April is NATIONAL POETRY MONTH. I didn't know. Did you?

Seems back in 1996 the Academy of American Poet established the tradition to highlight American poets and encourage people about the pleasure of reading poetry. It's all explained on their <a href="http://bit.ly/IbqFDL" target="_blank">website</a>.  

Though I’m not a poetry writer, I ♥ to read poetry. I’ve memorized many poems by my favorite American poets. I read poems to anyone, willing or not.

To further the observance of poetry month, I’ll be sharing some poems by friends and family. I’ll start with one written by my second oldest grandson.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/morgan1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-395" title="Morgan " src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/morgan1.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="143" /></a>

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/morgan2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-396" title="O" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/morgan2.jpg?w=106" alt="" width="106" height="150" /></a>

I may not write poetry, but I am a storyteller so first a little story about how this poem originated.

We were sitting at the kitchen table discussing how he should be doing homework. He’s home schooled, and I promised his parents I’d work with him while he was visiting.

Unfortunately, like father, like son. I remember fighting many a homework battle with his daddy who also hated doing homework. The thought of poetry homework made the task even less appealing, especially when the swimming pool was calling.

He starred outside at the squirrel climbing the pole to the bird feeder. He ate a Pop Tart. He slipped away to play a game of chess with his Pepa.

I marched him back to table and the task at hand. No, I’m not your push-over Nana. Although resisting those big, beautiful brown eyes isn’t always easy!

Then I caught him at the window. Again. This time he was watching a chameleon on the Maple tree.  

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/lizard2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-380" title="Lizard" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/lizard2.jpg?w=102" alt="" width="102" height="150" /></a>

I thought he was wasting time and prepared to pull out my mean teacher’s whip! Before I could speak, he pointed to the laptop on the table. “I wrote the poem already.”

 And, this is what I read on the screen:
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Lizard Poetry</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Lazy lizards leap from leaf to leaf</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>As green as a Sprite can</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>Lizards like to hide under the weather</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>Running, hiding, and sneaking around</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>Crazily, hastily, and hurriedly leaving their tails behind them</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>The miniature lizards are tiny compared to the big, blue sky</em></p>
<strong>Amazing </strong>I think, don't you agree?

How quickly I'd forgotten little boys multi-task when you think they're playing.

<strong>YOUR TURN:</strong> Share one of your favorite poems!