Last Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 30

Appropriately enough, one of the prompts given for today, the last day of NaPoWriMo, was to write a poem with the last of something as a theme.

A last embrace
a last kiss
a last goodbye
a last breath
... are they really final?

Yes, that's it. Short and to the point, I am only long winded in person, when you speak to me. Thanks to everyone for reading my daily April poems. Aren't you glad  it's over? LOL

NaPoWriMo Day 29

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo Facebook page was to write a poem to yourself as a child.

Some people can't love
because they don't know how
they hate everything about life
because it causes them pain and strife
an ill-fated heritage to their offspring too.

I cannot answer
why some are born to those
into darkness and despair
while others receive the gift of better emotion
and devotion
from day one
while you got none.

Yet, know this
any life given, even though hard and dark
is better than the alternative
when old enough
make your own way
break the cycle
learn to love
and pass it on to your children.

Hay(na)ku for NaPoWriMo Day 27

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo website challenges us to write a Hay(na)ku aka Hay Naku (the word originates in the Tagalog language, and the "h" is silent). This type of poetic form was invented by Eileen R. Tabios.

The first line comprises one word, the second line two words and the third three words. There are no rules in regards to rhymes or syllable count. So, the whole poem is only six words long, but you can string multiple haynaku together to create a longer poem.

Critics might say it's just writing a short sentence with weird line breaks, but hey, I don't make the rules :-)

Guess my theme, lol

Cats
love silently
with their eyes.

Cats
comfort those
who live alone.

Cats
know more
than they admit.

Clerihew for NaPoWriMo April 25

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo website challenged us to write a clerihew. According to Dictionary.com, a clerihew is a poem that consists of two couplets that makes fun of a (usually) famous person. The writing is supposed to be irregular, no perfectly harmonized. Also, said subject's name is to make up the first line of the poem.

Now, I am not one to make fun of people, famous or not, so I wrote it about myself. No, I am not famous, but the prompt stated that we could use anyone, not just a famous person.

Alexandra Heep
Just can't keep
Her thoughts to herself
why can't she keep them on a shelf.

Challenge Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 23

The prompt for today's poem on the NaPoWriMo Facebook page challenged us to write a poem that questions something near and dear.

Why can't we all get along
instead of creating conflict
and divisions like weak and strong
poor and rich, smart and dumb.
Left or right, straight or narrow
will matter not one bit
when things go to Hades in a wheel barrow.

Pastoral Poetry (in honor of Earth Day) for NaPoWriMo Day 22

Since April 22 is Earth Day, today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo website challenged us to write a pastoral poem.

It's bonus day! I have two poems for you today. The first one I wrote just now for the prompt, and the latter poem I wrote on Earth Day last year which was inspired by Baby Spruce. If you don't already know, Baby Spruce is our potted Dwarf Alberta Spruce tree (seen in the picture). I used to post Baby Spruce chronicles on another website. These basically had to do with holidays and milestones.

I often wonder what is wrong with me
not just because I love to hug a tree
no, you see, while other women drool
over diamonds and many other a  blingy jewel
just take me to the gardening store
so you can buy me plants and more
anything that blooms or has some green
make me happy and feel like a queen.

_______________________________________

Happy Earth Day from Baby Spruce (written 2014)

I am a tiny evergreen tree

I am glad the Heepies adopted me

A Dwarf Alberta Spruce, hence my name.

Life without me would not be the same.

Earth Day is today, so look around

See what you can put into the ground

Plant it, seed it, feed it; it will grow

Green for your efforts you will show.

Even if you have no space nor cash

Do something good, pick up some trash

Or teach your children what to do

Respect for nature, themselves too.

One life, one earth, is all we get

Dire consequences, should we forget.

Yes, I am just a tiny tree

But knowledge you can find in me.

NaPoWriMo Day 20

The prompt on the NaPoWriMo Facebook site was to let the theme "darkness and light" inspire a poem. A lot of my prior poetry (not necessarily published her) actually deals with that aspect. My interpretation of this theme is about addressing the darkness of humanity (others might call it social injustice, lack of enlightenment of society, rat-eat-rat mentality etc). Not necessarily writing a goth-style poem. Although, I have done that too.

For today's poem I used a word list to help me along.

Why does humanity fail?
Where would equality be
when freed from power and greed
instead of robbed of  redemption.
Violated manners, thoughtless betrayal
yield nothing but impatience
thoughtless hunger
fails to starve freedom.

Landay for NaPoWriMo Day 19

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo website was to write a landay (a 22-syllable couplet [9 + 13] that generally rhymes). The prompt on their FB page was to write a poem starting with the last sentence of one's poem from the previous day. So, I combined both. (The last sentence of my poem from yesterday was "We choose.")

We choose even though we like to say
we had no choice. It's about the least resistant way.

See, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people justify an action by saying "I had no choice." There is always a choice: Yes or no, left or right, up or down, in or out, etc etc. I think saying "I had no choice" is simply a cop-out for not wanting to accept the responsibility for a difficult decision.

Letter From The Cat (Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 15)

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo Facebook page: "Write a poem in the form of a message or letter." So, today's poem needs a bit of an introduction.

As some of you might know, we have a cat, Gracie, and a dog, Adrianne (she is a wiener dog. Not weiner, it bothers me when people misspell it). Anyway, last year, I submitted two creative writing pieces "Letter to the Dog" and "Letter from the Dog" to the Write to Woof 2015 Anthology for consideration. The former was a letter from Gracie to Adrianne and the latter, of course, was a response from the dog.

Well, only the Letter from the Dog was accepted for publication. It is a bit weird to have it stand alone like that because readers probably won't realize that this creative piece was a letter answering questions the cat had for the dog. Oh well, I am grateful that Adrianne is represented and besides, the proceeds of this book go towards charity. (You can buy the book on Amazon).

So, when I saw this NaPoWriMo prompt I thought it would be perfect to re-write Letter to the Dog and turn it into poetry form.

Letter to the Dog

Hey, not-a-cat
since you moved into my place
I've been trying to chat
but you never answer back.

You are my size, but yet
you don't look like a cat
and your head is too big
What's up with that?

At first, your teeth and mouth
scared the heck out of me
when you came into my house
It's why I hissed, and hid, you know.

I did not mind getting a dad
but I thought at first:
Why did he bring a smelly not-a-cat
yeah, I was a bit mad.

Then it came into my mind
you can't jump! Only beg
what's up with those short legs?
Well, furniture are mine.

You turned out to be not bad
but I wish you'd learn
at least to speak some Cat
What are you, anyway?

I have some tips for you:
Don't go outside to poop
just use a box
it's what I like to do.

Don't gobble all your food at once
leave some for later, like I do
then you won't need to troll
what the heck is wrong with you?

When mom and dad ain't here
let's try to make a plan
break into the food supply
and get into the garbage can.

But, in order for that
to work, for goodness sake
put on your thinking cap
and learn to speak some Cat.

**********************

Note to dog lovers: This is all in good fun. The Letter from the Dog pokes fun at the cat in turn.

Also, in my submission I wove in how we would never get rid of Adrianne and Gracie and I touched onto their troubled past before we got them  (it's why I am doubly surprised it was not accepted because the publishers were giving preference to stories that gave emphasis on rescues. I never received a rejection, it was just never published). Anyway, I did not know how to add that into the poem and keep its humorous character in tact, so what you read is what you get.

Cat Poetry for NaPoWriMo Day 14

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo Facebook site was to write a love poem about the first "thing" I saw when looking up from the computer. Well, that was Princess Gracie, my cat. In addition to the new poem, I am sharing one that I wrote about Princess Gracie a few years back. It is called A Stretch and a Purr and it appears in the Write to Meow 2014 Anthology (Grey Wolfe Publishing).

Expressive green eyes
light up my day
soft marbled fur
soothes my worries away.

Her comforting purr
never leaves my side
my days are much easier
just because of her.

_________________________________________________________________________________

A Stretch and a Purr


Green-eyed beauty up on the window sill
A portrait behind her of life, not still
Blue sky painted with shades of ivory
Autumn's breeze captures her feline fancy

Calico colors reflected in glass
Perched high above concrete, people, and grass
A comforting shape, she's contentedly
Steadied by a tail curved elegantly.

Slowly shifts after a stretch and a purr
Just to bring to me … sunshine in her fur.

Sunflower Poems for NaPoWriMo Day 12

Todays' prompt on the NaPoWriMo website challenged us to write prose about "our favorite room, place, meal, day, or person" and describe it in great detail. In my case I chose sunflowers. No, they aren't on the list (as a thing), but the prompt is only a suggestion, so I simply modified it a bit.

Unfortunately, I am a bit of a minimalist when it comes to poetry, however. I wasn't always like that, but since I started writing professionally (web content), I had to learn to eliminate all unnecessary words. That is one reason why I am even bothering with the NaPoWriMo challenge because I need the balance of having fun with words as opposed to being technical all the time.

Now, I already had a "poem" written a while back about Vanilla Ice sunflowers (they are a white variety). I had a bit of fun with the Vanilla Ice rap song "Ice Ice Baby." So, I dug that back out, but of course the challenge is to write something new. I did that too (it's the first poem), but am giving you the already written one as a bonus, since I think I fell short on the "details" for the actual challenge poem.

Helios anthus does it for me
named for the sun, which I adore
this tall, regal flower indeed
brings sunshine to the fore.

No, that is not the poem, just my intro, lol.

Sunflowers

Elongated petals
the heart of this beauty
you probably know them as yellow,
from acacia, cadmium, canary
citrine, cyber, maize
lemon, titanium to gold.
But they also come
in tones of  orange and red
all the hues of a gorgeous sunset
and even shades of white
all frame dark center part
made up by tiny florets
in spiral patterns
that become rows
of seeds in the fall
What a beautiful contrast.
Leaves as large as a hand
but much rougher
with edges jagged and coarse
line tall, thick stalks
that keep this Herculean grace
reaching towards the sky.

******************

Vanilla Ice Sunflower

Vanilla Ice, baby
all right, stop
collaborate and listen
sunflowers are in with a brand new invention
Vanilla Ice grabs a hold of me tightly
and I had to sow some daily, not nightly
will they grow?
Yo, I don't know
Don't turn off the sun so the seeds can grow
to the extreme would be seven feet tall
weather lit up up with storms, that wasn't cool.

Sprout
rush through the earth despite the gloom
don't let the heavy rains kill like a poisonous mushroom
deadly, when thunder plays awful melody
anything less than success is a felony
love it, don't leave it
you better gain way
you better hit bulls eye
this mom doesn't play
If there's a problem, yo I solve it
check out the seedlings while the sun revolves it.

Vanilla Ice Ice baby

Now that the party is jumping
with the winds kicked in and the rains a'pumping
quick to the point, to the point no faking
the lightning is cooking the ground like bacon
burning them if they're not quick and nimble
I go crazy when I look out the window
they're supposed to grow at least four feet tall
when on a roll they can go to seven
less is good too
as long as the wind doesn't blow them over.

I'm on stand by
ready to say hi
don't stop
No, I'll wait
Keep on hoping they'll grow
Don't bust to the right or left
grow up straight and not slow
so continue as the weather clears
six inch blooms is what they're supposed to have
eight to ten inch spread
and seven weeks until they bloom
hugely prolific, so the packet says
long-flowering helianthus annuus they're called
blooms in color from delicate cream
to soft yellow or off white
low-maintenance annual, don't let me down

If there is a problem yo I solve it
check out the growth as the sun revolves it

Vanilla Ice Ice Baby
word from the mother
I love Vanilla Ice (sunflowers)
Ice Ice, baby
don't be too cold to grow
that's a wrap with a W
word to the flower.

"Ode" to Garden Gnomes for NaPoWriMo Day 11

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo Facebook page was to "write an ode to your favorite holiday." Okay, so there is no holiday for garden gnomes (although there seems to be a strange holiday for just about anything listed on the website Days of the Year), but we think there should be!

This poem was a collaboration between Tom and I. We were joking about our garden gnomes, now that garden season is approaching in our zone. He came up with the core of the first stanza, I just tweaked it. I then added the second one. Perhaps you might not deem it worthy of being called an ode or even a poem, but if a limerick is a poem, then why can't this be one? Besides, a couple of my recent poems had a serious tone to them, so I thought it was time to lighten the mood a little.

Homage to Gnomage ... Not Quite

Hear ye, hear ye, let there be homage
to the donsy of gnomes outside our home in the flower bed,
not to be confused with World of Warcraft's term gnomage
because there that means when they kill a bunch of  'em dead.
Indeed, that would be so tragic
or, to quote *Dale Earnhardt Jr:
 "Gnomes are magic."

"What's a donsy?" You ask, well here is the fact:
It's a group of gnomes, more than three at least.
What are they doing out in our garden intact?
Guarding of course, to keep flowers from becoming a feast.
Think that does not work because they're azoic?
I say to you don't be so sure
because we find gnomes to be quite heroic.

***

*Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a NASCAR driver. Well, not just any. He's been voted the most popular driver by fans for like a dozen years in a row. The quote I used comes from a funny NAPA commercial. You can watch it below (it's only about half a minute long).

Visual Poetry for NaPoWriMo Day 9

Today's challenge prompt on the NaPoWriMo was to write a "visual" poem. This is also known as concrete or shape poetry. I hope this worked because I know that different computes have different settings. And yes, unfortunately the statement down below is true.

******************
**April Showers,**
**Said to Bring,**
**May Flowers...**
**They Destroyed**
**Our Snowdrops.**
******************
****  ******  ****
****  ******  ****
******************
********  ********
******************
******************
******      ******
***** ****** *****
**** ******** ****
******************

Palinode Explained for NaPoWriMo Day 8

Today's prompt on the NaPoWriMo website was to write a palinode. This is what Wikipedia states about this type of poetry: "A palinode or palinody is an ode in which the writer retracts a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. The first recorded use of a palinode is in a poem by Stesichorus in the 7th century BC, in which he retracts his earlier statement that the Trojan War was all the fault of Helen."

I was not ready to retract a poem I wrote about in the past, so I wrote a poem about my musings about what a palinode is and what its purpose might be. That is not to say that everything we think, feel or express has good consequences, nor does it say we don't make mistakes. I simply wonder about how one undoes an action or feeling.

Did you know that in poetry
a type exists that sets you free
this thing is called a palinode
it is a redirected ode.

What was expressed priorly
in the form of poetry
a palinode takes back this speech
perhaps to avoid a reader breech?

It makes me think: Can one really feel
the opposite of what seemed real
at one particular point in life
just to avoid a big old strife.

I do agree we learn new ways
of what happens in our days
that's how we enlighten as well grow
avoid stagnancy, go with the flow.

Mistakes we make in humanity
to admit them speaks of decency
yet words, once put down or spoken out
caused a reaction, without doubt.

This moment in time can't be erased
even when old words are replaced
the effect has already been caused
history nor present cannot be paused.

Lucky Sevens For NaPoWriMo Day 7

Today I am combining two prompts. The one on the NaPoWriMo site is to write about money, the one on their FB page is to write a poem with seven lines and seven words per line.  I thought it would be appropriate to combine the two because the number 7 is associated with luck and winning (I used to work in a casino long ago). Okay, so I did six stanzas, but I used the seven/seven format for each.

They say that money can't buy happiness
I beg to disagree, 'cause you see
then they are not spending it right.
Why is always that those who say
it is not needed, yet they have
much more than those around them all?
It's not that hard to figure out.

If I had lots of money, then
I would buy my daughter a house
I would buy my son a car
and whatever else they both needed
ease their struggles, be a better mom
they could be free, not do without,
now that would make me very happy

If I had lots of money, then
I would buy my love every thing
that would make his life much easier
so he can go on without worries
not ruin his health by working hard
reward him for all he has earned,
now that would make me very happy

If I had lots of money, then
the doctors would not send me away
and maybe finally treat me with respect
perhaps find out what's wrong with me
so I can work and support myself
not be such a burden on society,
now that would make me very happy.

If I had lots of money, then
I could pay back those few friends
who helped out when many deserted me
buy their books, music; support their efforts
help out when they need it most
be the friend they deserve to have,
now that would make me very happy.

If I had lots of money, then
I could feed many of the hungry,
I could shelter many of the homeless,
I could rescue many unwanted, needy animals;
I could help spread awareness of how
people's money can indeed buy some happiness
now that would make me very happy.

A Colorful Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 5

Today's writing prompt was to explore color. My favorite color is purple, plus it's Easter Sunday, so that was easy to figure out. The picture that appears with this poem is of an iris in our garden last year.

Purple

Purple, known as the color of mystery
magic, royalty and spirituality
as well as the sub-conscious and creativity
some even say it's the color of dignity.

How does a color achieve such designations?
How did purple get such a reputation?
You have to travel back in history
and understand about its energy.

Rare in nature, it might not have been found at all
in the worldly pre-historic flora or fauna.
Our ancient ancestors probably had to make due
seeing it only in a rainbow or sunrise hue.

Once people figured out how to make and apply dye
Purple goods existed, but were hard to come by
reserved for the rich, hence its reputation
of being a color for those in high stations.

The wavelength of purple is the most powerful
from rainbow's spectrum of colors, full.
It's the most visible electromagnetic energy
just short of x-ray and gamma, you see.

Did you know that only two flags in the world
contain any purple when unfurled?
So when you see purple around you now
Don't take it for granted, anyhow.

Loveless Love Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 4

Today's poetry was inspired by the prompt on the NaNoWriMo site "write a love poem without using the word love (and avoid cliches.)

A man is supposed to buy shiny things and carry a big wallet
Slay dragons one moment, and bring flowers the next
A woman is supposed to look like a model, always flawless
When she wakes up and when she lays down to rest.

Forget about magazines, movies and books
Reality works in different ways
After all, we all know about fading looks
and remember that money never stays.

Laugh
0vercome challenges
Validate your feelings
Embrace each others flaws.

A Celestial Poem for NaPoWriMo Day 2

Today's poem was inspired by the prompt on the NaPoWriMo website (to write about stars).

Constellations

Nothing has sparked mankind's imagination
like looking at the stars above
their twinkling, far away constellations
created many a tale of hate and love.

Eighty-eight of those rule our hemispheres, as we know
cataloged and named by those who came long before
who wanted to quench the thirst of those who live below
to answer questions, so each tell a myth of  lore.

To tell these would take too much time
but let me list each of the constellations in rhyme.

Camelopardus and Casiopeia
rule the polar north along with these four:
Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Minor and Major.

Andromeda, Aries, Aquarius
Lacerta, Phoenix and Pegasus
Pisces and Piscis Austrinus (not to be confused)
Sculptur, Triangulum along with Grus
as well as Cetus and Perseus
in the spring down South they rule the sky
and the autumn up North, by and by.

Fornax, Pictor, Caelum
Gemini, Vela and Puppis (not puppies)
along with the major and minor canis
yes, those are what puppies become.
Horologium and Reticulum
(I wonder where these names come from?)
Orion, Auriga, Eridanus
Carina, Taurus and Lepus
and lastly, the lovely Columba
rule summer in the hemisphere Down Under
and winter, up North, no wonder.

Antlia, Bootes, Lynx, Corvus
Crater, Hydra, Cancer, Lupus
Canes Venatici and Pyxis
Leo, Corna Berenices
Leo Minor, Virgo, Centaurus
and finally Sextans all shine upon us
in the spring up North and autumn down South.

Aquila, Ara, Delphinus
Scutum, Serpens, Equuleus
Sagitta and Sagittarius
Vulpecula, Indus
Lyra, Corona Borealis
Libra, Corona Australis
Microscopium and Telescopium
reign in unison
along with Ophiuchus
Scorpius, Capricornus
and finally Cygnus and Hercules
all these brighten the North in the summertime
and make South's winter sky shine.

Not to forget the solar polar
with Tucana, Musca, Mensa, Norma
Chamaleon and Apus
Crux, Volans, Circinus
Triangulum Australe
Pavo, Hydrus, Octans, Dorado
all light it up with much bravado.

NaPoWriMo 2015 Day 1

Every April is National Poetry Writing Month. I have participated once before (writing one poem each day in April) and it was fun. Now, I have dabbled in poetry off and on for a few years. I have had a couple of them published in an anthology by an indie publisher (for charity), but keep getting rejected by online magazines.

I struggle really with the concept of what poetry is. Mine usually rhymes because that is what I learned in school eons ago. However, when I read material of renowned published current poets, it seems more like a bunch of run-on sentences to me (I guess it's called prose). Well, it's all subjective and who am I to criticize art?

I have tried writing like that, but got criticized that it does not follow true poetry form. When I submit stuff that follows form, I get the rejection speech "this does not fit what we are looking for." When I look at their published material, it's the stuff that I call run-on sentences. I have even submitted haiku to haiku journals, but just get rejected without explanation.

Anyway, that does not stop me from trying. So, this month I will probably be all over the place.

Here is my first one for April 1. Since it's April Fool's Day, I was going to make that my theme, but I already did that the previous  year. So, I made one about winter since winter just won't leave this year in some areas of the U.S.A. We are supposed to get some more snow even on Friday, despite temps up to 70 degrees tomorrow. Nuts!

***

Winter Forest

A quiet patchwork of sparkling crystals
shimmering sunlight reflecting off a solid sea of white
a soft pristine blanket  covers all that slumbers
sporadic tracks lead to safety
life at its stillest, deeply restful
crisp scent of cool oxygen
permeates all that breathes
long, bare branches reach towards sapphire sky
waiting patiently for renewal

Word Bank Poems

These were created by using three random words given by Kat Apf who oversaw the NaPoWriMo challenge I participated in.

1. (bags/diet/ring)

Since I've packed my bags to move
my diet surely did improve
I moved for love, to join two lives
but, more than that, my soul now thrives.

He works hard to keep me fed,
clothed, and with a roof over my head
No money for a golden ring
It matters not, in harmony we sing.

2. (crazy/battle ax/tired)

I might be crazy as a battle ax at times
tired from fighting what doctors can't define
he loves me all the same, and I want him to know
What I don't say enough, when my spirit is low

Life is not easy with me, that I can see
yet, our bond is strong while we both feel free
in a world of negativity and disdain
we found what matters, our love will always remain.


3. (math/carpet,/scramble)

Escape (Senryu)

I can do the math
magic carpet ride will do
leave it all behind

(If you are looking for my A to Z Challenge posts, you can find them at my other blog)