April 3, 2014 by Victoria C. Slotto

Vigil

Across the pathway,

beyond her garden, behind drawn blinds,

my neighbor, my friend, awaits rebirth.

The flowers she tended

weep dew.

Photo: David Slotto

I wrote this short poem for Day 3 of National Poetry Month. A dear friend is dying, after about ten years battling ovarian cancer. It’s hard to believe that she was my partner a week ago Tuesday in a little golf event for my league in which we invited the “Lady Putters” to play with us. We hit the ball to the green and the putter putted out. We were pathetic. Gerry was literally dying and I was really overwhelmed, but grateful to be with her. This photo is one taken about five years ago for the same event. She was in the middle of one of her six rounds of chemo. (I won’t post the one taken this year. It’s not how I want to remember her). This lady has taught me so much about courage and a positive attitude. She never complained–just kept on living. I’m linking another poem I wrote earlier in the the about her HERE.

Godspeed dear friend.

Also linking to dVerse Meeting the Bar where Claudia asks us to express emotion without saying what it is. I will be late in responding since my little girl dog has to have surgery today on her spine. She has terrible pain that medications don’t touch. Please keep her in your thoughts/prayers. Thank you.

August 7, 2011 by Victoria C. Slotto

Monday Morning Writing Prompt: Writing a Feeling

While perusing poetry for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets’ Pub, I ran across the work of Esther Douek on her blog “Life in a Poem.” As she explains, Esther wrote her poem with the specific purpose of eliciting a feeling. She invites the reader to experience the feeling over the meaning of the words and to share their emotional response in comments.

For this week’s prompt, I invite you to write a poem designed to evoke feelings and to respond to other participants by sharing the reaction their poems caused you to have.

You might enjoy visiting Esther’s poem and see some of the comments her poem produced: http://www.estherdouek.com/?p=473

Here’s my effort:

Untitled

in the corner of the dark

room spider spins her web,

traps a fly.

you are prone, sipping

from a straw. your smile

flickers then you wait.

why do fireflies compete

with lightning when summer

becomes indefensible?

you are prone, tugging

at fringe on your prayer

shawl. deep breath. sigh.

tomorrow they say

will be the same as today

or the day before yesterday.

you are prone. glasses

smudged with grease and

sweat. how will you see tomorrow?

today the rent was due

they picked up garbage and

the mailman delivered more junk.

you are prone, fingering

rosary beads. eyes closed.

and still we wait.

Now, it’s your turn. Write your own “feeling” poem, post the link or the poem in comments, then visit and comment on your fellow poets efforts. It’s fun! I’d enjoy reading your feeling-feedback on mine, as well.