Four Animal Couplets
Burrowing Owl by Squeezyboy at flickr
Never disturb a sleeping owl.
Their waking thoughts are always fowl.
Want to pet a porcupine?
You can be the first in line!
If you try to question a horse,
She will answer neigh, of course.
Think you can be a strong as an ant?
Think again. You can’t.
© 2012 Elizabeth Ehrenfest Steinglass, all rights reserved
My poet-friend Sharon Barry shared a brilliant couplet in our poetry critique group this week. It reminded me of Ogden Nash’s wonderful couplets about cows and mules. I wanted to try, too. I wrote them all week. These are my favorites.
Liz, these are all wonderful! How to pick a favorite??? Hmmm…. that porcupine line is pretty brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing!
Very fun! Mind if I borrow this writing challenge from you and Ogden? 🙂
This would be a great writing exercise in our poetry workshops next year. May I share yours with my students, Liz?
Mary Lee–The more, the merrier!
Tara–Yes! I love the idea of my poems being shared with students. That’s my dream.
Your blog is an infectious hit today, Liz! These are terrific. I like the plays on words, of course, and the voice and science behind the last one. (Those little ants are amazing.) :0)
Enjoyed all these fun couplets. I’m especially appreciating the ant one, because I’ve been battling them the last few weeks and they’re winning.
Liz, these are glorious! I will definitely share these with my kids – I know they will love them too.
Liz, I love these! Well done!
These are all so wonderful and witty. I bet my kids would get in line to pet the porcupine… but I hope my dog has learned his lesson!
Liz, these are wonderful! I’m going to set aside time today to write some, too. Thanks for the inspiration.
How fun to be inspired and write a bunch of couplets. I love these.
I like these a lot, too, Liz! Sometimes two lines is just the perfectly poetic amount.
These couplets are so fun. I especially like the one about the porcupine!