Poetry Challenge #139-It Jumped How Far?
As long as toad have been croaking, frogs (and kids) have been jump-jump-jumping!
And, every May 13th, in honor of Mark Twain’s first published short story, Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog (better known as The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County or The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County) folks have been celebrating frog jumping day.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, The longest frog jump record is “1.21 m (3 ft 11.64 in) and was achieved by Noa Möller (Sweden) at Palatset in Stockhom, Sweden, on 19 November 2011.” However, when I gave it a Google, the longest from jump on file is 21 feet, 5¾ inches, set by a bullfrog named Rosie the Ribeter in 1986. (If you, dear reader, can sort that record business out, keep us posted.)
Here’s what I know for sure: the 2026 Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee winner was 88-year-old Lillian Fasano, who won with a total jump of 19 feet, 2 and 1/4 inches using a frog named "Fuzzy.
Seeing a frog jump that far is surely the stuff of poetry!
Poetry Challenge #139
It Jumped How Far?
Let’s invoke the spirit of Mark Twain or Fuzzy by writing a hyperbolic poem about a long-high-far jumping frog, or a person who jumps like a frog, or a frog-jumping contest—creator’s choice.
Hyperbole means “gross exaggeration for effect” so we’re not talking tiny hops, make those frog JUMP!
See how many words for jump you can include in the poem. And don’t forget to add in a ribbit or three!
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just RIBBIT! (That means “do it!” in frog.)
Cindy Faughnan and I create began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge thousands of frog hops ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.