Thursday, June 8, 2017

Ten Things

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
~T.S. Eliot


"Ten Things Found in a Wizard's Pocket" is today's poem. It has been used in lesson plans as a mentor poem, which inspired me to write "Ten Things Found in a Mermaid's Pocket."

Ten Things Found in a Wizard’s Pocket
by Ian McMillan

A dark night.
Some words that nobody could ever spell.
A glass of water full to the top.
A large elephant.
A vest made from spider’s webs.
A handkerchief the size of a car park.

read the rest here.


Ten Things Found in a Mermaid's Pocket

A balm for well-kissed lips.
Some scale-shaped band-aids.
An umbrella hat for when no one's looking.
Chocolate seaweed for bad days.
A pair of special occasion stillettos.
A sailor's hair in a locket.
Dolphin mist perfume.
Another sailor's hair in a locket.
A sweet pet jelly with a zippy stinger.
Throat spray for tired singers.

**********

What might YOU find in an interesting stranger's pockets? A Year of Reading has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Mary Lee!

15 comments:

Mary Lee said...

Oh, how I love your mermaid! You can tell so much about a character from the 10 things in her pocket! (You've got my teacher-wheels spinning with ideas for using this PAIR of mentor poems in my classroom next fall!!)

Linda B said...

Your mermaid shows a wide variety of life's needs, Tabatha. It's romantic and treacherous all at the same time! Each line brings much to my mind. Thanks for the wizard poem, too. It's new to me!

Margaret Simon said...

Love your mermaid poem. I wish I could share with my student who's nutso for mermaids. Love the sailer's hair in a locket and the chocolate seaweed!

Kay said...

What fun poems! I love the list of items you imagined in a mermaid's pocket. I had never read the wizard's pocket poem, either.

Molly Hogan said...

These are both wonderful, and I can't wait to share them with students. So clever! I'm already wondering whose pocket I might mentally delve into! Thanks for the inspiration.

Mrs. Wyman said...

So mermaids are just like the rest of us, then. Prepared for everything! Thanks for clearing that up! :-) -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

Such a cute (and telling) array of items in your mermaid's pocket, Tabatha. I'm thinking Mary Lee is on to something... :P

jama said...

Love both the wizard and mermaid poems -- delightful lists. The scale shaped bandaids and chocolate seaweed are especially charming. And I like that there are TWO sailors in her life. :)

Ruth said...

I love your mermaid, and what a fun prompt! I will hold on to this one.

Diane Mayr said...

Mermaids and selkies and sirens are fascinating, aren't they? "A sweet pet jelly with a zippy stinger" is my favorite line. Well done!

Robyn Hood Black said...

How do I love this post? Let me count the ways.... Jama picked my faves. I LOVED that sailor's hair in a locket and then swooned when you added another! Thanks for the sweet, salty smiles.

Brenda at FriendlyFairyTales said...

I love this as a writing exercise. What fun a class on this would be. Just brainstorming would be fun. Your poem is a delight, especially "A sweet pet jelly with a zippy stinger." Ouch!! :-)

Irene Latham said...

I love your mermaid, Tabatha! What could be better than a sweet jelly in one's pocket? I read a fascinating article once about things found in the pockets of the dead... it really does tell something about the person and also creates mystery. Love it! Thank you. xo

michelle kogan said...

Mermaids are magical and wonderful, and your poem offerings are fun Tabatha, I like both of them, and these lines especially,
"A handkerchief the size of a car park".
"A pair of special occasion stillettos."
Thanks!

Carmela Martino said...

What a marvelous mermaid poem, Tabatha! I love the whole thing but was especially struck by the first line. What fun!