DAY 4 ~ "Nature Color Poem" for “30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

OK, let’s string together some couplets since we know who to write them… some of you already strung them together but this time we are going to be writing a Nature Color Poem ~ It's fun and made up of a series of couplets (depending on how long you want it - or even just one couplet if you choose to only do one color).

A “nature color poem” tells about the color of something in nature using rhyme. 

Here are the guidelines:

~ It’s made up of couplets. (I can’t see where you need the same beats for the entire poem so unless I learn otherwise, I’ll say just keep the syllables the same for EACH couplet that you use in your poem.

~ The first word in each couplet is the color of something in nature.

~ The two ending words in each couplet are the words that need to rhyme and both lines should have the same number of syllables or beats.

~ It can be as long as you wish, just start with a different color for each verse (couplet) . . .

This is an example I wrote a few years ago and I was really tired when I wrote it, but since I’m still kind of busy-crazy with finishing up a couple of college courses right now, I’m going to use it again – it’s on the silly side; certainly not heartfelt about our beautiful earth – but it illustrates the poetry form and I can’t wait to see what you come up with:

Yellow sunshine beckons me,

To come out so I can see.

Blue skies over my head,

I have nothing to dread.

Pink flowers are pretty to smell,

I have a cold, it’s hard to tell.

Green blades of grass seem to call me,

Oh, wait, I've got an allergy.

                       © 2015 Stephanie Abney

So, let’s get writing!! Cheers!!

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright for to them as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

DAY 30 ~ How to Write a "Color Poem" for “30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

This is our last day for National Poetry Month ~ I hope you all have had as much fun as I have. Today, let’s do a simple little poetic form ~ a “COLOR POEM.” There are actually several ways to write a color poem if you care to Google it but for our purposes we are going to follow this one. It’s sweet and simple. I like it because it has a metaphor and three similes and ya’ll know I am partial to using parts of speech when writing poetry. So here goes:

This poem is just four lines. So short and simple perhaps you will want to do several color poems using a different color each time.

REMEMBER:

A “metaphor” uses the word is. It’s a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to draw a comparison. It is not the same as a simile.

A “simile” uses the word like or as in order to make a comparison, whereas metaphors use is or are. So if you say “If I were” or “If you were” and named the thing (noun), it is a metaphor.

A metaphor: Your hair is golden flax.

A simile: Your hair is like golden flax.

Here is the pattern for our color poem:

Line 1: metaphor ~ what “feeling” does this color give you – call it that

Line 2: simile ~ example using a simile

Line 3: simile ~ another example using a simile

Line 4: simile ~ final example using a simile

And that’s as easy as it gets!!

And here is a VERY simple sample (did you like that little “alliteration?)

Blue is peace.

Like the end of a perfect day.

Like the smile of a newborn

As comforting as a downy quilt.

© 2017 Stephanie Abney

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright for to them as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or you FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

DAY TWENTY-TWO "Nature Color Poem" for “30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

OK, since today is “Earth Day” and we just practiced couplets yesterday . . .

Today, let's write a Nature Color Poem ~ It's fun and made up of a series of couplets (depending on how long you want it - or even just one couplet if you choose to only do one color).

A “nature color poem” tells about the color of something in nature using rhyme. 

Here are the guidelines: 

        ~ It’s made up of couplets.

       ~ The first word in each couplet is the color of something in nature.

       ~ The two ending words in each couplet are the words that need to rhyme and both lines should have the same number of syllables or beats.

I’m really tired and out of ideas so my example is BEYOND lame, but I can’t wait to see what you come up with:

Yellow sunshine beckons me,

To come out so I can see.

Blue skies over my head,

I have nothing to dread.

Pink flowers are pretty to smell,

I have a cold, it’s hard to tell.

Green blades of grass seem to call me,

Oh, wait, I've got an allergy.

If you prefer, another poem that lends itself well to “National Earth Day” would be a haiku. Traditionally, they are brief, 17-syllable free verses. The first and third lines contain five syllables and the second line contains seven. Most Haikus are written about nature, making it another perfect poetry form for “Earth Day.”

So, Happy Earth Day and let’s get writing!! Cheers!!

Please remember – any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments section of this blog. They are the property of the person who shares them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them in any form without their express permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to it. Thanks!! 

And if you choose to post your poems on your own blog – that’s awesome. But please don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem and LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to read the instructions. Thanks for respecting my work

DAY EIGHTEEN!! "Color Poem" for 30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

I've found NUMEROUS definitions of "color poems" so if you are loving the poetry challenge and want to take on more - just do a search for "color poems" and try any of them that appeal to you.

However, for today's form we are going to use the one found at: ReadWriteThink which was a favorite resource of mine as a teacher and you can see it here or just read on. The site allows using their material for educational reasons and I'm going to take that to mean since I am trying to educate others about poetry, that even though this isn't a contained classroom, is it a "virtual classroom" of sorts and I will use some of their material directly from their site ~ which is at the "here" link above.

OK, here is the style of "Color Poem" we are using today. It has a specific formula to follow; actually it demonstrates 2 patterns.

Pattern One: Choose whatever color you wish - but here is the pattern:

Green is ....

Green is .... 

Green is ....

Green is ....

Green tastes like ....

Green smells like ....

Green sounds like ....

Green feels like ....

Green looks like ....

Green makes me ....

Green is .... 

And here is a finished poem using green (taken from ReadWriteThink):
 

Green is .... the color of spring.

Green is .... renewal.

Green is .... the color of envy.

Green is .... a new crayon.

Green tastes like .... a crisp apple.

Green smells like .... fresh cut grass.

Green sounds like .... a croaking frog.

Green feels like .... soft, velvety moss.

Green looks like .... shiny emeralds.

Green makes me .... go.

Green is .... my favorite color.

And here is Pattern Two (still using green for their example):

List 1: What things LOOK green?

Grass, apples, markers 

List 2: What things SOUND green?

Lawnmower, music, sigh 

List 3: What things SMELL green?

Grass, rain, crayons, 

List 4: How does green FEEL?

Warm, cool, soft, velvety 

List 5: What makes YOU FEEL green?

Envy, illness, spring 

List 6:What things TASTE green?

Candy, vegetables, pesto 

List 7: What EXPERIENCES or IDEAS seem green?

Renewal, beginning, envy 

List 8: Can you think of green PLACES?

Garden, forest, swamp 

AND here is the finished example poem (taken from ReadWriteThink):

Green 

Green is apples, markers, and cool.

Green is the taste of vegetables.

Green smells like grass and rain.

Green makes me feel envious.

Green is the sound of a lawnmower and a sigh.

Green is a garden, forest, and a swamp.

Green is renewal.

Green is beginning again.

Green is spring. 

 ~~~~~~

What color will you choose?