The Day 5 prompt from Napowrimo.net is not one I’ve ever liked. I did start with a photograph, but the use of a poem written in another language required so much attention that I paid almost no attention to the picture.
The poem I used for ‘translation’ purposes was Wislawa Szymborska’s ‘Przyklad’. I chose my words partly for their similarity to the Polish words in terms of appearance, and partly for their similarity in terms of sound. I then used a similar approach to those parts of my poem that were nonsensical, until I had the results you see here.
The photograph I used is this one, which I took not long ago:
[Note: I deleted this photo for now, as it will be appearing in the final issue of Raven Chronicles. Once the issue has been published (July 2018), I will put the photo back.]
Wichita
Darlin’ I can’t wrestle liquor and drama
Unlatch the cage and I’ll go
Post the bail—I want to go
These bare walls, all one—
a jail, a garage
No time acquired
She mocked this monster
all the time—
with poster art of watches
beaches and ennui
(4 April 2018—posted April 5th)
I love the poem! I found the process difficult too, to concentrate on both words an image. I think I want to try a speedy version of this prompt, for example by setting a time limit.