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

[nudeblaqgirl]

and that's all the trouble starts. people electing to feel insulted, where no insult was ever meant.

You're responsible for the impact of your words, whatever your intent. Write more carefully if you want to avoid "misinterpretation."

And there's no "trouble." You wrote something I strongly disagreed with, and I responded. As I have every right to do.

 

[NivKay]

@SpermFactory I feel a Ginsbergian howl coming on when I read this.

 

[Angeline]

Bravo Tzara on your meaningful, (and yes) elegant sestina.

 

[Wonderer67]

I am starting to get into the swing of things. Starting late last year when I was playing catch up to get to 52 poems.

I really don’t know much of anything about the form of writing (just freeform and haiku) but I guess it’s a discipline. Just putting pen to paper, thoughts on my phone, tapping the keyboard during a spare moment.

But when you make it a practice and do more of it, I guess the better your “product.” Or at least your output.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I am starting to get into the swing of things. Starting late last year when I was playing catch up to get to 52 poems.

I really don’t know much of anything about the form of writing (just freeform and haiku) but I guess it’s a discipline. Just putting pen to paper, thoughts on my phone, tapping the keyboard during a spare moment.

But when you make it a practice and do more of it, I guess the better your “product.” Or at least your output.

It’s good to see someone back themselves like you did last year.

Some poets write compositions commanding entire orchestras with skill. While others blow blues harp thumping feet on street corners. And still there are others making music with holes.

Without us all the world would be diminished.

Love that we the free are fearlessly posting and sharing our creative voices with each other.

FREEDOM is a Wonderer.

 

[_Land]

It’s good to see someone back themselves like you did last year. On poetry, some people write compositions commanding entire orchestras and others blow blues harp thumping feet on street corners. And still others are a boy boy and girl girl making music with their holes. While 42 is just Fucking shameless Yeah and that’s not just in bed.

Without us all the world would be diminished.

Love that you are fearlessly posting and sharing all your creative voice with us all.

FREEDOM is a Wonderer.

Blue harps and thumping feet are an option ?

Where can I order that option ?

 

[42BelowsBack]

Blue harps and thumping feet are an option ?

Where can I order that option ?

Recently I paused to think about you, triggered by something positive a known and published poet commented at their latest collection launch. As such I wish you well with the upcoming launch of your personal collections. Three books I believe?

Today I find myself seeing the poems only thread as a flying formation as though the poems and poets are moving in a V line like geese urging each other on.

 

[_Land]

Recently I paused to think about you, triggered by something positive a known and published poet commented at their latest collection launch. As such I wish you well with the upcoming launch of your personal collections. Three books I believe?

Today I find myself seeing the poems only thread as a flying formation as though the poems and poets are moving in a V line like geese urging each other on.

Yes and possibly a fourth.... I'm spending a lot of time editing and shoveling the stuff around..... It's a lot harder then just writing the poetry

I'm also running a collaborative poet community on Substack in my spare time . Community is so important. I often think back to the start of my journey here at lit. Before I refined my raw voice and added a little bit of talent. This place, the people here shaped me.

 

[42BelowsBack]

Yes and possibly a fourth.... I'm spending a lot of time editing and shoveling the stuff around..... It's a lot harder then just writing the poetry

I'm also running a collaborative poet community on Substack in my spare time . Community is so important. I often think back to the start of my journey here at lit. Before I refined my raw voice and added a little bit of talent. This place, the people here shaped me.

A Fourth! I can only imagine what it’s like to wrangle with that many collections.

I probably think too much. Especially when I run, skip rope, swim. Lol: give me a fundamental baseline and I’ll thump my feet, do some speed work and shake my boogey Oogy in a corner all of my own.

Being comparatively Lit new I’m just now experiencing that self same thing. Lit is surprising and I am finding it an unquantifiable space.

Teaching others must be a very rewarding experience? Not in the sense of money. But in the sense of being there in the room as debutant writers emerge. Very special.

 

[_Land]

A Fourth! I can only imagine what it’s like to wrangle with that many collections.

I probably think too much. Especially when I run, skip rope, swim. Lol: give me a fundamental baseline and I’ll thump my feet, do some speed work and shake my boogey Oogy in a corner all of my own.

Being comparatively Lit new I’m just now experiencing that self same thing. Lit is surprising and I am finding it an unquantifiable space.

Teaching others must be a very rewarding experience? Not in the sense of money. But in the sense of being there in the room as debutant writers emerge. Very special.

Of all the things I enjoy the most it's in just the little bit of encouragement needed to help another soul find their voice. To see them grow and flourish in to who they always were

 

[12oclocktales]

Of all the things I enjoy the most it's in just the little bit of encouragement needed to help another soul find their voice. To see them grow and flourish in to who they always were

There must be great satisfaction in this, to see it happen before your eyes, especially when, to paraphrase, out of a wide field filled with reeds only a few will make a pipe. To help turn that reed into a piper of songs is a wonderful thing.

 

[SmilingLez]

You're responsible for the impact of your words

Yup. The world would be in a better place if people took full responsibility of what came out of their mouths.


YMMV

 

[42BelowsBack]

Blues Chant Hoodoo Revival by Yusef Komunyakaa

This poem is a blues [voodoo velvet] Yes I know it’s Hoodoo not voodoo but it speaks to me with purpose. It says let go, flow, be yourself.

 

[Angeline]

This poem is a blues [voodoo velvet] Yes I know it’s Hoodoo not voodoo but it speaks to me with purpose. It says let go, flow, be yourself.

It's such a powerful poem. Yusef Komunyakaa has published many collections of poetry and won prizes from Pulitzer to every prestigious poetry prize around. And why? His poetry is vivid yes, but it's also honest and accessible. When I read lines like these (excepted from Blues Chant Hoodoo Revival) I get chills!

"your story is
a crippled animal
dragging a steel trap
across desert sand
a bee’s sting inside your heart
& its song of honey
in my groin
a factory of blue jays
in honey locust leaves
wet pages of smoke
like a man
deserting his shadow
in dark woods
the dog that limps away
& rotten fruit on the trees"

 

[Wonderer67]

This poem is a blues [voodoo velvet] Yes I know it’s Hoodoo not voodoo but it speaks to me with purpose. It says let go, flow, be yourself.

 

[Waeponwifestre]

I would like to give a shout out to the absolutely excellent (and frankly hilarious) poem The Curse of Repitition in Ancient Greece by @SpermFactory

However I must point out that I feel like it was a real missed opportunity when you’re writing about Ancient Greek comedy not to work in the term “Sisyphus Hypno” somewhere.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I would like to give a shout out to the absolutely excellent (and frankly hilarious) poem The Curse of Repitition in Ancient Greece by @SpermFactory

However I must point out that I feel like it was a real missed opportunity when you’re writing about Ancient Greek comedy not to work in the term “Sisyphus Hypno” somewhere.

@SpermFactory write a Greek tragedy! Most excellent.

 

[SapioSexual9]

 

[42BelowsBack]

42 it is time for you to choke not swallow. Mehehe

Choke! Choke! 42 / No wait whaaat? Punks.

 

[Angeline]

@NivKay I was so pleased to see another fan of Forough Farrokzhad's poetry here! She has been a favorite of mine for many years, since I discovered her as a university undergraduate. I carried a xeroxed copy of the poem I linked with me for years (decades!). Her voice comes through (even in iffy translations from the original Farsi) as so uniquely feminine, sensual and brave.

 

[SmilingLez]

I am curious if any other poets who also write stories ever feel their ability to express themselves via poetry falls to the wayside after writing a story.

 

[Waeponwifestre]

I am curious if any other poets who also write stories ever feel their ability to express themselves via poetry falls to the wayside after writing a story.

I don’t write stories but I have a similar issue with my music.

It’s like being pulled in multiple directions, and there’s only so much time to focus on any one thing (let alone all the time spent dealing with non-artistic life shit)

 

[42BelowsBack]

I am curious if any other poets who also write stories ever feel their ability to express themselves via poetry falls to the wayside after writing a story.

I have just discovered the more I write the less I actually ‘see’ that thing I am actually writing. I move away from things. And get tired of things that work for me.

 

[Angeline]

I have just discovered the more I write the less I actually ‘see’ that which I am actually writing.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Is it that as you write what comes out is different from what you'd intended when you decided to write? That often happens to me. I have the idea to write about X as I start, but by the time I've finished the poem is about YZ.

 

[woodsman44]

I am curious if any other poets who also write stories ever feel their ability to express themselves via poetry falls to the wayside after writing a story.

I think I have the opposite problem...my stories tend to flow more like my poetry and I have to edit out the rhythm and rhyme sometimes. Or I have to take a bit to write the poem trying to come out before I can get back to prose.