Prompt #20 - THING

We’ve reached the letter “t” on our trip down Alphabet Road. The prompt I’ve chosen for this week is: thing. This is a great word. It can take you anywhere. We all have a thing we like or we care about. My attempt this week is dedicated to all the poets out there who regularly exercise their muse. So write about anything or everything or just any old thing that pops in your head. The important thing is to just write something!

THIS THING CALLED POETRY

What is this thing called poetry?
What in the world does it mean?
And how do these people called poets
create such incredible scenes?

The poets from past generations,
with inkwell and well-sharpened quill,
from deep within found inspiration
and brought forth their verses to thrill.

But poems did not die with Shakespeare,
or Browning, or Barrett or Yates.
There are many a new bard among us,
unabashed by the need to create.

Though quills have turned into computers,
the depths of those talents remain,
whether sharing a treasured encounter
or an undisguised moment of pain.

So what is this thing called poetry?
What value is there to impart?
It’s a piece of our personal history
as defined by the words from the heart.

Prompt #19 - STONE

Welcome back! The A Muse Fuse Poem-A-Day Challenge is now behind us. It’s time to move forward with our regular weekly prompts. While the Challenge was fun, I’m glad things are back to normal. As we return to our journey through the alphabet, we begin with the letter “S” and the word prompt this week is “stone.” Next week marks the third anniversary of my father’s death. My poem for this prompt seemed to write itself and is my tribute to this wonderful man who I think about every day.

THE STONE STANDS THERE
For Dan Schoeffield, 3/27/1920-8/20/2007

The stone stands there to remind me
of the loneliness I have felt
since the day you were taken away
and the body blow I was dealt.

The stone stands there to remind me
of laughter I no longer hear,
of wisdom you shared with me daily,
of comfort to vanquish the fear.

The stone stands there to remind me
of happier times in the past
when I was embraced by you presence,
a time that escaped us too fast.

The stone stands there to remind me
of memories I still hold dear.
The pain of the loss never lessens
for the dad who is no longer here.

Day #26 - ZEUS

We’ve reached the last letter of the alphabet, which means we’ve reached the end of the First Annual 26 Days in July Poem-A-Day Challenge. Many people have stopped by since our first prompt on July 6th, and while I’m disappointed that more didn’t have the opportunity to participate, I’m at least proud of myself for sticking with it. When all is said and done, I’ll look back on July as a month in which I wrote 26 poems. Some are pretty good, some are just okay, and some are downright awful. But, from my own perspective, this Challenge has been a huge success. I’ve looked at words I might not normally think of as particularly poetic and tried to infuse them with my muse. I didn’t always succeed, but I had fun trying. I’m hoping to bring the poem challenge back next year in January and then, again, in July. Why, you might well ask? It’s all for the love of poetry … and why the Zeus not?

ZEUS?

My well of creativity
has dried up from misuse.
I guess it’s time I face it:
I’m not cummings, Frost or Seuss!

The last prompt, and my muse is dead.
I’ve nothing to produce.
I’ve no words to inspire you,
enlighten or seduce.

And, so, I struggle with this prompt.
I guess I’m just obtuse.
But how can I write poetry
about the Greek god, Zeus?

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. I hope you’ve enjoyed our sojourn through the alphabet. See you back here on August 12, 2010, when we resume our regular weekly prompts, starting with the letter “S.”

Day #25 - YELL

24 days down. 2 to go. Can you feel the excitement build? No, I can’t either. But that’s neither here nor there. Today’s prompt is “yell.” Once in a while, you might yell at your kids; you probably wish you could yell at your boss; you might even yell at the talking heads on television. As for now, yell where it really matters … on paper, in a poem! As for my effort today: I’m using the mantra I repeated to my parents on a regular basis.

PLEASE DON’T YELL

I could have done this better.
and I could have done that right.
I could have thought about it first,
and dodged my present plight.
I promise to reduce my wrongs.
On failures, please don’t dwell.
And while I beg for amnesty,
resist the urge to yell.

Day #24 - X-RAY

Our prompt for Day #24 is “x-ray.” I dedicate my poetic effort for today to my mother and father, who passed away two weeks apart in 2007. Sometimes, I wonder if the pain of their loss will ever go away.

MULTIPLE X-RAYS

If you x-ray my heart,
you will see how it bleeds
from an unfulfilled promise
and from unfulfilled needs.

If you x-ray my soul,
you will find that it’s black.
There’s a dark, empty hole,
knowing you won’t be back.

If you x-ray my eyes,
you will see how they cried.
For the tears realize
what they lost when you died.

Day #23 - WILLOW

We are now at Day #23 in the A Muse Fuse Poem-A-Day Challenge. Today’s prompt is “willow.” The kitchen window, in the house I grew up in, looked out upon our backyard. There, in the center of our outside oasis, stood a weeping willow tree. Many hours of my childhood were spent playing around, under, and on that tree. It was a source of safety and comfort in those days of my youth. It is now a pleasant and comforting memory as time moves forward.

THE WEEPING WILLOW

I saw it from the window,
the tree so proud and tall.
It reached beyond the heavens
(so I thought, when I was small).
It reminded me of Daddy,
rooted firmly in the ground,
but was also like my Momma,
showing strength without a sound.
This tree will last forever,
though its branches gently sway,
for this weeping willow memory
is a part of me today.

Day #22 - VALOR

Today is the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice. In World War II, my dad served his country as a plane mechanic, and my grandfather was wounded in France during World War I. We still live with the aftermath of the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. There seems no end in sight for the war in Afghanistan. Regardless of whether you are a hawk or a dove in military matters, there is no denying the courage of the men and women who regularly put their lives on hold to join the fight for freedom. With the prompt for Day #22 (“valor”), I take this opportunity to thank them all.

VALOR REMEMBERED

For all who answered quickly
and heeded duty’s call,
for those who put themselves at risk
and gave the job their all,
for those who fought for freedom
with their lives upon the line,
we thank you for your sacrifice.
Your valor withstands time.

Day #21 - UKULELE

I'm so sorry for the delay in posting today's prompt. Yesterday, a storm came through that took out our cable line, which caused us to lose the phone, internet and tv. But now we're back, up and running!!

The prompt for Day #21 in the Poem-A-Day challenge is "ukulele." I can't think of that word without thinking of Hawaiian Islands, which inspired my poem for today.

ISLAND MUSIC

Beyond the western coast,
a paradise is found.
A daily dose of magic
brings enchantment all around.
So strum your ukulele
and dance in hula time.
The music of Hawaii
is a ballad so sublime.

Day #20 - TINSEL

You’ve heard of Christmas in July? Well, incredible as it seems, this word and today’s date were not planned out ahead of time. My inspiration for today’s prompt “tinsel” comes from holidays gone by and good memories not lost in the passage of time.

TINSEL ON THE TREE

It seems like only yesterday,
when I was all of three,
I’d run and tumble down the stairs.
I’d squeal with childish glee.
And long before I saw the gifts
my eyes went wide to see
the gaudy balls, the bubble lights
and tinsel on the tree.

Through magic of home movies,
I can watch my family
enjoy the pleasures of the day.
But sadness smothers me.
For how I miss those moments
and how much I’d love to see
the gaudy balls, the bubble lights
and tinsel on the tree.

Day #19 - SUPREME

The prompt for Day #19 is: supreme. One definition is "greatest, utmost or extreme." And that pretty much summarizes the weather today here in Baltimore. Not quite 11:30 in the morning and our temperature, with the heat index, is already at 101 degrees. While that may not explain my late post today, it certainly explains my inspiration!

HEAT SUPREME

Temperatures soar
higher with humidity.
The supreme heat rules!