Tag Archives: poem

by

One Shot Wednesday–”Drizzle”

As the day evolves
from overcast
to sun to rain again,

the Artisan steps in
and brushes clouds
across blue skies—

wet-on-wet—
then takes a rag
and smears,

sprinkling sadness
into an otherwise
perfect moment.

Submitted to One Stop Poetry: http://oneshotpoetry.blogspot.com/  Stop by and browse some great poetry!

Note: If you’re looking for Wordsmith Wednesday or Sensational Haiku Wednesday they are posted under separate entries. Thanks for stopping by.

by

Sunday 160–Lazy Sunday

Response to Monky Man’s Sunday 160.
Use 160 Characters, including spaces.
First time I tried this:

Lazy Sunday,
Sabbath-like.
Take it easy for a change.

Unmade beds,
dirty dishes,
leftovers on paper plates.

Fed the dogs–
Didn’t walk ‘em.
Now I’m tired

doing nothing.
Write a poem
It’s okay.

by

Sonnets as a Poetic Form–”Point of View”

A bit about the sonnet as a poetic form courtesy of Wikipedia:

The sonnet is one of several forms of lyric poetry originating in Europe. The term “sonnet” derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning “little song” or “little sound”. By the thirteenth century, it had come to signify a poem of fourteen lines that follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure. The conventions associated with the sonnet have evolved over its history. The writers of sonnets are sometimes referred to as “sonneteers,” although the term can be used derisively. One of the best-known sonnet writers is William Shakespeare, who wrote 154 of them (not including those that appear in his plays). A Shakespearean, or English, sonnet consists of 14 lines, each line containing ten syllables and written in iambic pentameter, in which a pattern of an unemphasized syllable followed by an emphasized syllable is repeated five times. The rhyme scheme in a Shakespearean sonnet is a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g; the last two lines are a rhyming couplet. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Most often we think of sonnets as love songs. When my poetry critique group suggested writing a sonnet, I felt a bit squeamish about it until I stopped to consider the broad spectrum of “love.” Not sure how my poem would play in the traditional sense of a sonnet. If you enjoy the discipline of working with poetic forms, I encourage you to read more about the various types of sonnets and just do it…it’s fun and it’s challenging.

“Point of View” A Sonnet

Ain’t nobody with a right to judge my heart,
To guess why I do the things I gotta do,
To say ‘cause I walk the streets I’m just a tart.
No way they can see from my sacred point of view.
Got calluses on my feet from three-inch heels.
I stink from filthy men I’m s’pposed to please
Who with rough touches my self-worth will steal
Then toss me a crumpled bill to find release.
The haughty turn away when they pass me by.
They snicker, whisper loudly, “She’s sold her soul.”
But in my deep-part, truth reminds me why:
My body is not me, my spirit’s whole.
It’s not that I whore for drugs or my own joy.
His daddy just split. Gotta care for my little boy.

by

395 South of Reno to the Desert: A Poem

An Etheree

Lone
Pine sits
nestled in
McKinley’s breast,
waits for passersby
to linger in her shade.
Sierra Mountain flowers
boast of vivid hues amidst the
craggy heights and verdant valley green.
Just to the north the camp of Manzanar
speaks of troubled times and war-torn worlds.
We hesitate then drive on past,
stop for a break, admire the
snow-capped peaks, gas up then
leave before the sun
withdraws its light
and leaves us
in the
dark.

The challenge was to write a poem about a city. Well, Lone Pine probably would never fit the city category but it’s a town that calls forth poetry. I chose to write another “Etheree”–such a fun, disciplined form. Hope you enjoy.

(Etheree: 1 syllable, increase syllable each line to 10, then back to 1. Can repeat process to add more verses.)