Esther Spurrill Jones's Blog, page 16
October 28, 2016
OctPoWriMo 28 - The Taste of You
Today's prompt just didn't inspire me at all, so I decided to follow from yesterday's "scent" and write a poem about taste. I chose to write a HexSonnetta today. This poem is dedicated to my husband, Mark.
The Taste of You
Coffee when I wake,
Salted avocado,
Chocolate cookie dough,
Frosted carrot cake,
A thick and juicy steak,
And savoury risotto.
And yet, above all this,
Nothing can compare
To the flavour rare
Found within your kiss.
Nothing is amiss
In this embrace we share.
Every day anew,
I love the taste of you.
The Taste of YouCoffee when I wake,
Salted avocado,
Chocolate cookie dough,
Frosted carrot cake,
A thick and juicy steak,
And savoury risotto.
And yet, above all this,
Nothing can compare
To the flavour rare
Found within your kiss.
Nothing is amiss
In this embrace we share.
Every day anew,
I love the taste of you.
October 27, 2016
OctPoWriMo 27 - Cinnamon and Spice
Today's prompt is favourite scent, and the suggested form is the ghazal. I thought about it for awhile, and I guess my favourite scent is cinnamon. I like it in everything, even coffee and tea. I remember my mom making cinnamon buns when I was a kid, rolling out the dough on the dining table and spreading butter thickly over it then sprinkling it with cinnamon and brown sugar. The whole house smelled amazing while she baked them.
Cinnamon and Spice
Years ago, my mother baked with cinnamon and spice:
Sticky buns and pies and cakes with cinnamon and spice.
I love to sip a steaming mug when Autumn’s chill begins:
Tea or apple cider’s great with cinnamon and spice.
Coloured leaves and pumpkins fill my house this Fall;
I just love to decorate with cinnamon and spice.
Scents can trigger memories more than anything,
And when I think of holidays, it’s cinnamon and spice.
If I had a choice between several different scents,
Most days the one that I would take is cinnamon and spice.
Cinnamon and Spice
Years ago, my mother baked with cinnamon and spice:
Sticky buns and pies and cakes with cinnamon and spice.
I love to sip a steaming mug when Autumn’s chill begins:
Tea or apple cider’s great with cinnamon and spice.
Coloured leaves and pumpkins fill my house this Fall;
I just love to decorate with cinnamon and spice.
Scents can trigger memories more than anything,
And when I think of holidays, it’s cinnamon and spice.
If I had a choice between several different scents,
Most days the one that I would take is cinnamon and spice.
October 26, 2016
OctPoWriMo 26 - I Am Done For
Today's prompt is abandonment. When I started writing, it just kind of came out a Petrarchan sonnet for some reason. Since I have never been abandoned, I used the theme in a tongue in cheek way. This sonnet is dedicated to my husband, Mark. The quote in line two is Dido, and the one in line 5 is from Dante.
I Am Done For
I swear that I will never leave, my dear;
There will be no white flag above my door;
I will be in love forevermore;
I vow that I will never disappear.
“All hope abandon ye who enter here.”
Each time I look at you, I am done for;
All other men (and women) I ignore.
I love you—just in case that isn’t clear.
I plan to sleep beside you when we’re old
And, probably, I’ll steal the covers still.
You know that you don’t really feel the cold
And I already often do get chilled.
Wrap me in your arms, tightly ahold;
Of you I never will get all my fill.
I Am Done ForI swear that I will never leave, my dear;
There will be no white flag above my door;
I will be in love forevermore;
I vow that I will never disappear.
“All hope abandon ye who enter here.”
Each time I look at you, I am done for;
All other men (and women) I ignore.
I love you—just in case that isn’t clear.
I plan to sleep beside you when we’re old
And, probably, I’ll steal the covers still.
You know that you don’t really feel the cold
And I already often do get chilled.
Wrap me in your arms, tightly ahold;
Of you I never will get all my fill.
October 25, 2016
OctPoWriMo 25 - Red
Today's prompt is red, and the suggested form is the Harrisham. I didn't feel like doing much with it today, so I just listed all the things I could think of that are red, and fit it into the form.
Red
Roses and blood and kisses and fire
Saying “I love you” for the first time
Great anger or passion and scorching desire
The partner to green at Christmastime
Red
Roses and blood and kisses and fire
Saying “I love you” for the first time
Great anger or passion and scorching desire
The partner to green at Christmastime
October 24, 2016
OctPoWriMo 24 - Magic is Real
Today's prompt is fantastical, and the suggested form is the Lento. I love fantasy and magic and all the trappings, and I thought about writing a short verse tale of elves and wizards, but my muse wasn't cooperating today. Instead, I wrote about the magic in all of us.
Magic is Real
Imagine that magic is real;
Within each of us it is found:
Beginning with marvelous joy
Wherein love can always abound.
Do you see the fantastic way
You have the power for good?
Few understand their own strength;
True now you know that you could.
Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow
Magic is Real
Imagine that magic is real;
Within each of us it is found:
Beginning with marvelous joy
Wherein love can always abound.
Do you see the fantastic way
You have the power for good?
Few understand their own strength;
True now you know that you could.
Photo by Morgan DragonwillowOctober 23, 2016
OctPoWriMo 23 - Be Free
Today's prompt isn't up yet, but back in September, they gave us all of them, and it was "undoubtedly." I chose to write a decuain today.
Be Free
He took a step into the raging sea
Where wind and waves were crashing all around.
His best Friend had said, “Come and follow Me.”
He didn’t think ‘fore he was climbing down.
Then fear appeared and told him he would drown,
And Jesus caught him up and said, “Why doubt?”
They walked upon the sea as on dry ground.
Fear will always say, “Do not come out,”
But He will hold your hand and help you see
That if you follow Him, you will be free.
Be Free
He took a step into the raging sea
Where wind and waves were crashing all around.
His best Friend had said, “Come and follow Me.”
He didn’t think ‘fore he was climbing down.
Then fear appeared and told him he would drown,
And Jesus caught him up and said, “Why doubt?”
They walked upon the sea as on dry ground.
Fear will always say, “Do not come out,”
But He will hold your hand and help you see
That if you follow Him, you will be free.
October 22, 2016
OctPoWriMo 22 - A Woman Scorned
Today's prompt is dangerous, and the suggested form is the trolaan. While thinking about this prompt, I remembered the famous (mis)quote, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
A Woman Scorned
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." - William Congreve
There is no danger
Like the ire
Of seething anger:
Passionate fire.
How did it end
Up like this?
First intended
Just a kiss.
Once together
They assumed
They’d be forever;
Now he’s doomed.
No more pity.
No more joy.
Never guilty.
Never coy.
A Woman Scorned
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." - William Congreve
There is no dangerLike the ire
Of seething anger:
Passionate fire.
How did it end
Up like this?
First intended
Just a kiss.
Once together
They assumed
They’d be forever;
Now he’s doomed.
No more pity.
No more joy.
Never guilty.
Never coy.
October 21, 2016
OctPoWriMo 21 - In My Nature
Today's prompt is nature, and the suggested form is the terzanelle. As I often do, I went a bit off the rails; instead of talking about trees and water and whatnot, I talked about my nature. This led me into a topic that has been on my mind and heart a lot lately, and I kinda got a bit angry.
Disclaimer: I am a Christian, but I feel like I have to call out some of my fellow Christians for the hateful things they sometimes say and do.
In My Nature
It’s not in my nature to hate anyone.
Love is love and love will win.
Why can’t we all just live in the sun?
Condemned to hell for mortal sin:
Can’t you see how you push them away?
Huddled together, looking within,
In your ivory towers you watch and pray,
Hiding away from the world outside,
Avoiding the cooties you see on the “gays.”
Don’t you remember for whom Jesus died?
Not only you and your churchgoing friends;
God loves us all; you don’t get to decide.
You probably think that I’m wrong to defend
Those who are “sinners” in your eyes.
Don’t fool yourself: I know you pretend
That you’re better than everyone you despise.
Brothers and sisters, I know those are lies.
“Love the sinner,” and yet you shun.
I’m so tired of hatred; I am so done.
Disclaimer: I am a Christian, but I feel like I have to call out some of my fellow Christians for the hateful things they sometimes say and do.
In My Nature
It’s not in my nature to hate anyone.
Love is love and love will win.
Why can’t we all just live in the sun?
Condemned to hell for mortal sin:
Can’t you see how you push them away?
Huddled together, looking within,
In your ivory towers you watch and pray,
Hiding away from the world outside,
Avoiding the cooties you see on the “gays.”
Don’t you remember for whom Jesus died?
Not only you and your churchgoing friends;
God loves us all; you don’t get to decide.
You probably think that I’m wrong to defend
Those who are “sinners” in your eyes.
Don’t fool yourself: I know you pretend
That you’re better than everyone you despise.
Brothers and sisters, I know those are lies.
“Love the sinner,” and yet you shun.
I’m so tired of hatred; I am so done.
October 20, 2016
OctPoWriMo 20 - Stark and Severe
The prompt today is white, and the suggested form is the tetractys. When we in the West think of white, we usually think of purity and innocence, brides and christening gowns. But white is also snow and ice and emptiness. The empty page can be possibilities or writers' block. White can be a negative colour too.
Stark and Severe
Cold
And clear
Deathly pale
Stark and severe
White is not always only positive
Stark and Severe
Cold
And clear
Deathly pale
Stark and severe
White is not always only positive
October 19, 2016
OctPoWriMo 19 - Ode to a Tree
The prompt today is tree, and the suggested poetry type is ode, which isn't a form at all, but a generic catch-all term for a poem that is written in praise of something or someone. While thinking about what to write, the song Snowbird by Anne Murray started running through my head, so I decided to use its rhyme and rhythm for my poem today.
Ode to a Tree
Beneath your leafy branches full and broad,I stand with face uplifted for my heart is truly awedBy everything you do and all you areFor I am certain that you truly are a superstar.
When I was young, I climbed among your boughsAnd, snuggled in your grasp, I felt safe enough to drowse.Today I wish that I could once againAscend among your branches to a place where I remain.
Spread your branches sweeping over me,And let me hide for just a while from harsh reality.The days are speeding ever swiftly by,And if I could, I’d love to stay and watch the world rush by.
Ode to a Tree
Beneath your leafy branches full and broad,I stand with face uplifted for my heart is truly awedBy everything you do and all you areFor I am certain that you truly are a superstar.
When I was young, I climbed among your boughsAnd, snuggled in your grasp, I felt safe enough to drowse.Today I wish that I could once againAscend among your branches to a place where I remain.
Spread your branches sweeping over me,And let me hide for just a while from harsh reality.The days are speeding ever swiftly by,And if I could, I’d love to stay and watch the world rush by.
