Tag Archives: poetry

This post has been brought to you by the letter P.

Posted in Diapers by
  1. We shall now crown the new princess of poetry for receiving the most votes in the write-your-own-lullaby contest.  Congratulations to Shoebox Princess for this lovely little nighttime morsel, sung to the tune of Give, Said the Little Stream:

Sleep said the mommy, Sleep,
Rest your head, Sleepyhead
Sleep said the mommy, Sleep
As I tuck you into bed

You’re small, you know
But wherever you go,
I’ll be there to keep you safe

When you wake up we will play
Morning, noon, thru all the day
But for now sweet dreams shall be
Nighttime love from me

She wins this beautiful crown of glory, and a coveted stint on my sidebar.  Nice work, SP.  Don’t you think the tiara will go nicely with your blog theme?  I think that, in her honor, we should all sing this to our children at bedtime tonight.

Poetry crown

2.  Because I’m feeling a little precocious, I wrote this little tongue twister reminiscent of Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  Only mine is much more realistic . . . unless I’m the only person who lives nursery rhymes (remember all those horrible ones like birds pecking eyes out and stuff?) and the rest of you live fairy tales.

Patient parent pleaded plenty to pouting primary-aged persons:  “Please put piles, pieces, plates and pants in their perfect little places.” But if patient parent pleads plenty and primary-aged persons persist in procrastinating, how much patience can patient parent really possess?  Please let this penetrate your puny perception:  It’s possible that patient parent will purposely project unpleasant punishments at puckish primary-aged persons resulting in personal pain, penitence and panic …. So presume this:  Patient parent’s patience is not nearly as plentiful as you perhaps perceive.  (So go pick up your blasted peck of of piles, pieces, plates, and pants for Pete’s sake!)

It’s possible I need a nap.

Passing the crown: You be the judge

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I would just like to say (to solicit your pity) that this was supposed to be the Fall poetry contest, but it’s been snowing all day today at my house, so maybe the winter poetry contest is right around the corner.  Mother Nature is currently on my hit list.

Anyway,  the call for lullaby lyrics was only answered by the few, the brave, the proud, and the desperate for sidebar fame (just kidding).  So read– or sing– the following homemade lullabys and vote for your favorite.  Voting will close Sunday night and the new winner will be crowned next week.

Poetry crown

1.  By Shantel (sung to the tune of “Goodnight, My Someone” from Music Man)

It’s time for sleeping – its time for naps.
I am getting your bottle – you finish your snack.
Your going to bed – Its lovely I know.
Its time for you to go.

Its time for sleeping – its time for naps.
Its time for you to snooze and me to relax.
You dont want to sleep – but for my sanity –
Its time for sleeping and naps.

2.  By Shoebox Princess (sung to the tune of “Give, Said the Little Stream”)

Sleep said the mommy, Sleep,
Rest your head, Sleepyhead
Sleep said the mommy, Sleep
As I tuck you into bed

You’re small, you know
But wherever you go,
I’ll be there to keep you safe

When you wake up we will play
Morning, noon, thru all the day
But for now sweet dreams shall be
Nighttime love from me

3.  By Zina (sung to the tune of “Love Is Spoken Here”)

I see my baby Henry
And I love him very much
I think he’s sweet to look at
And he’s oh so soft to touch
His coos and his gurgles
Fill my heart with joy
And I am thankful
He’s my little boy

4.  By Liana (sung to the tune of “Know This, That Every Soul Is Free”)
(The second verse is for my daughter, and the third is for my son)

It’s time for bed my precious child.
Although the day’s been fun and wild,
Please close your eyes, don’t make a peep.
You are so sweet when you’re asleep.

We’ve played pretend and dress-up too,
and Cinderella’s found her shoe.
It’s time to sleep, please don’t say “no”
Because your mother loves you so.

We’ve wrestled and played with your truck,
then read about a silly duck,
I’ve loved each moment with you, son,
now go to sleep my little one.

So here’s your kiss and here’s your hug.
Under the covers warm and snug,
Please stay asleep the whole night through,
and know that Mom and Dad love you.

5.  By The Queen (sung to the tune of “Rock a Bye, Baby”)

Rock-a-bye, ladies,
It’s time to stop
Whispering and giggling;
This is your last shot.
If I hear you later,
The other shoe falls,
And you’ll sleep in the pantry-
Cement floor and all!

6. By Alexes (no tune indicated)

As I kiss you good night,
I want to hold you with all my might–
And never let you go.
Tenderness and love abundantly flow,
I will always love you.

My child, time has flown by me.
soon you will be older, and you will flee,
It will not fill me with glee,
To see you depart.
I hope I have taught you,
everything you need to know–
I will always love you.

I hope you remember, the good times and the bad,
Life is like that you know, sometimes we feel a little sad.
Don’t ever let life get you down,
Don’t let that smile turn into a frown.
Remember my whisper to you each evening,
I love you.

As you live your life each day–
I hope you let each sunshine ray,
Warm your cheery heart.
and remember, Always remember–
Your Heavenly Father will never depart.
I love you.

Aren’t they all lovely?  Doesn’t it just want to make you go snuggle your sleeping child?  Vote for your favorite(s) here (up to three):

What bedtime, poetry, and major awards have in common.

Posted in Divinity by

Here at Diapers and Divinity, we have a longstanding tradition (meaning we did it twice, and by “we” I mean “me’) of promoting the fine art of poetry.

In the Spring, there was a limerick challenge intended to capture the joy of attending church with children in tow.  The readers/voters chose the following two winners:  Becca and The Queen!  Here are their respective limericks about the joy of going to church with small children:

We’re coming in five minutes too late,
in clothes that my children all hate.
They’re squirming and squawking,
the first speaker’s talking,
why must the front bench be my fate?

———-

My twin girls climb all over the place;
Now my dress is undone to my waist.
I guess that’s why Bishop
Looks like he might throw up.
Wish this closing song had a quicker pace!

In the summer, there was a haiku contest about vacationing with children, and sweet Melanie J won our hearts with this tender morsel:

A soft, fuzzy head
Whiffs of coconut sunblock

Gold skin and freckles

Cute little white bums

Peeking out of swimming trunks

I smile. It’s summer.

And so now, in lovely Autumn, we enter the realm of an oft-forgotten genre (perhaps because it’s not really poetry at all, but this is my blog and I can do what I want):  the lullaby.  What does a mother love more than sleeping children, tucked into cozy little beds, comatose, quiet, and still?  I realized the other day that my children have started to become big enough that I don’t really sing to them at night anymore.  Perhaps they consider this a great blessing, but I kind of miss it.  When Grant was born, my first little infant, I wanted to somehow instill in him the concept of worship before bedtime even though he was too young to read scriptures and pray, so my solution was singing lullabys.  I wrote lyrics to accompany the music of There is a Green Hill Far Away, and the song was a little testimony about how special he was.  I sang it every night, and then to represent prayer, I would sing A Child’s Prayer. With Clark, I added My Heavenly Father Loves Me (which he called “Song of a bird”), and Natalie’s signature lullaby became You Are My Sunshine (admittedly not spiritual, but nevertheless heartfelt).  Anyway, it dawned on me the other night that it had been so long since I sang Grant’s lullaby, that I think I forgot the words!  I lay awake one night trying to remember, and I came up with these three verses.  This may have been the whole thing, but I have a haunting feeling I forgot a verse.  Handel is cringing in his grave with jealousy that he didn’t write anything as glorious as this.  (To the tune of There Is a Green Hill Far Away):

lullaby

Now it’s your turn.  Pick a tune, and write a lullaby to your child/children.  Even just one verse is fine.  It can be beautiful or hilarious or somewhere in between.  Submit your lyrics (and identify the tune) in the comments below by Sunday night, and next Monday I’ll announce the finalists.  The winner will get a season-long highlight on my sidebar plus the great honor of this poetry crown to display on your own blog with pride.  (Melanie, Becca, and The Queen, feel free to snag this button as a reminder of your past glory.)

Poetry crown

Last night, I hugged Natalie and sang her some songs before bedtime for old time’s sake.  I need some new material now, so show me your best stuff, all you fake poets out there.

(And even if you don’t have an entry, tell us about your own lullaby traditions.)

They didn’t get Michael Jackson Memorial Service tickets, but they’re still winners!

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Just a little business, folks…

First of all, congratulations to Melanie J, the winner of our Diapers and Divinity Summer Poetry Contest.  She won our hearts with her sweet summer haiku:

Melanie J

melanie

A soft, fuzzy head
Whiffs of coconut sunblock

Gold skin and freckles

Cute little white bums

Peeking out of swimming trunks

I smile. It’s summer.

Congratulations, Melanie!  As soon as I remember how to change my sidebar, I’ll put you and your poem in a place of honor.  Email me your address too, because I’ll send some kind of prize your way… to be determined by my creativity and budget (both severely limited).

And, the winner of the Jumpstart Online computer game giveaway is:

ELLEN

(See folks?  It pays to come out of blog comment hiding.  She went from IP blip to one lucky chick! : ) )

Ellen, send me an email, and I’ll hook you up, okay?

js2js1

Thanks to all for your fun participation.  Coming soon… (like after my kids are all in bed tonight)… Adventures from our latest trip to Urgent Care.

Haiku! (Bless you.)

Posted in Uncategorized by

Well, I know you’ve just been on the edge of your seats waiting to find out who the finalists are in the Diapers and Divinity Summer Poetry Contest.  I have selected four of my favorites.  (I have also altered them just a little bit so that I could fit them all into two succinct little stanzas more uniform for contest purposes.  This may seem a little dictatorial on my part, which really does not matter because it is my blog and everything you write on here actually belongs to me by copyright law…. I really don’t know if that’s true, but I figure that if I said it with authority, you would believe me.)

These poems are haikus about summer vacation with children.  Anyway, without further ado, the finalists are:

DeNae

denae

When the kids were small,
Camping fit the fam’ly funds,

Which were sparce and spare.

 

No more camps for me.
You can keep your tents and bugs.
Hotels come with pools!

 

 

Shoebox Princess

 

sara 

 

I made a chore chart
To teach the kids about work

I have learned to nag.

 

House shrinks in summer

Too much noise, not enough space.

We go to the beach.

 

Melanie J

melanie

 

A soft, fuzzy head
Whiffs of coconut sunblock

Gold skin and freckles

 

Cute little white bums

Peeking out of swimming trunks

I smile. It’s summer.

 

 

Charlotte

 (sorry, Charlotte I couldn’t find your actual profile picture on your blog.)

crazy face

 

Hot grilled hamburgers,
A slice of watermelon,

ice cream and snow cones.

 

I can taste summer.
Summer scents permeating-
Intoxicating.

 

 

 

Vote for your favorite one here by Friday night.  Winners will be announced next weekend and one haiku-ist will be featured on my sidebar for the remainder of the summer (and get some prize they will wonder if it was worth the postage to send).
Nice job, ladies.  Happy polls!