2021 PAD Challenge: Poems from Days 16-20

As promised in my previous blog post, here is the fourth set of poems I’ve written for the 14th annual Poem-A-Day Challenge as organized by Writer’s Digest. Even though every day has its own unique prompt, I am focusing on “travel” as an overarching theme because I’ve missed traveling so much this past year.

Day 16 PAD Prompt: “Write a city poem. You can make the title of your poem the name of a city and write your poem. Or you can mention a city in your poem. And, of course, you can just set your poem in a city without naming which one it is.”

GALVESTONIn Galveston, where gulf greets land,waves crest and ebb against the sandwhile tanned beachcombers nurse their beersand tourists scrounge for souvenirsin offbeat shops along the Strand.A greedy seagull’s shrill demandcompetes with music from a bandas locals fish off seawall piersin Galveston.But there is more to understandfrom neighborhoods both plain and grandbuilt and rebuilt across the years.Through hurricanes, life perseveressustained by human heart and handin Galveston.Poetic Form of Choice: English rondeau, a thirteen-line poem divided into three stanzas of 5, 4, and 6 lines with only two rhymes throughout and with the opening words of the first line used as a refrain at the end of the second and third stanzas (aabba aabR aabbaR)© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 17 PAD Prompt: “Write a waiting poem. It can involve any interpretation of waiting. Waiting in line at the store or for a package in the mail or whatever else someone (or something) might wait for.”

ANTICIPATIONThe hardest part of doing iswhen nothing can be done,but the task is not yet finished,and the race is far from run.We hover at the starting mark.We languish in the queue.Is life a series of delayswe’re meant to suffer through?We cross days off our calendars.We pace the waiting room.But isn’t life its own sojournbetween cradle and tomb?If I am waiting, let me waitlike waiting is the prize— one eye upon the timepiece,one eye upon the skies.For the sweetest part of waitingis anticipation,and the task is never finisheduntil the race is run.Poetic Form of Choice: Ballad quatrains with ABCB rhyme scheme© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 18 PAD Prompt: Write an ekphrastic poem which is a poem based on another work of art (painting, photograph, sculpture, mixed media, etc.).

THE WATER LILLIESIt isn’t justyour construct of colors –abstract dabs, subtle brushstrokesdefining a lane, a lake, a haystackor a bridge spanning a garden pond.It’s also howyou noticed the glow,a luminosity in what’s commonwhere light elevates the everyday,each masterpiece concealed in a moment.Poetic Form of Choice: Free verse with alliteration and assonance© 2021 F. E. Greene The Japanese Footbridge, Claude Monet, 1899

Day 19 PAD Prompt: “Write a poem with an animal in the title. Titles like “Counting Sheep,” “Beside the White Chickens,” and “Horse” would all qualify.”

A CAT’S (DIS)ADVANTAGEI would not wish for nine lives,not even two or three—one is enough to comprehenda life’s complexity.One life to learn my lessons,to wake and work and tire;one life to celebrate and mournis all that I require.Poetic Form of Choice: Ballad quatrains with ABCB rhyme scheme and alliteration© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 20 PAD Prompt: “For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt: Write a love poem and/or write an anti-love poem.”

ASPECTS OF LOVE (in three cinquains)I lovedthose long summerstime spreading like the seaalways someone to help or hug –agape.~~~~~You leaveyour door openeven when you are outoffering respite in your home –xenia.~~~~~We talkabout nothingthe rest would understandbut to us, it is clear as day –philia.Poetic Form of Choice: Cinquain (five lines with syllable count of 2/4/6/8/2)© 2021 F. E. Greene

It’s still not too late for you to join in the fun! Follow this link to the Writer’s Digest website and see the details for the 2021 PAD Challenge.