PROMPT #28 - CRAYON

Last week, our prompt was “brown.” Today, our prompt is “crayon.” Even though it appears that way, I’m not building on a theme here. (Although, if it wasn’t for the letter “q” – a colorless letter -- it might be fun to have a Color Poem-A-Day Challenge. But the February Challenge is months away. This “q” thing might need some serious research!) Crayons are most often associated with children. In its simplicity, a crayon can be inspiring. Inspire yourself with this primary tool of creation. And if you can find the name of a color that begins with the letter “q,” let me know!!

CRAYON CREATIONS

A crayon held with childlike might
is less a tool with which to write
than one that fashions art in wax.
And spared by critics’ cruel attacks,
a child continues, in his glee,
to build upon his artistry.

PROMPT #28 – BROWN

Today, we revisit the second letter of the alphabet, and our word for today is “brown.” You wouldn’t know it from my own poem below, but I love the color brown. The richness of its various hues provides warmth and comfort. And, let’s face it, coffee and chocolate are brown: my two, favorite food groups! Look within your muse and follow wherever “brown” leads you.

A BROWN POINT OF VIEW

A landscape, barren of vegetation,
sits dry, empty and brown.

A river, pounded relentlessly
by an unforgiving rain,
overflows, is muddy and brown.

A heart, devoid of rich soil
for planting the seeds of love
and the waters needed for growth,
is lonely, shriveled and brown.

PROMPT #27 - AWE

This week, we return to the beginning of the alphabet. There are, of course, many words I could have chosen for today’s prompt. But having spent yesterday watching the rescue of the Chilean miners, I can think of no better word to express what I feel for these men and their families than our prompt for this week, which is “awe.” The word is defined as an overwhelming feeling of reverence and admiration. It captures more, than any other word, the emotions my heart holds for these remarkable people.

IN AWE OF HEROES

People I’ve never met
have me standing in their corner,
saying prayers I hardly ever say.
Waiting and watching
thirty-three times.
Laughter, tears, happiness, relief.
Not just from these underground heroes
and the people who love them,
but from me, as well.
I admire their courage.
I am spellbound by their power to survive.
And I’m in awe of their unflinching faith.
Welcome back to the light.

PROMPT #26 - ZONE

A drum roll, please! Today, we complete our first, official journey through the alphabet. (We’re not counting our Poem-A-Day Challenge from back in July, which crammed the alphabet prompts into 26 days.) This journey began on February 1, 2010, and our prompt for the letter “A” was “afraid.” Now, here were are in October with the letter “Z” and the word we’ve chosen is “zone.” It’s been a fascinating nine month trip down alphabetical lane, and I greet our next excursion with both optimism and apprehension. Can we do it again? Time will tell. But today, I’m feeling in the zone. To quote from Wikipedia, being in the zone is “a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task” and includes being “on the ball, in the moment, present, in the groove, or keeping your head in the game.” Today, my muse is in the zone. How about yours? How will your muse define the word “zone?”

Next week, we return to the beginning, where we re-start our alphabet adventure with the letter “A”.

POET IN THE ZONE

My muse is in the zone today.
I feared that it had gone astray.
Inspired now to not delay
in case, again, it goes away.

My muse is in the zone today.
What prompted this, I cannot say.
Perhaps the sun broke through gray
and cleared the mind of disarray.

My muse is in the zone today.
It calls out words with which to play.
It may, of course, again decay,
but for right now, it’s here to stay.

PROMPT #25 - YESTERDAY

Our word for the 25th letter of the alphabet is “yesterday.”  You can look at this word in many different ways: with fond memories, with regrets, with laughter, or with tears. I give you two poems for today’s prompt.  Only Yesterday speaks of days gone by and how they created who I am.  Under "Comments," in my haiku, To Change Yesterday, I reflect on a longing to change things that can’t be undone.  How do you think of yesterday? Let the days of your past supply your poetic inspiration for today.

ONLY YESTERDAY

It seems like only yesterday,
I started off to school
to learn to read, to learn to write,
to learn the golden rule.
A uniform and saddle shoes
defined me, in a way,
and formed the mind of one so young,
that child of yesterday.

It seems like only yesterday,
my mom and dad were strong,
the ones I always turned to
when my world was going wrong.
The words they gave in wisdom
defined me in a way,
and brought me through the troubled times
that haunted yesterday.

It seems like only yesterday,
I lived with silent tears.
My empty heart had secret needs
encased by mounting fears.
But unexpected love to come
defined me, in a way,
and made this woman wise enough
to move past yesterday.

PROMPT #24 – XERIC

Those who follow our journey through the alphabet know that we began on the premise of finding inspiration from the simplest of words. So far, we’ve lived up to that premise. But now, as we reach the 24th letter of the alphabet, we find ourselves in a quandary. There are a limited number of “x” words to be found in the dictionary. While there are still a few, relatively easy and familiar words to use, we’ve opted to save them because they might be better suited to the next A Muse Fuse Poem-A-Day Challenge (coming in February 2011). As a result, we are left with the rest and, this week, we bring you the word “xeric” (pronounced “zer’ ik). Research has provided three definitions for this word: (1) of, pertaining to, or adapted to a dry environment; (2) of, relating to, or growing in dry conditions; and (3) relating or adapted to an extremely dry habitat (succulents such as cacti, aloes, and agaves are xeric plants). You may not find this word fusing your muse, but it is guaranteed to stretch it! I offer my attempt below.

THE XERIC BEAST

He roams the arid desert
on slow, deliberate feet.
Unlike the rest of nature,
he can tolerate the heat.
The sun beats down upon him,
but sweat, he does not do.
His body holds renewal,
be it in one hump or two.

PROMPT #23 - WATER

With two hurricanes and a tropical storm raging through the Atlantic, it’s easy to figure out the decision behind choosing today’s prompt.  I watch these kinds of storms with fascinated respect.  For all those in nature’s way, I pray for your safe passage through the day.  I offer two poetic attempts for today's prompt:  a poem called Water Worries and, under "Comments", a haiku I've called Water Ways.

WATER WORRIES

The farm fields look to sun-filled skies
to heed their pleas and hear their cries.
But clouds that hold their precious cure
refuse the call, their needs ignore.
A barren wasteland dry as dust
can barely live, but live it must.
Without the gifts the soil brings,
our fate depends on future springs.

NEXT PROMPT ON 9/16/10

Due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 6th, the A Muse Fuse weekly prompt will not return until Thursday, September 16th. We will then resume our alphabetical journey with the letter "W." Enjoy your holiday weekend and be safe!

Prompt #22 - VALUE

First, I apologize for the lateness of today’s post. Our 22nd muse prompt is the word: value. I have written and rewritten several poems for today’s prompt (hence, the posting delay). Many fell victim to the delete key, but I think I’m satisfied with my final product. Realistically, though, there are not enough megabytes to fully express the extent of what I value. And that makes me blessed and grateful.

WHAT WE VALUE

What makes us unique
are our differences.
What makes us similar
is not necessarily what our values are,
but that we all value something.

We value our families, our friendships,
our faiths and our freedoms.
We take offense when what we value
is compromised by outside opinions.

Words can sting and leave a mark,
but words alone cannot hurt us.
We have the privilege to live our lives
according to our own, particular needs.
And if we value nothing else,
let us embrace the value of liberty.

PROMPT #21 - UNDER

Today we come to the 21st letter of the alphabet. Our prompt is “under.” Still feeling the loss of my mother three years ago, I thought I was writing my poem for her. Instead, it appears I was writing it for me, a way to deal with the weight of the years her mind was held captive by this horrible disease. For all of you dealing with a loved one suffering in the same way, I pray you find the strength to get through it. And for my mother: Happy Birthday! You are missed and I love you!

UNDER BLACK, VELVET SKIES
For Martha Schoeffield 8/26/1920–9/3/2007

Dementia grabbed hold of her memory.
A blank, vacant stare gripped her eyes.
Recognition of loved ones around her
was lost under black, velvet skies.

Prayers for release went unanswered.
No hope for a speedy demise.
She lingered in chains from her bondage
in that prison of black, velvet skies.

When death finally graced her with freedom
from all that dementia implies,
relief mixed with unaltered sadness
for years lost to black, velvet skies.