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Thursday, February 18, 2016

Singing My Ditty for Poetry Friday


       Poetry Friday is hosted by Donna Smith, at Mainely Write, a clever poet and long-time blogging friend. I hope you join her today to see all the poetry love shared. Donna shares a beautiful poem today titled "Halfway To Somewhere", exactly where we all appear to be. It's wonderful! Thanks for all, Donna.
       I am filled up with poetry this month, writing a poem each day for Laura Shovan's birthday challenge has been delightful. Go here for Laura's explanation of the challenge. With Laura, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Rosemary Marotta and Jone McCullough leading, I also recently finished the poetry judging for the Cybils award. Our winner was announced on Valentine's Day:
           I love visiting and reading the challenges by Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. This month her guest is David L. Harrison, under whose guidance I've had the honor and pleasure of taking a workshop at the Highlights Foundation.  You can find all the instructions for his challenge here, but the main part is to write a poem using the word "ditty". It's a fun word, and pays brilliant attention to Michelle's blog, doesn't it?  Be sure to visit Michelle to see everyone's responses.






It’s A Ditty-Full Day

It might be a song
of rhyming words sweet,
or relaxing music
while rocking to sleep.
A to-and-fro sound
like love back and forth
takes time to go round
as a ditty.

Or it could be a rhyme
in the bright morning sun
for a dance in the kitchen
when breakfast is done.
We can sing it through chores
while we sweep and we sway,
then we’ll skip outside
humming into the day
with a ditty.

Whatever you choose,
with your voice or a tap
the ordinary notes
fit a warm, cozy lap.
For a child getting sleepy
with words spoken low,
there’s no better thing
than a song that we know.
It’s a ditty!

Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved

32 comments:

  1. Yes! It's a ditty of a challenge-ditty you did! ..."then we’ll skip outside humming into the day"...as someone who ditty-hums a lot, thank you for giving voice to what I find I do! God bless you!

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  2. So swingy! I love it. I especially loved
    "Or it could be a rhyme
    in the bright morning sun
    for a dance in the kitchen
    when breakfast is done."
    I could just picture it so well!
    Love it, love it!

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  3. I love your ditty, Linda. These words were a great addition: A to-and-fro sound/
    like love back and forth/takes time to go round/as a ditty.
    There was a great deal of poetry love going around this week. I hope you have time to visit the #ISTELitChat on Sunday night for more poetry love.

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    1. Thanks, Carol. I have the chat on my calendar. Sometimes "life" gets in the way, but I'm planning on it so far.

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  4. Linda,
    You have your hands in everything! I am inspired by your ditty and the links to Michelle's blog. I have enjoyed playing with the found objects on Laura's blog too.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne. Laura's challenge is fun, and definitely a challenge, isn't it? I'm glad you're doing some of it, too.

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  5. I love the dance in the kitchen, the singing and joyful tone. It's a ditty worth reading again and again. Just lovely.

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    1. Thanks Brenda, I've never tried a ditty before, & it was fun.

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  6. For me, this whole poem is a ditty lullaby, Linda. It personifies what I call "dittylove."

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    1. Thanks Michelle, your challenges always inspire.

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  7. Linda, this poem really captures your own warmth. I like sending love back and forth :-)

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  8. Love your upbeat poem, great rhythm and energy! I like picturing you dancing and singing in the kitchen. :)

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    1. I think I might have to memorize this one, Jama, and then there's the tune to create! Thanks!

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  9. This is wonderful, Linda. I especially love "we’ll skip outside/
    humming into the day" What a cheerful way to begin the day!

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  10. Your ditty is beyond compare, Linda! "there’s no better thing /than a song that we know" - so true. We take ditties with us all day, everyday. They are a comfort as your poem expresses so eloquently. =)

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    1. Thanks, Bridget. I still remember the ditties that were sung to me! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  11. Look at Linda, all humming and dittying! What joy. Thank you! xo

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  12. A fun ditty you have there, Linda - I think we can all identify with the joy of a song we can take with us.

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  13. Despite your poetic busyness, you manage to come up with this treasure! (Although perhaps all that writing probably means your writing muscles are more toned than tired.) I love it, Linda!

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    1. Thanks, Violet. I agree that the more I write, the more I seem to be aware. This was lots of fun, too.

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  14. That last stanza-- such important words! And such truth!

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  15. It IS a very poetrifull month! Your ditty honors the little, not-polished, not-published pieces of rhythm and rhyme that created language in the first place. Nice!

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  16. Linda,
    Thanks for the happy, lilting, fun, uplifting, bright, song to sing ditty. Well done.

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