"Three Pairs of Shoes" by Vincent Van Gogh, 1886

If Words Wore Shoes

        for Sylvia Vardell, in Bali

If words wore shoes

What kind would yours use?

Would they lace up,

Slip on, or buckle?

Would they walk tall

In boots and high-heels?

Would they slipper,

Or sneaker, or tap?

Or would they

Barefoot dance on the run

Playing tag

With the earth and sun?

©Charles Ghigna

Skydiver

First step

and he swallows

the dry, delicious fear

of walking on air.

Body bent back

into a bow,

he falls into the arms 

of the screaming wind,

his heart beating

taps in his ears.

Pop, 

and an angel wing

pulls him from the thunder

of a hundred-

mile-an-hour dream.

He sits perched,

a runaway cloud

of contentment,

a fearless eagle feather

lost in the drift

of an early afternoon.

Knees bent, he pulls 

the taut reins of reality,  

ready-sets himself

for one final, little lift,

one last tiptoe of air 

before his flying feet

must run their 

earthbound way

back home.

from A FURY OF MOTION: Poems for Boys, Boyds Mills Press ©Charles Ghigna

photo credit: Chip Ghigna

Giraffe Party

Why are we divided

And put in little boxes?

America is not a zoo

Of monkeys, bears and foxes!

Red and Blue and Black and White.

Who came up with these games?

Let's all be one and have some fun

Instead of calling names.

Elephants and Donkeys?

They're only good for laughs.

Let's all stand tall and have a ball--

Let's all become Giraffes!

©Charles Ghigna

Art by Janet Eager Krueger

Happy Birthday, May!

I opened the window

And in stepped May,

Bringing a party

For her birthday.

She brought roses

And tulips

And strawberry pie.

She brought robins

And chipmunks

And squirrels that fly.

She brought puppies

And rainbows

And kittens that mew.

She brought sunshine

And picnics

And pigeons that coo.

She brought crickets

And bluebirds

And beetles that sing.

She brought buttercup

Cakes

With creamy icing.

She brought all the things

A May day can bring.

She brought in herself--

She brought in Spring.

©Charles Ghigna

City Poems

City Faces

The hustle and bustle

Of people downtown,

Working and waving

And walking around.

So many people,

So many places,

So many stories

On so many faces.

City Sounds

The farm has charm,

But I like gritty.

I like the sounds

Of the soulful city.

I like the mountains.

I like the sea,

But the beat of the street

Is music to me.

I like to travel.

I like to roam,

But the sound of the city

Calls me home.

City Sleeps

Above the stoplights

made of steel

where concrete buildings

scrape the sky,

a single cloud

goes drifting by.

It casts a shadow

in the street

that climbs the wall

into my room

and tucks me in

beneath the moon.

©Charles Ghigna

Rain

In the country

In the town

Raindrops falling

All around

Watching from my windowsill

I hear thunder on the hill

I see lightning in the sky

I see storm clouds passing by

I see sunbeams shining through

I see gray skies turning blue

I see rainbows overhead

I see yellow green and red

I make a wish and close my eyes

I hear thunder in the skies

I see dark clouds moving in

I see trees blow in the wind

In the country

In the town

Raindrops falling

All around

I like sleeping when it rains

Softly on my windowpanes

And when the evening rain is through
I make wishes that come true

©Charles Ghigna

Once Upon Another Time - A Picture Book in Progress

Once Upon Another Time

A Picture Book in Progress

by Charles Ghigna

Summary

A picture book with a poetic look 

at the wonders and rhymes of ancient times

when the air was fresh and the rivers clean

and the sky was blue and the grass was green.

  for Charlotte and Christopher

Once upon another time

in a land of long ago

mountains peaked through the clouds

bright with morning snow.

Wonder waited in the hush

of every new sunrise.

Flocks of sparrow rode the breeze

and filled the morning skies.

Rivers rushed

through cavern walls.

Mountains streamed 

with waterfalls.

The sky was fresh,

the air was clean,

the valleys lush

with shades of green...

...to be continued

Pet Names

We call the cat a kitty.

We call the dog a mutt.

We call the pig a piggy.

We call the donkey -- what?!

We call the vulture buzzard,

The pill bug, roly-poly.

We call the rabbit bunny,

As we pet it very slowly.

The animals and insects

Must think we are insane.

They’d like to give us all pet names--

But they are more humane!

from ANIMAL TRACKS: Wild Poems to Read Aloud

© Charles Ghigna (Abrams Books for Young Readers)

from FIRST KISS, a YA novel-in-verse (in progress)

Morning

rises

stretches

slowly opens

her bright eye

searches

the quiet

horizon

for some

thing rare

to celebrate

something new

to bless

with light

something

worthy of

her warmth

something

worthy of

her rising

something

someone

you

* * *


School

In

class

must

pass

grades

test

no 

rest

home

work

no

perk

un

til

we

chill

* * *

It Would Be Easy

to write of love

if I could build

a mirror

in every poem

and hand

each one

to you

* * *

Royal Love

You treat Love

like a king

you crown him

with your smile

you rule him

with your kiss

you make him wish

you were his queen

you make Love

jealous

* * *

Sweet Dreams

A

lone

on

phone

talk

text

what

next

one

look

face

book

mid

night

sleep

tight

* * *

Present Light

If I could

hold light

in my hand

I would

give it

to you

and watch it

become

your shadow

* * *

Your Eyes

are the sea

upon which the ship

of all my dreams

sets sail

* * *

Between Classes

Tell

me

tell

you

we

are

one

true

more

than

best

friend

we

kiss

and

then

we 

kiss

again

* * *

Counting the Stars

I thought you said moon

when you told me I always put you

in a good mood

I thought of the stars

in the sky of your eyes

vowed then to spend

the rest of my life

counting   naming

knowing each one

* * *

Friday

Week

end

we

spend

all

day

at

play

all

night

held

tight

I

know

must

go

* * *

You Are

the future

of my past

the present 

of my always

the forever

of my now

* * *

Fear Full

A

part

we 

start

to

doubt

a

bout

what

we

will

be

to

you

to

me

©Charles Ghigna

from FIRST KISS, a novel-in-verse in progress

Art by Chip Ghigna

First Kiss

First snow

first frost

first time

first loss

first look

first touch

first love

first crush

first wish

first star

first kiss

so far

©Charles Ghigna

Favorite Children's Poem

What is your favorite children's poem written by a poet from the past?

     One of my favorite children's poems from the past is "Something Told the Wild Geese" by Rachel Field.  It is one of those rare poems for children that transcends its sweet lyrical innocence and becomes a hauntingly memorable poem for all ages, one that can be read again and again throughout one's lifetime.  Field takes us into her poem and lets us fly away with her flock of wild geese until we, too, realize "it is time to go."  This poem is as enchanting and mysterious to me today as it was when I first heard it as a child. 

Something Told the Wild Geese

by Rachel Field, 1894-1942

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go,
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.

This poem is in the public domain.

Illustration by Chip Ghigna

Ink on paper,  24" x 30"

Unplugged

A painting

a poem

a cool game of cards

a badminton match

stretched across two

backyards

a club in a fort

built by you

with a friend

a Monopoly game

that goes on

without end

a library book

a ballgame

a hike

a fresh batch

of cookies

a ride on your bike

a picnic

a party--

what fun it will be

all the things

that are waiting

when you turn off the TV!

by Charles Ghigna & Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

A Symphony of Trees

Trees make such exciting sounds.

They whisper when we’re near.

Whenever we pass by the trees,

This is what we hear:

We hear their branches sway and creak.

We hear the wind howl higher.

We hear a symphony of trees,

Of nature’s great, green choir.

We hear the squirrels scampering.

We hear the blue jays sing.

We hear the robin and the dove--

All sounds the trees can bring.

But one thing that we never hear

When we pass through the park;

We hear the trees’ sweet symphonies,

But we never hear their bark!

©Charles Ghigna

Illustration by Chip Ghigna

Science Faction

Nature, it’s true,

Is full of surprises;

The sun doesn’t set,

The horizon rises.



from A Fury of Motion: Poems for Boys by Charles Ghigna, Boyds Mills Press

Valentine Poems for Kids

If You Were My Star

If you were my shining star

And I were your midnight,

I’d let you shine above me,

You’d be my only light.

* * *

If You Were My Piano

If you were my grand piano

And I were a sweet love song,

I’d let your keys tickle and tease

My melody all day long.

* * *

If You Were My Book

If you were the pages of my book

And I were reading you,

I’d read as slow as I could go

So I never would get through.

from IF YOU WERE MY VALENTINE by Charles Ghigna

     I created the If You Were poem format in the mid-1970s during my early school visit days to help introduce students and teachers to metaphor.  

     The If You Were poem consists of 4 lines (quatrain) and 2 rhymes (lines 2 & 4).  It contains 2 comparisons (metaphors), one for the “I” of the poem and one for the “you.”

     Instructions:  Think of a person you like.  Compare that person to a thing (inanimate object).  Now compare yourself to a thing associated with the first object.

     For a list of other poem formats, please visit How to Write a Poem

It's a Jungle Out There!

Reading and Writing Animal Poems
by Jennifer J, Jennifer F, And Skye H
University Of North Texas

Click HERE to explore Classroom Adventures!

ANIMAL TRUNK: Silly Poems to Read Aloud
(Click HERE to see info about this book)

ANIMAL TRACKS: Wild Poems to Read Aloud
(Click HERE to see info about this book)

Illustration by Chip Ghigna

Catfish Aren’t Furry

Catfish aren’t furry.

Bald eagles don’t lose hair.

I’ve never seen a buzzard buzz

While flying through the air.

Fiddler crabs don’t fiddle.

Sea horses have no feet.

Sea cows don’t know how to moo

And cheetahs never cheat.

Bullfrogs have no set of horns.

Flying fish don’t soar.

Dandelions aren’t fierce--

That’s why they never roar.

from TICKLE DAY: POEMS FROM FATHER GOOSE by Charles Ghigna

New Year’s Resolutions

Our last year’s list is thrown away,

We trade it for another;

Our good intentions all come in--

One year and out the other.

©Charles Ghigna

Present Light

If I could 

hold light

in my hand

I would

give it

to you

and watch it

become

your shadow.

from LOVE POEMS by Charles Ghigna
Poetry Magazine / Poetry Foundation

"Sunset" by Chip Ghigna

Oil on wood, 12" x 32"

from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens

The Snooze Cruise

Mother says it’s nap time, 

But I pretend it’s not.

I climb into my bed and I 

Pretend that it’s a yacht.

I sail away to where I want, 

To islands in the sun,

To emerald seas out in the breeze 

Where daydreams like to run.

I ride the waves all up and down 

With dolphins at my side,

And sea gulls flying overhead 

Serving as my guide.

And when it’s time to leave behind 

Imaginary skies,

I simply set my sights for home -- 

And open up my eyes!

©Charles Ghigna

Illustration by Mary O'Keefe Young

Picking Out A Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are such a tease,

Choosing one’s a chore;

There’s Fraser fir, blue spruce, Scotch pine

And many, many more.

But by the time we take one home

All of us agree,

It’s not a pine or fancy spruce--

It’s now our Christmas tree!

from Christmas Is Coming! ©Charles Ghigna

The Christmas Box

I'm writing down on little cards

The things that I can do

To make each day for Mom and Dad

A "Holiday for Two."

"Make your breakfast," "Shine your shoes,"

"Put your clothes away;"

"Dust the house," "Sweep the floors,"

"Give you hugs each day."

"Do the dinner dishes,"

"Dry them till they shine;"

"Wash the car," "Walk the dog,"

"Make your bed -- and mine!"

I'll put the cards into a box

And wrap it with a bow.

Then place it underneath the tree

To let my parents know

That any time they need my help

All they have to do

Is reach into the Christmas box

That tells them "I Love You."

from Christmas Is Coming!

 © Charles and Debra Ghigna

Wild Weather

What if the weather

Decided to bring

Flowers each winter

And snowflakes each spring.

What if the sunshine

Shone hottest in fall

And then in the summer

Did not shine at all.

What if the lakes

Iced over in May

And we could go skating

And sledding all day.

What if December

Broke records of heat

And hydrants were open 

To cool off the street.

What if the weather

Without any reason

Went wild one year

And changed every season!

©Charles Ghigna