floor,

stomach-style, and lay it out?

Rainbow order or

most favorite to least?

Wanna trade?  Do you?

Stella Castella

Little Gobble-ins

Little Gobble-ins

Little gobble-ins

innocently say

things like

punkin, and

hanitizer, and

then proceed

to dismember

perfectly sweet

kernels of

freshly harvested

candy corn.

They nibble

the tip, and

incise the wide

stripe, saving

the best yellow

taste for last.

Stella Castella

Thanks to Danae, Linda, Sarah, Charlotte, Tammy, Kylie, and Jackie & Matt for suggesting their favorite Halloween words and phrases.  I hope that I didn't forget anyone!  It was fun to incorporate those with inspiration from pictures recently posted on Facebook, as well as the images of my own children when they were young – as vivid in my mind as they are in the photo albums…not to mention the fact that I still remember many happy hours participating in post trick-or-treating inventories and swapping sessions.

It Begins (Start of Basketball Season)

It Begins

(Start of Basketball Season)

Handles on, ballers!

Our cookie and crossover dreams are about to come true.

Only lockdown D, I say lockdown D, will do.  LOCK. IT. DOWN.

Put ‘em on skates, break some ankles, drop a fine dime, and then, it’s …

Splash, yak-yak, all wet  - nothin’ but, nothin’ but, nothin’ but net!

Stella Castella

I owe most of these terms to my son, Collin, a true basketball guru.  If you want to catch some great on-line training, see his work on YouTube via shotmechanics.com!

IC Who UR Now

IC Who UR Now

ICUR                  highly intelligent (and looking the part)

                        in your distinguished black robe, deeply

                        croaking out judgements, “R-R-ROCK.”

ICUR                  a massive, hefty-billed, shaggy-throated,

          thinner-fingered, diamond-tailed version

          of your smaller, raspy-voiced relatives.

ICUR                  not merely a methodical flapper, but given

                        to graceful glides and slow strokes while

                        soaring, plus an occasional two-footed hop.

ICUR                  highly flexible in your living and dining habits;

                        nearly anywhere or anything will do, but you

                        do it alone (or with just a partner) most of the time.

ICUR                  a literary figure – famous in folklore,

                        poetry, and tribal trickster mythology.       

                  What do you make of your fame?

ICUR                  Corvus Corax – common raven by

                        name and numbers only.  You're

                        really not common at all; you r-r-rock!

Stella Castella

I started out wanting to learn more (and write) about crows, but I got more and more interested in ravens as I did some research.  I think I can tell them apart, now.  How about you?

One Tough Month

One Tough Month

October dials

daylight down, and

issues orders to

compliant trees:

Drop. Your. Leaves.

Stella Castella

Surely no one can deny the power of October to change our surroundings, our activities,  and more!

View from the Road

View from the Road

Sleepy old barn –

Slump-shouldered elder

of rural life;

eyelids drooping, yet

aware of possibilities

for future service.

Photo by xubingruo/iStock / Getty Images

Harvest stripes

over rolling hills-

perfect mechanized

penmanship, punctuated

periodically by cell towers

blinking their approval.

Trail of turbines

traversing ridges,

elegant blades

born of a beautiful idea –

bigger, much bigger

than we think;

waiting for a way to

spare friendly fliers.

Stella Castellaw

There are so many interesting things to see while riding along.  I like to think about both the historic and modern aspects of country life.  Many things have changed, but the land and what we put on it still provides us with things that we consider essential.

Speckled Fish

Speckled Fish

Oh, speckled fish

in my dish, I

thank you, thank you

for the nutrition

you provide

(and for the chance

to get outside).

Stella Castella

I know that lots of you enjoy fishing for a variety of reasons.  This poem was inspired by a picture posted on Facebook by Ryan Aronson.  I am also including a picture of his darling daughter making her fish lips.  Thank you, Ryan!

Recess

Recess

Aww, Recess, you

racing, chasing rascal  …

You bouncing, passing,

bounce-passing sometimes bully …

You jumping, spinning,

swinging, (social) climbing

whoosh of fresh air …

You winning combination

of sunshine, zombie tag, and

unicorn magic …

You sometimes too-long,

but mostly too-short

shot of sweet freedom . . .

Do you remember

how to hopscotch,

dibs a tetherball,

do a penny drop,

pluck up a handful of jacks,

or call someone over?

Do you know

how much I need

a good story after

time spent with you?

Stella Castella

Thank you all for your impressions and recollections about recess!  For teacher-types and principals, of course (unless they’re on duty), recess is a must-have bathroom and/or sanity-saving silence break.  For those whose headquarters is at or near the office, the bell signals that it’s time to hand out some of those modern post-recess marvels – ice packs. My admiration to you all!

Collection of Canine Eating Adventures

Collection of Canine

Eating Adventures 

I

Darla chowed a cucumber;

she did it with great zeal.

Watch her on the Internet

as she devours this meal –

the flesh, the seeds, the peel,

the flesh, the seeds, the peel,

the flesh, the seeds, the peel.

II

Zoey and Mac

have a carrot snack

every afternoon.

She gets the bulk;

he takes the end.

It’s the perfect treat

to share with a friend,

so perfect to share

with a friend.

III

Lola, little Lola -

did you consume

something wrong?

The result was quite

alarming, so glad

it didn’t last long -

waaay glad

it didn’t last long!

IV

Ahh, but Finn, poor Finn

ate a bit of the couch

not long after

bolting a bone.

Love him still, in

spite of the bill;

but don’t dare to

leave him alone -

sure don’t dare to

leave him alone.

Stella Castella

All dog lovers can probably tell some good stories about food-related adventures and misadventures.  Those who have yet to embrace this lifestyle probably congratulate themselves on their good sense – with excellent reasons, no doubt!

Ginger Kitty

Ginger Kitty

Ginger kitty

lookin’ pretty . . .

confetti leaves

for a bed.

While you

stretch out

in the sun,

what goes on

inside your head?

Are you making

long-range plans,

or just thinkin’

about lunch?

I suspect you’ve

got grand schemes,

but it’s really

just a hunch.

Stella Castella

I have several friends with sweet ginger cats.  This poem is for them – and everyone else who thinks that cats might be masterminds of some sort.  I agree!

Stand Up

Stand Up

Stand up - 

say, “Don’t!” 

“Let’s not!” 

“I won’t!” 

Be kind,

be smart –

use your mind

and your heart!

Stand up –

say, “Hey!”

“Better try

another way!”

Be kind,

be smart-

use your mind

and your heart!

Be kind,

be smart-

use your mind

and your heart-

yeah!

Stella Castella

Note:  You might want to experiment with clapping, snapping, etc. to enhance the experience for the kids in your care.

Invitation:  Who’d like to write more verses for this?  With your class?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that a lot of people are putting energy into the effort to stop all types of bullying.  Whether you’re following Russell Wilson’s Pass the Peace campaign or participating in the blue shirt movement – or doing your own special thing, I applaud your work in this area.  A parent once told me that she remembered her son’s year in my care as being a time when mistreatment of others was not allowed.  That’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. 

Peace and Harmony

Peace and Harmony

(to the tune of Heart and Soul)

In my own  fam-i-ly I can be

one sweet voice   for peace and harmony.

Be sweet to everyone at home.

La la la laa la la la.

In this school  fam-i-ly I can be

one kind voice  for peace and harmony.

Be kind to everyone at school.

La la la laa la la la.

In our world  fam-i-ly I can be

one true voice  for peace and harmony.

Be true to all humanity.

La la la laa la la la.

La   la   la   la   la   laaa.

Stella Castella

I look forward to the day when I can ask my daughter-in-law, Danae, and my daughter, Kylie, to record this for me.  I adore their lovely voices!

If you want to write a song yourself - or involve your students in that kind of a project, you might enjoy taking a look at Sing My Song:  A Kid’s Guide to Songwriting.  It’s by Steve Seskin “and a Chorus of Creative Kids.”  A variety of artists have contributed delightful and fitting illustrations.

More

More

Ginger cookies for breakfast

(from Aunt Patty’s recipe),

more for my lunch and dinner,

still more with a cup of tea.

Thank goodness they’re all gone now,

though I miss them terribly.

Got to make a change before

there’s a lot, lot more of me.

Stella Castella

Every once in awhile a truly special treat presents itself.  (In this case, it was presented by my dear friend (and web designer) Lindsey – who used the recipe of someone famous in her family for making particularly delicious cookies).