tell the truth: you're excited to post your links

It's time for show and tell. Use the comments section to post links to poems you've written based on our "truth" poem. Hope you had fun with it!

inspired by "a true poem"

now it's time for you to do some writing based on our discussion of "a true poem" by lloyd schwartz. are you inspired to write something about the precipice you teeter on in your own writing process? are you imagining a piece about your own fears about the subjects that arise in your poems?

of course, there are many other places to go with this, as well. what kinds of subjects make tricky writing because of their implications? relationships. yes. secrets. yes. wounds. yes. grudges. certainly. maybe you'll write that true poem schwartz alludes to, the one that can't be shared, and maybe you'll share it.

another angle would be to think about your reader, the one who may be hurt, reading your poetry. describe that occurrence. what is the reader's reaction? what happens to you as a result?

you have a whole week to write your poems. come back next week and for the invitation to post links to your poems.

poetry and other sharp objects

we're starting this month with a poem by lloyd schwartz called "a true poem." you can find it here at the website for the academy of american poets.

whether you did a lot of "extra" poetry writing last month because of napowrimo or whether you write a lot, a lot, a lot of poetry all the time or even if you're only vaguely attached to concept of poetry -- this poem is worth reading over and over. it addresses not only what many of us believe about the truth in poetry (that it can be dangerous and is often painful) but also what many of us contend: that we are compelled to write, sometimes inexplicably and against rational thought.

let's spend some time this week talking about the risks of poetry and the need to write it. in addition, of course, we'll discuss the poem itself. "a true poem" goes beyond telling us about the narrator's tangle with poetry; it wraps us up in it, as well. how does it accomplish this? what is the role of repetition in the piece? what other devices does the poet use? do you read the piece as sarcastic or as a description of genuine struggle?

in about a week, we'll post a prompt based on our discussion. until then, see you in the comments section!

call for "seed" poems

sorry to keep you waiting! little seeds of drama in our own lives (plus napowrimo) have been keeping us busy, busy, busy, but here we are, anxiously awaiting your poems.

what seemingly simple, ordinary, everyday "thing" lead you to explore a greater life drama? or where else were you inspired to go by the prufer poem?

post links to your poems here in the comments section. thanks!

Poetry prompt based on Kevin Prufer's "Seeds"

Kevin Prufer's poem, Seeds, is loaded with concrete images, scenes from a daily life. From the opening visual of "The pepper on the cutting board and the seeds inside it..." to the "sliced cantaloupe and its stringy heart..." and the faucets which won't stop dripping. However, this is far more than a poem of the domestic. Prufer seemlessly merges the domestic with the dire, using the simple action of cutting, and then bleeding, to ruminate on a loved one in the hospital.

How can you merge the domestic with a greater theme? This week, give it a try. You do not have to write about a huge drama. It could be as universal as a fender bender, no one harmed. The spilled milk, maybe? The idea is to move from the mundane, common, the everyday, into the universal ache. Of course, it could be the illness, but it could also be the fight with a child, friend or spouse, the bills, the taxes, the lonliness, the regret...

Maybe this poem meant something entirely different to you. Perhaps your reading of it lead you in an entirely different direction. Whatever the path, follow it. Re-read Seeds, then write a poem based on your reaction/interpretation.

Come back next Sunday, April 27, and post a link to your poem.

And, hey, if you have an idea for a prompt related to this poem, leave your idea in the comments section this week. No poems, please! Save those for next week!

Happy third week of National Poetry Month!

Seeds by Kevin Prufer: Our April Poem

Thank you, everyone, for all of your wonderful suggestions! So much great poetry to choose from. The truth is, our choice, Kevin Prufer's poem, Seeds, was our immediate choice because it resonates for both Carolee and I, what with hospitals and mortality being our own personal "white elephants" of late.

We hope you approve, enjoy, read, think, respond! Discussion begins today and will continue through Saturday, April 19. Sunday, April 20, we will post a prompt related to this poem. You will have all of TV Turnoff Week (April 21-27) to write a poem! (Aren't we thoughtful?) Then, Sunday, April 27, you can come back and post the links to your new poems.

Consider the entire month of April your "free-for-all!" After all, many of us are attempting the 30 poems in 30 days challenge, and that is tough enough!

Thanks for poeming with us!

in-between week! pick a poet!

Hey all! Since we technically have one more day of March, AND because we didn't have a lot of response to the free-for-all, we are going to stretch our fourth week into the last and first of March & April, respectively.

Also, to liven things up, start national poetry month off with a bang, we're going to try something a little new. We know it's high time we examined a poem by a male poet. We just can't decide on which poet. It seems an auspicious honor to be the poet up for discussion during the month of April, no? So, fellow poem-ers, help us choose. Leave a few choices in the comments, and next Sunday we will surprise you with a new poem/new poet.

Now go out there and spread the poetry this month!