It's the Poem-A-Week Challenge Discussion Thread

[Aquelle]

Poems in Discussion Thread?
What heresy is this I read?
This lack discussion
Gave me a concussion
And now I am going to bed

 

[Angeline]

Happy day after (oops!) National Fibonacci Day!


I
love
to write
poetry
words spill out of me
though sometimes in the wrong places
I don't much care what others think
if I'm on the brink
those faces
just prompt
more
words

 

[Tzara]

autumn's fallen leaves
red and gold swirl in the breeze
movement without life

I particularly liked this poem, which seems to me to feature more of the characteristics of traditional haiku than just the 5-7-5 syllable structure. There is a clear seasonal reference (kigo) and, effectively the equivalent of a cut word (kireji) at the end of line two (this might be made more emphatic by adding a dash to the end of the line. The imagery is natural (e.g. no metaphor) and although there is the hint of rhyme with leaves/breeze, that isn't so obvious as to be especially distracting.

All in all, I think a pretty good example of the form.

 

[kreemi_pi]

I particularly liked this poem, which seems to me to feature more of the characteristics of traditional haiku than just the 5-7-5 syllable structure. There is a clear seasonal reference (kigo) and, effectively the equivalent of a cut word (kireji) at the end of line two (this might be made more emphatic by adding a dash to the end of the line. The imagery is natural (e.g. no metaphor) and although there is the hint of rhyme with leaves/breeze, that isn't so obvious as to be especially distracting.

All in all, I think a pretty good example of the form.

Many thanks

 

[SapioSexual9]

Hi I’m back, curtseys demuely to @Angeline, wantonly winks at the maginificent @Tzara. Smiles at @42BelowsBack. Peers around for @SpermFactory?

& waves at all the sexy poets who have been playing in the poem a week thread.

xo

 

[42BelowsBack]

Welcome back Mmmms

 

[Angeline]

42, I really like your two poems Caterwauling and In Your Mouth. They feel like two parts of the same poem to me, and I wondered if they were one piece that you split up...and if so why.

I apologize for this not being a more helpful comment lol. I think I need more coffee, perhaps in an IV.

 

[42BelowsBack]

42, I really like your two poems Caterwauling and In Your Mouth. They feel like two parts of the same poem to me, and I wondered if they were one piece that you split up...and if so why.

I apologize for this not being a more helpful comment lol. I think I need more coffee, perhaps in an IV.

Haha, ahem, Angeline am I accused of quota writing? They were both written hot on the heels, one after another.

They are a quiet little reflection: What is the difference between a vibe and a feeling? In your mouth utilizes repetition as some feelings are enjoyably repetitious. Caterwauling, I asked myself what is a vibe? Is there image in sound? Of course. Now how do I capture that?

The suggestion of combining them as one, is a good one for a 26 rewrite. Lol, both poems ask for more.

 

[42BelowsBack]

AHAHAHAHAHAHA SNAPPED HAHAHAHA but still, knowing you, you are serious about that question… what is the difference between a vibe and a feeling? How do you portray that in a poem?

Is a vibe superficial, fleeting, something you go through like Tomcats at night, out tail standing? One things for sure, I know to keep an eye on you buddy. Your poems are never what they superficially seem…

If anything, my writers block is that quota 52, I can’t get it out of my head.

Well Sperm (I can’t believe I’m talking to Sperm, there’s a poem for sure in that). I suggest writing in forms. To break your block headlock.

 

[Angeline]

Haha, ahem, Angeline am I accused of quota writing? They were both written hot on the heels, one after another.

They are a quiet little reflection: What is the difference between a vibe and a feeling? In your mouth utilizes repetition as some feelings are enjoyably repetitious. Caterwauling, I asked myself what is a vibe? Is there image in sound? Of course. Now how do I capture that?

The suggestion of combining them as one, is a good one for a 26 rewrite. Lol, both poems ask for more.

You? Quota writing? Never!

So. I have a feeling? The room has a vibe?

I don't know. I'm still coffee deficient, but yes you could revise those poems and put them together. Or not.

 

[Angeline]

AHAHAHAHAHAHA SNAPPED HAHAHAHA but still, knowing you, you are serious about that question… what is the difference between a vibe and a feeling? How do you portray that in a poem?

Is a vibe superficial, fleeting, something you go through like Tomcats at night, out tail standing? One things for sure, I know to keep an eye on you buddy. Your poems are never what they superficially seem…

If anything, my writers block is that quota 52, I can’t get it out of my head.

Quotas schmotas. Just write my dear Sperm.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I recently rewrote the following poem in response to unsolicited feedback. I think it highlights the importance of skilled readers, and positive poet response to deft feedback.

Hath no fury.

I examine her picture of two people fucking
each other, black and white charcoal cross
hatched scratches layering his back & ass,
his chest in bold stokes angry boiling eyes
glaring back at me, her thighs are stockings
scratched scorched black cross hatched in
charcoal with skin as white as the canvas &
I read her title only to realize this is her still
fucking him close post their divorce.


(Rewrite / Edited).


The picture.

Examining the picture / two people /
fucking / black / white / charcoal / cross
hatched / scratches layering his back,
his chest, his ass.

Caught staring back her scorched thighs
stretched white canvas skin, I see only
/ realize / she is still fucking him / close /
post divorce.



(ps just a rewritten poem, not an experience).

 

[Wonderer67]

Been in a bad rut recently.

The ideas are there, but the writing hasn’t been cumming. SAD is sad. The days get shorter and fuck me.

Weird dreams have waylaid me.

I wrote fuck the winter… and it’s technically not even winter yet…

When I transfer these pictures from Imgur, they don’t do much justice…

You can’t see the tower of sunlight effect or the ice crystals from the ground were sparkling in the sunlight.

The tower of sunlight seem to be like a message from god. And I don’t even believe in her.

Although it was 11°, the other morning, I sort of snapped me out of it a little bit.

https://imgur.com/a/U06k1iF

https://imgur.com/a/krvUfhO

https://imgur.com/a/J1S53c8

 

[SapioSexual9]

What is the story behind it?

When is a found poem not a found poem? Opinion resides in the mind of the poet, the poet’s readers. Is a rearrangement of Shakespeare’s lines a found poem? Or a love affair? Limbs rearranged. Many would find it the height of ignorance.

And yet I do wonder why not. Not a question, or not to question is the height of ignorance. A man walks in, perhaps never having experienced Shakespeare’s brilliance. Awe inspired his quotes garbled. He walks away carrying a collection of lines. Unaware or uncaring? That Thespian’s like I will see, ham fisted ignorance.

Personally, a Blackout poem? Taken from Shakespeare. Yes. An ensemble of rearranged high kicking lines… don’t know if I’d like to know the back story. It could be painful. Or not.

 

[42BelowsBack]

What is the story behind it?

When is a found poem not a found poem? Opinion resides in the mind of the poet, the poet’s readers. Is a rearrangement of Shakespeare’s lines a found poem? Or a love affair? Limbs rearranged. Many would find it the height of ignorance.

And yet I do wonder why not. Not a question, or not to question is the height of ignorance. A man walks in, perhaps never having experienced Shakespeare’s brilliance. Awe inspired his quotes garbled. He walks away carrying a collection of lines. Unaware or uncaring? That Thespian’s like I will see, ham fisted ignorance.

Personally, a Blackout poem? Taken from Shakespeare. Yes. An ensemble of rearranged high kicking lines… don’t know if I’d like to know the back story. It could be painful. Or not.

Each to their own walk through life. I make no excuse for being a man.

I am a first time reader of Shakespeare. I take your point regarding rearranged lines, vs what might be considered a prototypical Found poem. And find the distinction between a Blackout poem and a Found poem interesting.

The collection of lines resulted from a very slow read, taking pause to consider lines like ‘…banners flout the sky…” Much is written about Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, perhaps not from the perspective of its stunning action sequences. The lines collected were lines that I found stunning. I realize there is a great depth more to Shakespeare than that which I have superficially lined.

It’s not a crime to be enamored of a good fight. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is every inch a fighting man’s story. In war, fighting men are pawns of higher powers. Including their own fallibilities.

 

[Angeline]

Each to their own walk through life. I make no excuse for being a fighting man.

I am a first time reader of Shakespeare. I take your point regarding rearranged lines, vs what might be considered a prototypical Found poem. And find the distinction between a Blackout poem and a Found poem interesting.

The collection of lines resulted from a very slow read, taking pause to consider lines like ‘…banners flout the sky…” Much is written about Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, perhaps not from the perspective of its stunning action sequences. The lines collected were lines that I found stunning. I realize there is a great depth more to Shakespeare than that which I have superficially lined.

It’s not a crime to be enamored of a good fight. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is every inch a fighting man’s story. In war, fighting men are pawns of higher powers. Including their own fallibilities.

It's very well done, well put together. It's a Cento, a kind of found poem composed of lines from a literary work to both serve as homage and create something new.

Yes it's obviously Shakespeare and, as one reads, obviously Macbeth but all Centos should have the work from which they're drawn cited. It's the poet's way of saying "I know I didn't write these lines myself." If you really want to go crazy you can add a footnote that annotates, by act. scene and speaker, the source of each line. But as an experiment in writing a Cento, just noting the author and work should be fine.

I really like how you combined the lines to create the sights and sounds of battle.

 

[Angeline]

BTW there are some great examples of Centos here:


https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/157330/cento-celebrating-home

 

[42BelowsBack]

It's very well done, well put together. It's a Cento, a kind of found poem composed of lines from a literary work to both serve as homage and create something new.

Yes it's obviously Shakespeare and, as one reads, obviously Macbeth but all Centos should have the work from which they're drawn cited. It's the poet's way of saying "I know I didn't write these lines myself." If you really want to go crazy you can add a footnote that annotates, by act. scene and speaker, the source of each line. But as an experiment in writing a Cento, just noting the author and work should be fine.

I really like how you combined the lines to create the sights and sounds of battle.

Annotations coming.

 

[SapioSexual9]

Oops

 

[42BelowsBack]

Oops

Shush Just kidding! If ya didna say anythin we’d be none da wisa.

 

[42BelowsBack]

To close 2025 I celebrate writing well over 52 xs in under 26 weeks. Not all posted on Lit. Some poems I submitted for wider publication in magazines and journals.

I thank myself for writing through rejections.

I look back and see I still suck at writing titles for poems.

And although guilty of posting incomplete poems, I don’t feel guilty. Okay just a little guilty. 2026 will be my Lit review redemption. Sometimes you’ve just gotta throw the baby out with the bath water though.

Other self flagellatory successes in my 2025 year book: I gave feedback to both emerging and established poets.

Including poets I previously wrote with in workshop settings. Results were varied. Feedback primarily identifies my ignorance, but has resulted in some thought provoking conversations. It also resulted in doing time with some assholes. lol.

If I have to single anyone out for special mention: , everyone who posted in the 2025 poem a week challenge. Everyone who shared their poetry in forums this year. Past Lit poets. And I especially thank and acknowledge @Angeline and @Tzara for their services to poetry. I’ve learnt a bunch from both of you.

As to those who have problem with me being real on a porn site. Go Fuck Yourselves. Merrily.

Seasons greetings All the best for 2026.

 

[SapioSexual9]

My yearly report 2025

Yikes! I wrote some real clangers. Numbered two poems 37. Made it to 41/52 (still got time to write one more). Sucked a lot of cock.

 

[_Land]

My yearly report,
I wrote over 1500 poems this year .......many will not be seen.
My writing and my voice have developed a lot this year through practice, changing things up, attempting new forms and voices, and through some high end collaboration. I have 2 books that will be published in 2026, that's a huge step forward for me as I've never felt confident enough to take that step.

I'm having fun writing, not just poetry but essays and fiction as well.

I love the way this year has shaped me despite great loss and challenges , or perhaps because of them.

I love having reconnected to the beginning of my real writing experience here at lit. To feel the absence of those who first encouraged and put up with me to the ones still here, and to the new voices that have since found a home here. Many blessings during the Holiday Season.

_Land(Bear Sage)

 

[SapioSexual9]

In 2025 loved the Like emoji. Love to write in this kinky community, rote 41 poems, still don’t look like cookie dough or leave Stimpy ass imprints in seats. Some of my 41 poems weren’t weren’t suck full. Still not a cock sucker. Or a feedback whore.

Lit life coach

 

[Wonderer67]

9 days left in the year and 8 poems to go.

It feels forced, but I’m going for it.