Poetry Bits & Pieces …
Here you’ll find original poetry by Shutta as prompted by several writing/book/kidslit blogs including offerings for Poetry Friday and Poetry Stretchers. (Note: many of these are rough beginnings!)
Let your muse sing!
Shutta
10/2/2009: a new poem for Poetry Friday roundup.
How to Walk in the World
1.
Step softly when storefronts are still groggy with sleep.
They have not blinked completely into consciousness
and can be surly this early in the morning.
Slip into the silent cross-street. Rescue bits of torn paper.
Save these as evidence. There are always witnesses you see—
even that yellow dog limping from the alley by the locksmith’s.
He will be called on to testify.
2.
Whisper when you hear the cracked voice of weathered men
who have worked the earth. With or without their women,
they have sampled the colors of time, can run their knobbed hands
over the rust of old affairs, and know how to love what is orphaned.
They’ll welcome one who prizes the simple and the wayward—
and will speak of your coming.
3.
Be respectful in the foyers and parlors of others’ lives.
Leave your shoes at the door. Acknowledge grief.
Bring a casserole, but do not settle into armchairs.
Admire baby pictures, baseball trophies, and doilies made by aunts.
Stand and lean into each other—do not talk.
This is all that is required to walk well in the world.
9/30/2009: Poetry prompt from Writer’s Digest . (write a sevenling*).
Sevenling (You, in your mother’s chenille robe)
You in your mother’s chenille robe with the pink roses.
Ahead old tarmac cobbled through a field of chicory
the color of the sky, and a toe print left in a ribbon of tar.
This is what I want to tell you about your dream:
claim the lonely crossroads, be compassionate to pilgrims
and respectful of the crumpled dogs lying in the shade.
The road is only yours when old dogs dream too.
*So, here are the rules on the sevenling from Robert Brewer’s website PoeticAsides:
- The sevenling is a 7-line poem split into three stanzas.
- The first three lines should contain an element of three. It could be three connected or contrasting statements, a list of three details or names, or something else along these lines. The three things can take up all three lines or be contained anywhere within the stanza.
- The second three lines should also contain an element of three. Same deal as the first stanza, but the two stanzas do not need to relate to each other directly.
- The final line/stanza should act as either narrative summary, punchline, or unusual juxtaposition.
- Titles are not required. But when titles are present, they should be titled Sevenling followed by the first few words in parentheses.
- Tone should be mysterious, offbeat or disturbing.
- Poem should have ambience which invites guesswork from the reader.
I Think I’ll Keep Walking . . .
The hill up ahead is shrouded in gloom
Black birds have claimed the tops of the trees
Out of this fog ghosts suddenly loom
To make me remember sad memories
Where the world stops, I haven’t a clue
Perhaps I’ll step off it and run into you
All that I know is, I’ve paid what is due
Don’t make me remember those days loving you
The leaves have gone copper, amber and gold
Awaiting cruel winter and its harsh robberies
I marvel they stand with the grief that they hold
Don’t make me remember sad memories
Where the world stops, I haven’t a clue
Perhaps I’ll step off it and run into you
All that I know is, I’ve paid what is due
Don’t make me remember those days loving you
The ripening grapes are heavy with scent
The tang of crushed apples blows by on the breeze
I think I’ll keep walking ‘til this hurt is spent
And baptize the leaves with my sad memories
Where the world stops, I haven’t a clue
Perhaps I’ll step off it and run into you
All that I know is, I’ve paid what is due
And autumn will scatter those days loving you
(A song written from a prompt on the “Poetic Asides” blog.)