Warming up to aware

Hi everyone,

We haven’t played with couplets in a long time. I propose that today we write “aware” couplets just for the fun of it. I’ll go first. You can add yours here on the page under comments. See that little balloon in the upper right corner? Click on that to get started.

In case by chance you're not aware,
there's nothin sweeter than a pear.

I'd be aware if I were you.
Fix that hole in your canoe.

When Mommy gives the Mommy Stare,
head's up, be aware.

There's something there beneath the stair.
I don't know what, so be aware.

I'm aware that you're upset,
but you're a dog, you're just a pet.

A cat's aware.
It doesn't care.

Alive, aware, he strolls along,
plays his tune, sings his song.

You hope that fish in bubbling brook
is not aware of hidden hook.

The bear sleeps deep beneath the snow,
no longer aware when cold winds blow,

Be aware, be in tune,
find the story in the moon.

My poem for November Word of the Month

Hi everyone,

We have a concrete figure in our back yard; had it for decades. Time has taken its tole. We are growing old together. Sometimes in winter I look out the window at our small sentinel, and think my own thoughts.

Guard Duty

Concrete sentinel in my yard,
standing mute, no clothes,
toes buried in whirling snows,
year by year you stand guard
no matter wind that howls and blows,
or ice freezing down your nose.
I wonder if, in times so hard,
you are aware, or do you doze,
dream of hot sun on your toes?

(c) 2025 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved

A new Piggy Wiglet video

Hi everyone,

What a delight to see Piggy Wiglet and the Great Adventure is still out there chasing the sun after fifty-two years. SHANNON PAULEY, Head of Youth Services at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pennsylvania, has released a video about the book, her lifetime connection to it, and our recent correspondence. Shannon, thank you so much. I love your recording and am delight for Piggy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaFdnuRSGSg&list=PLa8qQDQUaFBD8ApLKz_RO2XCACtZxk6uM&index=2 I loved it that the book you see first, on the table by co-sponsor, Miss Linda, is Thankful, by my friend and colleague, EILEEN SPINELLI!

The word for November is . . .

Hi everyone,

My thanks to the poets who posted their “step” poems for October. I enjoyed them and know that others did too. We wound up with half a dozen or so participants, about a fourth as many as in years past. I wonder if Word of the Month Poetry Challenge has run its course after sixteen years. I would miss it, and I’m not yet ready to discontinue the monthly exercise, but I don’t know how to start attracting more poets again. If anyone has a suggestion or comment, I welcome both.

Meanwhile, we greet November with this new word to play with: AWARE. I know that some poets jump right in with the first thought that comes to mind and others make a list of possibilities and then choose one. However you go about it, I wish you a pleasant writing experience as you take your imagination out for a walk.

A talk with Sam Bommarito (Dr. Sam)

Hi everyone,

Yesterday it was my pleasure to visit with good friend and colleague, DR. SAM BOMMARITO, professor, former president of Missouri Literacy Association, former co-editor (with GLENDA NUGENT) of The Missouri Reader, prolific contributor to the field of early literacy, and host to a series of interviews on his blog at https://doctorsam7.blog/ Here’s the result. Thank you, Sam!