Valentine’s Day Contest

Posted on February 11, 2012 by viviankirkfield

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Several weeks ago, children’s author, Susannah Leonard Hill, announced a contest: write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, about unlikely Valentines.

To tell you the truth, ever since the second week in January when I decided to participate in Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, I am never without a piece of paper and a pen because I never know when a picture book idea will suddenly descend upon me. Often, in the wee hours of the morning, a picturesque phrase pops into my head…and if I don’t write it down immediately, it disappears. Of course, reading what is on the paper in the light of the morning is sometimes impossible…my handwriting is not the best and writing in the dark definitely does not improve it.

So here is my entry into Susannah’s Valentine’s Day Contest…as I read each verse, I can visualize the illustrations that might accompany this story. I hope you all enjoy it and I welcome your feedback and constructive criticism…but please, be gentle…today is my birthday!

A Story of Unlikely Valentines

Whom Do I Love? by Vivian Kirkfield

Whom do I love?

Quizzed the cloud-covered moon.

I love the dish that ran off with the spoon.

Whom do I love?

Posed the run-away dish.

I love the silvery stream-swimming fish.

Whom do I love?

Slurped the shimmering trout.

I love the rock-hopping toad that jumped out.

Whom do I love?

Croaked the hip-hopping toad.

I love the waddling duck on the road.

Whom do I love?

Quacked the web-footed duck.

I love the pig on the rusty farm truck.

Whom do I love?

Oinked the curly-tailed pig.

I love the floppy-eared dog that can dig.

Whom do I love?

Barked the diggity-dog.

I love the bee in the hollowed-out log.

Whom do I love?

Buzzed the bumblely-bee.

I love the mouse that lives under the tree.

Whom do I love?

Squeaked the scurrying mouse.

I love the curly-haired boy in that house.

Whom do I love?

Asked the sweet little lad.

I love my momma and I love my dad.

I’m excited to read the other entries that link up to Susannah’s Valentine’s Day Contest…we learn so much when we share our thoughts and encourage and support one another.

74 thoughts on “Valentine’s Day Contest”

clarbojahn on February 13, 2012 at 1:21 am said:

So happy you have made many connections with your entry, Vivian. You so deserve it. Good luck with it all. 🙂

I love your poem and yes I am happiest when writing also. I can think of no greater fun. 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 13, 2012 at 1:48 am said:
  
  It’s amazing, Clar!
  There is only one down-side to all of this…it is so enjoyable to go to everyone’s blogs to read their entries…for this contest and PPBF and other posts they do…how do we have time to write. 🙂 🙂 🙂
  Thank you for your support and encouragement…it definitely spurs me on!
  
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Robyn Campbell on February 13, 2012 at 1:52 am said:

Wow! You are so very talented! This is absolutely delightful, Vivian. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The ending was awesome! Great job! *waving*

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- viviankirkfield on February 13, 2012 at 8:10 am said:
  
  What an amazing cheering committee all of you are!!!!
  Now I see why writers join writing groups…you learn so much…but also you get a lot of encouragement and support and smiles…and waves. 🙂
  Thank you, Robyn…so glad you like it. I’ve read all the entries so far…amazing talent! The contest is lots of fun…Susannah is a very special lady…I understand she’s had other contests before.
  
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Natalie on February 13, 2012 at 10:21 am said:

Wow Vivian! You did a fantastic job! What beautiful, descriptions you came up with! “Diggity-dog,”—love that word combination–how cute!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:31 am said:
  
  Hi Natalie,
  I’m thrilled you liked it. 🙂 I actually never had so much fun with words…the picture book stories I wrote 30 years ago were more simplistic…I think I’ve learned a lot just reading so many over the years. 🙂 And connecting with all of you!!!
  
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  - Natalie on February 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm said:
    
    And a deserving finalist, no less! Congratulations to you! 🙂
    
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Joanna on February 13, 2012 at 10:58 am said:

I love the meter you have chosen for this poem…. there’s a kind of dramatic peak to each verse, which I love. It is sweet and charming, a wonderful entry!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:33 am said:
  
  Thank you so much, Joanna! I’m so pleased it “worked” and was enjoyable to read…it was definitely fun to write. 🙂
  
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tinamcho on February 13, 2012 at 11:19 am said:

Love it, Vivian! I could see this as a baby board book!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:43 am said:
  
  Hi Tina,
  Coming from you that is high praise indeed! I went to your blog (love it) and saw the post on how you got into writing children’s books…kudos to you! I will go back and read it carefully…lots to learn from you!
  This contest was lots of fun…and the comments are quite encouraging!
  
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thiskidreviewsbooks on February 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm said:

This is really very nice! It has a very nice message! Happy (late) Birthday!! 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:36 am said:
  
  Haha Erik…thanks for the birthday wishes…I had an awesome day! And I’m really looking forward to a fun-filled year of writing picture books, reading and crafting with kindergarteners and connecting with this wonderful community of writers and lovers of books and kids…oh yes, and working for a living. 🙂
  
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Barb Valentin on February 13, 2012 at 4:18 pm said:

Vivian – This is so lyrical, full of sweet imagery. I just love it and wish you the best of luck! Thanks for sharing it.

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:38 am said:
  
  Hi Barb,
  Thanks for stopping by…glad you liked my little poem. 🙂 I’m having such a lot of fun…too bad I have to work 4 days a week…I’d love to be writing all the time!
  
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Jennifer Young on February 13, 2012 at 9:24 pm said:

That was fun and sweet, great job!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:38 am said:
  
  Hi Jennifer,
  Thank you for your kind words…glad you liked it. The contest was definitely great fun!
  
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sunriseovertheiceberg on February 14, 2012 at 12:18 am said:

So sweet! I love the poem format! The ending is sweet as well.

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 4:45 am said:
  
  Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting…I’m so happy you liked it! Yes, I love the ending…I’m all about helping parents and young children stengthen their connection.
  
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Eric Van Raepenbusch - Happy Birthday Author on February 14, 2012 at 4:51 am said:

Loved the pattern to this story! Children would really like it!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 5:22 am said:
  
  Thank you, thank you, Eric!
  So glad you liked my Unlikely Valentine Contest story. 🙂
  I appreciate you stopping by…I’ll have to try it out on the kindergarteners I read and craft with…they would be a great test audience, I think!
  
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Stacy S. Jensen (@StacySJensen) on February 14, 2012 at 1:11 pm said:

Happy Valentine’s Day. I read this several days ago on my phone, but apparently forgot to comment. Enjoyed this and congrats!

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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 3:40 pm said:
  
  Hi Stacy…
  No worries…just reading all the entries (and the PPBF entries and anything else one is participating in) is hard enough…then to comment…it’s a wonder any of us have time to sleep. Sleep? What’s that? 🙂
  Glad you enjoyed reading my Unlikely Valentine poem. 🙂
  
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- viviankirkfield on February 14, 2012 at 3:42 pm said:
  
  Oh…and Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!! Are you going to the SCBWI meeting on Sunday..it’s 1-4pm at East Library. I’m planning on being there. 🙂
  
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  - Stacy S. Jensen (@StacySJensen) on February 14, 2012 at 10:07 pm said:
    
    I plan to be there too. I need to polish up a story more to make it presentable for critique. We’ll hope for baby power naps this week.
    
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    - viviankirkfield on February 15, 2012 at 2:26 am said:
      
      That’s awesome, Stacy…I’ll be so happy to see you there. 🙂 I’m not sure what I will bring…I’m also working on a couple of things…don’t have little ones to interrupt me…but husband, housework and job instead. 🙂
      
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Hannah Holt on February 14, 2012 at 4:43 pm said:

I was sure I commented on your lovely entry, but now I can’t find it. Maybe I hit send and the connection became interrupted yesterday… Anyway, your poem is both delightful and soothing. I love the seamless progression. Masterfully done!

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- viviankirkfield on February 15, 2012 at 2:23 am said:
  
  Hannah…I really appreciate your taking the time to make sure you commented. 🙂 It’s hard to keep track, isn’t it? Especially if one is commenting on PPBF, the Unlikely Valentine Contest, and other blog posts.
  So, no worries!!!!! With the beautiful things you said about my little poem, you could comment at any time, morning, noon or night. 🙂
  
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eof737 on February 24, 2012 at 1:26 am said:

Beautiful! Happy Valentine’s Day … belatedly! 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 24, 2012 at 3:33 am said:
  
  Eliz…I love when you come to comment…but I know how overwhelmed you are…please take care and don’t worry about the comments. 🙂 Just think of me…I’ll know. 🙂
  
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orples on February 26, 2012 at 3:24 pm said:

Thank you for posting that little poem. It was/is a fun, sweet read. 😉

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- viviankirkfield on February 26, 2012 at 8:26 pm said:
  
  I so appreciate your kind words. 🙂 Hopefully, I will be able to turn it into a children’s picture book.
  
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