2016 Found Object Poem Project: Day 29

Dear friends, thank you for taking the leap and writing with me every day (or most days, or some days) during the month of February. I'm astounded by the number of people who participated this year. The poems everyone shared were a marvel. I loved seeing resonances and echoes between the poems every day, just as much as I enjoyed the outliers, the outside-the-box poems.It is Leap Day, the 29th and last day of our month-long daily writing project.This year’s theme has been FOUND OBJECTS. For those of you who are finding this project for the first time, please read my introductory post. You’ll find more information and all of the Week 4 FOUND OBJECTS at this post.A few notes before we get to today's poems:I will continue adding poems to each day through Wednesday, March 2 only. If you'd like to catch up on a few days you missed, now is the time.I will post a wrap-up of the project on Friday, March 4 for Poetry Friday. That post will include a working list of poets for each day of the project. It's up to you whether you want to double check or not. Please get corrections to me no later than Monday, March 7.I will post a list of the prizes this Friday, and winners early next week. I hope that covers everything. On to today...FOUND: CARNIVAL TRUCKThanks to Diane Mayr of the blog Random Noodling for sending in a celebratory object for our last day. Whether you consider this a functional object or a toy (aren't toys functional objects?), I hope you enjoy writing about it today.Let's start with Diane's poem, since she found our source of inspiration for today.I have to agree with Diane when she says, "I’m glad the month is over, but I’m also sorry that the challenge has ended."In the Kingdom of Strip MallBy Diane MayrTwo ponies rest ina pick-up bed whilethe giant, weighed downby bags of trinkets, tradesout a tarnished royalcarriage for a tetheredhelicopter. Not evena bereft child daresto question the actionsof this prince of a man.***Mary Lee Hahn left a lovely note for all of us. "It’s been a great month of writing, and for that, I thank you, Laura, for a fabulous challenge. To the other writers, I express my regrets that I didn’t have more time this month to be a better community member. I read all of your poems, but my praises and comments to you stayed inside my head and my heart."CirculationAfter a lifetime spent galloping in circles,I’m finally going to put some actual distance beneath these hooves.I’ve got this chance to move forward,and I’ll enjoy the ride before the next place I park.The blur of landscape as we roar down the roadis an art I admire, but have never been able to achieve.©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016***I'm enjoying all of these end of project notes. Here is Linda Baie's: "I’ve loved reading everyone’s poems, and they have always served as lovely inspiration. Thanks all for a beautiful month, plus a leap day, too!"The Past We’ve LostThat fifty cents took a long time saving-penny by penny plopped in a jar.Papa said I’d grow up to be a banker.If I knew about money, I’d go far.Now all I wanted was to ride the horses,go round and round, pretend I was tough.I did chores for Mama to earn the pennies:swept, washed dishes till I had enough.They pulled into the park last Saturday.I had to eat breakfast, was ready to run.Two shiny quarters appeared from Ma’s pocket.She sent me with a smile, best wishes for fun.Yep, those horses galloped like the wind.Up and down, and round and round I went.I was a whoopin’, hollerin’ cowboy,appreciating the value of my fifty cents.Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved***Thanks to Jessica Bigi, not only for this acrostic poem, but for the drawing that goes with it.CarouselBy Jessica BigiC alligraphy horses marchingA B C –1 2 3R acing rhymes across paperO utlines of a storyU sing imaginationS entence horseshoesE nchanting endingsL etters laughter learning***Charles Waters has a rhyming poem today. The rhymes themselves make me think of carnival music.Merry-Go-RoundBy Charles WatersCandy colored poles,riding up and down,horses prancing,people dancingabove ground ...Merry-go-round.***The title of Carol Varsalona's digital creation is perfect for today.***Donna Smith noticed the word "Library" on the building and used that in her poem.CarouselI wanted to go get a book,So I hopped upon my horseThe horse went round and roundBut I got no closer, of course.I stuck out my thumb for a bitAnd hitched a ride on a truckAnd then, my horse and IHad much better book hunting luckWe made it to the libraryWhere I found something to readThen jumped back on the truckIn the saddle of my white steedWe still went round and roundAs the trucker took us back;It’s hard to ride too far awayIf the horse won’t leave its track.©2016, Donna JT Smith, all rights reservedAnd Molly Hogan left us a note and a poem today. Thanks for this gift of a poem, Molly!"Today’s picture was perfect. The carnival may be packed away, but rich memories linger and we’re all winners for having come along on the ride. Thank you!"Laura’s CarnivalBy Molly HoganThe carnival arriveson a wintery breezeA sensory extravaganzawith an open invitation,but…“You can’t winif you don’t play!”So, dive on inRide on waves of words,rhythm and rhyme,alliteration and syncopation.Visit the funhousewhere words twist and twineinto intriguing shapesand mirrors reflect new imagesinto eternity.Try your skill on the games.Select words like a sharpshooterPicking off targets.With all your strength and wit,set your pen onto paperwith a resounding crash.“Ring the bell!Ring the bell!”Overindulge on tasty termsand luscious prose.Wipe the grease from your chin.Take a spin on the carousel,up and down,hang on and enjoy the ride.But all good thingsmust come to an end.It’s timeto pack up the partyshut down the funNo days leftin this carnival’s run.Phrases litter the groundand crumpled papersrustle in the wind“Step right up!Everyone’s a winner!”***Just for fun: Here's a bonus found object to enjoy on your own. I won't be sharing poems in a post, but feel free to leave them in the comments. I hope you will post them on your own blogs and websites. I'll give you a little history on this object during the wrap-up.Interested in what we’ve written so far? Here are links to our recent poems (I will update this list soon — apologies to those I missed):Sunday, February 21FOUND OBJECT: Antique Sewing MachinePoems by: Diane Mayr, Linda Baie, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Jessica Bigi, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona, Charles Waters.Note: You will find links to all of  the Week 1, 2, and 3 poems at this post.Monday, February 22FOUND OBJECT: Stick InsectPoems by: Mary Lee Hahn, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona, Jessica Bigi, Charles Watesr, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Linda Baie, Diane Mayr.Tuesday, February 23 at BOOKSEED STUDIOFOUND OBJECT: Library of Congress CartPoems by: Jan Godown Annino, Jessica Bigi, Donna Smith, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Carol Varsalona, Diane Mayr, Mary Lee Hahn, Charles Waters, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Heidi Mordhorst.Wednesday, February 24FOUND OBJECT: Phoebe NestPoems by: Jessica Bigi, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Mary Lee Hahn, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Charles Waters, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona.Thursday, February 25FOUND OBJECT: Pearl Harbor KeysFriday, February 26 at Michael Ratcliffe’s PoetryFOUND OBJECT: Sun SignSaturday, February 27FOUND OBJECT: Architectural RuinsSunday, February 28 at Bookseed StudioFOUND OBJECT: Garlic Bud