He's a poet and didn't know it

Today I witnessed firsthand that a love for garage sale-ing isn't the only thing I passed down to my son. He can write, too.

No, I won't take full credit. One would hope that having two parents as writers, he would be able to piece together a noun, verb and clever adjective or two. And he can.

I had the privilege this afternoon of attending the Grant School third-graders' Poetry Cafe & Coffeehouse. The children set the coffeehouse atmosphere. Desks were put together and covered with table clothes and homemade paper flowers. They served us coffee, tea and cookies -- then proceeded to entertain us.

They have been learning about the various formats of poetry and each student in Mrs. Klingforth's class presented two of theirs before a captive audience. Carter read one with words and phrases tied to his name and another that didn't rhyme but told a funny story.

Here they are. Enjoy (maybe a Carter blog will be coming your way soon!)

"Me!"

Cool
Amazing
Runner
Tiger Woods fan
Exciting
Really humorous

"Midnight at the Supermarket"

The cookies jump on the bread
like a trampoline
to plug the burglars' mouths.

The orange juice sprays the burglars' eyes
the make them blind.

The popcorn tips the machine over
so the popcorn can shoot out like bullets.

The carrots use themselves as knives
to scare the burglars against the wall.

The pretzels choke the burglars
while the forks dial 911 to talk to the cops
and send them to jail.

The next day
everything is back to normal.

(Whew! Now I know not to take Carter on any late-night shopping trips!)