poetry – Page 2 – Julia Taylor Ebel

Introducing Bonnie

When I visit schools, I often talk about Bonnie, my Golden Retriever mix who inspires poetry. We have fun together. As my son points out, Bonnie and I are a lot alike. We both like to explore in the woods, we both like to dig in the garden, and we both love blueberries. Sometimes we both get into mud, even if we didn't intend to. Oops! Bonnie's enthusiasm, her wagging tail, her mischievous nature, and her interesting diet (?) have all inspired poems. Here is a small sample. As you read them, think about what you would say about your own pet. PUZZLE MAKER My yellow pup ate up the Encyclopedia Britannica from "Silicate Minerals" to "Singapore," leaving behind a paper puzzle of 24 pages. CATCH Oh, my! Oh me! My pup just ate a bumblebee. WAGS A swift swipe of a happy tail wipes the coffee table clean of dust and collected treasures. WRITING POEMS WITH MY DOG Bonnie and I sit together writing poems. I hold the pen as she rests her head on my lap.

Sweet Scents and Poems

Until I was 11 years old, my family lived in a house with a mimosa tree in the yard. Mimosa trees have smooth bark and V-shaped branching--perfect for climbing. In the mimosa's gentle arms, I honed my tree-climbing skills and watched the world. In summer, when pink tasseled blossoms covered the tree, the yard was a fragrant garden that smelled like a potpourri of flowers, watermelon, and sweet hard candy. Years later, that scent is still fresh in my mind and entwined with childhood memories. A familiar scent still calls me to stop and notice, as when my dog and I walked past a mimosa tree one morning. FRAGRANT FLIGHT Two hummingbirds on phantom wings dart and dip amidst a fruity floral scent of pink mimosa plumes.