Esther Spurrill Jones's Blog, page 24

OctPoWriMo 25 - Unseen yet Alive

Today's prompt is magic, and one of my favourite poems is Leonard Cohen's "God is Alive, Magic is Afoot,' which reminds me of the blitz form with some variations. So I wrote a blitz poem inspired by it.

Unseen yet Alive

Magic is aliveMagic is believingBelieving in the unseenBelieving you can flyFly me to the moonFly, fly awayAway from all my problemsAway from all my troublesTroubles follow meTroubles help me seeSee what is importantSee the magicMagic kingdomMagic gatheringGathering togetherGathering the huntHunt for red OctoberHunt the dragonDragon heart of fireDragon heart of flameFlame that burns so brightlyFlame that lights the nightNight of wondrous beautyNight of mist and shadowsShadows reaching for meShadows flee the lightLight of wonderLight of loveLove is all you needLove is magicMagic is afootMagic’s in the airAir is all around usAir, water, fireFire, water, earthFire, earth, waterWater falling softlyWater rolling wavesWaves of rolling billowsWave goodbyeGoodbye to youGoodbye to yesterdayYesterday I heard the rainYesterday I knew the songSong of loveSong of magicMagic is aliveMagic is afootAfoot…Alive...

OctPoWriMo 24 - Critique?

Today, we were asked to think about reality TV competition shows, and how wonderful it would be to have one for poetry. My favourite is The Voice and, while I would love a competition show for poets, I really don't think we've thought this through. How many of you really want someone judging and critiquing your work? I would find it helpful, but I have a feeling that I'm in the minority. Which leads me to my poem today.

Critique?

Judge my writing; rhyme and metre;Give me honest feedback.Show me how to make it better;I’m looking for a teacher.
Poets often can be thin-skinned;We don’t take crit well.Let me positively spin it:We have a fragile shell.
I would rather be an artistWho learns from others’ comments,Who doesn’t feel that I’m a targetFor all my work is flawless.

OctPoWriMo 23 - Killed in the Line of Duty

If you follow the news, you probably have heard of the shooting on Canada's Parliament Hill in our capital city of Ottawa. It's terrifying, because things like this just don't happen in our "nice" country. But today, I want to focus on the man who stood guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The post is an honour given to members of the Canadian military and reserves. The guards are ceremonial, and don't carry loaded weapons, so couldn't defend themselves by returning fire. Corporal Nathan Cirillo of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reserve regiment was killed. RIP, Cpl Cirillo.

Killed in the Line of Duty

He guarded the tomb of the unknown soldier;His name will be remembered.A soldier, a father, an animal lover:He left us too soon.

OctPoWriMo 22 - No Mic

I don't have a mic
So I can't record a poem.
I wish that I could.

OctPoWriMo 21 - Fingerprints

Today's prompt is fingerprints, handprints, or footprints. We were asked to think about where we have left our mark.

Fingerprints

What have I touched as I walk through this world?What has my life affected?How many wonderful things unheardI have never suspected?
When my time on this earth is doneI want to see them all:The good and the bad, every one,The big and even the small.

OctPoWriMo 20 - Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Today's prompt is late. As in, "better late than never," or the anxiety of being late. I'm usually the eager beaver who shows up to everything early, so I wrote about the anxiety of waiting for others, the ones who show up late.
Hurry, Hurry, Hurry
I admit I hate to wait;I am often early.Others who are always lateCause me to feel surly.
And yet this life is way too shortTo throw away on worry.There is much of more importThan hurry, hurry, hurry.

OctPoWriMo 19 - Rain

Today, we were asked to write of rain. I loved this prompt since I adore thunderstorms. My favourite camping memory is sleeping in a tent in the middle of a thunderstorm.

Rain

Gentle showers coming down,Droplets dampening the ground,Lightning flashes all around,Thunder is the only sound,And now the earth is fully drowned.

OctPoWriMo 18 - Slowly Spinning

Like yesterday, today's prompt is found poetry. Most specifically, newspaper blackout poetry. I have no newspapers, so I took a screenshot of a story I wrote and blacked it out in Paint.

OctPoWriMo 17 - Sweet Music

Today's prompt was about found poetry: collected words from newspapers or magazines, magnetic poetry, etc. I elected to use the online magnetic poetry kit. I found it quite a challenge as a lot of the words given are erotic in some way, and I had other plans. After a bit of playing and moving tiles around (and a lot of clicking on the "More Words" button, I am satisfied with the result.

OctPoWriMo 16 - I Never Miss

Today's prompt is "Once upon a time..." (The beginning of a story, not the television show.) We were asked to tell a story with a poem, so I was going to use the ballad form since it lends itself so well to epic tales. However, this particular story wanted to be a sonnet. So a sonnet it is.

I Never Miss

Once upon a time there was a girlWho knew no equal on the battlefield.She lived for battle singing in her bones;Before her, almost anything would yield.
A foe defeated sent a man to kill her:An archer who had never missed a shot.He made a different call and then he joined her;Together, they unwound the villain’s plot.
Now, they take out all who come against them;They never shall be parted until death.Two warriors against the world they standUntil the day they breathe their final breath.
When others ask him how he stole a kiss,He smiles and only says, “I never miss.”