by the Read Write Poem Staff
Read Write Poem member Pamela Sayers says, “I live in Mexico, and one of the things I love most about this country is that people here celebrate their family and friends to the utmost.” And it is in that spirit that Pamela asks us to write about any celebration we have been to recently.
Write about a birthday party, a wedding, a baptism — any kind of celebration where you were with family or friends or both. Write about the colors you remember, the sounds (and how they made you feel) and the tastes you remember from any of those events. Did these things make you feel good? Did you experience any new foods? Did you meet any new people?
Sometimes, beyond our control, festivities can take a turn for the worse. Maybe that happened to you or someone you know. Whatever happened, be it great or not so great, let’s write about it!
Reminders for everyone
Read the Read Write Poem NaPoWriMo Challenge Kickoff post for details on how the challenge works — and how you can engage with Read Write Poem this month, no matter what your personal writing challenge is for the month of April.
Please read this page to find out how Read Write Poem’s prompt posts work. Remember that work linked from any post this month is shared in precisely that spirit: sharing, as opposed to critiquing. If you haven’t done so already, please read all the pages under About in the navigation bar.
A Celebration
A special day deserves a special place
In our memories at least, if no where else
And so our bride and groom picked a
Well known spot for getting newlyweds
Off to a proper start.
The lighthouse it would be and the reception
Afterward in the convenient church and hall
The nervous bride,(she’s over 30 & doesn’t
Want anyone to know) and the groom who has
Been through it all before and has two children
At his side.
Her friends had told her how lovely she would
Look in the traditional white and a veil to match
Her bridesmaids in pastels, how pretty they all posed
Standing by the giant tower while storm clouds over
Head, gathered strength and blotted out the sun.
And everyone safe and secure in the hall while the
Storm raged on. The D.J. a friend of the groom’s
Teen-aged son, put on a tape, invited all to dance
Though few there knew Hip-Hop. Which was when
The electricity shut down and went away. The D.J.
Pointed to the piano, would anyone like to play?
Emergency candles provided a safe and cozy glow.
An old friend touched the keyboard and played the
Only songs she knew – all from yesterday with lyrics
Sweet and true. And so the couple danced alone upon
The floor while everyone joined a sing along –“Oh,
How we danced on the night we were wed.”
They danced and sang until the janitor came and said
He had to shut the hall – gathering without electricity
Was against the law. Our bride and groom happily
Ran out in the rain. And every anniversary, they
Dance to this song again.
pamela sayers replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Ooooh Marian,
This actually made me cry. How beautiful!
Pamela
Phew, thanks for the prompt Pamela, I tried writing about celebrating the good weather, but the poem took over and wrote itself. Celebration
Not exactly a “recent” event, but still worth celebrating! Here’s the draft:
http://rrosenchang.blogspot.com
A nice day is cause enough!
http://daily-yawp.blogspot.com/2010/04/apri-times-flying-10.html
Here’s my attempt for day 10! Not exactly a “recent” event, but still very worth celebrating.
Robin replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
sorry…posted twice…didn’t see it appear the first time!
OK, I admit I cried writing this poem:
“Somewhere Hearts Are Light”
http://theresebroderick.wordpress.com
A quickie before another crazy celebratory night:
http://jasonriedy.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/napowrimo-10/
Today is my birthday so this was a perfect prompt for me!
Spring Birthday #25
I don’t have room enough
for something whole
just a thousand little things.
Trinkets for presents.
***
Let me tell you someone else’s story:
A fungal mass grows
on his skin, on his limbs like roots
searching for the ground.
His arms and legs are scaly like the trunk
of a tree but his trunk is spotted
and smooth. After the show he nestles
a cigarette in the mass of his hand
asks for a light.
***
The weather man this morning
was so sure there would be no afternoon
storm, he guaranteed a thousand dollars
for each drop that fell from the sky.
***
My worst truths
are regurgitated
like the bag of trash
clawed by some night creature,
empty milk cartons, chicken bones
strewn about the lawn by morning.
***
The circus crowd will tell:
the tree man is beautiful
his hair is long and thick, black and gold.
But when he raises his arms,
the fungus drips from his fingers,
shadows claw the ground.
***
Most searched phobias on the internet:
Fear of being alone
Fear of intimacy
***
What I know now:
White on hot, colors on cold.
Men cheat on their wives.
The best and worst of life
is always the unexpected.
***
As the days spread out,
sunlight thickening into the next hour,
unfortunately, so do my thighs.
As much as I have tried to fight him,
the shape of my body resembles
that of my father.
***
My old lover was so hot,
light a match and he burns blue.
I dreamed I saw him in a crowed bar
and I said, “You came into my life
as an apparition.” I actually said that to him.
One day I will write his words,
then read them as if I had not written them.
***
The tree man must ask
his brother-in-law to wash his back.
He fears, one day, he will lose his face,
that he will become all roots
and planted in the ground.
***
Nothing is a certainty in this season,
in these liminal days. Like right now?
Thousands of dollars are raining
from the sky and a familiar creaking
in my mind came unhinged.
Robin replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Very powerful images and thoughts!! Really like the part about the ex-lover.
Well done…and Happy B’day!
azha irving replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
beautifully written! Love the juxtaposition and the changes, excellent flow. I Love it When that Happens!
Off prompt again:
http://triatriatria.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/im-supposed-to-be-writing-a-poem/
WooHoo! Nice to remember a good day!
Our Audience of Dolls
http://mmw113.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-audience-of-dolls.html
So many celebrations from which to choose…however, I seem to be focused this week on my great grandparents. I wrote about their 70th Wedding Anniversay. “Bridge of Love” can be found at http://bridgeanna.blogspot.com
Blessings on your day!
Untitled: http://thekitchenbitchponders.blogspot.com/2010/04/national-poetry-writing-month-day-ten.html
Hmmm… I wasn’t feeling overly celebratory when I wrote this, so this is kind of a sad celebration poem….
http://healingforthehealthy.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10-celebrate.html
all better now
take #2
celebration
http://sky-lined.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-day-10.html the second one is for the prompt. i like my first one better to be honest XD ~
Passover having just passed: http://poetry.disorderedcosmos.com/2010/04/zayde/
I went with the prompt for my poem :
Wedding Day:
http://brokeness.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10-wedding-day.html
http://katharinewhitcomb.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10-easter.html
This is more “ruminate!” than “celebrate!” Ah well.
Here is mine for today:
http://mygorgeoussomewhere.org/2010/04/10/transliteration-of-catullus-part-vii/
http://ingeborgsblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-april-10th-celebrate.html
I got to the computer at last! So here’s my rather hurried effort – couldn’t think of any past celebrations so I went for dreams of the future.
http://sheiladeethdrabbles.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-napowrimo-10.html
You can read my poem here:
http://ragbone.wordpress.com
http://wintermintfruit.blogspot.com/2010/04/jubilation.html And so we reach the 1/3 mark of the month!
Hopefully everybody is still hanging in there!~
I like to spend my holidays remembering my brother and so many other men and women who are spending their holidays half a world away from their own families…because regardless of politics, soldiers are all somebody’s family. And holidays are about family. So here’s my holiday poem…
http://mylineofwords.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10-happy-holidays.html
My poem, The Spirit of Place Mats, can be read at musetomyeyes.blogspot.com
This feels like a kind of cheesy treatment to me, but I don’t have time to de-cheese it at the moment. Maybe after a few more drafts:
A Brief Stop Near the Paraná Delta
Mine became sort of an essay poem. Whoops.
http://cosmicmermaid.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/what-i-did-on-my-summer-vacation/
This felt like a celebration to me.
I started out thinking about how we celebrate holidays in general and ended up thinking about how one can actively create the conditions necessary for genuine celebration.
http://www.shicho.net/words/?p=1056
Celebrations
I actually used the prompt today. You’ll find my poem, The Missing Candle at:
http://word-painting.blogspot.com/2010/04/missing-candle.html
http://kolokoli.blogspot.com/2010/04/preparation-for-celebration.html
Wow. I did not have enough time today. I apologize for this draft.
This actually is based on the prompt.
Party-starved tintinnabulations of the restless
minds under the build of stress and the exposure
to too much comedy
too soon,
and much too late.
They knock their head
on the wood
that used to be
childhood
and let their blessed brain cells
ooze down from
the desk, onto
the floor.
(c) Nicole W
haikus (3)
April 10 ~ Hands Up ~ http://treasures.edublogs.org/2010/04/10/readwritepoem-april-10/
Another late day entry for me… this one describes the disparities of family – Woolgatherers
http://rustbloommansions.blogspot.com/2010/04/day-ten-poem-10-woolgatherers.html
Here is my number 10
http://richelledodaro.blogspot.com
New Bike
The soft crunch of tires
propelled by my two old legs–
the joy of freedom
rallentanda replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
the soft crunch of cartilege
in two clapped out knees
the joy of bike riding
http://eyemachine.xanga.com/725132740/item/
Sorta deviated from the prompt but I like the result.
Chantelle replied:
April 10th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
http://eyemachine.xanga.com/725132740/napowrimo-lake-havasu/
if that link doesn’t work
i missed a few days so now i’ll have to play catch up. here is one for day 10
http://a-mus-ing.blogspot.com/2010/04/congratulations-for-tanya.html
And an off-prompt haiku: http://poetry.disorderedcosmos.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10b-a-moment/
here is mine: http://teapartiesonneptune.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/celebrating-the-little-things/ ….yes I admit my brain is a little fried from all this poetry every day…….so I had a lazy day today and opted for a haiku
Loved this prompt
http://rosettathurman.posterous.com/napowrimo-poem-10-how-to-make-applesauce
I used One Single Impression’s prompt (cognizance) for this one. http://web.me.com/susansonnen/Susan_Sonnens_musings/Blog/Entries/2010/4/10_NaPoWriMo%2C_Day_10.html
My #10 post is put to bed, as will I be momentarily. Only 20 more to go. I think I can– I think I can…The Princess Party
Day #10:
http://robin-turner.blogspot.com/2010/04/party-on.html
http://www.robertlunday.net/2010/04/poem-10-come-as-cloud.html
NaPoWriMo #10 I remember you
Here goes a snippet of my poem (made of eintous) for today’s prompt:
Untitled
Selfish,
i write instead
of partying outside:
i rather pen and paper; i
dream with perfect stories
perfect poems, yet –
n o t h i n g
Well, today I had to use a haiku. Too much birthday party preparation going on here today. I’ll return with longer fare tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s a lasagna haiku:
http://freckledwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/lasagna.html
Poem #10. “Loss & Celebration: A Beer Review for Two Voices.”
Posted at: http://troysworktable.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10.html
my effort for today:
http://www.mayaganesan.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10.html
Just barely made it with this one… and for personal reasons, this prompt didn’t work for me just now, but I did write a poem today,
http://www.cathymcguire.com/poetry.htm
Forget About Me
April 10, 2010
Today I understood
that,
should John Hughes
still be alive
and making films,
He would not cast
me as Bender,
sullen and iconoclastic,
and he would not see
me as Brian,
too smart for my own good –
no, indeed,
I would be Vernon,
pompous and grim,
joyless and sure,
and – even worse –
I would play my role well.
First Texas Thanksgiving
I was welcomed to Texas
by Stove Top Stuffing
with Jimmy Dean sausage.
That’s when I learned
how flavor can offer solace
when you can’t remember
the name of the white dog
climbing onto you inquisitively
or why your wife’s whole family
speaks too fast for vowels.
Since then, I have conjured
this concoction myself
and celebrated being
part of this new family that serves
sushi and mashed potatoes
at every gathering. It is
starches that bind us, keep us
comfortable enough
we don’t realize
how bitter the air.
http://seashelllz.livejournal.com/114596.html
Day 10 at http://alienfireworks.blogspot.com/2010/04/celebration-lovers-anonymous.html
Took me FOREVER to write today.
http://self-intoxication.deviantart.com/art/Birthday-Television-160332436
not quite a celebration…
http://estherpoyer.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/living-with-lies-day-10-poem/
What is it with me and posting comments? Nothing ever seems to save, etc. Sorry. Here is what I thought I posted last night (it was late…)
Bardic Reflection: http://wp.me/pJZoS-4y
Tim Keeton
Poet/Wizard/Teller-of-tales
wrote last night at midnight after a bachlorette party. april 10th – poem 10. Hope it qualifies as a poem for day 10
but if not, I guess I’ll keep up the challenge just for fun
http://bygraceandfaith.tumblr.com/
my posts keep not showing up….
here I’m trying AGAIN. Day 10 poem
http://bygraceandfaith.tumblr.com/
Night of Purple Dancers
There is no “before and after”
that is too much to give them
the theives in the night don’t deserve a space in time
in our life
In the universe
that also include a baby’s laughter
and joy
and hope
future, past, present.
Grocery lists, coffee, laundry.
Courtesy, involuntary human needs like
breath
hunger
sleep
all exist in a seperate reality
from a nightmare.
But I am still breathing.
One must be more tangible than the other
daily minute details
once held distaste
now hold sweetness
tenderness
paying a bill
feeding the dog
reminding me life is the beauty
of all the sums
of all the small details
that do not include a dark night
attempting to define my future in the “after”
To rob me
of all sunsets, sunrises, tears and smiles.
That crept in to grab a meaning in my existence,
to bring a dark memory
or a cloud where a beautiful sunrise should be
to rob me of all tomorrow’s at all.
Did they know
tomorrow cannot be taken
Tomorrow can be a golden gate of a French Castle
or the pearl streets of Heaven
Nothing can be done
to rob me of God’s presence
Can they know the spirit that dwells?
Carrying me over cobble stones
and filth
and unknown cities
to still find home, sister, shelter.
To give me strength that is beyond human comprehension
and power not my own.
Give me drugs that can numb memory and sense
give me darkness and a stained mattress
and He will still give me back light
strength
and Angels in forms of strangers
in the form of wind that blows me home
You can rob a night
but there is no robbing of my past, present and future
of my before and after.
My body breaks and my legs shake
but I never walk alone
He gives me back my steps
When I have not one more step in me
He is my legs
when they no longer go on
I am still breathing.
Like Job crying out for mercy
David in the lions den
Me on my knees begging for direction
Darkness only exists for a moment
God never forsaking
always watching
Lifting the darkness
shining light into every crevace
Into dark corners of the city
Guiding me home.
For Home is in Him
Bring on the boils,
the drugs
and theives.
Shield my eyes from direction
and dilute my reality
Walk me into nights of purple dancers and foreign city labrynths.
For I never walk alone.
I am so very sorry for not posting this yesterday. I was away all day, until 1 in the morning, so writing and posting was an impossibility. I hope this makes up for it (better than nothing anyways).
Resolutions Made
The house is silent
Warm and soft
Around the world
Breath held aloft
The clock counts down
From ten to one
And while crowds chant
I am undone
Their cheers surge
As I come down
Our panting breath
The only sound
Lagging a little on the poem posting, but here it is: http://kagerrr.tumblr.com/post/514132822/april10thpoem
April 11th offering:
Poet v. “Greeter”: http://wp.me/pJZoS-4B
Tim Keeton
Poet/Wizard/Teller-of-tales
http://verbality.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/going-home-napo-wrimo-10/
arrrgh! Im late…dread, drat and poo!
http://motherveg.wordpress.com/
Not my favorite prompt or poem, but:
http://thebooklife.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/4-10/
Post for April 12th:
Short but sweet(?): http://wp.me/pJZoS-4D
the white dress she wore
champagne tingling my mouth
petals crushed below
http://jazzandpoetry.com/2010/04/napowrimo-10-celebrate/