Students - My husband got a tick on him last week...it dug right in, and we had to dig it out. Then, when he picked up the medicine a couple of days later, there was a tick crawling on his hand from a morning hike. Alas, spring is here, and we are now remembering to tuck in our socks and check ourselves for ticks. In the night the other night, I found myself hearing the line, a tick may pick you...and it stuck itself to me...just like a tick.
Merriam Webster defines a public service announcement as "an announcement made for the good of the public," and today I am reminding you to beware of ticks. Today's poem is a brief announcement in the form of a poem, and while it does not include everything one can do to beware of ticks (check your body, keep grass trimmed...), there is some helpful and important advice in these lines. No one wants Lyme Disease.
We write public service announcements when we wish to share information with others that we believe will help them. What information do you know that may help another person or group of people? You might try writing this information in the form of a poem, to teach and to have fun with words at the same time.
To learn more about protecting yourself from tick bites, and what to do if you do find a tick attached to you, check out this npr article. To learn more about different types of ticks, visit TickSafety.com. If you want to know more and more about ticks, listen to this podcast by The Field Guides.
Marcie is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Marcie Flinchum Atkins with happy news and information about her new book WHEN TWILIGHT COMES: THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT BRING DAWN AND DUSK TO LIFE. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
National Poetry Month begins next Wednesday, and as always, I'll be doing a poem-a-day project all month. You'll find more information here on Tuesday, March 31, but for now, please know that I welcome you to join me in a month of writing. My project is titled:
Love the rhymes in this poem, Amy, and its excellent advice. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTicks! Ick! I love all the consonance too!
ReplyDeleteAmy, your "listen" illustration almost looks like a bass clef! Love all the short i sounds in your poem. xo
ReplyDeletePSA poetry is a DELIGHTFUL idea! All the good rhyme and consonance plus useful, vital information.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a dry area with a very short tick season, so the first time I really saw them was in the Netherlands - I was peacefully watching sheep coming in from the field and standing in the grass, and then someone pointed and said, "Wees voorzichtig!" (Be careful) I found myself LEAPING back and shrieking, "Eeeew!"
Yes, to PSA poetry! Ticks really creep me out!
ReplyDeleteYes, the warnings are out about ticks here in Colorado, Amy! They are needed! Have a lovely time during April!
ReplyDeleteYour tick poem has a terrific tick-tick-tick rhythm, Amy. :) Love it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I just saw the other day that great progress if being made on a vaccine for Lyme disease!
This poem is just perfect to say out loud. And no to Lyme Disease. My husband has dealt with that, and it took years to get him feeling halfway back to normal.
ReplyDeleteIt's tick time! Thanks for the clever reminder!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your PSA! And I can't wait for your NPM project!!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I live in earthquake country. I am much more afraid of ticks than I am tectonic shift!
ReplyDeleteOoooh! This is an important and very kid friendly PSA. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI always love "listening" over here! And, your poem had me simultaneously nodding and thinking, "Yuck"! But an apt and clever warning, now that the seasons have turned, for sure!
ReplyDelete"Tricking Ticks" is a great PSA poem, Amy! They find me wherever I go, alas. I'm going to do my best to trick the ticks this year. Thank you for the advice.
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