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

[_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.

 

[NivKay]

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 it's a slightly different sensibility I have with prose. There is still poetry in the prose (how could there not be!) but poetry is a kind of rarefied perception, where everything gets drained into pure emotion, pure sensation. When I move to short fiction, I am thinking more of the consequences, and the networks of occurrences and events.

p/s I've actually been wondering about getting some or one of you to read a piece of short fiction i'm working on to submit to the Berlin Literary review... I don't trust the people who comment on the author pages here...if anyone could be bothered...please let me know...but if not, it's all good! Just thought i'd throw it in there!

 

[NivKay]

@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.

@Angeline I came across her work a few years ago, but yes! nice to know there is someone else here who enjoys her work! Yes, its that sensuality I was attracted to when I first read her poems!!

 

[12oclocktales]

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.

It seems in a story I’m more concerned with carrying a narrative from point A to B to C, while in poetry it’s more immersing myself in a particular moment, burrowing in and staying put. That’s sometimes harder to do. I notice there aren’t too many famous contemporary writers who do both; John Updike is about the only one who comes to mind without racking my brain for others. (I’m sure there are others.)

 

[42BelowsBack]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean..

That makes two of us I’m not sure what I was thinking at that point in time either.?

 

[woodsman44]

@NivKay I'll take a look...I like the exercise of it. If you want to send it along, please let me know if there is anything specific you're after.

 

[42BelowsBack]

p/s I've actually been wondering about getting some or one of you to read a piece of short fiction i'm working on to submit to the Berlin Literary review... I don't trust the people who comment on the author pages here...if anyone could be bothered...please let me know...but if not, it's all good! Just thought i'd throw it in there.

Sounds very exciting. And inspiring. The only reason I’m not volunteering is I’m a piss poor poet, can’t spell, not an author. It’s a shame you absolutely can’t post your draft in your thread. I’m sure a lot of Lit people would find it inspiring. And want to help in anyway they can. Especially people from the poets’ forum.

(Lol I know you weren’t asking me but it is nice pretending you were ).

 

[SapioSexual9]

@Angeline I came across her work a few years ago, but yes! nice to know there is someone else here who enjoys her work! Yes, its that sensuality I was attracted to when I first read her poems!!

A lot of us do.

 

[NivKay]

@NivKay I'll take a look...I like the exercise of it. If you want to send it along, please let me know if there is anything specific you're after.

Hey bud...thanks ...I'm a little strapped at work, but will send it through soon...I'll send you a message...

 

[NivKay]

Sounds very exciting. And inspiring. The only reason I’m not volunteering is I’m a piss poor poet, can’t spell, not an author. It’s a shame you absolutely can’t post your draft in your thread. I’m sure a lot of Lit people would find it inspiring. And want to help in anyway they can. Especially people from the poets’ forum.

(Lol I know you weren’t asking me but it is nice pretending you were ).

I would not say that about you. But, its all good. I was afraid it was a little inappropriate to talk about that here...but its all good, mate!