1. Broadway Moon New York City, USA It waits behind skyscrapers, a brilliant actor in the wings, ready for its monthly debut. On the sidewalk, an audience of one watches and silently applauds when it grandly appears. From A FULL MOON IS RISING By Marilyn SingerDragon Who wouldn't care to be a dragon? To be master of fire and air? To wander through a field or two torching ricks of hay? To take to the sky and declare you're there with a fireworks display? In winter not to worry if it's snowing or it's sleeting? To snuggle in a pleasant cave where you're the central heating? From CENTRAL HEATING: Poems About Fire and Warmth By Marilyn Singer In Reverse Who says it’s true– down is the only view? If you believe that, this poem will challenge you. Up is something new. Something new is up. You will challenge this poem if you believe that the only view is down. It’s true. Says who? From MIRROR MIRROR: A Book of Reversible Verse By Marilyn SingerFirefly Come (flash) Choose me (flash flash) I am the (flash) summer romancer In the night (flash) My light (flash) asks Are You the One? Come (flash) flash me back the answer From Fireflies at Midnight by Marilyn Singer A STICK IS AN EXCELLENT THING A stick is an excellent thing. If you find the perfect one, it’s a scepter for a king. A stick is an excellent thing. It’s a magic wand. It’s yours to fling, to strum a fence, to draw the sun. A stick is an excellent thing if you find the perfect one. From A Stick is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play By Marilyn Singer MONDAY ON THE MISSISSIPPI Lake Itasca, Minnesota A little lake among so many lakes. A little stream among so many streams. A little girl wiggles her toes in the shallow water and wonders, How long before we’re big and strong, little Mississipi? How many miles? How many days? From Monday on the Mississippi By Marilyn Singer

2. Sea Star by Liz Brownlee is a previously unpublished poem Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2012/04/liz-brownlee-sea-star.html Sea Star What Is Poetry? What Is Poetry? poetry is about taking away the words that you don’t need poetry is taking away words you don’t need poetry is words you need poetry is words try What is Poetry? By Bob Raczka is a previously unpublished poem Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2012/04/bob-raczka-what-is- poetry.html http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2012/04/bob-raczka-what-is- poetry.html Wake Up Call Wake Up Call Earlier this morning I was droopy, draggy, tired, Then I drank my daddy’s coffee – Now I’m wired, wired, wired. “Do that again,” my father said (I skittered, jittered, bounded), “You’ll be like past tense coffee beans – Grounded, grounded, grounded!” Wake Up Call by Greg Pincus is a previously unpublished poem Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2012/03/wake-up-call-coffee-poem.html No Poem Today (a poem) No poem today. Now, go away. I’ve got nothing to share. My empty words Are for the birds, And I don’t even care. If I had time Perhaps I'd rhyme Or write a new haiku. But I don’t. So I won’t. My words are stuck like glue. No Poem Today (a poem) by Greg Pincus is a previously unpublished poem Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-poem-today-poem.html Hippobottamus by Liz Brownlee Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://www.poetlizbrownlee.co.uk/site/hippobottom By Liz Brownlee Elephant Song Loxodonta africana Night holds them safe, the moon in cloud gleams, and deep in the darkness of soft breath and dreams, the elephant mother greets her new son, with a tender and gentle low soft hum, she strokes his face the night-left long, and sings her newborn elephant song. Elephant Song by Liz Brownlee Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://www.poetlizbrownlee.co.uk/site/the-elephant-song

3. song my spill and sky the touch I until ascent vertical a on joy my take I Skylark Song by Liz Brownlee Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://www.poetlizbrownlee.co.uk/videos/Skylark.mov Styropoem Styropoem by Douglas Florian I think I've never Seen a poem To praise a piece of Styrofoam. I've waited years - I'm waiting still. I guess I never Ever Will. Ode to a Piece of Styrofoam Ode to a Piece of Styrofoam (For Douglas Florian) by Gregory K. Pincus Styrofoam's good - There is no debate. And Styrofoam won't Disintegrate! Styropoem by Douglas Florian and Ode to a Piece of Styrofoam by Gregory K. Accessed April 7, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2009/04/douglas-florian-kinda-sorta.html(Skylark) Skeleton at Dinner Skeleton at Dinner I heard you shout Soup's on! I rattled in, sat, slurped. Soup's in— soup's out. Skeleton at Dinner by Kristine O’Connell George Accessed April 3, 2012 at http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2009/04/kristine-oconnell- george-skeleton-at.html Red Wheelbarrow so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens. From Spring and All by William Carlos Williams Old Friend I had forgotten you, friend. Is that why you came into my dream? I had forgotten you. When I fall asleep again, will you leave your address on my pillow? From Night Garden by Janet Wong Feelings Make Me Real You are not the boss of me And what I feel inside. Please don’t say, “Let’s see a smile,” Or tell me not to cry. I am not too sensitive You think my inside’s steel? You can’t tell me how to be, Feelings make me real. Feelings Make Me Real by Sara Holbrook Accessed April 3, 2012 at http://www.saraholbrook.com/

4. End of Season Twang, The mosquito sang. Not a very strong Song. Ping, Went his sting. Just a weak Tweak. Ho, hum, time to shinny Up a pitcher plant. In he Creeps. Sleeps. From Never Say Ugh to a Bug by Norma Farber Whoops! I’m really really sorry That I broke that dinner plate, And spilled that sauce on the tablecloth, And chipped that cup And dropped that glass on the floor. Excuse me, did I hear you say That I should please go out and play, And not help clear the dishes anymore? I’m really really really sorry. Sort of. From Sad Underwear by Judith Viorst Credit You asked me to do it. I promised to do it. I planned to do it. I started to do it. I really meant to do it Except I forgot. Couldn't I get some credit For promising, Planning, Starting, And really meaning to do it? Guess not. From If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst Weird My sister Stephanie's in love. (I thought she hated boys.) My brother had a yard sale and Got rid of all his toys. My mother started jogging, and My dad shaved off his beard. It's spring --- and everyone but me Is acting really weird. From If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst There Are Only Two Kinds of "I'm Sorry“ There are only two kinds of "I'm sorry," With no other kind in between. There's the one that someone tells you to say, And the one that you really mean. By Judy Lalli Grandma Says Grandma says I shouldn't lie, The truth is always better. I just hope she doesn't ask If I like my birthday sweater. By Judy Lalli

5. I'm Waiting For A Rainbow I'm Waiting For A Rainbow I'm waiting for a rainbow, I'm waiting for the sun. I'm waiting for the rain to stop So I can play and run. I know I should be patient, But waiting's such a pain. I guess I'll have to pass the time Appreciating rain. By Judy Lalli Goodbye, Six -- Hello, Seven I'm getting a higher bunk bed. And I'm getting a bigger bike. And I'm getting to cross Connecticut Avenue all by myself, if I like. And I'm getting to help do dishes. And I'm getting to weed the yard. And I'm getting to think that seven could be hard. By Judith Viorst Mistakes Can Be Good Mistakes Can Be Good Mistakes can be good. They can help you grow. They can show you what you need to know. So whenever you make a mistake, Just say: "Now I'll try another way." By Judy Lalli Bertha’s Wish I wish that I didn’t have freckles on my face. I wish that my stomach went in instead of out. I wish that he would stand on top of the tallest building and shout, “I love you, Amanda.” One more wish: I wish my name was Amanda. From If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst My Cat My cat isn’t stuck up. Even though He’s the handsomest cat in the world, And smart, And brave, And climbs the highest trees. My cat will sit on your lap and let you pet him. He won’t mind. He thinks human beings are Almost as good As he is. From If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst Secrets Anne told Beth, And Beth told me. And I am telling you. But don’t tell Sue— You know she can’t Keep secrets. From If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst

6. Night holds them safe, the moon in cloud gleams, and deep in the darkness of soft breath and dreams, the elephant mother greets her new son, with a tender and gentle low soft hum, she strokes his face the night-left long, and sings her newborn elephant song. First Day First Day I duck down in the seat of my new class. To these kids, I’m not Gabby yet. I’m just Shy Girl Who Lives Inside Her Head. From Words With Wings By Nikki Grimes Words With Wings Some words sit still on the page holding a story steady. Those words never get me into trouble. From Words With Wings By Nikki Grimes Wind The wind and I play tug-of-war with my new kite. The wind is winning. From Guyku by Bob Raczka Bamboo Tree Frog Did you know I change to be the colour of my bamboo tree? On bamboo small and bamboo large, I clasp and snooze in camouflage. It’s mainly greens and browns I choose amongst a grove of slim bamboos. Red or purple forestry? I think that might bamboozle me! Liz Brownlee Accessed April 4, 2013 at http://www.poetlizbrownlee.co.uk Liz Brownlee Accessed April 4, 2013 at http://www.poetlizbrownlee.co.uk Elephant Song No one even knocks on the door for a visit. They don’t know it’s beautiful in here. But other words have wings that wake my daydreams. They fly in, silent as sunrise, tickle my imagination, and carry my thoughts away. I can’t help but buckle up for the ride! Puddle If this puddle could talk, I think it would tell me to splash my sister. From Guyku by Bob Raczka

7. Crickets Hey, who turned off all the crickets? I’m not ready for summer to end. From Guyku by Bob Raczka Porcupines Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom by Marilyn Singer Snow Day How many million flakes will it take to make a snow day tomorrow? From Guyku by Bob Raczka Loving you takes some practice. So I’ll start out with a cactus. I’ve Got an Itch I’ve got an itch, a wretched itch, No other itch could match it. It itches in the one spot which I cannot reach To scratch it. From The New Kid on the Block Poems by Jack Prelutsky One Leaf One leaf rides the wind, Quick as I am, it’s quicker! Just beyond my grasp From One Leaf Rides the Wind By Celeste Davidson Mannis The Voice There is a voice inside of you That whispers all day long, “I feel that this is right for me, I know that this is wrong.” No teacher, preacher, parent, friend Or wise man can decide What’s right for you—just listen to The voice that speaks inside. From Falling Up Poems by Shel Silverstein