For a very early start on day 1, I have ostensibly used the prompt from Napowrimo.net—to ‘write a poem that is based on a secret shame, or a secret pleasure.’ I would not necessarily refer to depression as ‘a secret shame’, but neither is it something I like to share much about on those days when it seems worse. Anyway…
NaPoWriMo
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 30
My Day 30 poem for National Poetry Writing Month uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write ‘a poem about something that happens again and again.’ Continue reading
In defense of the word ‘and’ (a poem)
Another bit of Skeltonic verse that I wrote on Day 28 of National Poetry Writing Month, after I had already posted my poem for the day. A problem I often have with poetry in print is that some poets format their work in such a way that the manner of presentation distracts me from the poem itself. One of the things that makes a poem unreadable for me is when a poet substitutes every occurrence of the word and with the ampersand (&). Though it may make sense in a title or a name, it looks horrible when used in text, suggesting either laziness or affectation.
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When everything else evaporates or vaporises (NaPoWriMo 2017 Day 29 alternate poem)
This was my initial attempt at the Day 29 poem. I initially posted my second attempt because I felt this first one was too literal. Now that I look at it again, it really isn’t; it just lacks an emotional center (at least, for me it does). Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 29
My Day 29 poem for National Poetry Writing Month uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—which involves choosing a ‘very specific, concrete noun’ from a favorite poem, doing some free writing based on that word, then incorporating that all into a new poem. I chose to work from the word bones, which I drew from a poem by S. R. Mason, Dry skin, cold hands—I live in upside down houses and draw X’s on my tongue. Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 28
My Day 28 poem for National Poetry Writing Month uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write a poem using Skeltonic verse. Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 27
My Day 27 poem for National Poetry Writing Month uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write a poem exploring the sense of taste. Since my Day 26 was a long-ish poem, I wanted to make my Day 27 poem short—hence the haiku… Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 26
My day 26 poem for National Poetry Writing Month sort of uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write a poem about ‘a particular object or place from the point of view of some far-off, future scientist’… Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 25
My day 25 poem for National Poetry Writing Month sort of uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write ‘a poem that explores a small, defined space.’ I chose, as the title suggests, my head. I also used a form of sorts—I can’t assume that it is entirely original, but I came up with it on my own—in which the last two lines of each stanza combined contain the same number of words as the first line. Continue reading
National Poetry Writing Month 2017, Day 24
My day 24 poem for National Poetry Writing Month sort of uses the prompt on Napowrimo.net—to write an ekphrastic poem about the stuff found in the margins of medieval manuscripts. I made a couple of attempts, but quickly got bored. So, this is what I ended up doing: Continue reading
Ordinary Average Thoughts 