I have GOT to write a poem or three…I go to a poetry workshop every few weeks, and I can only get away with taking blueberry muffins instead of actual writing so many times, you know? So I thought some of you Doperpoets might want to have a free-write free for all.
Here’s the deal: Post 8-10 words you like. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a nice blend of nouns, adjectives, and verbs is fine. Hopefully, your list will inspire someone else (like ME) to actually write something, which she may or may not post. (I will post mine–a first-draft, off-the-cuff, unrevised, 3-5 minute free write.)
Wanna play? Here’s my list:
raspberry
gravel
tighten
cicada
water
brute
feet
game
pose
fence
After school, after the final bell
released us into sparkling light, we
swept into the open day. Sneakers
tunneling through fallen leaves,
we ran–past the flagpole
and its shadow wavy on uncut grass,
past the balloons anchored
by used cars* for sale cheap, *past
the sailboats dry-docked for fall.
Sidewalks heaved beneath the oaks,
frozen in mid-eruption, dandelions
blooming above the cracks. This
was the only truth we knew that year,
too young, too unbruised to be afraid–
the blush of early evening setting in,
the gardens pumpkin-full and dying,
the house on Back Street nearly hidden
by vines, full of cats and pink as a cupcake.
Hmmm. Might be something here to work with. Thanks, Lola!
WHEEEE!!! I used my <a href=http://jowysiren.spores.net/battle/suiq.htm">Suikoden Quotes Page</a> to take every fourth word and made some “Instant Poetry”.
Behold!
You gambling shame
You change
I surface
Breaking longer
The a the war
I tragic
protecting is fits
about.
To be honest, I like the first three lines. HEheeh…
Now every eight words:
Only like masters I
Money laundry darkness
Loyalty still and all
My tale face
Into whatever heart the
doesn’t.
Now to edit them:
You change
I surface
You gambling shame
breaking longer
than a tragic war
protecting you is
what it’s about.
I only like the dark masters of money laundry
Loyalty still and all
My face turns into
whatever the
heart doesn’t.
WHEEEE!!! I used my <a href=http://jowysiren.spores.net/battle/suiq.htm">Suikoden Quotes Page</a> to take every fourth word and made some “Instant Poetry”.
Behold!
You gambling shame
You change
I surface
Breaking longer
The a the war
I tragic
protecting is fits
about.
To be honest, I like the first three lines. HEheeh…
Now every eight words:
Only like masters I
Money laundry darkness
Loyalty still and all
My tale face
Into whatever heart the
doesn’t.
Now to edit them:
You change
I surface
You gambling shame
breaking longer
than a tragic war
protecting you is
what it’s about.
I only like the dark masters of money laundry
Loyalty still and all
My face turns into
whatever the
heart doesn’t.
Okay, I took one word from each of your lines and came up with:
gamble
change
surface
break
war
fits
only
darkness
still
whatever
Lemme see what I can do. I’m going to try using them in order (well, sort of):
Now, at 36, you decide to change your life.
You are bored, we are poor. There is nothing here
to gamble on, and medical school
sounds like just the thing. Now, the children
are not quite four and two, and the ideas
begin to surface–the white lights,
the clean hospital corridors, the image of your face
fuzzily printed on an official badge.
I tell you this is a deal-breaker,
this is no small war, we will not
survive. You stay in the den making
sharp folded stacks of clean laundry;
I work in the kitchen fitting one more box
of cheap mac & cheese into the cabinet.
For now, this darkness lies in our house–
your unhappiness with what we are
and the sure knowledge that
Whatever we are, we carry
into whatever we become.
