Day 5 – OctPoWriMo 2017: Revelation

Today's theme: Finally I Understand


Revelation

It took the birth

Of my first child

Her weight in my arms

Before I understood

Before I understood

The depth of my parents’ love

Before I understood

Their profound sacrifices

Their profound sacrifices

So I might thrive

Grow into the woman 

They hoped I'd become

Detroit, Michigan 1943

Day 1 OctPoWriMo 2017 - Because They Stood

Because They Stood

The grandmothers’ shoulders were broad

Cream-colored, sepia, walnut, and black

Sometimes ridges, like the edges

Of the furrows they tilled

Ribbonned their backs and shoulders

They supported the known world

Like Atlas held up the heavens

They stood proud and strong

On the broad shoulders of these wide-hipped women,

My grandmothers and their grandmothers,

On their convictions 

Their work

Their dreams

I stand proud and strong

Grateful to be here right now

My Nanaw and Me

2016 OctPoWriMo - #16

Prompt: In Depth

Healing

Inhale big

Dive in

Go deep

Dive in

Take a chance

Open up

Take a chance

Find your way

Move on

2016 OctPoWriMo - #15

Prompt: Blue

Blue

Celestial Sapphire,

Talisman, protector

Stone of strength

Wisdom, piety

But

Blue moods spill

Into night’s blue moon

The taste of sorrow

Comes too soon

2016 OctPoWriMo - #14

#14  Prompt: “Shameful”

Tardy

Head bowed, thick braids fall forward

She shifts, one foot, then the other

Her shoes, broken down, scuffed

Back & forth, side to side

Waiting for the tirade

She knew would spew.

Why should this day be different?

2016 OctPoWriMo - #13

Today's Prompt:  Flowing

The Playful Muse showed up today – and then this poem. Suggested form: Monorhyme, in which every line carries the same rhyme at the end.

Two Dancers

Her name was Lo-Lo

She danced the go-go

Not great, just so-so

Encore?        Uh, no-no

The lead was Jo-Jo

She was the show-pro

Wise, in the know-know

Her groove? The flow-flow

The two were friends, though

Lived in the same row

They strolled the blocks, slow

In each night’s dance glow

2016 OctPoWriMo - #12

No One Stronger

My mother was widowed at 51.

She sat in a hard doctor’s waiting room chair

And watched while Dad fell forward.

My mother followed the ambulance in her frigid car.

An ER doctor delivered the news

Dad was gone.

My mother clutched her purse, stood to leave for home.

“You can’t drive yourself,” the kindly clerk said.

“The hell I can’t!”

My mother listened to the funeral director’s casket pitch.

“Which one do you like?” he asked when done.

“I don’t like any of them.         I just need one.”

Until then

None of us knew

The straightness of her spine

The resilience of her spirit

The powerful package that was our mom.

Today's prompt: Strong

You can find links to poems by the 75-plus fine poets from all over the world by going to the OctPoWriMo Link Up page at https://poetsonthepage.blogspot.com/p/link-up.html

2016 OctPoWriMo - #10

The Practice

I grasp the purple edge of the yoga mat

recognize the familiar texture

inhale the institutional smell

One practiced motion issues forth the unfurled essence,

my island of focus

of meditation

of peace.

On this lavender oasis,

sanctuary for introspection

vessel of reverence

in soul-to-sole sun salutations

I set my solitary Intention

Today’s Prompt: Unfolded

You can find links to poems by the 75-plus fine poets from all over the world by going to the OctPoWriMo Link Up page at https://poetsonthepage.blogspot.com/p/link-up.html

2016 OctPoWriMo – #9

Sunday Mornings

Sausage curls cascade

               from crown 

                         to shoulders.

Shiny black bouquet

Springy as a nest of Slinkys

A testament to the patience

A bow to the wills

of Black mamas bound for church.

Today’s prompt was "Spiral." Between a recent video I saw, and a line I used in a short memoir piece, this poem emerged.

You can find links to poems by the 75-plus fine poets from all over the world by going to the OctPoWriMo Link Up page at https://poetsonthepage.blogspot.com/p/link-up.html

2016 OctPoWriMo – #8

Best Friend

Her light filters through the cloth of kindness

Her love, a beacon, draws you near

Laying open your heart

Lighting your path to your better nature

Her radiance

Her human-ness

Your torch

Today’s prompt was Porous. In my free write, I explored ways people could be porous.

You can find links to poems by the 75-plus fine poets from all over the world by going to the OctPoWriMo Link Up page at https://poetsonthepage.blogspot.com/p/link-up.html

2016 OctPoWriMo - Day 7

When We’ve Tasted Enough

Chugging down a swig

of wonder

Gasping at the rising gall

on comprehension

Gazing skyward for answers

to our questions

Calling on the goddess

to sustain

Swallowing the bitterness

for incubation

Rising to rebel and conquer

when ready

2016 OctPoWriMo - Day 6

Prompt: Tantalizing

Form: Diamante - A diamond-shaped, seven-line poem, each line prescribed

Adventure

Limitless, alluring

Opening, energizing, engaging

One’s attempt to disappear from real life

Dazing, shrouding, stunting

Weary, stagnant

Routine

Format for Diamante

1. Noun/Subject

2. Two Adjectives (relating to the subject/topic)

3. Three "ing" words (relating to subject/topic)

4. Four nouns (2 relate to the subject; 2 relate to ending noun -- 

            OR -- a short phrase that relates to both)

5. Three "ing" words (relating to ending noun)

6. Two Adjective (relating to ending noun)

7. Ending noun (Antonym or Synonym for subject)

2016 OctPoWriMo - Day 5

Consequences

Sharpened claws

Sharpened words

Words that cut

Words that dig

Dig a hole

Dig in deep

Deep to the heart

Deep to the quick

Quick to slay

Quick to live

Live in memory

Live in the body

Body image

Body language

Language of hate

Language of fear

Fear of trying

Fear of mistakes

Mistakes that glare

Mistakes that harm

Harm others

Harm self

Self…

Others…

The Day 5 prompt was “sharp” and the suggested form, the Blitz Poem, originated by Robert Kreim. My version is a “half blitz.”

2016 OctPoWriMo - #4

Relay for Life Haiku

Seascape of purple,
Moving waves of survivors
Thwart cancer's quest to reign



Today's prompt was "purple". 

I Believe in Love

I Believe in Love

I believe in love’s power

To transform hearts

Lubricating from inside and out

When applied in liberal doses

Slathered like lotion,

Smoothing where roughness once lived

I believe in love’s power

To overcome wounds

Inflicted with malice or none

Sticks and stones breaking bones

And spirits,

Throwing up a shield

Progress

Poets on the Page December mini-challenge. Day 4

 

We are to write a poem that is a collage made up from other poems, a poetry form called a Cento. It can be made from lines from other poets' works.

"Either write some brand new lines of your own to weave among the other [poets'] lines or take lines you’ve written in your own poetry."

Mine is a collage from poems I've written this week, woven with new lines.

 

Progress

Stand up

And if you can’t

Rise tall

Step forward

Or feint sideways

Dig into the earth

With one elbow

Then the other

Drag yourself an inch or two ahead

Like the downed soldier you are

Whatever it takes

You know you are enough

Watch for the return of life

not as you once knew it

but new and good

and worth the effort

Baby steps

Or inch-by-inch

It’s all forward,

  Baby

Suckitup

From Poets on the Page. Day 3 of the December Mini-challenge

Today’s task is to write a poem of encouragement to continue.

Suckitup

It may not be fair

What happens

It may not be right

It may be the worst

It may be unspeakable

But we suck

it

up

Carry on

Do what we must

Keep ourselves going

Bounce back

Step forward

Feint sideways

Whatever it takes

Carry

on

Carry

On

People

Resilience

Today's prompt from Poets on the Page

If you wrote a poem yesterday, choose three lines that you feel are particularly well crafted AND they speak to you. Those lines you chose are now today’s poetry writing prompt.

Start with one of the lines or phrases and begin writing it over and over and over…After you have done that for a moment or two or five, other words will start pushing through. Allow them to push through. Allow them to take the lead. Right here is the raw material for your poem of new beginnings.

Resilience

and in the moment

when passion returns

overruns the heart hysteria

overtakes

the overclouded brain

you see the light

                             the path to acceptance

                             to peace

                             within yourself

                             you know you are enough

                             to overcome

                             whatever

                             comes