POETRY

Poetry and I
play idea tug-of-war
strong lines are shaping.

I lasso a word
then I set it free once more
I will try again.

The right word tickles
my hand tingles and itches
I must write words down.

I take up my pen 
dash words across my paper
to write this poem.

    Since this poem is about writing poetry, it can be called ars poetica--a Latin word meaning the art of poetry.  Each stanza is written in the linked haiku form using renga popularized by the Japanese master Matsua Basho.  Can you try writing your own haiku or ars poetica today?  Have fun.

Ars Poetica

Many doors,
many handles
How would you like
to enter this poem?
Shall you tiptoe
into the darkness
or skip flittingly
into streaming sunshine?
Which bird would you like
to be?
To lift yourself 
over the wooden sill
out through the window
into the world?

   I haven't been feeling terribly creative lately.  So, I've been mining my journals for things I've written and haven't done anything with in the past. This poem is something I wrote in 2006 in response to a lecture given by Jim Clark on the ghazal.  I also have a note, "I am so very excited.  I got to hear a young girl read one of my poems to her mother and giggle.  It was wonderful to hear her laughter....One should celebrate laughter and this is a wonderful first."
   Your poetry prompt for today is to write a poem about a "first" for you.  Enjoy your writing.
   Thank you for reading my poems.

I'm at my desk
writing in flow
who knows where
my story will go.

    Do you ever get so into your writing that you forget the time and your characters take over the story?  Have fun writing today.  Let you poem tell you what it wants to be.  Can you have a conversation with your poem?

FLOATING ON THE RIVER

A river named Poetry
flows through my dreams
with cascading mists
dancing in moonbeams.

The cool taste of words
delights in my ear
as I'm drifting in poems
full of good cheer.

I wade with my Wellies
and grab some smooth stones,
for as long as there's poetry
I've no need to roam.

Exotic destinations are all
found in verse.
Addicted to rhyming,
oh, that is my curse. 

Progressive Poem

WHAT IS POETRY?
 
Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is. --James Branch Cabell

  It is finding the truth, no need to lie.
  It's munching on watermelon and letting seeds fly.
 
  It's a letter that comes with a card in the mail.
  It's the lacy silver threads left by a garden snail. 
 
  It's daffodil trumpets covering the hill.
  It's a deer at the creek, drinking her fill.
 
  It's giggling and laughing and being absurd.
  It's reading a haiku and feeling each word. 

  It's a dragon who blows flames, loud and hardy.
  It's fairies in the garden having a tea party.
 
  It's the sound of a truck shifting its gears.
  It's the feel of two soft puppy ears.

  It's a bright sun rise and glowing moon shine.


    This is the progressive poem I'm writing for National Poetry Month.   Each day I'll add a line and change the epigraph.  I'm hoping I can keep this up for the entire month.  Can you write your own list poem today about things that are soft?  If that doesn't work try writing about things that are hard.  What ever you do have fun.  I'm going for a picnic in the park today.

How to Make Poetry Sing

Open your mouth,

let the happiness erupt.

Let the words spread

like butter on hot toast.

Send a small song---

a sonetta to your tonsils,

let them vibrate

in every color of the rainbow.

Breathe deeply.

Let your heart turn golden

from the glow of your words 

on fire.

      This is a free verse poem.   If you wanted to make your poems sing, how would you do it?  Notice the concrete words in this poem?  Are the verbs strong enough, or could I have found some better ones?  Have I used any similes or metaphors in this poem?  Do you find any of the lines cliché?  Which ones? 
Can you write your own poem about how to write a poem?  Poems written about poems or poetry are called ars poetica.  Please share your thoughts and comments with me.