Today is a day of celebration, with the official launch of Kathryn Apel’s This is the Mud! as a part of the Miriam Vale State School’s Under 8’s Day celebrations. (Believe me, there’s one, mammoth, muddy party happening here! But we’re finding it a bit tricky to log onto blogs at school – impossible! – so we’re also holding our own mini Verse Off within the Verse Off.)So, on this the momentous 8th day of May 2009, I hereby take a moment to shout,………. Let the mud fly!That’s the official bit over…

Now it’s time for the second round of our Verse Off.

For those of you who’ve just joined and are wondering, what is this Verse Off thing? Let me make it as clear as mud!A Verse Off is what happens when two authors who have books to be released in the same month realise there is a common link in poetry. All be it different kinds of poetry.Sally Murphy (that’s me) is celebrating her free verse novel, Pearl Verses the World – and from all reviews, it truly is a pearl amongst books. A treasure!

Kathryn Apel is launching her rhyming picture book, This is the Mud! – a rollicking rural story of muck, mess and mayhem.

To celebrate this momentous month of May, Kat and Sally have invited blog readers to join the fun by taking part in an online Verse Off, running each Sunday in May. (Today’s event is a special, muddy launch edition of the Verse Off.)The Verse Off is your chance to prove that your preferred form is the best. Free verse, or rhyme? Now is the time…But first, a recap of the rules:

1. There is no ‘right’ answer to the prompt. Be creative.
2. Limit your response to twelve lines (so there is room for everyone’s response).
3. You can respond in either free verse or rhymed verse – or both. If you do both, post each at the appropriate blog.
4. This is your work, so add your name, and a link to your website or blog, if you’d like.
5. Everyone is a winner! But there is no winner.

Got it? Great. Then here goes with prompt number two.

If you want to write a rhyming poem, head over to Kathryn’s Blog.

If you want to respond with a free verse (non rhyming) poem, scroll down to the comments section below this blog posting. Don’t forget to add your name – and link, if you have one. And if you’ve been at the muck, mess and mayhem of Miriam Vale’s book launch (and are now back home on your own computers) tell us!Tomorrow – Saturday – we’ll post the collection in a new post for all to see. So don’t forget to check in to see your poem feature.And Sunday, we’ll be back here to do it all again!So are you versed in rhyme – or free? Let’s find out!