On the third day of our Poem-A-Day challenge, we find ourselves saddled with the prompt: cowboy. When we think of cowboys, we often think of the wild west, the romance of riding toward the sunset, gunslingers and herding the cattle. Rustle up whatever images come to your mind. Let the cowboy infuse your muse!
THE COWBOY ALONE
Out in the wide open spaces,
a place that the cowboy calls home,
he rides through the plains and the mountains.
To an unknown location he roams.
To some, he might seem like a drifter.
To some, he’s a scary, old man.
But the cowboy has lived several lifetimes
with the aimlessness part of his plan.
For the cowboy has always been better
with his stallion, his heart and his gun
in the battles that somehow escaped him,
and that battles he artfully won,
than he ever would be in the city
where society’s habits seem strange.
So he rides all alone on the prairie
and he rides all alone on the range.
Spark you creativity every week by working your way through the alphabet: one letter, one week at a time.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Day #2 - BRAG
Day #2 of the A Muse Fuse Poem-A-Day Challenge brings with it the prompt "brag." Sometimes, we have much to brag about; sometimes, not so much. I found myself rather introspective on this one. See how your own, inner muse responds to this prompt. Here's my attempt:
SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT
Do I have anything to brag about?
I could talk for hours about myself:
what I’ve done, where I’ve been,
where I’m going.
In the overall scheme of things, though,
my accomplishments are few.
For example, as an author and poet,
I’ve written things I’m proud of
and things that were best left unread,
not to mention, left unwritten.
My achievements are better defined
if I’ve been there for a friend;
if I’ve heeded the call of a worthy cause;
if I can lend a hand to a stranger.
And if I can do all those things,
without the need for self-promotion
without expecting something in return,
that would be something to brag about.
SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT
Do I have anything to brag about?
I could talk for hours about myself:
what I’ve done, where I’ve been,
where I’m going.
In the overall scheme of things, though,
my accomplishments are few.
For example, as an author and poet,
I’ve written things I’m proud of
and things that were best left unread,
not to mention, left unwritten.
My achievements are better defined
if I’ve been there for a friend;
if I’ve heeded the call of a worthy cause;
if I can lend a hand to a stranger.
And if I can do all those things,
without the need for self-promotion
without expecting something in return,
that would be something to brag about.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day #1 - ALONG
Hello, everybody! Today, we start our 26-day journey through the alphabet with our Poem-A-Day Challenge. We welcome all who choose to participate, as well as those who just drop by to read our words. We hope you have fun on this trip. Let the creative sparks fly as you infuse your muse!!
As a reminder, the prompt does not have to be part of your title, but it must be included in your poem. Also, if some prompts work better for you pluralized or in another tense, you can certainly alter them as the need arises. We’re pretty flexible here at A Muse Fuse! The idea is to write a poem per day, or at least as many as you can.
So, let’s get started on our poetic, alphabetical odyssey. The first prompt is “along.” Here’s my offering for Day #1:
ALONG THIS ROAD
We travel along down this road
that winds throughout unchartered land.
Our thoughts and emotions explode
when pencils and pens are in hand.
United in poetic voice,
we eagerly set the muse free.
The style and the meter our choice,
these poems define you and me.
As a reminder, the prompt does not have to be part of your title, but it must be included in your poem. Also, if some prompts work better for you pluralized or in another tense, you can certainly alter them as the need arises. We’re pretty flexible here at A Muse Fuse! The idea is to write a poem per day, or at least as many as you can.
So, let’s get started on our poetic, alphabetical odyssey. The first prompt is “along.” Here’s my offering for Day #1:
ALONG THIS ROAD
We travel along down this road
that winds throughout unchartered land.
Our thoughts and emotions explode
when pencils and pens are in hand.
United in poetic voice,
we eagerly set the muse free.
The style and the meter our choice,
these poems define you and me.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
PROMPT #18 - RELY
RELY ON MOTHER NATURE
This past winter,
we were blasted with a record-breaking snowfall.
Holed up inside, our only outings
were from the front door to the sidewalk,
as we shoveled our way through
the mounting piles of snow.
Longing then for the lazy days of summer
beneath winter’s frozen blanket.
This week, temperatures soared into the 90’s,
and continue rocketing upward.
Holed up inside, our only outings
are to bring in the trashcans and collect the mail.
Longing now for a breath of arctic air
to relieve the oppressive humidity.
We can always rely on Mother Nature
to make us grateful for what we had after it’s gone.
This past winter,
we were blasted with a record-breaking snowfall.
Holed up inside, our only outings
were from the front door to the sidewalk,
as we shoveled our way through
the mounting piles of snow.
Longing then for the lazy days of summer
beneath winter’s frozen blanket.
This week, temperatures soared into the 90’s,
and continue rocketing upward.
Holed up inside, our only outings
are to bring in the trashcans and collect the mail.
Longing now for a breath of arctic air
to relieve the oppressive humidity.
We can always rely on Mother Nature
to make us grateful for what we had after it’s gone.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
PROMPT #17 - QUIT
NEVER QUIT
Sometimes, we face distractions
along the road we’ve chosen to share.
We worry about things that don’t matter.
We obsess over the moment.
But clouds and storms from the day-to-day
can’t completely block out the sun
that shines within us and warms our love.
While others might see a bump in the road
as an excuse to move on,
we see it as one of those things that happens
and resolve not to quit that which makes us one.
Sometimes, we face distractions
along the road we’ve chosen to share.
We worry about things that don’t matter.
We obsess over the moment.
But clouds and storms from the day-to-day
can’t completely block out the sun
that shines within us and warms our love.
While others might see a bump in the road
as an excuse to move on,
we see it as one of those things that happens
and resolve not to quit that which makes us one.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
PROMPT #16 - PLOT (or PLOTS)
A crazy day here today. Wanted to get something posted today. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be able to add more!
LIKE A NOVEL PLOT
Just like a novel,
life can be a series of
complicated plots.
LIKE A NOVEL PLOT
Just like a novel,
life can be a series of
complicated plots.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
PROMPT #15 - OLD
OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW
In the days of my youth,
I understood little about life and love.
White picket fences, a handful of children,
A career of great importance.
These were what I expected.
I’ve no picket fence.
My children are dogs and cats.
I’m the Managing Editor
of a little known poetry magazine
and a writer of unread books.
But it’s not as depressing as I describe it.
My life turned out pretty well.
For I love my dogs and cats,
I love the work that I do.
And I love sharing every phase of this life
with the one destiny chose for me.
I’m old enough to know
that things I once thought important
evolved into things that truly matter,
in more and better ways
than I could ever have imagined.
In the days of my youth,
I understood little about life and love.
White picket fences, a handful of children,
A career of great importance.
These were what I expected.
I’ve no picket fence.
My children are dogs and cats.
I’m the Managing Editor
of a little known poetry magazine
and a writer of unread books.
But it’s not as depressing as I describe it.
My life turned out pretty well.
For I love my dogs and cats,
I love the work that I do.
And I love sharing every phase of this life
with the one destiny chose for me.
I’m old enough to know
that things I once thought important
evolved into things that truly matter,
in more and better ways
than I could ever have imagined.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
PROMPT #14 - NEW
LEARNING SOMETHING NEW
At my age,
I would think it impossible to learn something new.
I’m stubborn enough to assume I know it all.
And yet, as our relationship progresses,
I see how little I really know.
Every day, you are my teacher.
You show me life in a way I never expected.
Whatever it is about you,
your smile, your laughter, your love,
my life is enriched by this learning experience.
My days are full of wonder and surprise,
and I look, with a mixture of awe and gratitude,
at the newness surrounding each step of our journey.
At my age,
I would think it impossible to learn something new.
I’m stubborn enough to assume I know it all.
And yet, as our relationship progresses,
I see how little I really know.
Every day, you are my teacher.
You show me life in a way I never expected.
Whatever it is about you,
your smile, your laughter, your love,
my life is enriched by this learning experience.
My days are full of wonder and surprise,
and I look, with a mixture of awe and gratitude,
at the newness surrounding each step of our journey.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
PROMPT #13 - MAGIC
YOUR MAGIC
While you’re not a Harry Potter,
you have powers, nonetheless.
You beguile and you bewitch me
like a well-trained sorceress.
I’m held captive by your magic.
I am spellbound in your arms.
And this ordinary mortal
is a hostage to your charms.
While you’re not a Harry Potter,
you have powers, nonetheless.
You beguile and you bewitch me
like a well-trained sorceress.
I’m held captive by your magic.
I am spellbound in your arms.
And this ordinary mortal
is a hostage to your charms.
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