PROMPT #43 - REMEMBER

Prompt #43 takes another look at the 18th letter of the alphabet, the letter “R,” and our word today is: remember. The prompt is, no doubt, the by-product of my having a birthday yesterday. Birthdays often take us back to days gone by, and an occasional trip to the past is not a bad thing. But lingering there indefinitely becomes unhealthy when yesterday obscures tomorrow. Remember what moves you and what stirs the poet within. And, as always, remember to infuse your muse!

TO REMEMBER TO MOVE ON

How swiftly runs sand through the hourglass.
How quickly the time slips away.
Recalling those days of the my childhood
should leave me with volumes to say.

And yet, though I’ve much to remember,
I look to the future instead.
My vessel sails straight to tomorrow
engaged by the travels ahead.

PROMPT #42 - QUEASY

We’ve arrived at the letter “q” today and our poetry prompt is the word, “queasy.” I’ll be the first to admit I struggled with this prompt. But to prove the point that inspiration can come from any source, the poem practically wrote itself after I read an online article about Congressman Anthony Weiner. He’s big in the news this week because of being accused of sharing, shall we say, indiscriminate, photos of himself over the internet. I’m not sure which part of all this bothers me the most: his original actions, his lying to cover them up, or his tearful apology. Whatever it is doesn’t really matter, though, and I thank him for inspiring the prompt and the poem. Find what makes you queasy, infuse your muse with it, and put it into verse!

QUEASY DOES IT

Our leaders aren’t infallible,
but shouldn’t it be easy
to try avoiding those mistakes
that only make you cheesy?
He tries to turn the bad around,
but only looks more sleazy.
And just the thought of what he did
has left me feeling queasy.

PROMPT #41 - PROMISES

Welcome to the 16th letter in our alphabetical journey. Today’s letter is “P” and our word this week is “promises.” A promise is sometimes defined as a cause for hope, as in the promise of spring. More often, it is defined as an agreement to do or not to do something. Perhaps the latest celebrity marriage scandal has colored my approach to what promises mean, as reflected in my poem Unkept Promises. Let your muse choose how to define this word. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

UNKEPT PROMISES

The hope became hollow,
Despair became strong.
A contract between them
went horribly wrong.

In pure disappointment
their life was dissolved
when words like “forever”
refused to evolve.

These sad, shattered people,
who openly wept,
were crippled by heartache
for vows never kept.

PROMPT #40 – OPPORTUNITY

Today, we revisit the 15th letter of the alphabet, which is the letter “O.” Our prompt for this week is the word “opportunity.” An optimistic word, it offers unlimited potential to those who take full advantage of it. Unfortunately, too often we squander its power by looking at it with blinded eyes. I’ve posted two poems for today’s prompt, looking at it from two different angles. However you choose to approach it, take this opportunity to infuse your muse!


OPPORTUNITY LOST

Within our own community,
we seek to end disunity.
But asking for immunity,
we lose the opportunity.


DAILY OPPORTUNITY

The sunrise sneaks into our rooms,
its purpose to awaken
the dormant poets’ energy
we briefly had forsaken.
We gain the opportunity
to set the world on fire
from high atop the lofty peaks
upon which we aspire.

PROMPT #39 - NIGHT

We’ve arrived at Prompt #39 on our walk through the alphabet. Today’s word is “night,” a simple word that conjures up a variety of images. Some look at the night as a time of peace and renewal. Some reflect on the beauty of a night sky. For my poem, I’ve chosen to look at the fear that manifests itself in those chilling nighttime hours. Reflect on what the night means to you and let your poetic light shine through the darkness.

NIGHT SOUNDS

Deep within the darkness,
another world abounds
of noises black and eerie,
unearthly, nighttime sounds.

My heart beats ever faster.
My blood runs cold and thin.
The dark of night creeps in the room
and crawls beneath my skin.

The leaden feet of cats who roam
pound hard upon the floor,
invoking Edgar Allen Poe’s
distinctive “Nevermore.”

As sirens blare on distant streets,
the voice of darkness claims
another victim lost to fear
within its deadly flame.

I pray for morning’s gentle light
to quell the evening’s grief.
But soon the night sounds come again
and banish my relief.

PROMPT #38 - MIRACLE

This week’s prompt on our alphabetical journey brings us to the letter “M” and our word for today is “miracle.” We each see miracles every day. Whether in a beautiful sunrise or sunset, at the birth of a baby, or through the wonder of love, miracles are real and part of our lives. Find the miracle in your life and rejoice in it through your gift of words.

NATURE’S MIRACLE

The beauty of nature
can change on a dime,
as we write of its wonder
in poetic rhyme.

We bow to its fury.
We smile at its charm.
It can quickly enthrall us,
then swiftly alarm.

These miracle moments,
beyond our control,
contain the components
that nurture the soul.

PROMPT #37 - LESSONS

January 28, 2011 was the date I last posted a poetry prompt here at A Muse Fuse. I never intended for so much time to elapse. Time and life have a way of getting away from us when we allow ourselves to follow detour after detour. As the months passed, I gave serious thought to forever abandoning A Muse Fuse and The Magnified Muse. But in the last few weeks, I’ve learned that a deeper passion runs through me. The things I truly love are those which flow from my thoughts and transform into words. These are the places I belong. Rejoin me on the journey as I continue my travels through the alphabet, one letter at a time. Picking up where we left off three months ago, we arrive at the letter “L” and our word for today, appropriately enough, is: lessons.

LESSONS

An academic schooling is a tool with which to grow,
but lessons aren’t restricted to those things we learn in books.
We carve an education from the high points and the low,
and our studies teach that life is not as easy as it looks.

TOTALLY MISSED IT

For those of you who think I’m riddled with excuses … you’re right. I was supposed to post this week’s A Muse Fuse prompt yesterday and then, with some serious snow cleanup, moved it to today. But today was the launch of a new website, Twitter page and YouTube for our new podcast platform. I’ve been working on creating the website and getting the right recording and editing programs, not to mention writing a few scripts and recording a few podcasts of my own. As is usually the case, all of this took more time than I expected it to, and, for most of the day I’ve been trying to work out all the bugs that seem to crawl all over new internet ventures. As today is rapidly slipping away, I’ve decided to call this week a bust and resume our journey through the alphabet next Thursday. I apologize for the repeated delays and hope you’ll come back to join us on February 3, 2011. In the meantime, if you have a moment, check our new website at http://www.sampod4u.com/.

SNOW DAY?

No, not the kind of snow day we had as school kids. But we do need to shovel a path to the cars, clean off the cars, and clean off the sidewalk. We have about 10” of wet, heavy snow. And, once we can get to them, we have some big branches that need to go somewhere. Which is all my way of saying that today’s A Muse Fuse post will be delayed until tomorrow. To those of you in the Northeast who have been dealing with much more than this, on a regular basis, since winter began in December, I applaud you. Stay safe, warm and dry and we’ll see you tomorrow!

PROMPT #36 - KISS

We’ve arrived at the letter “k” for our 36th prompt. Nothing brings out my sappy, sentimental side more than Valentine’s Day.  And although it’s weeks away, I’m taking advantage of our place on this alphabetical journey to post the prompt: kiss.  From preparing a podcast around this Hallmark holiday, I find my heart, mind and soul overflowing with the simple joys of love.  For me, nothing says loving like a gentle, heartfelt kiss.  This week, don’t be afraid of your mushy musings.  Let this basic expression of love flow from your heart through your fingers.

A GENTLE KISS

My daily cares are smothered
in a moment of pure bliss,
unveiled in subtle harmony
within your gentle kiss.

A grateful heart anticipates
the magic found in this.
My darkened soul becomes alive
within your gentle kiss.

I hold your heart within my breast,
afraid what I would miss
if I ignored the love you share
within your gentle kiss.

PROMPT #35 - JADED

We’re finally back up and running (both the computer and me). I’ve been obsessed with working on a website and podcast venture, and the extent of that obsession became evident a couple of days ago when I realized I was writing a poem for a word prompt based on the wrong letter. The computer and I shut down at about the same time, and I took the ensuing mini-break to evaluate my priorities. None of this has anything to do with today’s prompt, though. Or maybe it does. Synonyms for this week’s word prompt – jaded – include: tired, weary and spent. Adjusting our time accordingly, to give the best of ourselves to each responsibility, without overtaxing ourselves, might lessen our jaded approach to life.

THROUGH JADED EYES

Attempts to quell the anger
and all it may comprise
are lost within my cynical self
when seen through jaded eyes.

In spite of good intentions,
it appears to be unwise
to trust the scene in front of me
when seen through jaded eyes.

The good, the bad comingle,
but no sudden compromise
diminishes the world I’ve seen
through saddened, jaded eyes.

POST UPDATE

Technical issues still unresolved. Looking to post this week's prompt tomorrow morning. At worst, prompt will be online by Noon. Thanks so much for your continued patience.

TECHNICAL AND OPERATOR ERRORS

We will post today's A Muse Fuse poetry prompt later this afternoon. We expect issues to be resolved no later than 3:00 PM EST. Thanks for your patience!

PROMPT #34 - IMPORTANT

Perhaps there is no better time than at the beginning of a new year to evaluate what things are most important to us – what needs to be retained and what needs to be discarded. Many people use this time to make resolutions to improve their lives, be it through improving their diet, relinquishing a bad habit, or adding a regular exercise routine. Whether you seek a healthier lifestyle, a new career, or possibly your one, true love, the first step is understanding what is really important to you. Once you decide what that is, you can take your life anywhere. Happy New Year to all of you and best wishes for a year of self-discovery through the power of your muse!

THE IMPORTANT PART

So much of my life has been wasted
chasing dreams that I couldn’t fulfill,
in pursuit of the almighty dollar
or in finding diversions that thrill.

When the scorecard of life has been written,
and I look back on what I’ve achieved,
I am less a success if ignoring
all the blessings that I have received.

And those blessings aren’t wrapped up in money
or possessions that last but a while.
They are found in the face of my family,
in the laughter and love in a smile.

May I always take time to remember,
when my life takes a turn that seems cruel,
disappointment does not drive me forward.
It’s my loved ones providing my fuel.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The next A Muse Fuse prompt was scheduled for tomorrow, 12/16/10. But with ten days left until Christmas, and much yet to do, A Muse Fuse and The Magnified Muse will be on a Holiday Hiatus until January. The next word prompt here at A Muse Fuse will be on January 6, 2011. However you spend the upcoming holidays, may the warmth of your season engulf you. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

PROMPT #33 - HOPE

Good morning and welcome to Prompt #33 at A Muse Fuse. Our word for this week is “hope.” I think it’s easy for a poet to delve into their darker side when creating verse. Just ask Edgar Allen Poe. Well, maybe that’s a bit too dark. However, it’s a fact of human nature that our lives occasionally run low on optimism. Usually, it’s a temporary loss and is quickly regained by the simplest things. For me, one of those simple things is an eight-week old basset hound, named Trixie Noell. All she has to do is look at me with those beautiful and trusting, little eyes, and I instinctively know tomorrow will be better. Okay, I can’t help it. Even in my bleakest hours, I’m basically a sappy, sentimentalist. Whether you find hope in a relationship, in your spirituality, or in the love of a cherished pet, I hope your muse finds a way to capture that feeling in verse.

EYES OF HOPE

Sometimes I’m lost and feel alone,
without a hope or prayer.
But lately, when I need it most,
there comes a puppy’s stare.
She doesn’t need a lot from life,
with built-in ways to cope.
Her eyes are filled with faith and love
and offer endless hope.

PROMPT #32 - GREEN

Like many poets, nature is one of my biggest sources for inspiration. (Love is always number one.) This week, our 32nd prompt is the word “green.” Besides the obvious reference to a color, green can mean many things. For instance, it can refer to vegetables; not being fully developed; having a sickly appearance; or being environmentally sound. However you interpret the word, make us green with envy as you fuse your muse with this week’s prompt.

SEASONAL GREEN

The summer green had gone to brown
as autumn took control.
The yard replaced its grassy gown
in step with winter’s goal.
My muse looks at the coming days
and paints a holiday scene.
The house begins its Christmas phase
and wears its winter green.

PROMPT #31 - FOREST

The weeks fly by at an alarming rate, the end of the year rapidly approaches, and we find ourselves at Prompt #31 and the letter “f.” I’ve chosen the word “forest” for today’s prompt. I speak often about my deep love for the mountains and their restorative effect upon me. It seems appropriate, at this time of year, to write a poem about something that makes me thankful for the gift of nature. This week, explore the place where the forest takes you and be inspired by it.

THE PINE FOREST FLOOR

To lighten the load of despair and unrest,
I was eager to build a rapport
with something of substance, and so I embarked
on a trip to the pine forest floor.

The scurrying chipmunk, a butterfly’s grace,
the birdsong an elegant score.
The beauty of nature enraptured my soul
as I passed through this pine forest floor.

The smell of the pine tree rekindled a spark
for the need to connect and restore
a faith I considered had withered in death,
buried under the pine forest floor.

Though not a fanatic in terms of beliefs,
my life was quite empty before
the glorious visions I found in these woods
came alive on this pine forest floor.

PROMPT #30 - ENERGY

Our prompt this week is “energy.” Sometimes, I don’t have the energy to think. At other times, I’m in energy overload. Love creates its own energy, and its unique power is the subject of my poem. Find what energizes you and let it stimulate your muse.

ABOUNDING WITH ENERGY

A look, a touch,
words spoken or unspoken.
In a room together,
or separated by miles.
The cosmic forces,
no one really understands,
created our bond,
making it immune to disruption.
But this unknown variable
engages the energy
that powers who we are.

PROMPT #29 - DRAFT

We’ve come to the letter “D” and our prompt for the week is: draft. You could write about the draft coming through the window or under the door. Or you could write your poem about a military draft. For me, I’ve chosen National Novel Writing Month (a/k/a “NaNoWriMo”) as my inspiration. Beginning on November 1st, participants need to write 1,667 words per day to reach the goal of a 50,000 word novel by month’s end. A daunting task, to say the least. I read a comment someone wrote about how too many people are writing books these days and events like NaNoWriMo should be discouraged. I don’t just think she’s wrong, I know she is. Here’s wishing success to all the NaNoWriMo-ers out there from one within your ranks!!

THE NaNoWriMo DRAFT

A novel in a month, they say.
Has cyberspace gone daft?
I need procrastination time
to cultivate my craft.
With thirty days to write a book,
I panicked more than laughed.
But if I’m faithful to the end,
I’ll have my book’s first draft.

Yet recently I heard it said
there’s no validity
in many people writing with
no creativity.
These words were misdirected.
And I say with certainty,
there’s no room in the world of art
for negativity.

Antagonist comments
should be locked away in storage.
A writer has the right to write
and shouldn’t be discouraged.
Instead, a word of praise or two
is better to encourage
the best in those who jump right in
with confidence and courage.