The PAD prompt for Day 14 was the word “report”. Here’s mine.
April in the South
Canceled plans for the day
Checked radios and batteries
All day long the weatherman predicts
But no one really knows
Just when and where
In the backyard cardinals gather
Do they understand?
Where will they shelter when the storms arrive?
A breeze belies what is to come
A brief reprieve in the heavy air
Pressing all around
A pale haze under darkening skies
Waiting, waiting
The prompt for PAD Day 16 was to write a “favorite” poem. I wrote this using a Bop poem format…
Favorites
What’s your favorite is a hard question
Who’s your favorite is loaded
Say green instead of yellow
Anytime, and no one cares
But if it’s political or familial
Look out and step lightly
I love, I like, I’m a fan
My favorite today may change
But doesn’t just blow with the wind
It grows and evolves
I am allowed to prefer
Southern rock over classical
There’s room in my spirit for both
I can love pie best
Without giving up cake
I love, I like, I’m a fan
The better question might be
What’s your favorite today?
Don’t answer to tickle the ears
Be honest and sidestep
If you must
For who doesn’t prefer peace?
I love, I like, I’m a fan
This reminded me of a portions of the lyrics of Murder in the City by the Avett Brothers.
…I wonder which brother is better
Which one our parents love the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seem to let the other go
“Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
like the love that let us share our name.”
Oklahoma, April 1936. Iconic photo taken by Arthur Rothstein.
I recently finished Woody Guthrie: A Life by Joe Klein. It sparked my interest in that time period, especially since that is when my grandfather deserted his family on the side of the road in Florida.
The prompt for PAD Day 10 was to write a deal poem. Mine is based on my recent readings.
The Hand Was Dealt
Displaced, depressed
Wandering the windswept plain
On dust bowl shattered dreams
Homeless, hungry
Pushed on by black blizzards
Forlorn figures on the road
Farms gone, families scattered
Despondent souls eroding
Through dust bowl shattered dreams
The prompt for PAD Day 4 was Case ______. This isn’t my best work, but I can’t help but think there are others out there that feel the way I do on the topic.
Case Cutters
There is something about a case cutter
That gives me the heebie-jeebies
Give me a knife any old day
I can handle an ax or a hatchet
Scissors are simple
Toe nail clippers a breeze
But keep those case cutters
Away from me
I was subbing in a history class last year during PAD. On Two-for Tuesday, we could write either a sonnet or an “anti-form” poem (for those who don’t like formulaic poetry). So, I looked around the classroom that day for inspiration. Here’s my sonnet:
History Class
Join or die, a choice beyond compare
The mind and heart do battle all the day
It’s felt in lives of young ones everywhere
How do you choose? How do you find your way?
Go confidently; follow after dreams
In the direction of the sun or moon
Your dreams may float or shine like gold sunbeams
Or bounce along like notes on sweetest tune
With perseverance run the race ahead
Respect, integrity will take you far
Diversity can be the vital thread
In everything you do be who you are
They say the price of victory is high
But so are the rewards; reach for the sky
Borrowed portions:
Join or Die – Benjamin Franklin
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams – Henry David Thoreau
Perseverance, Respect, Integrity and Diversity in everything that we(you) do = PRIDE – school mission statement
They say the price of victory is high. But, so are the rewards – Paul (Bear) Bryant
(edited/reposted)
The First of May
So, the last day of PAD arrived with a prompt of “The _________” . I went with the theme of the whole month. I love this poetic marathon every year; I just hope to keep at it. I hope to polish up a few poems and submit some for publication. Perhaps THIS will be the year!
2017
The Poet
she breathes the air of yesterday
infused with memories sweet and clear
outside her window, falling rain transports her
to childhood afternoons
or to the coast of Ireland
or to a washed out hope
she dreams of possibilities and regrets
possibilities give her words that soar
regrets form melancholic stanzas
and so she writes
into the night
on tear-stained paper
she walks through days alone
gathering images and syllables
saving them in her pocket
hiding them in her heart
until they spill out
unrestrained and satisfying
The prompt for PAD Day 24 was “faith” . The day before I had just posted the following quote while hashtagging on twitter
“…you don’t have to understand things for them to be.” – from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
September, 2016
For What is Faith?
I find myself questioning without doubting
Not understanding but believing
For what is faith?
The substance of things hoped for
Even when my mind is perplexed
My heart is pierced with truth
The evidence of things not seen but sure
Indications and manifestations to hold me
To keep me on the way
Hope, that thing with feathers
Faith fluttering as a breeze
Mystifying yet dependable
Remember When
Remember that time
when we…
and so the stories begin
from the bearded men
gathered across the years
for such a time as this
another has gone from their midst
and so they spin tales
of long ago
Written for PAD Day 15 – “One Time”
Today’s PAD prompt was “sound”. Here’s my sound memory…
Sweet Notes
The sound of him singing
“Sweet Caroline”
at the top of his voice
from the shower
brings a smile and warms
my heart
I am amazed
at the change in him
who would have
ever thought
he’d be a Neil Diamond fan?
this tall boy-man
who left home to be a soldier
and returned
so thin and worldly-wise
yet I still hear
the boy in his voice
and see it in his grin.
You can read last year’s Day 6 poem HERE.
from Google Play
Today’s PAD prompt was to write an “elements” poem. I thought I’d have a little fun with it!
Elementally Speaking
Universally stands Uranium
Along with Neptunium and Plutonium
The silvery Samarium
Hangs with Europium and Francium
“United We Stand” sings Americium
Along with Californium
And little Berkelium
There’s rare sister Ruthenium
With her brother, Lawrencium
and their friend, Einsteinium
We could all use some Technetium
With our Chrom(book)ium
But no one likes Livermorium
This list is fairly Nobelium
And that’s not even Hafnium!
Not In This Soup Alone 