Linda Baie at Teacher Dance is hosting Poetry Friday this week.
Hey, friends! I’m heading to the National Council of Teachers of English in Houston today.
Will you be there too? My schedule is at the bottom of this post.
I thought it would be a fun week for a throwback poem. This one is from the 2013 March Madness Poetry competition, run by Ed DeCaria at Think Kid Think.
My Round Two, 2013 word in this competition was “speculate.” This poem still tickles me, especially because Mr. S is a *huge* fan of kale.
From Queensland Government/Queensland Health
A Bargain
By Laura Shovan
At dinnertime, I speculate
about the green stuff on my plate.
This gloppy mess, was it alive?
Could it be spinach, kale, endive,
or maybe radioactive peas
floating on a zombie’s sneeze?
Its pungent smell is deleterious
enough to make my brain delirious,
but I will eat the thing I hate,
if you’ll just let me stay up late.
***
Hope to see you at #NCTE18.
I remember a friend’s son had an ongoing battle over broccoli in years past. Your poem is fun, Laura. March Madness seemed to bring out the mad in everyone’s words. Have a marvelous time at NCTE. It is wonderful to go to!
Have fun at NCTE! I’m not an English Teacher so I don’t attend. I know I don’t “have” to be. But, I spend plenty of resources on Librarian conferences. Enjoy meeting our peeps in Houston.
radioactive peas floating on a zombie’s sneeze…oh, that line makes me giggle.
Have a great time at the conference Laura! I grew up with three very finicky brothers but it worked out well for me: I got to eat what they didn’t want. 🙂
Strong word choices, Laura! Your word was “speculate,” but you didn’t stop there! Have fun at NCTE.
Have fun at NCTE! I enjoyed toe poem–but I’m not sure I would brave the zombie peas to stay up late!
Hah! Great poem, Laura. There’s just something about kids and green veggies. I have to agree with your husband — do NOT like kale. Still don’t know why it’s become so popular. Enjoy the conference!
Jama — believe it or not, Rob is the kale lover in the house! Blech! I will tolerate it, but I don’t usually cook with it when it’s my turn in the kitchen.
Luv this green-minded rhyme poem, Laura.
And you must earn many late nites, kale-lover that you are.
Many plates (bowls?) of kale to you during Thanksgiving week.
Joy to your World.
hug,
Jan
This poem made me laugh – especially because dinner is a bowl of kale soup:). Enjoy NCTE, Laura!
This takes me back to years of trying to con my boys into eating green things. Peas- never. Salad, maybe, with half a bottle of ranch dressing. And broccoli only if it was covered with cheese sauce. Have a blast at NCTE!
Catchy, funny poem Laura, thanks for sharing it with us–great tying it in with what we’ll do to “stay up late.” Hope the conference goes well, sounds like an intriguing panel, hope you will share it with us later.
Hi Funny Girl! I luv to laugh & “A Bargain” brings on the LOL. And to think you created it so fast on the prompt.Glad you were willing to “speculate.”