National Poetry Month

By Stacy Johnson

Warning: Picture Overload
This month has been full of new writing adventures for me. I've been trying my hand at poetry thanks to National Poetry Month and our sweet ANWA sister Stephanie Abney. She has been posting on her personal blog a different style of poetry everyday to celebrate the month. Go check her out at www.stephaniesaysso.blogspot.com and see what all my excitement is about. Each day includes instructions on how to write a different type of poem. My daily poems are on my Facebook page for the most part.

My oldest daughter was competing in her last cheer competition as an athlete over the weekend. She's been cheering since she was about six or seven years old and it has been a big part of her life doing Pop Warner cheer, Combs Varsity cheer and recently at AZ Fusion competitive cheer. She spent this year not only as an athlete but as a coach to a performing team. She is excited to start this new phase in her life coaching a competitive team next year.

We took five of our kids and went to Anaheim to watch her compete. We spent the morning on the beach with the kids before heading over to the competition. That will give you some background on the inspiration for my poems. For my two youngest, it was their first time on the beach.

Rhyming Poem

The look of joy on their faces

Makes me glad we took the time

To pack up a couple suitcases

And make a quick trip to Anaheim.

Haiku
Anticipation
First visit to the ocean
What happy looks like

Haiku
Making Memories
Laughing, playing, together
Always worth the cost

5 W Poem
Fourth oldest named Skylar
Takes good care of his brother.
Walking on Seal Beach
Last Saturday
 Derek said he was freezing.

5 W Poem
My adult Daughter
competed for the last time
At Nationals in Anaheim
over the weekend.
Now she's too old...

Haiku
Closing of a door
Did what you love, now you coach
Opened a new door.