Zitch

Stanzas	3
Lines	8 = 24 lines
Syllable/Words	12 syllables/line
Rhymes	2/stanza
Repeat

Crystallization

1              Glacial frost sparkles on the leaves and flowers

                Crystallization capturing their true colors.

                Leeching the color into the frost’s very heart.

                As the sun warms the surrounding, melting frost

5              It drains the condensed color of the plant away

                Storing and saving it for the new shoots in the spring.

                When April rains come again so will the colors

                Shifting and maturing through spring, summer, and fall.

                Fairies with butterfly wings paint on the colors

10           Touching up each leaf and flower to show its’ best.

                Lady bug warriors defend against vandals

                Who would deface and destroy Mother Nature’s works.

                Peonies could not burst forth without lots of help

                From the strongest of insects, the blackest of ants.

15           While hard working bees transform nectar to honey

                A gift with healing properties fit for the gods.

                Children always seem believe in all these things,

                While adults become increasingly more cynical

                Needing proof from science to determine the truth.

20           The grace of whimsy is granted to few adults.

                Adults can recapture it from time to time

                By looking through a child’s eyes for a moment

                But soon it is lost again to adult burdens.

                Oh how I wish I could have stayed a child longer.

Beth Ellen Cook               

11-20-2011

Zitch

      Zitch

Stanzas	3
Lines	8/stanza = 24 lines
Syllable/Words	12 syllables
Rhymes	2/stanza
Repeat

Unrhymed version

Birthday Suprises

1              Got to school to learn it was a delayed start day.

    “Go figure,” I thought, as it had snowed ‘slush’ overnight.

                As I walked into the staff meeting my friends yelled,

                “Happy Birthday, Miss Cook!” and boy did I turn red!

5              At least the whole staff didn’t break out into song,

                I would have sunk into the floor if they had.

                It was a nice feeling, none the less, to know they cared.

                Funny how it’s the small stuff that becomes important.

                My friends, after that, decided spur-of-the-moment

10            That we needed to go out to a nice dinner.

                I heard them up and down the hall, to all the staff

                To come and eat out somewhere with all of us.

                I’m not sure where we’re going at this point in time

                But I do know a good time will be had by all.

15            Just sitting and laughing with good friends is good for me.

                Funny how it’s the small stuff that becomes important.

               

                The students in my third hour then surprised me.

                First by remembering that it was my birthday,

                Then by spontaneously breaking into song.

20            It was cute, it was funny, it was WAY off key.

                They tried to talk me into a free day from work,

                I laughed, and told them their present was to do their work.

                They groaned and laughed, but got to work anyway.

                Funny how it’s the small stuff that becomes important.