Sunday, April 01, 2012

Writing in April

I have agreed to participate with some local writer friends in a write-a-poem-a-day project for the month of April. There will be daily prompts though one need not follow them. I have a harder time writing with a prompt than without one so thought it might be a good discipline to try them.

This morning's prompt was to write a trampoline poem. One can create a new poem by copying the syllable count and word stresses of a given poem, as I did with this one, or use the poem's idea as a jumping off point. I am posting my first drafts. If someday I go back and rework any of the month's efforts, I may post them as well. Come play with me.

If Each Day Falls


If each day falls
inside each night,
there exists a well
where clarity is imprisoned.

We need to sit on the rim
of the well of darkness
and fish for fallen light
with patience.

                        Pablo Neruda




To the River

I would stand here
beside your banks
to listen as you
sing patiently of salvation.

You ought to be pure white light
by now free of distrust
since you have observed life
in fullness.

Is there much a river doesn't know?

6 comments:

Brian Miller said...

great choice playing off neruda...i like yours...the natural elements and life in the fullness sounds wonderful too...

Out on the prairie said...

One of the oldest residents on this planet is water, imagine what it has heard.

Anonymous said...

A great start, Pauline. This one springs up very satisfyingly. Good luck with the venture. Rather you than me: I generally struggle with a poem a month!

Pauline said...

Brian - Neruda challenges one for sure! Nature is my milieu. It might be wise to stick to it...

OOTP - my thoughts exactly!

Dick, I like first drafts for their spontaneity but I may go back and fiddle with my favorites. I have never done this kind of pressure thing before (unless writing to a newspaper deadline counts). I'm not sure how I'll do.

goatman said...

I am usually set off, poetically, by images and photos.
Don't know why . . . theres no sun up in the sky . . .

Pauline said...

Goatman - something may indeed trigger my imagination, too but to have to follow a prompt often squelches it!