In this final month of the year, our challenge was to write a poem of gratitude in any form. I've been pondering favorite lines of poetry and using them to write my own poems, so today I'm sharing a golden shovel that uses a line from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot.
A Golden Shovel for My Poetry Sisters
This is beyond me, myself, and I.
We are friends who have
been tested and measured
by all that life can throw at us. Out
of affection and gratitude for my
sisters, I declare that this life
would not be the same with-
out you. I am the tea to your coffee,
you are the forks to my spoons.
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
You can read the poems written by my poetry sisters at the links below.
Tanita Davis
Sara Lewis Holmes
Rebecca Holmes
Kelly Ramsdell
Laura Purdie Salas
Liz Garton Scanlon
Andi Sibley
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Tanita Davis at fiction, instead of lies. Happy poetry Friday friends!
Friday, December 06, 2019
Friday, November 01, 2019
Poetry Sisters Write Villanelles
This month Tanita set the challenge to write a villanelle on a wintry topic. We had the added requirement of including a pair of words (or homonyms thereof) from the following eleven: bleak, draft, gutter, chill, chime, glitter, gust, harsh, rime, nip, thaw.
The villanelle is a nineteen-line poem with two repeating rhymes and two refrains. It is made up of five tercets and a quatrain. The rhyme scheme is aba aba aba aba aba abaa. The 1st and 3rd lines from the first stanza are alternately repeated so that the 1st line becomes the last line in the second stanza, and the 3rd line becomes the last line in the third stanza and so on. The last two lines of the poem are lines 1 and 3 respectively.
The villanelle is a nineteen-line poem with two repeating rhymes and two refrains. It is made up of five tercets and a quatrain. The rhyme scheme is aba aba aba aba aba abaa. The 1st and 3rd lines from the first stanza are alternately repeated so that the 1st line becomes the last line in the second stanza, and the 3rd line becomes the last line in the third stanza and so on. The last two lines of the poem are lines 1 and 3 respectively.
As much as I love winter, I tend to get the blues from December through February. I started thinking about the coming season, the snow projections (more than usual for VA), the prospect of indoor recess, the early placement of Christmas items (before Halloween!), and a number of other ideas. Once I started writing, I realized I'd chosen an odd end word for the "a" rhyme, which made choosing words a bit challenging, but the poem finally came together. Here's what I came up with.
December's Discontent
December’s onset brings a discontent
a case of blues that lingers into spring
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
Short days a coda to the heart’s lament
it’s fall’s crisp days to which we madly cling
when December brings a discontent
As autumn turns to winter we resent
the doldrums of the months that clip our wings
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
The house is bleak, the family in dissent
for cabin fever leads to arguing
December’s onset brings a discontent
Time outdoors brings nothing but torment
as ice and wind assault the cheeks and sting
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
But we'll hunker by the fire, breathe in its scent
and dream of early thaw and blossoms crowning
December’s onset brings a discontent
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.a case of blues that lingers into spring
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
Short days a coda to the heart’s lament
it’s fall’s crisp days to which we madly cling
when December brings a discontent
As autumn turns to winter we resent
the doldrums of the months that clip our wings
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
The house is bleak, the family in dissent
for cabin fever leads to arguing
December’s onset brings a discontent
Time outdoors brings nothing but torment
as ice and wind assault the cheeks and sting
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
But we'll hunker by the fire, breathe in its scent
and dream of early thaw and blossoms crowning
December’s onset brings a discontent
when winter’s snow and chill will not relent
You can read the poems written by my poetry sisters at the links below. Kelly and Andi are both on the mend, so we'll welcome their return when they're both feeling better.
- Tanita Davis
- Sara Lewis Holmes
- Rebecca Holmes
- Laura Purdie Salas
- Liz Garton Scanlon
Friday, October 04, 2019
Poetry Sisters Write Pastoral Poems
Rebecca set this month's challenge to write a poem in the pastoral mode. We could choose the form and topic, so this one was wide open. Rebecca shared an excerpt from one of my "go to" books on form, The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms. I also found Poetry 101: What Is a Pastoral Poem? to be particularly helpful. Here is an excerpt:
On Retirement In a Tiny House
In dreams I Marie Kondo my life
pack what remains into a tiny house
built from reclaimed barn wood
and church windows
(indoor plumbing be damned)
I put down roots in my very own Walden
find solitude in a wildflower meadow
just beside a copse of trees
or shallow, vernal pool
a bucolic spot to loiter through the seasons
my only neighbors the birds and wild creatures
No television, phone, or radio to distract
from the serenading of the hooting owl,
chirping cricket, chittering squirrel
I've all the time in the world
to tend a garden
read books
write poems
walk and wander and wonder
grateful and thrilled to be alive
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
What is the Purpose of a Pastoral Poem?
An overriding, defining theme of pastoral poems is the idea of an idealized vision of country life, in which humans live simply and in harmony with nature. Other common themes and motifs that characterize the pastoral mode include:It was hard to live up to some of these motifs, but I gave it a shot. I have been scribbling random lines of poetry all over my field notes this week. I'm not sure I have a finished poem, but the idea here is to be brave and share our drafts. Here's mine.
- A beautiful, natural setting
- Shepherds as central characters (who are often used as vehicles for political or religious allegory)
- Religious allegory in pastoral poetry is aided by the common association between Christianity and shepherds/flocks of sheep
- The trope of a return to an idealized Golden Age, when humans lived in complete harmony with nature
- Focus on imagined life in the country, rather than reality
- The working belief that country life is superior to urban life
On Retirement In a Tiny House
In dreams I Marie Kondo my life
pack what remains into a tiny house
built from reclaimed barn wood
and church windows
(indoor plumbing be damned)
I put down roots in my very own Walden
find solitude in a wildflower meadow
just beside a copse of trees
or shallow, vernal pool
a bucolic spot to loiter through the seasons
my only neighbors the birds and wild creatures
No television, phone, or radio to distract
from the serenading of the hooting owl,
chirping cricket, chittering squirrel
I've all the time in the world
to tend a garden
read books
write poems
walk and wander and wonder
grateful and thrilled to be alive
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below.
- Tanita Davis
- Rebecca Holmes
- Sara Lewis Holmes
- Kelly Ramsdell
- Laura Purdie Salas
- Liz Garton Scanlon
- Andi Sibley
Sunday, September 08, 2019
Poetry Sisters Get Herpetological
Laura set this month's challenge to write a "poem comparing something with a snake — some snake pairing you think has never been done before! 8 lines or less."
Hmmmmm ... my brain has been on overload since I started my sabbatical in earnest 3 weeks ago. I'm going to blame it for my inability to follow the rules in any meaningful way. I did however come up with something that is a close tangent.
What a Herpetologist Sees
That lamp cord, that shoelace,
that bathrobe waist tie,
some pasta just rolled up
jet trails in the sky
Anguiform, serpentine
shapes all around
each place that I look
snakes simply abound
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Hmmmmm ... my brain has been on overload since I started my sabbatical in earnest 3 weeks ago. I'm going to blame it for my inability to follow the rules in any meaningful way. I did however come up with something that is a close tangent.
What a Herpetologist Sees
That lamp cord, that shoelace,
that bathrobe waist tie,
some pasta just rolled up
jet trails in the sky
Anguiform, serpentine
shapes all around
each place that I look
snakes simply abound
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. Kelly will be back with us next time.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected by Sylvia Vardell at Poetry for Children. Happy poetry Friday friends!
Friday, August 23, 2019
Poetry Friday - #DearOneLBH
Today I'm sharing a poem that includes a line from a Lee Bennett Hopkins poem and is inspired by the man himself. He is so very missed.
The line I chose is "He opened the door." It is the first line from the poem entitled Librarian, found in the book School People. Here is that poem.
And here is mine.
Always Opening Doors
He opened the door
to the magic of words
of word play
of metaphor
of poetry
He was pure poetry
He opened the door
for writers of rhythm
writers of rhyme
writers of nature
of space and of time
He was pure poetry
He opened the door
for teachers
for children
for young and for old
for the love of a poem
and the joy that it holds
Lee opened the door
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
And here is mine.
Always Opening Doors
He opened the door
to the magic of words
of word play
of metaphor
of poetry
He was pure poetry
He opened the door
for writers of rhythm
writers of rhyme
writers of nature
of space and of time
He was pure poetry
He opened the door
for teachers
for children
for young and for old
for the love of a poem
and the joy that it holds
Lee opened the door
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm. Happy poetry Friday friends!
Saturday, August 03, 2019
Poetry Sisters At It Again with Ekphrastic Poems
This month the challenge was to write to one of three photos Sara shared with us. Here's the photo I chose and a few of the poems I scratched out.
Street Art, along the waterfront, Tel-Aviv
Photo by Sara Lewis Holmes
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Street Art, along the waterfront, Tel-Aviv
Photo by Sara Lewis Holmes
13 Ways of Learning This Landscape
I.
open your heart
open your mind
II.
rely on all your senses
what do you see?
what do you hear?
what do you smell?
III.
start with the sky
the blue
the white
the spaces in-between
IV.
notice the dark
the light
the rising
the setting
the moon and the sun
V.
lower your eyes
to the horizon
where lines blur
VI.
see what rises
out of the landscape
tall and imposing
VII.
admire flora
and fauna
earth and water
VIII.
take your shoes off
sink your feet in the sand
dip your toes in the water
IX.
shift your view
to what man has made
take it in from
every angle
X.
find structures of
concrete and metal
barbed wire
XI.
look for color
for movement
for light
XII.
find it not among
the buildings
but on their sides
XIII.
birds take wing
street art bringing
hope to life
I.
open your heart
open your mind
II.
rely on all your senses
what do you see?
what do you hear?
what do you smell?
III.
start with the sky
the blue
the white
the spaces in-between
IV.
notice the dark
the light
the rising
the setting
the moon and the sun
V.
lower your eyes
to the horizon
where lines blur
VI.
see what rises
out of the landscape
tall and imposing
VII.
admire flora
and fauna
earth and water
VIII.
take your shoes off
sink your feet in the sand
dip your toes in the water
IX.
shift your view
to what man has made
take it in from
every angle
X.
find structures of
concrete and metal
barbed wire
XI.
look for color
for movement
for light
XII.
find it not among
the buildings
but on their sides
XIII.
birds take wing
street art bringing
hope to life
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected by Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe. Happy poetry Friday friends!Thursday, July 04, 2019
Poetry Friday and Triolets
Welcome! Poetry Friday is here today. It's also the first Friday of the month and that means the Poetry Sisters are sharing poems for a new challenge. This month we were charged with writing triolets with heat as a theme.
A triolet is an 8-line poem that uses only two rhymes throughout. Additionally, the first line is repeated in the fourth and seventh lines, while the second line is repeated in the final line. Because of this, only five different poetic lines are written. The rhyme scheme for a triolet is ABaAabAB (where capital letters stand for repeated lines).
My poem was inspired by a memory of my grandmother and the realization that I was complaining and just needed to buck up and do my work. While writing it, I was also reminded of a letter my grandmother wrote to my father during the war. (One page is pictured below.)
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
***************
Original Poems
At A Journey Through the Pages, Kay shares an original poem entitled Lady Liberty.
Kimberly Hutmacher shares a poem she wrote for a clunker swap (cool idea!). It is entitled Be Changed, Be You.
Molly Hogan shares a "little love song to oatmeal" in her poem entitled Oatmeal.
Linda Baie shares a poem entitled Looking Long. It was inspired by the exhortations of a John Moffitt poem that says "If you would know that thing/You must look at it long."
Michelle Kogan is sharing an acrostic poem for the 4th of July reflecting on American values. She's also sharing "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is sharing her poem "For A Little While" in the new anthology I Am Someone Else.
Carol Varsalona is reflecting on nature the part it plays in her writing life. She shares some digipoetry and a cherita.
Matt Forrest Esenwine shares a tanka in the form of photo poem. What a lovely window box!
Irene Latham is sharing a number of poems she's written, inspired by LOST WORDS>
Inspired by the word feldgang, Margaret Simon wrote a poem while looking out her kitchen window.
Heidi Mordhorst is cleaning out, going through papers, and sharing some original poems from childhood.
Mary Lee Hahn is showing off her fence beautification project and her poem entitled The Choice is Yours.
Cheriee Weichel is writing about her family history and sharing these inspired poems. Today's poem is entitled Crossing.
Jone MacCulloch is sharing a lovely haiga/haiku.
Poems of Others
Tabatha Yeatts is sharing the poems of Christine Potter and Cambra Koczkur, two poets writing about current events.
Catherine Flynn is honoring her dad and sharing the poem High Flight by John Magee.
Ruth is sharing a lovely collection of thoughts and poems on and by Donald Hall.
Sylvia Vardell is is asking poets to share poems that did not end up in a published collection. One such poem and an interview with Janet Wong are highlighted today.
Little Willow is sharing song lyrics from the Duncan Sheik song She Runs Away.
Poetry Projects and Exchanges
Linda Mitchell is showing off some of the incredible poetry swap goodies she has received.
Talking Poetry and Writing
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes is kicking off a new series of reader highlights. Today she's spotlighting Linda Mitchell, who also set the ditty challenge for the month.
Poetry Books and Other Inspirations
Carol is sharing a review of Kate Messner's middle grade novel, Breakout, where one of the main characters uses mentor poets to write her own poems.
Myra from Gathering Books is sharing thoughts about the collection Standing Female Nude: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy.
Robyn Hood Black shares a link to her artsyletters Summer Letter. There are so many fun things in it. Do stop by for a visit.
A triolet is an 8-line poem that uses only two rhymes throughout. Additionally, the first line is repeated in the fourth and seventh lines, while the second line is repeated in the final line. Because of this, only five different poetic lines are written. The rhyme scheme for a triolet is ABaAabAB (where capital letters stand for repeated lines).
My poem was inspired by a memory of my grandmother and the realization that I was complaining and just needed to buck up and do my work. While writing it, I was also reminded of a letter my grandmother wrote to my father during the war. (One page is pictured below.)
If you can't read it, the portion at the beginning says:
We are having lots of fun trying to get butter, so far we have had enough, & now Truman says we have to tighten up our belts, so we can feed the other countries, & we are going to have to eat dark bread, so there was a flour scare on & Sat. I went shopping in the Star Market & the people in there it was just like a mad house & no flour.
So, that's a long introduction to my poem, which isn't really about heat, but uses the word.
Grandma Quoted Truman
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Would tell tales of Depression and war, if you'd just sit a while
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
Made my worries seem so juvenile
I think of her words when I feel like bitchin'
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. (I won't be adding them again to the round-up below, so be sure to visit them!)
- Tanita Davis
- Rebecca Holmes
- Sara Lewis Holmes
- Kelly Ramsdell
- Laura Purdie Salas
- Liz Garton Scanlon
- Andi Sibley
***************
Original Poems
At A Journey Through the Pages, Kay shares an original poem entitled Lady Liberty.
Kimberly Hutmacher shares a poem she wrote for a clunker swap (cool idea!). It is entitled Be Changed, Be You.
Molly Hogan shares a "little love song to oatmeal" in her poem entitled Oatmeal.
Linda Baie shares a poem entitled Looking Long. It was inspired by the exhortations of a John Moffitt poem that says "If you would know that thing/You must look at it long."
Michelle Kogan is sharing an acrostic poem for the 4th of July reflecting on American values. She's also sharing "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is sharing her poem "For A Little While" in the new anthology I Am Someone Else.
Carol Varsalona is reflecting on nature the part it plays in her writing life. She shares some digipoetry and a cherita.
Matt Forrest Esenwine shares a tanka in the form of photo poem. What a lovely window box!
Irene Latham is sharing a number of poems she's written, inspired by LOST WORDS>
Inspired by the word feldgang, Margaret Simon wrote a poem while looking out her kitchen window.
Heidi Mordhorst is cleaning out, going through papers, and sharing some original poems from childhood.
Mary Lee Hahn is showing off her fence beautification project and her poem entitled The Choice is Yours.
Cheriee Weichel is writing about her family history and sharing these inspired poems. Today's poem is entitled Crossing.
Jone MacCulloch is sharing a lovely haiga/haiku.
Tabatha Yeatts is sharing the poems of Christine Potter and Cambra Koczkur, two poets writing about current events.
Catherine Flynn is honoring her dad and sharing the poem High Flight by John Magee.
Ruth is sharing a lovely collection of thoughts and poems on and by Donald Hall.
Sylvia Vardell is is asking poets to share poems that did not end up in a published collection. One such poem and an interview with Janet Wong are highlighted today.
Little Willow is sharing song lyrics from the Duncan Sheik song She Runs Away.
Poetry Projects and Exchanges
Linda Mitchell is showing off some of the incredible poetry swap goodies she has received.
Talking Poetry and Writing
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes is kicking off a new series of reader highlights. Today she's spotlighting Linda Mitchell, who also set the ditty challenge for the month.
Poetry Books and Other Inspirations
Carol is sharing a review of Kate Messner's middle grade novel, Breakout, where one of the main characters uses mentor poets to write her own poems.
Myra from Gathering Books is sharing thoughts about the collection Standing Female Nude: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy.
Robyn Hood Black shares a link to her artsyletters Summer Letter. There are so many fun things in it. Do stop by for a visit.
Friday, June 07, 2019
Poetry Sisters Write Skinny Poems
Andi set this month's challenge to write a skinny poem. A skinny poem consists of eleven lines. Lines 1 and 11 can be any length and line 11 must use the same words from line 1, though they can be rearranged. Lines 2, 6, and 10 must be identical. And finally, what makes this poem skinny, is that fact that all lines except for 1 and 11 (the first and last) may be only ONE WORD LONG. You can learn more about the form at The Skinny Poetry Journal.
This form scared me. Couple that fear with a hellacious work schedule as of late, and that meant I had no poems the afternoon before posting. So, I was poem-less, but promised I'd try my hand at this form. Here are several first drafts of poems I whipped up just in the nick of time.
Skinny 1
A poem is a prayer
a
touchstone
of
truth
a
triumphant
metaphorical
wonder
a
prayer is a poem
Skinny 2
My numbers don't lie
just
forget
the audit
just
trust
my
calculations
just
don't number my lies
Skinny 3
Carefully chosen words
are
poems
stories
psalms
are
epistles
lyrics
speeches
are
words carefully chosen
Skinny 4
Traveling through time:
one
dimensionally
transcendental
TARDIS,
one
Doctor.
We
are
one,
traveling through time.
Poems ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
This form scared me. Couple that fear with a hellacious work schedule as of late, and that meant I had no poems the afternoon before posting. So, I was poem-less, but promised I'd try my hand at this form. Here are several first drafts of poems I whipped up just in the nick of time.
Skinny 1
A poem is a prayer
a
touchstone
of
truth
a
triumphant
metaphorical
wonder
a
prayer is a poem
Skinny 2
My numbers don't lie
just
forget
the audit
just
trust
my
calculations
just
don't number my lies
Skinny 3
Carefully chosen words
are
poems
stories
psalms
are
epistles
lyrics
speeches
are
words carefully chosen
Skinny 4
Traveling through time:
one
dimensionally
transcendental
TARDIS,
one
Doctor.
We
are
one,
traveling through time.
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. Liz and Sara hope to have poems in the next week or so.
- Tanita Davis
- Rebecca Holmes
- Kelly Ramsdell
- Laura Purdie Salas
- Andi Sibley
Friday, May 03, 2019
Poetry Sisters Write Dizain
Sara set this month's challenge to write a French Dizain, with bonus points awarded for using the word “square” in the poem. This form consists of one 10-line stanza with 10 syllables per line. The rhyme scheme is a/b/a/b/b/c/c/d/c/d. You can read more about the form at Robert Lee Brewer's site at the Writer's Digest.
I played around with a several topics and wrote three poems, all of which are fair attempts at the form. However, I couldn't get past the calendar and the date, so I decided to write one more poem. You see, my father would have been 93 on Sunday. The tenth anniversary of his death is May 7th, and on the 10th, he and my mother would have celebrated 67 years of marriage. I hate that the beginning of May makes me so downcast, especially because I thought it would be easier by now. It's not. Here's the poem I was inspired to write about my dad. I struggle with titles, so this one is untitled at the moment.
In early May my heart’s a hollow square
a box that holds my memories of you
Time heals all wounds but this cannot repair
Ten years without a father, I’ve made do
despite the dark and sad days I pushed through
I long to call you up, seek your advice
This time I’d listen well, would not think twice
Despite the gruff exterior you cared
I knew your heart, your work, your sacrifice
I’m pained by all you’ve missed and should have shared
Here are two additional poems I wrote while experimenting with this form.
How to Write a Poem
A poem doesn’t need to rhyme they said
it’s all about the heart and words you choose
select the ones that mend a broken thread
or square with all you know or just amuse
then tell the story of your faithful muse
take form and substance over what is new
eschew the window dressing, find a view
translate the human drama into art
dig deep into your soul and tell it true
love letter to the world a splendid start
Welcome to Boot Camp
A military life? They were surprised
It didn’t seem the hill I’d want to climb
The day we all arrived we exercised
our independence for one final time
then changed our clothes and scrubbed the floor of grime
We marched from place to place our corners squared
No matter what we thought we weren’t prepared
They broke us down and built us up again
as iron bonds were formed by hardships shared
they gave us swords but I preferred the pen
Poems ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
I played around with a several topics and wrote three poems, all of which are fair attempts at the form. However, I couldn't get past the calendar and the date, so I decided to write one more poem. You see, my father would have been 93 on Sunday. The tenth anniversary of his death is May 7th, and on the 10th, he and my mother would have celebrated 67 years of marriage. I hate that the beginning of May makes me so downcast, especially because I thought it would be easier by now. It's not. Here's the poem I was inspired to write about my dad. I struggle with titles, so this one is untitled at the moment.
In early May my heart’s a hollow square
a box that holds my memories of you
Time heals all wounds but this cannot repair
Ten years without a father, I’ve made do
despite the dark and sad days I pushed through
I long to call you up, seek your advice
This time I’d listen well, would not think twice
Despite the gruff exterior you cared
I knew your heart, your work, your sacrifice
I’m pained by all you’ve missed and should have shared
Here are two additional poems I wrote while experimenting with this form.
How to Write a Poem
A poem doesn’t need to rhyme they said
it’s all about the heart and words you choose
select the ones that mend a broken thread
or square with all you know or just amuse
then tell the story of your faithful muse
take form and substance over what is new
eschew the window dressing, find a view
translate the human drama into art
dig deep into your soul and tell it true
love letter to the world a splendid start
Welcome to Boot Camp
A military life? They were surprised
It didn’t seem the hill I’d want to climb
The day we all arrived we exercised
our independence for one final time
then changed our clothes and scrubbed the floor of grime
We marched from place to place our corners squared
No matter what we thought we weren’t prepared
They broke us down and built us up again
as iron bonds were formed by hardships shared
they gave us swords but I preferred the pen
Poems ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
I also gave Laura's photo poem format a try and posted another dizain to Twitter. Head on over to check out my math-themed poem.
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. Kelly, Laura, and Andi are all grappling with life this month, but they'll be back with us soon.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Happy poetry Friday friends!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 30: Personal Ad for a Frog
It's hard to believe that April is coming to a close. The last poem I'm sharing is part of series of poems I am working on that resemble classified or personal ads.
Personal Ad for a Frog
Winter sleeper, spring peeper
Champion hopper, eyes copper
Log squatter, loves water
Bug catcher, heart snatcher
Eats flies, great thighs
Winner of the swimming prize
Better than those other guys
Pick me!
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
You can see all the poems I shared this month at NPM 2019 Original Poems.
Happy Tuesday all. I'm so glad you spent this month with me celebrating poetry. Since Friday is the first of a new month, I'll see you back here for another Poetry Sisters challenge.
Personal Ad for a Frog
Winter sleeper, spring peeper
Champion hopper, eyes copper
Log squatter, loves water
Bug catcher, heart snatcher
Eats flies, great thighs
Winner of the swimming prize
Better than those other guys
Pick me!
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
You can see all the poems I shared this month at NPM 2019 Original Poems.
Happy Tuesday all. I'm so glad you spent this month with me celebrating poetry. Since Friday is the first of a new month, I'll see you back here for another Poetry Sisters challenge.
Monday, April 29, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 29: Scenes From a Train
Today I'm sharing a poem I wrote for a 2008 challenge that required using the five words sky, knot, fork, wall, and rose, as well as either trumpet or bullet as the sixth word. I recently dusted this one off and revised it.
Scenes From a Train
She imagined riding on a bullet train
not in this creeping coach filled with
the sounds of screaming kids,
strains of muffled music, and
buzz of constant chatter.
She stared out the window,
eyes locked on the swirl and
knot of a flock ascending--
an immense black wall of
feet and feathers, wings and wind.
When the sky grayed and opened,
she traced the heavy drops,
rolling in forked rivers and streams
down the glass.
Hours later, lulled by the hum of
steel wheels and whispered voices,
she nodded off and missed
the rose and orange sunset
that quietly followed the summer rain.
Unfazed by all these events,
large and small,
within and without,
the train traveled on.
Happy Monday all. See you tomorrow for the wrap-up of National Poetry Month and one more original poem.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 28: Acrostic Riddle
For more than 10 years I've been working on a series of riddle poems on animal collectives. I'm not sure why I've been stuck on this topic, but perhaps it's because I love words and collective nouns are a fascinating bunch of words. Here's one of the riddle poems, written as an acrostic.
Sticklike legs step and strut
Through tidal flats, mangrove swamps
Awash in pink and vermilion
Noisy honking keeps us together as we
Dig and forage for meals in the mud
Who are we?
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2017. All rights reserved.
My thought in writing these poems is that the collective noun would appear somewhere in the poem, along with clues to the animal. Once the reader turns the page, the animal would be revealed, along with some factual information.
For the above animal, you may be more familiar with the term flamboyance, but a group of these birds is also called a stand.
Happy Sunday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Sticklike legs step and strut
Through tidal flats, mangrove swamps
Awash in pink and vermilion
Noisy honking keeps us together as we
Dig and forage for meals in the mud
Who are we?
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2017. All rights reserved.
My thought in writing these poems is that the collective noun would appear somewhere in the poem, along with clues to the animal. Once the reader turns the page, the animal would be revealed, along with some factual information.
For the above animal, you may be more familiar with the term flamboyance, but a group of these birds is also called a stand.
Image from article Beauty From the Bottom Up
Happy Sunday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 27: Spread the Love
Back in 2017 I was an authlete in the Madness! Poetry competition. My first round word was propagate and I wrote several poems before selecting one to submit. This is one of the poems I did not share.
Spread the Love
Like plants we snip and grow,
we should cultivate kindness,
redouble compassion and caring,
give smiles
in return for nothing.
Like seismic waves that ripple outwards
from the epicenter,
goodwill, charity, and mercy
should be granted
to everyone.
Why do we allow hate to spread?
Let’s choose to propagate love instead.
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2017-2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Saturday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Spread the Love
Like plants we snip and grow,
we should cultivate kindness,
redouble compassion and caring,
give smiles
in return for nothing.
Like seismic waves that ripple outwards
from the epicenter,
goodwill, charity, and mercy
should be granted
to everyone.
Why do we allow hate to spread?
Let’s choose to propagate love instead.
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2017-2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Saturday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Friday, April 26, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 26: Prince's Lament
As I mentioned earlier in the month, I love to write poems based on fairy tales. Today I'm sharing one inspired by the story of the frog prince.
Prince’s Lament
Be careful what you wish for.
You just might get it …
Curse broken
I was transformed
but I despise this life
(don’t get me started
on my wife)
Restricted in every way
I cannot breathe
or stretch
or hop
cannot eat or sleep
whenever I want
I long to be
refreshed in the pool
to cool in the shade
of the trees
to join the chorus of
song at dawn
Each day I leave the castle
in search of a witch
(a real one)
hungry for a new curse
to set me free
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink. Happy poetry Friday friends! See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Prince’s Lament
Be careful what you wish for.
You just might get it …
Curse broken
I was transformed
but I despise this life
(don’t get me started
on my wife)
Restricted in every way
I cannot breathe
or stretch
or hop
cannot eat or sleep
whenever I want
I long to be
refreshed in the pool
to cool in the shade
of the trees
to join the chorus of
song at dawn
Each day I leave the castle
in search of a witch
(a real one)
hungry for a new curse
to set me free
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink. Happy poetry Friday friends! See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 25: Jade monkey with peach
I traveled to Taiwan, China, and Tibet in 2007. While there, I bought jade figures for both my mother and father. For my mother I selected a hummingbird, for my father a monkey. After my father passed away, I wrote a lot of poetry about him. Here's one centered on that monkey that I've dusted off and revised.
Jade monkey with peach
A small jade monkey
holding a peach
sits on my mantle
just within reach
I often rub its smooth head
proud of the negotiation
skills that brought him
home from Tibet
Dueling calculators the
mode of communication
instead of words there were
head shakes
double takes
rolled eyes
threatened goodbyes
sighs of exasperation
then celebration
A gift for my father
this Chinese symbol
for longevity
that failed to fulfill
its destiny.
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Thursday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Jade monkey with peach
A small jade monkey
holding a peach
sits on my mantle
just within reach
I often rub its smooth head
proud of the negotiation
skills that brought him
home from Tibet
Dueling calculators the
mode of communication
instead of words there were
head shakes
double takes
rolled eyes
threatened goodbyes
sighs of exasperation
then celebration
A gift for my father
this Chinese symbol
for longevity
that failed to fulfill
its destiny.
Happy Thursday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 24: Acrostic Poem
Because I love poetry and writing, they are often the subject of my poems. Today I'm sharing an acrostic on, what else, poetry!
Phrases imperfect, imprecise
Ordered and reordered
Endlessly
Turned and twisted end over end
Revised
Yet again
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Wednesday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Phrases imperfect, imprecise
Ordered and reordered
Endlessly
Turned and twisted end over end
Revised
Yet again
Happy Wednesday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 23: Inspired by the Dictionary
I am a word collector. I like to read the dictionary and thesaurus for fun. Sometimes I'm inspired by words I read and write a poem based on them. Here's one of those poems.
miz·zle - very fine, misty rain n.
[from the Middle English mysell and Middle Dutch misel]
The skies are heavy
with woolen clouds
of gray that
do not dump or pelt
but fairly spritz
the earth
in a nebulous
fog of delicious
rain
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2009-2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Tuesday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
miz·zle - very fine, misty rain n.
[from the Middle English mysell and Middle Dutch misel]
The skies are heavy
with woolen clouds
of gray that
do not dump or pelt
but fairly spritz
the earth
in a nebulous
fog of delicious
rain
Happy Tuesday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Monday, April 22, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 22: Book Spine Poem for Earth Day
For today's entry I culled my poetry shelves to create a poem for Earth Day.
Outside your window
red sings from treetops
land, sea, and sky
swirl by swirl
the Earth is painted green
Weather report?
sky magic
thunder underground
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Book spine poem brought to you by:
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
Land, Sea, & Sky: Poems to Celebrate the Earth by Catherine Paladino
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman
The Earth is Painted Green: A Garden of Poems About Our Planet by Barbara Brenner
Weather Report by Jane Yolen
Sky Magic compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen
Happy Monday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Outside your window
red sings from treetops
land, sea, and sky
swirl by swirl
the Earth is painted green
Weather report?
sky magic
thunder underground
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Book spine poem brought to you by:
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
Land, Sea, & Sky: Poems to Celebrate the Earth by Catherine Paladino
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman
The Earth is Painted Green: A Garden of Poems About Our Planet by Barbara Brenner
Weather Report by Jane Yolen
Sky Magic compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen
Happy Monday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 21: Lunch Box Blues
Today I'm sharing another blues poem I wrote for my son when he was six. This grew out of my experience as a child with school lunches, which included healthy and unhealthy choices, and his very particular tastes. I should note that he'll be graduating this year after taking his lunch to school all 13 years. For most of those years he refused to eat bread, so his lunch meat was packed in neat little rolls. Some years he wanted carrots, while others it was cucumbers. The one constant through it all was a square of Ghirardelli dark chocolate.
Lunch Box Blues
I eat a brown bag lunch
in the dining hall at noon
a peanut butter sandwich
September through to June
That same old peanut butter
gonna’ send me to the moon
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
No Lunchables in my sack
no sandwich made of Fluff
no Ho Hos, chips or candy
just the same old healthy stuff
That peanut butter sandwich
it’s gonna’ make me snap
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
I know my Momma loves me
feeds me good stuff every day
grapes and cheese and carrots
a healthy food buffet
And yes, that peanut butter
looks like it’s here to stay
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
I’d trade it all for junk food
like pizza or some fries
a chocolate covered pretzel
or non-vegetable surprise
You see that peanut butter
has lost all of its appeal
ain’t no other way to say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2007-2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Sunday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Lunch Box Blues
I eat a brown bag lunch
in the dining hall at noon
a peanut butter sandwich
September through to June
That same old peanut butter
gonna’ send me to the moon
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
No Lunchables in my sack
no sandwich made of Fluff
no Ho Hos, chips or candy
just the same old healthy stuff
That peanut butter sandwich
it’s gonna’ make me snap
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
I know my Momma loves me
feeds me good stuff every day
grapes and cheese and carrots
a healthy food buffet
And yes, that peanut butter
looks like it’s here to stay
oh man I gotta’ say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
I’d trade it all for junk food
like pizza or some fries
a chocolate covered pretzel
or non-vegetable surprise
You see that peanut butter
has lost all of its appeal
ain’t no other way to say it
got the doggone lunch box blues!
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2007-2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Sunday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
NPM 2019 Day 20: A Terzanelle
I've been playing around for a while with writing a villanelle, but it hasn't been working, so I took some of the lines I liked and put them into a terzanelle. A terzanelle is cross between a terza rima and a villanelle. It uses the villanelle’s form of five triplets and a quatrain with the interlocking rhyme scheme of the terza rima.
Inspired by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's site Sharing Our Notebooks, and the recent workshop I gave entitled The Art and Science of Nature Journaling, I've been writing more poems in my nature journal. This poem is my first draft about the act of observing and journaling. It needs a lot of work, but it's a start.
Untitled Terzanelle
With a scientist’s eye and poet’s heart
nature’s recorded in fine detail
with words chosen carefully, journal as art
observe river and stream, hill and vale
note all that you hear, touch, smell and see
nature recorded in fine detail
sketch flora and fauna, that robin, that tree
stop for a moment to take it all in
note all that you hear, touch, smell and see
taking stock of the world lights a fire within
humbles the soul with such beautiful sights
stop for a moment to take it all in
sunset gives way to bright twinkling lights
the moon and the stars, all the heavens inspire
humble the soul with such beautiful sights
keep your eyes open, make time to admire
with a scientist’s eye and poet’s heart
the moon and the stars, all the heavens inspire
your words written carefully, journal as art
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Saturday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
Inspired by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's site Sharing Our Notebooks, and the recent workshop I gave entitled The Art and Science of Nature Journaling, I've been writing more poems in my nature journal. This poem is my first draft about the act of observing and journaling. It needs a lot of work, but it's a start.
Untitled Terzanelle
With a scientist’s eye and poet’s heart
nature’s recorded in fine detail
with words chosen carefully, journal as art
observe river and stream, hill and vale
note all that you hear, touch, smell and see
nature recorded in fine detail
sketch flora and fauna, that robin, that tree
stop for a moment to take it all in
note all that you hear, touch, smell and see
taking stock of the world lights a fire within
humbles the soul with such beautiful sights
stop for a moment to take it all in
sunset gives way to bright twinkling lights
the moon and the stars, all the heavens inspire
humble the soul with such beautiful sights
keep your eyes open, make time to admire
with a scientist’s eye and poet’s heart
the moon and the stars, all the heavens inspire
your words written carefully, journal as art
Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2019. All rights reserved.
Happy Saturday all. See you tomorrow for another original poem.
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