UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

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ALL ENTRIES ON THIS BLOG WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!!!

 I AM OFFICIALLY WRITING A BOOK FOR NATIONAL NOVEL WRITER'S MONTH IN NOVEMBER  2014  (#NANOWRIMO) 

 I WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN  THE 2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE.

For information on these two events please log on to nanowrimo.org and writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides
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*** In order to get a comprehensive view of the prompt-to-poetry process of learning, please review the archives of the LET'S  TALK POETRY blog in chronological order. 

                                                SEE YOU REAL SOON!


***Most images on blog are courtesy of stockvault.net

PROMPT 30 - THE EFFORT

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

SPEAKING OF ASPECTS

first of all

i don't even know

why they would

bring up the

subject of astrology

and even speak on it

as if they had

some sort of experience

in the strength and

weaknesses of planets

of houses and aspects of

the lunar and solar cycles

in a birth chart

because believe it

or not gentlemen

i have studied

the  fine art of

deciphering

what these things

represent in your life

so this topic of

discussion could 

very well entice

me and i could

go on and on

PROMPT 29 - THE EFFORT

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WHAT IT IS

the value of

poetry to me is 

far more than 

the eyes can see 

far more

than diamonds and gold

it's true worth                                                                

can not be bankrolled

the value of poetry 

in case you haven't 

heard

is defined by the power

in the created word

PROMPT 24 - THE EFFORT

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...BITTER TWISTED LIES
(from "Still I Rise," by Maya Angelou)


so ready to go yet
choosing to stay
addicted to
your comely way
but more than that
your style your grace
your real sweet kiss
your baby face
behind the lights
your soft brown eyes
your late night love

your late night cries
they all are bitter
twisted lies
a hundred times
i let you go
yet only to return
my broken heart
so black and blue
yet still
it did not learn
each night this
true love slowly dies
inside your bitter
twisted lies
but now i must
be on my way
the night so long
before it's day
yet time itself
now justifies
to live for bitter
twisted lies

PROMPT 23 - THE EFFORT

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THERE "HE" GO


Uncle JL had the gift or
however you look at it
being the one in
the family who could
see restless spirits or spooks
or haints as
they were called
in the southern backwoods
coming down the road
from the cotton field
one early fall evening
side by side with Papa
who did not
have the gift
right there Papa
he pointed
where boy i don't see
nothin
he runnin
in the house now
raising a ruckus
inside the girl's room
underneath the bed sheets
let my leg go Evelyn
one sister shouts                          
i don't have your
leg Adele
then who do
i don't know
in comes
Papa with his shotgun
taking aim
where he at boy pointing
there he go Papa
slippin out the
window
but you can't
shoot no...BLAM!!!

PROMPT 22 - THE EFFORT

...........................................................................
SKY'S THE LIMIT


on an overcast
afternoon the sky
a blue wispy smoke
the sun
high among the
clouds overhead
looking up
into the firmament
from my backside
on the lawn
i spy
the profile of
Shakespeare
his beard drifting
off to the east
followed by his head
now a stack of
fluffy pancake shapes
since they are dark
mud cakes
connected
by a tubular cord
umbilical in nature
pulling a huge dim-eyed
smiley face
so it seems
behind several smaller
versions floating beneath
and they all
dissipate
ever so slowly
merging into other
shapes

DIGGING INTO THE POET'S TOOLBOX

The TOOLBOX contains the following tools: pens or pencils, notebooks or paper, colorful markers, a laptop or tablet, a dictionary, thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary and any thing that helps you put words down.

Speaking of words! Lots of words, and a vivid imagination are a part of every poet's arsenal.

PENS - Find a pen that's comfortable for you. Try out a few. Pens are like shoes. Buy one that fits good. I have a collection of Uni-ball pens that I've been using for over 10 years.

Or if you prefer pencils. My favorite  #2 pencil is Ticonderoga, by Dixon. They call themselves "The World's Best Pencil."

Of course there's your LAPTOP or TABLET of choice and your SMART PHONE.

NOTEBOOK/JOURNAL - Your writer's notebook will be your treasure chest.  It is where you put notes observations, drafts, quotes, lists, letters, jokes, words, drawings, charts, secrets, stuff, and other things.

Like your pen, pick one that's comfortable for you: spiral, composition, wireless, or a 3-ring loose-leaf binder. It can be small, large, medium, extra small or all. In fact I use all of the above.

                       WRITE IN IT ON A REGULAR BASIS!

DICTIONARY
THESAURUS 
RHYMING DICTIONARY

These (3) books are a must. In addition to having a good paperback copy of each book, you can also use the ones built into your electronic devices. I use Webster's New World Dictionary, The Random House Roget's Thesaurus, and The Poetry Dictionary by John Drury. The rhyming dictionary is built into my laptop.

Using these tools you must write all the time. Practice, practice, practice!

(My weekly prompts posted on this blog, LET'S TALK POETRY, is an excellent way to keep you writing, so stay tuned).

In addition to writing all the time, you must also read, read, read! If you are going to WRITE POETRY, you must READ POETRY.

I read poetry throughout the day and night, subscribing to various sites that offer daily poems from various sources. Click on poets.org for starters.

Of course you can add any item to your toolbox that you like, because it it your personal storehouse for creativity.

So open up that toolbox and get busy. The world is waiting to read your poems!


                          THE BEST WAY TO LEARN IS BY DOING!!

CRAFTING A POEM

The following poem was crafted from a select group of words with the instructions to create a poem for the Spring season. (the select words are underlined in the poem)

See the POST  "Spring Has Sprung,"  dated, 3/21/2014, on this blog, LET'S TALK POETRY.
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SIGN OF THE TIMES
(a Spring poem)

Emergence of Spring
The beginning of life
As it is
Is not
Only about the buds
Blooming on the apple
Trees in the field
As much
As it is
About the baby birds
Restless in a nest above
On the limbs of those
Trees chirping blindly
Eyes closed to the
Colors of Spring
Mouth open wide to
Receive food
Trusting that it will be provided
To grow and become
Strong with wings
To fly away to become
Independent to leave from
The shadow of birth
And much like a child
Walk on their own two feet

USING THE WRITING PROCESS TO WRITE POETRY

The WRITING PROCESS consists of (5) interconnected steps:

1-PREWRITING: the thinking, planning, and organizing that helps you get ready    to write your poem.

2- DRAFTING: writing your poem for the first time.

3- REVISING: changing your poem to improve its content and style, which may     involve rewriting, adding, deleting, and moving what you've  already written.

4- EDITING: checking your poem to find and correct mistakes in spelling,               capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.

5- PUBLISHING: sharing your poem with other people.

As you become comfortable with the WRITING PROCESS, these steps can be adjusted to fit the way YOU write.

The WRITING PROCESS will help you to write and rewrite until you are pleased with your poem and ready to share it with others.

                                  USE IT OFTEN

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Use the following Word Group to craft a poem which speaks to the Spring season:

           CHILD--------BIRD--------SHADOW--------BEGINNING

Writing Tip-      Look over the words. Which ones are you drawn to? Jot them down in your writer's notebook. Play around with them using phrases, sentences, and fragments until you feel a poem coming on. WORK IT OUT!

POETIC ADRENALINE

POEMS, USUALLY HAVE TO BE REWRITTEN A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THEY "FEEL" FINISHED. 

BUT THAT FIRST BURST OF ENERGY ON THE PAGE, THOSE FIRST FEW LINES REVEALING THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING--IS AN AMAZING FEELING! 

WRITE TIME

It's "WRITE TIME," so dig into your well-stocked toolbox and build a poem that says "YOU."

Each week on Wednesday I will give you a poetry writing "prompt." A prompt is basically words to help you get your poem started. Read the prompt carefully and completely. Look for words that attract your attention. This key word just might ignite your spark of creativity.
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PROMPT #1: Write a poem about a person you admire. Your subject can be a historical figure or someone you know.
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I will meet you back here next Wednesday, 3/5/14 on Let's Talk Poetry, to share with you what I've been inspired to create.

 PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANYTIME BY SENDING AN EMAIL. THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO SHARE YOUR POEM OR YOUR THOUGHTS.

****For additional prompts check out Robert Lee Brewer's Blog: POETIC ASIDES by clicking on the following link http:writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides