2023 Poem-A-Week Discussion Thread

[Lyricalli]

(also yay Calli is back!)

Back might be a bit strong for the moment, but I'm aiming to be less absent. I have been peeking in regularly, in spite of my anti-social behavior. My creative focus has been on more hands-on activities for a while now, but I'm jotting down more notes and phrases lately, so that may turn into actual writing again.

 

[Angeline]

Back might be a bit strong for the moment, but I'm aiming to be less absent. I have been peeking in regularly, in spite of my anti-social behavior. My creative focus has been on more hands-on activities for a while now, but I'm jotting down more notes and phrases lately, so that may turn into actual writing again.

I'm just happy to see you here again and hopeful that the muse will strike and I can read what you've written. Your writing always feels direct and honest to me.

 

[Angeline]

Ms Butters, frustration is excellent! It's so angry I can practically see sparks shooting out of it!

 

[butters]

Ms Butters, frustration is excellent! It's so angry I can practically see sparks shooting out of it!

thanks, Angie
it certainly helps to live not too close to neighbours or loved ones at times, but this was inspired by all the bullshit going on at the capitol now with the house speaker debacle and what people say, what they mean, and how easily they ignore reality! it's mind-boggling.

 

[29wordsforsnow]

@Wonderer67

Sorry for being so undecided what reaction to give to your latest addition in the weekly that I didn't leave one, because

I do like that you have found a way to bring the dark to light for us to see, not to judge or critize, but more to realize. I absolutely do not like that we as a self-called 'civilized' species haven't come a step closer to leave the animalistic fighting behind - the old men in their ivory towers waking up one day with the thought it might be a good day to bomb their neighbors.

I do love that you find words and lines, the civilian pressure-cooked in a uniform has found this way to let off steam. Firing live poetry shells is a much better way than many other alternatives.

It would have been too easy to quickly pick 'sad' or 'laugh', the latter was a short-lived, already dying down in the throat, but also too shocked for tears over the happiness that no one got hurt - the absurdly best Christmas gift one gets, but no one would openly ever wish for. There might a better million options, like being far far away.

So, now I've run out of words. Thanks for farming my field of emotions.

 

[Wonderer67]

And now you have me… I want to love that comment. But not on the literotica “love” sense.

I understand. And don’t be sorry.

The story I told on the panel was just the absurdity and surreality of people in Santa hats, going to town. The black humor, the gallows humor of it all. That is part of army (and most military) culture.

The anecdote got a good laugh at the panel.

Maybe I should know my audience a bit better. I am certainly not trying to shock anyone - but really a story of a moment in time. Sounds cliche, but there may be some experiences that can never be experienced in a non military context, I guess.

And these attacks were really routine. Mostly just meant to annoy us. (It did.)

War is bad for everyone.

 

[Angeline]

It's too bad we can't all agree that the emoticons (with which I have a love/hate relationship...or should I say /) reflect our reaction to the writing and not the content. If I give a like or a love it means I think the poem is well written or great, powerful, affecting. I understand that often what makes a poem powerful is shocking or painful or sad content, but it's the writing I'm liking or loving, even as I understand that the content is, well whatever it is. I've had people respond with the sad face to some of my poems. I get it: there's loss and pain in them. But I'm ok, even if I post a sad poem. If what I write really upsets me (almost never happens), I don't share it.

Wonderer I love your poem. I think the juxtaposition of the more staid panel section with the horrific "Christmas story" works really well. One thing I might change is add a year (2023 or whenever the panel was) to the title of the first section. It would help balance the two parts imo. And yes that second part is shocking and powerful. And I love it because it's really strong writing.

 

[Wonderer67]

That was a love emoji like thank you so much, Angeline.

 

[Angeline]

That was a love emoji like thank you so much, Angeline.

And mine just now was appreciation/you're welcome! Lol I do so much better when I stick with words, but these little buggers are just too easy to use. (<---- see what I mean?!)

 

[Ashesh9]

Wonderer : i had not read your poem until i read all the comments on this thread and i zoomed off into the Poem a week thread and read it just now. Iraq 2004 was a Geopolitical controversy but your Christmas Day experience was awesome . I loved it . Your poem and experience . Not the Invasion and Not the story of WMDs which were'nt.
Best regards,
ash9

 

[Wonderer67]

Thanks ashesh. Yes - the entire thing was a shit show.

But there are magical moments that happened. Military comraderie is one of the best things to come out of these experiences. Altho my wife and I are extremely close, I’ve never felt a closeness more than with my brothers.

appreciate the kind words!

 

[Ashesh9]

such lost and licentious thoughts on these hard pews,
though Solomon's Song of Songs is hardly chaste.
Don't even think
about her breasts, loose among the lilies—
white blooms smoothed along her silken skin,
slipping down toward her waist.

Turn your thoughts to your stern God who yet
forged her figure, full of curves and swell
as the swirl of the endless sea,
teeming with Life as if temptation dwelt
in the dense waters of everywhere,
and such Love all but compelled.-----such Temptalicious lyrics Tzara!!!!! i really appreciate your putting real life thoughts on paper: keep on writing!!!!!

 

[Ambient4190]

Hi Tzara

There seem to be 10K or more images of Medusa on the internet. I see her with the snakes continuously writhing, hissing, and spitting...

 

[Angeline]

Tzara, your sonnet today is beautiful, one of your best imo. It's graceful and thoughtful but also informative, inviting the reader to discover Siddal and that painting of Ophelia. I'm going to check now, but pretty sure I know that painting.

(ETA: Yup I've seen it many times before!)

 

[SpermFactory]

I have been attempting the December poetry challenge 2024. I seem to be spending an inordinate amount of poetic energy trying chase the monthly challenge threads down. Were there any challenges in July for example? Of course there were challenges in every month so where oh where is July?

I like the challenge however it is Annoying with a capital F.

 

[SpermFactory]

December 24 Poetry Challenge. After ten pages of searching I still haven’t found a July challenge thread? The mystery deepens, …. hello, hello?

 

[Tzara]

December 24 Poetry Challenge. After ten pages of searching I still haven’t found a July challenge thread?

The July challenges were led by MomTabu and 42Below. Both of these user names appear to have since been deleted, presumably at their owner's request. I am guessing that this caused any threads they initiated to be deleted as well, which is a shame as that also deleted any poems that were posted by others in response to those threads.

BTW, if you meant for your post about the December B challenge "colors of Xmas" to be your challenge for the month, you should start a thread with that as the title and perhaps a bit more explanation as to what the challenge consists of (poems about the colors red and green? reindeer brown? shiny foil packaging material in various gaudy shades of electric yellow?).

 

[SpermFactory]

The July challenges were led by MomTabu and 42Below. Both of these user names appear to have since been deleted, presumably at their owner's request. I am guessing that this caused any threads they initiated to be deleted as well, which is a shame as that also deleted any poems that were posted by others in response to those threads.

BTW, if you meant for your post about the December B challenge "colors of Xmas" to be your challenge for the month, you should start a thread with that as the title and perhaps a bit more explanation as to what the challenge consists of (poems about the colors red and green? reindeer brown? shiny foil packaging material in various gaudy shades of electric yellow?).

Thank you for your reply & Ho’ ho’ ho’ I stand corrected! Merry Santa me! December B!

 

[goddessofglee]

Does anyone have thoughts on the new years poetry challenge?
I'd suggest to have the weekly poems which was better than the monthly challenge put forth this year.
Though i didn't dislike the concept as such, but a poetry on anything would be what I'd suggest. Like the one we had in 2023. Anyone could participate without second thoughts. I feel that many people would have missed participating in the 2024 challenge.
Moreover, I felt it too complicated to be honest.
But whatever it may be I'd try to chip in my bit this forthcoming year.
Thanks

 

[Angeline]

Does anyone have thoughts on the new years poetry challenge?
I'd suggest to have the weekly poems which was better than the monthly challenge put forth this year.
Though i didn't dislike the concept as such, but a poetry on anything would be what I'd suggest. Like the one we had in 2023. Anyone could participate without second thoughts. I feel that many people would have missed participating in the 2024 challenge.
Moreover, I felt it too complicated to be honest.
But whatever it may be I'd try to chip in my bit this forthcoming year.
Thanks

Hi Glee. That is exactly the plan for 2025: participants write a poem per week, any topic and style. At least that's the challenge I'll be doing. If anyone wants to introduce other challenges they're welcome to it, but I'm going to (try to!) write a poem each week and I'm looking forward to company on that journey.