U is for UP (Great Day for)

The Letter of the day is U. It was hard to find a U title to use, so I had to get creative and use a title that features the letter U. I will utilized my grey matter. The umpteen entries for words that starts with Un that I find, but I won't take umbrage with that. Maybe I'll just buy a ukelele and sing you this book? It just so happens that Dr. Seuss is good for that-alas I don't have a ukelele-with a book called, Great Day for Up.

A rousing tale to help you wake up and start your day. Although, I am just a tad cynical when it comes to early risers, or getting up in the morning in general. I tend to like my bed and being burritoed in my warm and comfy blankets. But get UP I do.

At least a Great Day for Up is a good book to write a pantoum about.

This book was (and still is) part of my collection, although over the years this said collection has shrunk some, and I absolutely love Dr. Seuss in any form. His way with words makes you want to read the books louder and in some cases faster. Dr. Seuss books were staples of my bedtime routine for years. And I am not afraid to admit that sometimes I will take out one of his books to read. They never get old! Green Eggs and Ham, On Beyond Zebra, If I Ran the Zoo, or Scrambled Eggs Super are just a few of my favourites.

Not much else to say, except that I am UP today!

Here's your poetic slice for today, Dear Readers. I don't try to rhyme when I write, as most times it comes off as trite. (Okay, you had that coming). So, I pose to you what are your favourite Dr. Seuss stories? Please leave me a comment below.

Cheers!

UP, You Say? UP!

This little book's wishes,

states hardly more than two dozen words

(I haven't counted though)

about the joys of getting up.

States hardly more than two dozen words,

mostly using that two letter word

about the joys of getting up,

usually when the sun slowly rises.

Mostly using that two letter word

to rally the troops to get them outta bed,

usually when the sun slowly rises,

but others will UP in the middle of night.

To rally the troops to get them outta bed,

because that is what you do, right?

But others will UP in the middle of night,

but it is still UP! UP! UP!

Because that is what you do, right?

I prefer to avoid the status quo, you know,

but it is still UP! UP! UP!

Faster and earlier each day.

I prefer to avoid the status quo, you know,

but taking my time to rise though

faster and earlier each day,

I will still slowly get UP in order to follow

But taking my time to rise though

(I haven't counted though)

I will still slowly get UP in order to follow;

this little book's wishes.

Poetic Parody/Satire: Second to Last Fig

I'm glad for a little snark today. ~CLEARS THROAT~

Our prompt today (optional, as always), will hopefully provide you with a bit of Friday fun. Today, I challenge you to write a parody or satire based on a famous poem. It can be long or short, rhymed or not. But take a favorite (or unfavorite) poem of the past, and see if you can’t re-write it on humorous, mocking, or sharp-witted lines. You can use your poem to make fun of the original (in the vein of a parody), or turn the form and manner of the original into a vehicle for making points about something else (more of a satire – though the dividing lines get rather confused and thin at times).

I have known of Edna St. Vincent Millay since high school and her poem First Fig. It was always taught, or at least brought up. I'm not sure if it really my favourite of her poem. It is the most famous. It reminds me of how busy our lives can be.

My "remixed" version of First Fig.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Second to Last Fig

You say to light a candle at both ends;
You realize the trouble with that, Lady?
That people from far and near will say
She sits in the dark with hot wax on her hands.

Last year for NaPoWriMo one of the topic was to rewrite a classic poem. I took one of my favourite poet, Robert Frost's poem. I turned it into a satire of the original, which is very similar to today's topic. I wanted to share it again with you, Dear Readers. I feel like it depicts today prompt better than what I wrote today. Both poems I consider to be "remixes". Maybe it will trend and more poets and writers will remix old classic poems or try remix their own works. Maybe I will try that after NaPoWriMo with the Poets Three (Rod, Jesi, and Lizzi). *hint hint*

U is for Using something again.

Yeah, that's a weak excuse, but I have a rather full weekend and honestly I can't think of a good U word to use, except USE. :-) Enjoy...

Walking by the Forest of Someone Wealthier than I

Whose lands are here, with POSTED signs along the way
to guard his unused and forgotten 150 acres of wilderness.
I doubt he knows that boys camp here or hunters make their way
on warm summer nights and the opening of the hunting season.

Max, my trusty Golden Doodle, here is barking at the trees
at the forest edge at unseen creatures stirring within--
I know that raccoons, possums live here, as do white-tailed deer
and once and a while, if I squint my eyes,  I can spot 'em.

His barking disturbs my stares at the thick pines and maples
tugging upon his lead, asking to go after the chase.
He can hear the night creatures as they wake
with trips of pine needles, but I have to go.

A short hike through these woods, I would love to take,
but the promises of legal pursuit are far too great.
And yet, I still I have to pee.
And yet, I still I have to pee.

Day #24 - Oh, thou Masonry Wall and Unique Unicorns and Ukuleles

Ubiquitous Unicorn Uniting Under the Ultra Uber Universe!

The "U"! A hard word to find words for. But, I like Unicorn. I love Using the adjectives Uber, Unique, and Ultra. There's the Weird Al movie, UHF. Secret: I only just watched UHF for the first time a couple of years ago!  I have been an Usher in college for Rockafeller Arts Center (ugh, I want to type Centre) on the campus of SUNY Fredonia. There are problems in the Ukraine. Ukulele music is pretty awesome, check out Julia Nunes, Sophie Madeleine, and Molly Lewis. So folks like U2. uilleann pipes are an awesome instrument.

What else? I could go on, but I think I'll stop there. The letter "U" is underestimated. I will write a haiku and a lune for the letter "U", because every letter needs to feel special, even the letter "U". Although it does get to sit next to itself in the word VaccUUm Cleaner. That's a pretty neat thing? Okay maybe I'm reaching. Onto the poetry:

Unicorn Lune

Equine and Graceful
The stuff of magical legends
that inspire stories

Ukulele Music

Strum the chords, breathing

Littlest stringed instrument

 With the purest sounds

Today NaPoWriMo writing prompt is an easier one, yet still requires a bit of thought. Write about masonry, bricks, walls, arches, etc. It's kind of amusing to note that I work for a company that does construction materials testing, that includes masonry. Life imitating art? Maybe, just a bit, Dear Reader! Here is my poem for today:

Meditations of Wall and Art

A wall,

crafted Whether of bricks

or stone

is built once 

and forever it stands.

A border for those not welcome,

while others

for security.

Walls built of honesty--

far less fearful

and more for keeping the sheep in,

unless you have no sheep.

When you watch the 

building of a wall,

you see that each piece,

carefully placed,

with mortar sandwiched 

between the bricks

or stone.

The mason, is an artist--

crafting his way,

sculpting the pieces 

into a fine wall,

one used as a balance beam for children 

and fences for horses to leap

and places for neighbours to meet to chat

as perceived by Robert Frost. 

A wall,

serves it's purpose

intended

it's, in the end 

what folks choose to make of them.

4:21 pm