No Flowers for Mama (Tragi-Comic Mother's Day Verse)

A child's perspective on Mother's Day flower gifts, personal property laws and sustainable alternatives. In verse. A poor imitative tribute to Shel Silverstein. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  No Flowers for Mama

They Put a Black Rose on My Door When She Died

Empowered, inspired and touched by my friends who've shared about losing children, I'm sharing my motheraches. We lost our 5th and 6th children, both girls, to separate in utero trauma. Both little ladies were ironically the same gestational age when they passed away. But their causes of death were different. And we never found out what exactly happened with either. Here's more on that and a poem I wrote for Mary Therese.They Put a Black Rose on My Door

Octomom Nadya Suleman's Welfare Points to System Fails--Sample Op/Ed

"Octomom" Nadya Suleman, single mom of 14 including octuplets, is back on welfare. TMZ reports that the money she earned from masturbation porn and stripping is gone. Last year, Suleman declared bankruptcy and entered rehab. Those drained her funds, too. The State of California awarded her $2,800 a month in food stamps and emergency cash. She's getting Med-Cali (Medicaid) for dental and mental health help, too.
Octomom Nadya Suleman on Welfare Again--Downward Spiral

Advent Musings--Week Two, Hope

This is an Advent essay I wrote. Week 2 of Advent focuses on hope and here are my thoughts on that. "He slams into his second grade classroom, late as usual. He must have read Hitler's Mein Kampf, about the way to make a grand entrance. Arrive late;leave early. He does. He hides, sneaks off and causes adults to hunt for him whenever possible. Despite being only sub-pee-wee weight, about 50# and reaching only to my belly button, he packs a lot of p*ss and vinegar."  read more

How to Write a Nostalgic Tribute, Experience Memoir

Nostalgic tributes or memorials are my terms for writings that describe feelings in retrospect. Nostalgic tributes are similar to memoirs except that they focus on how the individual was impacted by a larger experience in history. Here's an example I wrote from a the Vietnam War as it impacted me as a child.

On June 8, 1972, I was your average 7-year-old, happy to be out of school and looking forward to summer vacation. Soldiers were fighting in a place called "Vietnam" but that was far away and didn't really affect me in my happy little beach town of Muskegon, Mich.
Over meatloaf and mashed potatoes, we watched news reels on television. As callous as only a child can be, I got used to seeing the graphic images. In fact, it used to annoy me when war updates interrupted "Tom and Jerry."  Read more at Photo of Girl in Vietnam Napalm Bombing Brings Back Memories

No Flowers for Mama

A poem of a child's dilemma and his perennial wisdom.

i wanna by sum flowers for my mama
cuz flowers are pretty and so is she
i asked her what kind she liked and she smiled
'save your pennies, honey and pick some wild flowers for me'
i spied the neighbors two-lips
growing tall, all pink and red
i spied the neighbor watchin' me
so i kicked a stone instead  (read more here) No Flowers for Mama (P.S.--if this intrepid little boy wanted to pick from my garden, I'd let him!)

Advent Hope Story

Advent Story He slams into his second grade classroom, late as usual. He must have read Hitler's Mein Kampf, about the way to make a grand entrance. Arrive late;leave early. He does. He hides, sneaks off and causes adults to hunt for him whenever possible. Despite weighing in at sub-pee-wee 50# and reaching only to my belly button, he packs a lot of p*ss and vinegar. Read more...

Editorial, Commentary, Persuasive Speech Writing Sample

This begins an article I wrote for Yahoo! News. I have written in in the form of an editorial, commentary or persuasive speech. It might also be used as an essay example. It begins: "Ask anyone age 40 if they remember seeing so many obese children and overweight teenagers. The answer will be a resounding no. Juvenile obesity is the fastest growing health issue in America, as well it should be. America is killing children, one mouthful at a time. In the U.S., we are literally poisoning children, with every bite we feed them." To read more, click here...

Christmas Memories: The Enemy Appendix, the Almost-Nativity and Snow for Christmas

This is a Christmas essay that I wrote. It might help you if you have to write a holiday essay. 


"The only reason I believe that Christmas 1997 actually happened is that we survived to tell the tale. No one could invent so unfortunate a series of events. I call it the Christmas of "The Enemy appendix, the Almost-Nativity and the Miracle Snow." Here's how it happened..."

An All Souls Day Essay on Honesty

All Souls Day Stories: An Honest Little Boy
It's All Souls Day, and I'm feeling reminiscent. After homeschooling for years, it seems a little odd not to be wrapped up in holy day and holiday preparations. Here's a little story to warm you for the holy day. It's true.
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Free Printable Poem Templates and Poetry Frames

Free Printable Poetry Frames and Poem Templates
Poetry is one of the most expressive and unfettered forms of creative writing. Writing poetry can be daunting for beginners. I love to empower the inner poet. Here are free printable poetry frames and poem templates to break the creative ice.
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Free Printable Halloween Word Games and Puzzles

Free Printable Halloween Word Games, Word Search, Word Scrambles and Puzzles
Little ones look forward to Halloween, but so do big kids. Got some big kids that need activities to keep them busy till trick-or-treat? Here are free printable Halloween and trick-or-treat word puzzles, games and word searches. Educational too!
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Popsicle Purple

Popsicle Purple
a haiku about summer and purple popsicles.
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No Flowers for Mama; A Mother's Day Poem

No Flowers for Mama
Finding no flowers for Mother's Day, a little kid finds something better. This is for my mother in memory of my little brother.
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Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving Thoughts on Loved Ones
How many times have I assigned students to write that Thanksgiving holiday essay entitled, 'What I Am Thankful for'. Family always tops the list. I'm thankful for my family, always, and in memory of a boy named Michael.
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Big Lake Poems: Acorn benediction and Oak Leaf offertory

November fall leaf funerals

grampa in flannel coat and ear-flap cap

me in fur-trimmed jacket and pom-pom hat

big rake and little rake

26 trees in grampa's yard  

oaks with crunchy-crisp fall-down-brown leaves  

and thousands of acorns

kept us and squirrels hunting and gathering

grampa boasting with neighbor  

of how many bags each would offer 

on his autumn harvest pyre

each secretly sure his sacrifice would please most

On cracked cement altar  

leaves piled ceremoniously high  

consumed in flame under watchful eye  

of grampa against shifting winds

leaves to ashes, ashes to dust

pom-pom clad mourner bids farewell

rest in peace, rainbow friends

to nourish next year's soil

but acorns were not burned

acorns explode sending out soul sparks

that singe unwary watchers

their little selves spared, but only for autumn-greedy squirrels

close my eyes and i can smell

oak-leaf incense from ritual burning

hanging heavy-hazy under leaden November clouds 

sharp, sad fire-fall fragrance

summer oak bounty smoldering

on heaps of crimson and ash

tolling Indian summer death knell

somber scent of endings and good-bye

  

  

Harry Potter: Similar Writers

Grieving Over End of Harry Potter Series? Take Comfort in These Great Reads
You think now, that you'll never love another as you did Harry Potter. And that may be true. But take some solace in the arms of these great works of fantasy literature while you grieve the end of Harry. Writer's guide to fantasy genre success stories.
Read on, writers...

Shakespeare: Reader's Guide cum Writer's Guide

DIY Guide: How to Read Shakespeare
If high school students were asked, 'Who would you most wish to see tortured?', William Shakespeare would top the list. English teachers love 16th century dialogue; English students don't. Here's a reader's guide to Shakespeare. And you're asking yourself, 'this is a blog about writing, not reading, right?' (funny how a few homophones can play merry hell with one's point!). I offer this reader's guide for those writer's who wish to learn all they can about the Bard and enhance their own writing. Read on...

And about this image. This portrait is known as the Grafton Shakespeare. I think it has a little more warmth than the older portraits.

Comparison Contrast Composition

Why Cats Are Better Pets Than Dogs
Pets provide companionship and love. Pets also make messes, noise and bad smells. Pets cause damage to person and property, and are generally a nuisance. Here's a sartorial comparison between at pet cats and pets dogs. Pet cats win (but not by much).
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Free Internet Literature and Writing Help

Free Web Resources for Literature Lessons and Homework
You have to crawl before you walk. And you have to read good literature before you write. These resources will help you to both read and write. 10 sites to get free assistance with literature lesson planning or homework. Includes study guides, lesson plans, activities, games, online books, ebooks, reference and resources.
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