Free Range Fiction: The Poetry Version

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You know the ol’ diddy? She’s a poet and didn’t know it? Well, I know it. I’m not a poet.

But, smart folks know that in order to learn, you have to go out of your comfort zone.    April presents a perfect opportunity for me to push myself (without paying tuition or conference fees), to push myself. It’s National Poetry Month. Many writers write a poem a day for April.  Also, as part of my Happiness Project, I’m supposed to be learning a new art. So, Poetry is on the list.

Things are still crazy for me, so I’m a bit behind, but I’m sitting in my favorite cafe right now churning out poems to catch up. My goal is to post these poems each day here.  I’ll happily admit they probably aren’t that great. Yet, lots can be learned by making mistakes and putting it out there for critique. If you comment and say, “they suck,” without telling me why they suck, I won’t learn anything other than you’re breaking Wil Wheaton’s Number One Rule, and being a prime example of Wizard’s First Rule. What you don’t know what Wizard’s First Rule is? I can’t help you. Go read a book.

What I’ve learned so far these last 11 days is that you have to mine deep for poetry. Prose and fiction I can spew like any storyteller with little difficulty. Poetry is all about emotion. I had a professor and editor once tell me that poetry is the language of the soul. Absolutely dead on. So there’s some very personal stuff coming out of this poetry. I’m swallowing my pride and fear and putting it out there. If you don’t like it — click away. I won’t mind. If you like it, if it speaks to you, please leave a comment.

At any rate, below is my first feeble attempts since leaving University and my arts & literature education.  Hopefully you’ll check back each day as I attempt to continue to write a poem a day.

April 1, 2013:

Feel the Catcus

Old cowboy star crush

Met finally

In life’s autumn

School girl giggles

Make the

Autumn bloom

To Spring

Dry desert air

And sunshine

On skin

Glow with

The blush

Of attraction

Dreams accomplished

Time for the

Next

Until then

Can die happy

*********

April 2, 2013:

 In the Margins

Books

Music

Coffee

Wine

I sit

You write

I wait

You sigh

Charcoal on fingers

And paper

Drops of rain

On window

Pain and wonder

On heart

********

April 3, 2013:

Aries Moon

It’s Mom’s day

Not Mother’s day

She won’t fuss

But her day

A ram born to a ram

 

I call, wish her well

She says

It’s just a day,

Nothing worth noting

 

Nothing?

For seven plus 60 years, Mom…

Really?

 

Dad’s playing poker

She responds

And calls for her dog:

Lucy!

 

You got some ‘plaining to do

 

I wish her well

Again

 

Silence

Miles

Emptiness

 

That’s what is left

*********

April 4, 2013:

Fare Thee Well

It’s a double-edged

Sword

 

The love

The loss

 

It’s there to

Cut

To

Bleed

 

It’s a rusty

Blade

 

The sting

The grief

 

It’s there to

Infect

To

Fester

 

It’s an undressed

Wound

 

The not knowing

The wonder

 

It’s there to

Kill

To

Bury

 

It’s an undying

Hope

 

The Mother’s Love

The Unending Compassion

 

It’s there to

Soothe

To

Heal

*******

April 5, 2013:

Friday Goodbye

We celebrate

As a culture

As a population

The end of the

Labor week

The end of the daily

Grind

An easy meal

A raised glass

A collective sigh of relief

 

But today it rains

We wave goodbye

The pans are cold

The glasses dusty

And alone

A collection of tears

Instead

********

There you have it. My first five poems for National Poetry Month.

sherijkennedyriverside

Uh, okay, yeah, right. The woman can’t write poetry…pshaw! These are awesome. The tears in my eyes and choke in my throat, wry grin, snicker and wistful sigh attest to your art. Thanks for taking the challenge, and thanks for sharing.

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