by the Read Write Poem Staff
Do you have the courage to attempt today’s prompt, written by Read Write Poem member Dale? If you haven’t practiced being silly in a while, this is the perfect assignment for you:
In a nice private place, pick out a stanza, or a few lines, that you like from a poem that you don’t otherwise feel was very successful. Say them over to yourself.
Now hum them. See if you can find the tune.
And now sing them aloud. (Who cares if you can sing? You’re in private. And this is poetry!)
Throwing away the rest of the poem, write two more stanzas (stand-alone or connected) that go to the same tune.
No fair doing it silently!
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.
Challenging! Thanks for the prompt.
http://marcieaf.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-day-15.html
I’m going to be honest right up front: I can’t carry a tune to save my life. I tried any way, though. Here’s my attempt:
http://healingforthehealthy.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-15-carrying-tune.html
Prompt calls for silly, mine went a little silly AND sinister. What can I say? I’m a Robyn Hitchcock fan. Here’s Nervous Toast.
http://rustbloommansions.blogspot.com/2010/04/day-fifteen-poem-15-nervous-toast.html
Here’s mine: http://disorder1313.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/transliteration-of-catullus-xiv/
the badger’s on the log
the squirrel’s on the fence
the frog is on a hot road
learning how to dance
the bird is on the wire
the cat is in the cage
a wagging dog on wobbly legs
worries about his age
but
the mice are in the basket
and in behind the stove
they climb the fridge and dodge the traps
eat our sunday clothes
if a king could teach them manners
and ration out his cheese
perhaps there is a tidy end
for Summer’s mice and me
I traveled from Florida to Northern NH today so no chance to sing! I just took an old poem and reworked it a bit. I’m pooped and am heading to bed. School vacation next week (couldn’t get a flight to Florida during vacation so had to take 4 sick days this week)so I’ll be able to catch up on all my reading of others’ poems then.
I’ve been playing Chopin’s Mazurka in F Major on the piano alot lately (perhaps too much) and I had voting on the brain today, so here’s my contribution to “Carrying A Tune”!
http://mylineofwords.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-15-lyrics-for-mazurka.html
If you want to hear the Mazurka, you can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBGBXIStGPw
Salvador Dali’s “3 Flags”
(imagining Dali’s version of Jasper Johns’ “3 Flags”)
Just above center
a blood-red seam
horizons the canvas
with brushstroke’s knife.
The taut banner
melts wooden frame
to a hole so huge
this wall buckles.
Barber poles fly
bloody washcloths
from ants’ close shaves
dripping clocks’ hands.
Some teeth appear
face in bone mouth
tongue tripping
still lost for words.
http://kolokoli.blogspot.com/2010/04/spinach-haiku.html
I apologize for being off prompt again. Maybe tomorrow…..
Spinach Haiku
so long have I
longed for your spring return
to my bowl, spinach
It seems as if the prompt always has a way of prompting me in a slightly different way—You’ll find the poem here.
http://word-painting.blogspot.com/2010/04/finding-your-way-back-home.html
Crappy Poetry Gives Rise to Bad Lyrics
Cosmology
http://eveningpoems.blogspot.com/
Burning Tin Pan
http://tinacelio.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/burning-tin-pan/
Today’s quick-quick poem in the midst of busy-ness!
http://yearofthebooks.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/poem-a-day-day-15/
napowrimo #15: carrying a tune
http://timkeeton.wordpress.com/
Tim Keeton
Poet/Wizard/Teller-of-tales
going to come back to dale’s prompt but for today, i wrote a poem about a deadline:
http://caroleesherwood.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/napowrimo-15/
I slightly followed this prompt.
“Changes”
http://richelledodaro.blogspot.com
I failed at following the prompt, despite my best efforts. My words just did not want to sing. So I offer a haiku instead. (A cop-out, sure, but after hours of getting nowhere, I needed the break.)
http://cosmicmermaid.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/haiku/
Didn’t completely follow the prompt today, but I was thinking of Jason Mraz’s ‘Yours’ while I was writing this.
Open your Doors
I can see you
Crouching in the mirror
You look so cold
I wish you could see me
I’d wrap you up inside
My arms and my
Heart, and I’d
Love you until the
Sun imploded
The sea dried up
The mountains eroded
And still you my dear
Would be safe here in my
Arms and the warm and happy place
Inside our memories
Of warmth and summer breeze
While the world around us
Went completely crazy
And the snow still
Chilled our feet
You and me will still
Dance to our sweet melody
When the sky lets down its
Cool sweet smelling rain
Yes I can see you
Crouching in the mirror
I wish you’d open your eyes
And see me
Singing to you dear
Oh, I wish
You could hear…
I didn’t have a lot of time to work on this. I think it shows.
http://paperdreams-jgc.blogspot.com/2010/04/day-15-not-much-of-tune.html
Courage to attempt? Yes. Adequate humility? Barely.
This prompt was excruciating, and that’s a word I hold in reserve for moments of real misery. It was a great reminder of why I haven’t written song lyrics in nearly 20 years. Or is it ten? Or 8? Well, anyway, I don’t write them anymore.
Except for today’s attempt, which you may belt out to the tune of Auld Lang Syne: Ken Well, That.
Half-way done, friends!
What a fun prompt today, very enjoyable.
http://wintermintfruit.blogspot.com/2010/04/waiting.html
Blue cherry lemonade
noonday climbs a southern rain
Is ever cool where you are?
Trade winds come sit a while
Dream dreams in honey child
Sundance me baby
Dance me lazy in the sun
*sung to the tune of My Funny Valentine
fun assignment. not sure what I think of my end result.
SUNG
It hurt to work it up and to let it out into the open. But, for better or for worse, I offer
Who put it There?
NaPoWriMo #15 Suddenly honey
I’m sorry, this is a work in progress and unfinished. Still, in order to fulfill my commitment to the challenge, I offer:
“Esperanto Animals” at http://1965footprints.blogspot.com
It’s silly.
Used another prompt and still failed miserably.
http://web.me.com/susansonnen/Susan_Sonnens_musings/Blog/Entries/2010/4/15_NaPoWriMo%2C_Day_15.html
http://rosettathurman.posterous.com/napowrimo-poem-15-you
absolutely could not focus long enough to contemplate this prompt but i did get inspired to finish another one with a second attempt at April 1sts prompt…
To Filipe:
Finding out true love is blind is such a gutting experience.
So drained thinking that happiness is a warm gun
which will never visit us again.
We used to be friends then it became more
but now we are broken and uncertain.
As I reminisce on things we once shared;
car rides, sodas at the movies, our bed,
it makes me want to drench it all in propane
and walk away as the flames engulf all reminders of you.
April 15 ~ “The Cycle” ~ http://treasures.edublogs.org/2010/04/15/readwritepoem-april-15/
Horse Of My Heart
Angeliad of Surazeus
2010 04 15
http://open.salon.com/blog/surazeus/2010/04/15/horse_of_my_heart
Horses gallop over a broad meadow
manes flowing in cool morning breeze
hooves flashing in bright dawn sun
eyes gleaming with visions of flight
as they rise up from earth in waves
nd horse of my heart runs swift as wind.
I run with sleek horse along river shore
heart pounding as I leap over stones
then stumble and fall down to my knees
panting and gasping for breath of wind
and laughing as horse prances around me
as horse of my heart rears up high.
I caress smooth neck of my horse
while she nibbles apple in open hand
and I slip on her back and hug tight
as she canters weaving among oaks
then leaps forward swifter than wind
when horse of my heart gallops free.
Tiger stalks herd of horses by a lake
so I grip diamond and fling it hard
cracking its skull so it flees in woods
as horses graze safe in lush meadow
so I sharpen spear to defend my herd
while horse of my heart saunters slow.
Riding my horse galloping in dark wood
I grip spear hunting tiger of hunger
who leaps roaring to rip off my face
but I thrust spear into its beating heart
and fall off so my horse stands over me
while horse of my heart nickers soft.
I skin tiger and roast meat over flames
then old woman with sky-silver eyes
fashions skin as cape to warm my heart
when snow flakes glitter in dawn sun
so I hold stone and spear riding my horse
as horse of my heart trots with tail high.
I hear tales of dragons from dark seas
devouring people who flee to cold caves
so I ride horse on beach of gold sand
to battle dragon flapping broad wings
and tearing at us both with sharp claws
and I gallop to cave on horse of my heart.
I forge molten rock into scepter of brass
where I attach diamond in a sun circle
with three sharp prongs on trident wand
then return to spear heart of sea dragon
and roast its meat over pyramid flames
while feeding apples to horse of my heart.
I fashion saddle from sea dragon skin
and ride proud on back of my noble horse
while holding scepter trident with diamond
before cheering crowds who proclaim loud
behold Messiah slayer and roaster of dragons
guiding horse of my heart to pyramid plaza.
I build chariot throne on two round wheels
harnessed to horse who flies fast as wind
and pull bow string with long sharp arrow
that flies swift as a hawk toward my target
when I lead army to conquer many lands
guided far on quest by horse of my heart.
While I count gold coins for wheat bags
farmers bring in wagons from meadows
I hear men plot to kill witch of knowledge
so I ride swift to warn her to keep safe
galloping in mist while they walk slow
so she rides to haven on horse of my heart.
I ride from plains of wheat fields and cows
winding trails into high mountains of snow
exploring ancient woods to find secret source
of great rivers in small bubbling fountains
that flow around our feet while we drink
blazing trails of truth with horse of my heart.
I harness horse to haul wagons of stones
carved in blocks from mountain to plain
then horse hauls rope to pull lifting crane
helping me stack wall surrounding paradise
where my children play with young colts
children born from great horse of my heart.
I raise sword high as crown of bright gold
glitters in halo over my head at dawn
and urge mount forward to battle thieves
by charging into battle on galloping horse
and striking down men who kidnap girls
so I score victory with horse of my heart.
I ride tall noble king on my white horse
holding scepter and diamond of truth
as cape flutters behind me in soft wind
while I ride slow among crowds of men
who cheer because I jailed all thieves
since I ride proud on horse of my heart.
I hitch horse to wagon with white tent
then sit on buckboard and gesture reigns
while wife sits beside me singing hymns
and children run playing along Oregon Trail
where sun sets gleaming over snow peaks
then we rest near warm horse of my heart.
Men design wagons puffing hot steam
to pump steel pistons in chugging engine
turning cranks that make wheels spin slow
that hauls train of cars on thin iron rails
and hoots blowing steam on rising plains
while I race iron horse on horse of my heart.
Millions of cars stream from iron factories
and chug along web of asphalt highways
and men who onced raced time on horses
now race time in chariots of gasoline sparks
gliding in traffic shimmering metal and glass
but where now grazes horse of my heart.
Hercules sits astride back of Pegasus
white horse that spreads angelic wings
and soars gliding over earth among clouds
while he strums harp and chants hymns
and recites verses of ancient epic tales
remembering when I rode horse of my heart.
Augh! #15:
http://robin-turner.blogspot.com/2010/04/really-bad-country-song-that-somehow.html
something from he back burner…
http://motherveg.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/napowrimo-15-carrying-a-tune/
I didn’t go with the prompt, but here it is:
http://freckledwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/1040.html
Another off-prompt poem…
~~~~~~~~~~
A Dream of My Father, After His Death
We’re driving through a snowstorm
I’m gripping the wheel,
barely breathing
Snow flies at us
through the blackness
a tunnel of stars
I don’t know where we are
or where we’re going
What I can’t see I imagine–
sudden curves, black ice, ditches
But he is leaning forward, looking
into the foggy unknown with wide eyes
and even wider smile
as if watching the most exciting
adventure film ever
I’m not sure about singing it, but I wrote a haiku -
http://www.cathymcguire.com/poetry.htm
http://www.robertlunday.net/2010/04/poem-15-birthers.html
Still carrying a tune
‘Fine Young Cannibals’
http://rallentanda.blogspot.com
Still Carrying a Tune
‘Fine Young Cannibals’
http://rallentanda.blogspot.com
Halfway through! http://alienfireworks.blogspot.com/2010/04/lighthouse-keeper.html
http://seashelllz.livejournal.com/115778.html
This is off prompt today and just under the wire:
http://lanijo.com/poetry/community-pool
A slight adaptation of the prompt, I took a few words from a children’s song and ‘trial the third’ wrote.http://poetrybymarisa.blogspot.com/
LOOOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
http://self-intoxication.deviantart.com/art/No-Title-For-Now-160897600
Mine doesn’t carry a tune, but it tells the tale of someone who wants to: The Cattle Egret.
No Internet access yesterday, so I just posted my poem, Bugs, on my blog at musetomyeyes.blogspot.com. A little something for the kids!
I hated how the cheesy tune I hummed turned a couple of cool lines into a cheesy poem. But here it is…
My knuckles gripping the wheel
like it was the moon
we launched from the pavement
orbit with the stars.
My sweetheart held my hand
as she leaned in for a soft kiss
I couldn’t tell if it was her or me
that made the stars dance that night.
Here’s the post from day 15/30 — the halfway point!!
http://scriptophobe.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-15-i-could-never-be.html
Been having trouble commenting here for many days, but it’s working now…my poem from the 15th:
http://mayaganesan.blogspot.com/2010/04/napowrimo-15.html
http://thebooklife.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/4-15/