April is Poetry Month!

I invite you to consider poetry in the coming month.  There is a website that offers a daily prompt this month. www.napowrimo   National Poetry Writing Month.  Even if you don’t write a poem a day this month, you might consider reading a poem a day.  Or, you might consider writing a Haiku (three line poem with first line having 5 syllables, second line having 7 syllables and last line having 5 syllables). 

Here is a traditional sample haiku that follows the 5 – 7 – 5 rule.  By R.M. Hansard

The west wind whispered,

And touched the eyelids of spring:                                                                         

Her eyes, Primroses.

And here is another by Jack Keruoc that ignores the rule – but keeps the 3 lines!

The taste

of rain

— Why kneel?

I keep a couple of books of poetry by my chair and dip into them each morning for inspiration as a reminder of all the creativity the world holds for us.  It’s a nice antidote to the news! Writing a poem (however “good” or “bad”) is a way of putting something new into the world – even if no-one ever sees it but you.  Writing a poem is a way of forcing yourself to think a bit more deeply than normal about almost any subject.  Poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer says there is absolutely no subject that could not have a poem written about it.  Go ahead – describe God’s hat!   or what is washing up on the beach of your heart.  Or, opine about the sunrise.  Or just do some word play.  There are several “invitations” to poetry and also an archive of poetry prompts and poetry across the top of this website’s opening page.

And, in the midst of all that swirls in our world, I do love this poem by Quique Aviles

Let the poets run the country

I don't know about you,

but I say let the poets run the country,

we'll be better off with books and pens

instead of the misery of weapons

I say let the poets run the country,

they'll give out poetic justice

listen to those of us who want to speak.

thinking will be declared the national language

and birds will be allowed to share their wisdom.

cabinet meetings will have new agendas,

the truth and Neruda will be discussed.

there will be policy analysis on important

matters such as love and dignity.

I don't know about you,

but I say let the poets run the country.

we'll have leaders who speak from the heart,

people who will not take into account

the money of thieves and liars.

we will have a country filled with rhymes and

justice if for once, we let the poets

run the country.

by Quique Aviles

PATIENCE!

Oh dear, i began noticing about 2 months ago that no one was reading my blog posts. It turns out that that was because you were not receiving a notification about them. After umpteen attempts, it seems that the problem is fixed!! How impatient I am with computer woes -- well, let's admit it, I am impateint with LOTS of things! If all goes well, I will resume publishing a new blog every Monday. Until then, let me send you off with a poem about the topic at hand -- PATIENCE. by the wonderful poet Pat Schneider.. -- and thank you for your patience reading this blog. I promise it will be more noteworthy once the Monday posts resume next week! Have a good week-end

The Patience of Ordinary Things

by Pat Schneider

It is a kind of love, is it not?

How the cup holds the tea,

How the chair stands sturdy and foursquare,

How the floor receives the bottoms of shoes

Or toes.  How soles of feet know

Where they’re supposed to be,

I’ve been thinking about the patience

Of ordinary things, how clothes

Wait respectfully in closets

And soap dries quietly in the dish,

And towels drink the wet

From the skin of the back

And the lovely repetition of stairs.

And what is more generous than a window?

just testing

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