NaPoWriMo:30 Days = 30 Poems Recap

I suppose 26 out of 30 poems is not bad. It is probably good for that little perfectionist voice I hear in my head. I recognize why. In a word, fatigue. I have spent the last 3 months writing for the National Boards of Professional Teaching Standards. A totally different kind of writing. And that last week in March was brutal. (another post, another day).

So I am going to be gentle and try not to beat myself up too much.

My favorite poem of the month: "For My Granddaughter" and Poems 23, 24, 25, and 26
The poem that eluded me: A prompt using "ring, blanket, and drum".

I am looking forward to next year.

NaPoWriMo: Poems 23, 24, 25, 26

back road rock sentry ignored
highway spirits walk, gossip
empty whispers heard

dividing line here
north, south, confederate, union
stand between two worlds

grandmother's Sundays spent
here, walk the path toward church
her distinct voice sings

neglected graves lean
limestone names, dates eroded
seldom visited

In early April, my aunt and I visited the childhood town of my Grandmother, Catawissa, PA. As photos indicate; the day was dreary, gray, drizzling rain, and cold. It cast an eerie feel as I walked around photographing the places where my grandmother walked and lived as a child. I was surprised by the dedication of part of the cemetery to the Confederate Army. I had relatives who fought on both sides during the Civil War. I also got a sense of place as describe in the Jack Gantos book, The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs, although that story takes place in western Pennsylvania.

OSI: Flowering

pink chiffon dogwood
tutus spin, branches dance
toe shoes optional

peppermint tulip
umbrella protects creatures
unseen by the eye

tango dancer skirt
fiery tulip ruffles
click, click across floor

What a lovely prompt today, especially since out weekend has warmed in comparison to Friday's post. Thank you One Single Impression.

Poems 18 and 19

peppermint tulip
no umbrella to protect
defiant protest

Japanese maple
curled arthritic fingers reach
toward warming sun

Poems 15,16,17: COLOR

daffodil bucket

tissue thin, delicate show

lemon peach sorbet

asparagus heads

sniff open, brisk market air

edible creatures

tangerine lemon

beauty pageant of tulips

ablaze in color

One Single Impression suggestions the word COLOR this week. I was in Seattle and went to Pike Street Marke this past weekend so this is a perfect prompt. More colorful haiku here.

NaPoWriMo: Poems 13 and 14

Glad that I left this year's challenge to 30 Days = 30 Poems. Writing every day is difficult right now.

Poem 13

words stumble over
cyberspace, misinterpret
meet me for coffee
talk, cry, laugh, respond
value of friendship

Poem 14

birds on a wire
gossipers all in a row
I walk unnoticed

Poem 12: A Poem Regarding My Absence at a Book Challenge Hearing

This is a cross post with my school blog "Check It Out".

There was a book challenge hearing last night in my district. The book, Feed by MT Anderson, was the challenged book. I read it last year on the recommendation of a workshop presenter. Not my cup of tea but I can see how the book could resonate with teenagers, especially boys. The book had been at all but one middle school library as well as the high school libraries. The challenge came from a middle school parent. I did not go to the hearing. I am now sorry that I did not attend. I do not know that it would have changed the outcome. I was told that I would not be able to testify because I was elementary and the book was not in the elementary level. But I should have been there to support a colleague and I was not.

In the spirit of National Poetry Month(and thank you once again William Carlos Williams for your stunning idea of a poem of apology):

This is Just to Say

I did not attend
the book challenge meeting
which you probably
were wanting the support
from colleagues
and which the
audience was void.
It would have been great
to have
people present
who understand
the need
to have books
available
that engage
readers in higher level
thinking skills
despite
the language
which can be heard
via a varietyof media formats;
despite the notion
that we may come
to live in a dystopia
one day
instead of a
utopia

Forgive me
I promise
next time
(and hopefully there
will not be a next time)
you will look out into the
audience
and
I will be there.

Poem 11: For My Granddaughter

Yesterday was my son-in-law's birthday and we celebrated it here. My granddaughter, 2, and he were reaching for the moon. Then she asked us all to reach for the moon, so this is for her.

Grab the Moon

Moonrise, turquoise sky
Pollen glitters around us
“Grab the moon, daddy.”
Cheerful child laughs

Pollen glitters around us
Red, yellow tulip blooms burst
Cheerful child laughs
“Grab the moon, mommy.”


Red, yellow tulip blooms burst
Cheerful child sings
“Grab the moon, mommy.”
Birds join the chorus


Cheerful child sings
Hands stretch above reaching
Birds join the chorus
Child dances round and round

Hands stretch above reaching
“Grab the moon, daddy.”
Child dances round and round
Moonrise, turquoise sky

Poems 9 and 10: Glory

forest trillium

quiet trinity shepherd

abundant glory

lone garden tulip

unexpected gift from squirrel

sunlight glory here

"Glory" is the prompt for One Single Impression this week. It was the suggestion of Guatami Tripathy, Visit to see how others wrote about glory.

NaPoWriMo: Poem 8

I think I really love the haiku form. As Reichhold in Writing and Enjoying Haiku states, "it is a snapshot of everyday life."

This as I arrived home last night:

Crystal raindrops hang
From Japanese maple branch
Frogs volley “ribbets”
Back, forth nighttime serenade
Dogs join the chorus

NaPoWriMo: Catching Up

I have been writing almost everyday but not posting each day. I am using the William Carlos Williams poem, "This is Just to Say" with my students to get them to write a poem of apology.

Here's my take:

This is just to say
Forgive me for
Grabbing the last copy
Of the poetry book
Which you were
Longing to read
And saving for a
Warm spring day
The cover looked
Inviting
I could not resist
I am sorry
I will return it.
I promise
Maybe.

NaPoWriMo: A Pantoum

After reading Joyce Sidman's book Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow last year, I explored the pantoum form. I love it. The late spring provides much to write about.

Slow spring awakening
Daffodils glance sideways
While snowflakes fall
However, vanish soon

Daffodils glance sideways
Mourning doves call
However, vanish soon
As cold rain plop plops

Mourning doves call
Frogs hoppity hip in mud puddles
As cold rain plop plops
Mason bees sleep in the hive

Frogs hoppity hip in mud puddles
A sliver of sun plays peek-a boo
Mason bees sleep in the hive
Daphne perfumes the air

A sliver of sun plays peek-a boo
While snowflakes fall
Daphne perfumes the air
Slow spring awakening

NaPoWriMo: Stranded

The prompt from One Single Impression is "stranded". Our cold spring provides inspiration.

tulip cups capture
snowflakes for afternoon tea
welcome stranded souls

weary visitors
surprised by early spring snow
sip tulip tea

For more, please visit One Single Impression

NaPoWriMo: Days Two, Three, and Four

Just returned from New Jersey last night. No access to the Internet, thus no postings but here are three poems for days two through four.

April 2, 2008

spring ballet-mill creek
windy day, leaves pirouette
delighted cat purrs


April 3, 2008

nestled in blankets
husband, dogs, cat welcome me
blissful sleep tonight

April 4, 2008

spring rain awakened
the soul who slept on tulips
left a verse behind

National Poetry Writing Month

My goal: 30 days, 30 poems. To begin:

journey back a time
ancestors walked these dirt roads
one room school house speaks

Susquehanna River
grandmother fished along banks
sings songs to nature

I am traveling with my aunt to rural Pennsylvania. We are spending time look at where my grandmother's family lived.

I may not have access to the computer again until Friday but I will be writing in my journal.

How about you? A poem a day for 30 days?

Poetry Thursday: Reflections

Poetry Thursday is giving a free week. A week to do as we wish. Perhaps a poem will surface and/or perhaps those participating in NaPoWriMo need a break or a time to reflect.

Hi, I am Jone and I am a poet. I wrote 30 poems in 30 days. It sounds somewhat of a recovery group.

NaPoWriMo pushed me to write every day. I have not ever written for that many days in a row. I only missed one day of actual writing of a poem. I feel pretty proud of myself.

I walked around a little lost on Tuesday. I didn't have to write so I didn't. I took a break. The break led into Wednesday. So how does one keep up the practice? I am trying to form the habit of writing in daily pages. Can I do a page a day for thirty days?

I wrote a lot of haiku. Sometimes I feel like that's cheating. They are so short but they are also so in the moment. I try to stay in the moment. I wrote some pantoums, a style I was introduced to and like quite a bit. I was glad for the daily prompts from the women of PT. Some days, it was the seed I needed.

I didn't comment on other people's writing as much. No time. Some days after teaching all day, after schools activities, and other commitments if was enough to get a poem written. I feel bad when I don't get around to the blogs to comment. It is this little neighborhood community and I missed the conversation. I do appreciate the comments and visit by others.

How do you choose a favorite poem over your other poems? They are your little creations. But I have a few I think about. Two are haiku, two are pantoums and one is free verse.

Day Five
Broken threads, dried up little cloth worms
Discovered while cleaning the garage, looking at theremains of your library. Rest here.

Day Fifteen
Mother’s pearl necklace in hand
Her last gift
Offered as peace and understanding
Son receives it graciously
(Rest here.)

Day Seventeen and Day Twenty Written after the news of Virginia Tech. My cousins go to school there.

Day Twenty-one
Garden Tips
In the dead of winter
read seed catalogs, poems for the
garden (rest here)

Also on Day 21
Rooted
Uprooted my roots at seventeen
Transplanted to Oregon, a college girl
Roots needed fresh soil
Good growing environment (rest here)

It was a good month. I feel a like I have sowed many poetry seeds this month. I can tend to them like my garden.

If you read any of my poetry for April, I would love to know which, if any spoke to you. For more Poetry Thursday responses, go here.

NaPoWriMo, Day 30: Poetry of the Sea

The prompt from One Deep Breath is "poetry of the sea". I like ending National Poetry Month with the sea.

Foamy ocean waves
Lace pattern on wet sand
Crab scuttles alone.


Head on over to see more at One Deep Breath.

NaPoWriMo, Day 29: Wings

Dragonfly cathedral window
Beveled wings glisten
Dragonfly
Sits, waits
Rests
Now
One
Free
Spirit
Dragonfly
Dances in dusk’s light
Transformation invitation

The prompt at Sunday Scribbling is "wings", in honor of Laini Taylor's soon-to-be-available-in- bookstores, Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer. It is a fine example of making a dream a reality.

Are you dreaming of flying yet? Visit here.

NaPoWriMo, Day 28

What a glorious day in Oregon today; warm and sunny. It causes this to happens:

Spring. Garage sales
Your cast-offs, my treasures
Reuse. Walk lightly.

And another joyful event:

Mom, dad fly in, out
Yellow beaks open wide waiting
Morsels nourishing

The purple finches' eggs have hatched!!

NaPoWriMo, Day 27: Carnelian Journal

At Create a Connection, a journal swap was organized earlier this month. Cheeky sent me this beautiful journal. It is made in Nepal, the paper is from the bark of Daphne bush. (I wonder if it is the same daphne like the sweet smelling flowers).

So in honor of this journal and Cheeky who sent it:

Carnelian journal
gift from creative blogger
world becomes smaller

I am handwriting my haiku, beginning with the ones written during NaPoWriMo.