📖 Behind the Stanza: Creating “Time” in Poems for Breakfast

Sparks, sketches, and creative surprises that shaped the Poems for Breakfast series (+ bonus writing tips).

Every so often, I’m struck by how utterly fascinating time is.

It governs our lives, occupies endless hours of thought, and yet remains a total mystery. As a kid, I was sure someone out there had unlocked its secrets—some expert with all the answers about how time works. But every explanation I came across inevitably circled back to, “Well… we don’t really know.”

Right on cue, the school bell would ring. A wave of students would rush to their next class, most determined to be “on time.” I’d shuffle along with them, inwardly laughing at the irony: we were racing for something none of us truly understood.

I’m drawn to these reflective pauses—the moments that make us stop and wonder about something we usually take for granted. Sometimes, it’s in those moments that the biggest ideas take root. A single spark of curiosity can open the door to creativity, a new project, and a lifetime with a wider lens.

Here’s the poem I wrote to capture the fun, fleeting wonder of time:

TIME

Time is magic,
Don’t you know?
It’s quite the thing.
It’s quite the show.

POOF!

You see now?
There it goes.
Where did it go?
Well, no one knows.

I kept the poem simple because I wanted the mystery of time to feel effortless. Often, simplicity says more.

The illustration for this poem is one of the few where I didn’t go through extensive variations. Usually, I start by drawing the most obvious idea just to get it out of my system, then push the concept further.

I thought about reinventing what a “poof” cloud might look like, but that would have muddied the message. It would’ve distracted you just enough to wonder, “What is that?” And then—just like that—your time would have slipped away.

📝 Writing Tip: Catch Ideas Before They Drift

Ever had a strange question pop into your head, or found yourself giggling at something that others might overlook? Of course you have. Write it down. Ideas can be sneaky and they’ll vanish if you don’t catch them fast.

For me, tracking thoughts is a daily ritual, and one of the most important habits I’ve developed as a writer. Whether it’s a notebook by my bed or a writing app on my phone, I always have something handy to capture those fleeting sparks of inspiration.

Without this habit, I’d have lost at least 96.3% of the poems in Poems for Breakfast.

Sometimes, ideas hit like an Acme anvil out of nowhere, but more often, they start as whispers in the wind. If you don’t catch them, they’ll float away to bother someone else.

But here’s the thing: jotting down ideas isn’t about getting it perfect or figuring out how to use them right away. It’s more like snapping a quick photo to save for later. Weeks or months down the road, you might look back and think, “Oh, this! I know exactly where it fits now.”

The key is to start somewhere and keep going. You’ll figure out your process along the way.

Keep tracking those whispers.

The Poems for Breakfast series is an illustrated collection of whimsical children’s poem books that make mealtime an adventure.

Available on Amazon in hardcover and paperback. Join the adventure at poemsforbreakfast.com.