Woo-hoo! Time for Summer Short & Sweets! 🙂
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I am so happy it’s Friday! Visiting colleges is tons of fun but also tiring and all those donuts that driving is not good for my fitness. I am learning things, though. Do you know what the smallest private college in the United States is? Apparently that distinction belongs to Alaska Bible College with an enrollment of 38 students. Who knew? I hope you all feel as enriched by that little tidbit as I do. We will not be visiting Alaska Bible College (our loss I’m sure) but I cannot possibly put up with Jo-Jilly for that long of a drive!
So let’s have some fun, shall we? Let’s see what we can think up today…
First, choose an emotion. Just in case you can’t think of any, here are a few:
Interest, politeness, surprise, anger, annoyance, contempt, disgust, irritation, serenity, relief, relaxation, contentment, calmness, anxiety, embarrassment, fear, helplessness, powerlessness, worry, courage, hope, pride, satisfaction, trust, doubt, envy, frustration, guilt, shame, affection, empathy, friendliness, love, boredom, despair, disappointment, hurt, sadness, amusement, delight, elation, stress, shock, tension, excitement, happiness, joy, pleasure…
Got one?
Second, choose an animal that emotion makes you think of – either similar or opposite – but you can also go random and see what you come up with 🙂 Again, a list for anyone who’s feeling uninspired 🙂
Aardvark, anteater, badger, beaver, camel, cat, chimpanzee, cow, deer, donkey, gazelle, gorilla, hamster, hippo, horse, jaguar, kangaroo, lamb, lion, lynx, mink, moose, monkey, opossum, ox, ocelot, polar bear, porcupine, pony, porpoise, puppy, raccoon, rhinoceros, ram, salamander, squirrel, skunk, tiger, turtle, toad, walrus, warthog, wolf, wombat, yak, zebra…
Got one?
Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do:
1. Pick an adjective that compares/relates/associates your animal to your emotion (e.g. if you chose angry and cat, you might choose hissing, spitting, or twitchy for your adjective)
2. Write an action filled phrase describing how the animal moves (e.g. if you chose cat you might say slinking, slitted eyes shifting suspiciously)
3. Write a phrase telling where the animal lives (e.g. if you chose monkey you might say in the crown of the rainforest)
4. Write a phrase that either tells readers why the animals acts the way it does, or possibly how others react to it (e.g. if you’re writing about an angry monkey you might say screeching for the baboon’s banana)
Put it all together like this:
Emotion
is [a/an/the] adjective from #1 animal
action filled phrase from #2
phrase telling where animal lives from #3
phrase telling why animal acts that way or how others react to it from #4
and you have a) a short poem and b) great practice in simile/metaphor!
Here’s mine for satisfaction and cat
Satisfaction
is a purring cat
curled warm and soft
on a noontime windowsill,
soaking up sunshine because she can.
Here’s another for bewilderment and penguin
Bewilderment
is a tuxedoed penguin
tiptoeing tentatively
at the icy ocean’s edge
wondering where his dinner dove.
How about one for shame and snail?
Shame
is a slump-shouldered snail
creeping, head down,
in the shadow of the stone wall
hoping to escape scrutiny.
The fact that I have barely been home for two weeks, I’m cross-eyed from driving, and I’ve been dulled into a creative stupor by innumerable college info sessions and tour guide spiels should make you all feel very brave about attempting this because you can be sure whatever you write will not be the worst thing up here – I have helpfully put my own attempts in that place of dishonor 🙂
Now you try! Not only will you be sharpening your simile/metaphor skills, perhaps you will inspire a story – for yourself or someone else – or perhaps you’ll read someone else’s and get a great idea! Do as many as you want – they’re totally fun! I can’t wait to read what you come up with!!!
Of course, as I will be driving home from Ohio, which is very far away, I will probably not get to read your sterling work until late sniffle sniff… But that’s just more to look forward to 🙂
Have a great weekend everyone!!! 🙂 And remember, if you want to be eligible for Short & Sweet prizes, you must submit at least one entry for each SS&S week’s prompt. Please see HERE for full details! So far, 44 people have done at least one, but only a dedicated 9 have done all 4 to date… in case you were wondering 🙂
Oh, this is lovely, Pat! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Okay, here goes!
Excitement
is a jumpy gorilla
lumbering along at a slow gait
along the forest edge
beating his chect for the attention of others.
I'm not sure the “jumpy” works, but I wanted to stay with my firest thoughts. HOpe you had a safe drive home!
Determined
is the baby sea turtle
quickly climbing out of his nest
on a dangerous sandy white beach
making his way to his ocean home
Excellent! Thanks for joining in! And thanks – it was a LOONNGG drive home but we made it! 🙂
Oh, I love this, Saba! Baby sea turtles ARE determined, aren't they? So certain of their mission when how can they even know? Thanks for joining in!
Thanks for all of the virtual hugs! Much appreciated!
🙂 Not the same as hugs from your boy, but at least you know you have friends who understand and sympathize…
Kim Murray wrote, in response to Kim Murray:
Thanks for all of the virtual hugs! Much appreciated!
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There's something super fun about “s” words. Especially swagger. Great job!
Eek. I'm tense just thinking about this spider. Nicely done!
Excellent description of a hard-working ant. Great word choices!
Aww…poor wolf cub. I would be worried, too. Wonderful!
That's exactly what our lions do when we visit them at the zoo!
Wide open spaces do bring a sense of excitement. Excellent!
Well done! Blind rage and a mother bear go hand in hand.
I can totally picture that little determined little turtle. Perfect.
Squirrels do seem agitated. But if I had to “squirrel away” a bunch of food for the winter I'd be agitated, too!
I thought campers only had to look out for raccoons. Note to self: watch out for the skunks!
A bashful platypus dodging paparazzi? I love it! Great job!
Even baby red squirrels chatter and scold each other constantly. How do they ever propagate the species? Give me a docile gray squirrel anyday…as long as he is not in my car engine!
Surly
Is a snorting rhino
shaking his head with rage
on the sultry African savannah,
stampeding to be first at the watering hole.
Ooh, surly! Good one, Laura! I can just picture it. Thanks for playing along! 🙂
I'm late!!! But better than never, huh?
Boredom
is a babbling buffalo
bending, bulgy biceps befuddedly
at the Bent Bar back forty
because Big Bob always serves biscotti for breakfast.
Not too late and worth the wait, Penny 🙂 Thanks for playing along 🙂
HAHAHA! 😉
One day, a skunk walked into our friends campsite while I was there at 7:00 PM, an hour or two before dark! It went away, but came back! AND went into our friend's screen house where their cooler was! My friend's dad scared it off by throwing a shoe at the screen house. A minute or two later, THE SAME SKUNK CAME BACK!!! It walked around, then headed in my direction! I was already scared, but then IT TURNED AROUND!!!! My friend's Dad yelled at it, and it started towards the weeds. He threw a log at it. It didn't come back *whew* I am sorry about your useless garbage-can lid and your giant stick. Try shoes next time. 😉
Thank you! 🙂
This time, I responded sooner…hope you arrive home safely!
Courageous
Is a valiant buck
Fearlessly forging ahead
In the quiet cool of the forest,
Rescuing his fawn from the fox's clutch
I just noticed Kim wrote about the forest, too. It a serene setting!
Wonderful, Jarm! Thanks for joining in 🙂
Oh, my! What an adventure! And thanks for the shoe advice! 🙂
This Kid Reviews Bks wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
One day, a skunk walked into our friends campsite while I was there at 7:00 PM, an hour or two before dark! It went away, but came back! AND went into our friend's screen house where their cooler was! My friend's dad scared it off by throwing a shoe at the screen house. A minute or two later, THE SAME SKUNK CAME BACK!!! It walked around, then headed in my direction! I was already scared, but then IT TURNED AROUND!!!! My friend's Dad yelled at it, and it started towards the weeds. He threw a log at it. It didn't come back *whew* I am sorry about your useless garbage-can lid and your giant stick. Try shoes next time. 😉
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I'm very, very late! Here's mine:
Determined
is a fluffy hamster
running furiously
in a wire cage wheel
to stay fit.
What a great image, Tina! I love this. After all my time in the car lately, I think I need to join that hamster! 🙂 Thanks for joining in!
My brain hurts…not used to doing these little exercises…I'm not complaining…haha…I'm glad I did it…
Anger…
Is a growling dog…
Teeth barred, muscles tensed…
Waiting waiting…
in a cold damp basement…
Hungry and lonely…
Wow! This is a great one, Karen – a very good description of anger!
great exercise for the brain!! Thanks…
I've been having a great time this morning catching up on the Short and Sweets!
Interested
is a curious kangaroo rat
scurrying, exploring the hidden spaces
in the dry, scrub filled desert
endlessly seeking new seeds to eat.
Ooh! Good one! I can picture it exactly. Thanks for joining in 🙂
I've been having a great time this morning catching up on the Short and Sweets!
Interested
is a curious kangaroo rat
scurrying, exploring the hidden spaces
in the dry, scrub filled desert
endlessly seeking new seeds to eat.