Ode to a Drink of Water and a Day Off...

We're featuring rhyming children's stories as a part of Angie Karcher's #RhyPiBoMo writing challenge in April. This week we clued you in on an excellent poet. Here are two of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems... enjoy!

My favorite poem of all time...Lazy Jane ~ F
Best Shel Silverstein Poem...Sick ~ L

SICK

"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Does anyone else have a favorite Shel Silverstein poem or any other poem that you would like to share with us? 

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Answer to Monday's Riddle: Shel On The Shelf...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. This week we're spotlighting Shel Silverstein as part of Angie Karcher's RhyPiBoMo writing challenge, featuring rhyming children's stories. I have always loved them! This riddle was challenging- a poem made of Shel Silverstein poem titles. Click on each one to read it. Stop by Friday to find out our two favorites! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Here Comes Lazy Jane, Messy Room and Rain. 

Something Missing, How Many, How Much, Somebody Has To Blame.

Complainin' Jack Put Something In  Moon Catchin' Net. 

Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats, Sick Monsters I've Met.

Backward Bill, Falling Up, Oh Have You Heard? 

Enter this Deserted House, Won't You  Early Bird.

Stop Thief! What Did? Where the Sidewalk Ends. 

Forgotten Language, Picture Puzzle Piece...brings us round the bend.

Who/ what am I referring to? Answer: Shel Silverstein Poems

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats

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Monday's Riddle: Lightbulbs and Sidewalks...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Something a little different today, and challenging. ; ) ~ F

Here Comes Lazy Jane, Messy Room and Rain. 

Something Missing, How Many, How Much, Somebody Has To Blame.

Complainin' Jack Put Something In Moon Catchin' Net. 

Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats, Sick Monsters I've Met.

Backward Bill, Falling Up, Oh Have You Heard? 

Enter this Deserted House, Won't You Early Bird.

Stop Thief! What Did? Where the Sidewalk Ends. 

Forgotten Language, Picture Puzzle Piece...brings us round the bend.

Who/ what am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!

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On the Wings of Mother Goose...

April kicks off rhyming children's book month, and we're participating in Angie Karcher's RhyPiBoMo writing challenge.

Not only is Margo a big fan of this idea, but as you know, sometimes I actually think in rhyme, so it's going to be fun.

My riddling beginnings started with the nursery rhymes of Mother Goose. The most intriguing part about this type of writing is that it can be about anything, and true insights are sprinkled amidst nonsense- like clues, hidden between the lines. I love these stories, even though they're a bit dark and you never know what to expect. It's like the real version of Grimm's Fairy Tales, some are shocking! But it's awesome to share these rhymes with my little sister, like how my mom read them with me, and her mom with her.

Here are some stories we think are thought provoking from the classic, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. 

Remember to read them in a sing- songy voice.
(out loud or in your head :)

Clue from the Begonia House

THE LION AND THE UNICORN
The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown,
The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown,
Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of town.

DAPPLE-GRAY
I had a little pony,
   His name was Dapple-Gray,
I lent him to a lady,
   To ride a mile away.
She whipped him, she slashed him,
   She rode him through the mire;
I would not lend my pony now
   For all the lady's hire.

(a little background to this nursery rhyme. I can remember being completely horrified when I first heard this story. It made such an impression on me, that I had a horse model I kept very safe for many years, and his name was Dapple- Gray- I think Margo sees Mr. Fazzy in the same way. The lady in the picture still sends chills down my spine- like Professor Umbridge!).

MYSELF
As I walked by myself,
And talked to myself,
    Myself said unto me:
"Look to thyself,
Take care of thyself,
    For nobody cares for thee."

I answered myself,
And said to myself
    In the selfsame repartee:
"Look to thyself,
Or not look to thyself,
    The selfsame thing will be."

BEES
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay:
A swarm of bees in June
Is a worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth fly.







 JUST LIKE ME
"I went up one pair of stairs."
    "Just like me."
"I went up two pairs of stairs."
    "Just like me."
"I went into a room."
    "Just like me.
"I looked out of a window."
    "Just like me."
"And there I saw a monkey."
    "Just like me."

(This is a good one to act out- my dad really gets a crowd going :)

And here's a puzzle for all of you Riddlers... 

What goes over the water,
And under the water, 
And always with its head down?

What am I? Answer revealed! A Ship's Nail

I gave you a clue!

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