Category: Poetry

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Writer’s Digest April PAD Challenge

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I randomly stumbled onto the Writer’s Digest April Poem-A-Day Challenge yesterday and decided to try my hand. I haven’t written poetry since college, but I do love it and I think it’s always good to stretch your muscles. It’s not too late to join yourself, if you’re so inclined.

Yesterday’s Prompt: write an optimistic poem

My poem from yesterday:

Moving (On)

I left and expected she’d follow
It was certainly too much to ask
Certain she’d make good on her desires
To have agency in her life at last

It’s not like I went out of country
I simply went diagonally three states away
She checked it all out on Realtor
Then found a new boy to date

At first, I was wary but cheerful
She deserves to find happiness too
But the further things got with the boyfriend
The clearer it was she’d never move

Now, everything happens for a reason
Or at least this is what I am told
So to get a save-the-date in the mail
Was expected and logical and bold

She may not be moving as planned
She may not be moving at all
She may be staying in Califonia
But her life isn’t staying small

Today’s Prompt:

  1. Write a happy poem, and/or…
  2. Write a sad poem.

My poem from today (although I’m not enamored of the title):

Love

The children are expanding
Their bones aching
Gone the salty flour sacks birthed over twenty-seven hours

The children are evolving
Their noses elongating
Gone the snubbed stubs required for the breast

The children are growing
Their feet flaring
Gone the smooth inked marshmallows I gobbled up

The children are flourishing
Their minds extending
Gone the requirements for my outdated knowledge

The children are becoming
Their personalities blooming
Living the dreams we nourished

Read the Guidelines and Join the fun.

Poetry In Motion

Poetry In Motion

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I’ve found myself obsessed with poetry lately. Mostly because I’ve had the amazing experience of hearing Montana Poet Laureate, Chris La Tray, speak which made poetry come alive for me again. I started down the rabbit hole of not only Chris’ poetry, but that of Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser, of Naomi Shihab Nye and Stanley Kunitz. I’ve begun collecting poetry books on my TBR pile like sprinkles on ice cream. Delectable and decadent and delicious (a nod to anyone who reads Chris’ monthly Substack).

It’s reminded me that I too wrote poetry once. Mostly in college, when Poetry Slam was all the rage. My poem at the time, repeated at every slam to much hooting and hollering, was called Poetry In Motion (of course it was, I was in college). I haven’t thought of that piece in ages, haven’t thought about creating my own poetry again either, until recently, and all thanks to Chris.

So while I don’t have any new poetry to share, I thought it would be tragically humorous to share the poem that won Poetry Slams back in 2000-ish. And please remember, no one was reading this, it was being performed, which is the only reason I can possibly imagine that it won.

Poetry In Motion

You and I,
She says,
We’re poetry in motion.

Poetry in motion, huh?
Bullshit.
We’re not poetry.

We’re Penthouse letters,
   Wet dreams,
   Cheap porn.
We’re parody,
   Fantasy,
   Mystery.

Poetry in motion?
No.
Not poetry,
Not us.

And not that your hips, lips, thighs, and tits,
Don’t inspire me,
For I’ve begun carrying mints
And shaving just a little closer,
But our bodies,
Wet, slick, sliding, riding, contract, shudder, release
Our bodies
Will never be
Good poetry.