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.
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.
You’re too kind, dear. But, thank you for reading. Hopefully you come back for more.