Here’s my entry for the #SpringFlingKidLit Contest 2020.
This is my first ever attempt at making an animated gif from a piece of my own artwork. I think I more or less succeeded in adding a soundtrack, although it’s a bit temperamental, so if you can’t hear it properly, it’s supposed to be the sound of a trumpet tooting three times! (Also, it doesn’t seem to want to play automatically on a loop any more – instead you have to press the play button and it only plays once – technology, eh!)
A note about primroses – I’m not sure how widespread pale yellow English Primroses (Primula vulgaris) are in different regions of the U.S., but in the high-hedged lanes of Devon in Southwest England, where I live, they are a sight to behold each year and one of the clearest signs that spring has properly arrived!
Many thanks to Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez (@KaitlynLeann17) and Ciara O’Neal (@CiaraONeal2) for hosting this fun competition! I think the motivational power of competitions like this have kept many of us writing and creating in these dark and scary times.
SING FOR SPRING! (144 words)
Daffodils toot: It’s time for Spring!
WE’RE LATE! WAKE UP! GET READY TO SING!
Dandelions snarl: Oh, leave us be!
We’re having a lie-in – can’t you see?
Catkins shake: Do you know what?
Those lions look fierce – we’d rather not!
Violets shrink: We’re terribly shy,
And singing’s no fun – we’d rather die!
Primroses blanch: We’re awfully posh,
And singing’s so dreadfully vulgar – oh, gosh!
Blackbirds hoot: You useless crowd!
Just leave it to us – WE’LL SING REALLY LOUD!
Dandelions wake, looking ready for war…
Jaws open wide… and release a great
RROOOAAAARRRRR!
Blackbirds chirp: Have courage! Take heart!
They’re SINGING, that’s all. Now do YOUR part!
So catkins yowl and violets croon,
And primroses bellow a rollicking tune,
And leaves unfold and sun bursts through,
And blossoms appear and sky turns blue…
Daffodils trumpet loud and clear:
SUCCESS! WE DID IT!…
SPRING IS HERE!
Claire Lewis 
This is fabulous, Claire! Love the animated gif too. Best of luck in the competition.
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Thanks, Jenny!
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So much fun – a really pleasing, delightful read. I absolutely love the gif too.
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Thanks so much, Roo!
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This is such fun – a really pleasing, delightful read. Your gif is fantastic too.
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This has winner written all over it. Love all the creativity, the flowers, the story and the GIF. Dang! The sound worked perfectly for me.
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Thank you so much, Kathy – what a lovely comment!
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Wonderful spring story. Love the daffodil trumpets. Good luck!
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Thank you for your kind comment, Nancy!
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Claire, omg this is ALL AMAZING! First, I didn’t even think about music for a gif–genius! Second, what an awesome image you created for the gif. Third, that story, so cute, so creative, so punny with great rhythm! Thanks so much for sharing this with us for the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest
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Thank you so much for your kind comment, Kaitlyn – it was your and Ciara’s fun competition that provided the much-needed stimulus to be creative! The whole experience has been a ray of sunshine!
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Awww😍 that makes me so happy to hear! This has been such a ray of sunshine for us too😍
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I love your premise of flowers bursting not just into bloom but also into song! In both your poem and GIF, you capture so many wonderful elements of Spring and create such ingenious images, like dandeLIONS and daffodils trumpeting.Good luck and Well done! @AnneLipton
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Thank you so much, Anne, for your kind comments!
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