OctPoWriMo 19 - Ode to a Tree

The prompt today is tree, and the suggested poetry type is ode, which isn't a form at all, but a generic catch-all term for a poem that is written in praise of something or someone. While thinking about what to write, the song Snowbird by Anne Murray started running through my head, so I decided to use its rhyme and rhythm for my poem today.

Ode to a Tree

Beneath your leafy branches full and broad,

I stand with face uplifted for my heart is truly awed

By everything you do and all you are

For I am certain that you truly are a superstar.

When I was young, I climbed among your boughs

And, snuggled in your grasp, I felt safe enough to drowse.

Today I wish that I could once again

Ascend among your branches to a place where I remain.

Spread your branches sweeping over me,

And let me hide for just a while from harsh reality.

The days are speeding ever swiftly by,

And if I could, I’d love to stay and watch the world rush by.

OctPoWriMo 18 - Dancing on the Clouds

Free verse is simultaneously the easiest and most difficult form. With no set rhyme or metre, the poet can go anywhere, write anything. And there is the difficulty. I find the strictures of a form help to sharpen my focus, while free verse leaves me flailing. I used to write a lot of free verse, but it's been a while.

Today's prompt is senseless, and the suggested form is free verse, so I gave it a try. I thought about writing of things that make no sense, but then I decided to just do a nonsense poem. I've written a couple of these before, but people always find meaning in them that I never meant to include, so we'll see. Here's a poem that makes no sense at all.

Dancing on the Clouds

Give me your hand
And
We will walk together
Wading through the deep
Swimming in the sky
Loving one another
‘Til a’ the seas gang dry
And melting rocks
And melting clocks
Will mark our time together
Forever

OctPoWriMo 17 - Savoury

Today's prompt is savoury, and the suggested form is the sonnet. This is my favourite poetry form, and I love writing them. However, most of my sonnets are serious, while today I decided to be a bit silly. It's still true, though. I do like savoury better than sweet.

Savoury

I’m not a fan of super sweet confections,
I don’t really care ‘bout cake and pie,
I don’t hold for sugar much affection,
It takes so little sweets to satisfy,
But if you give me french fries, cheese, and meat,
Potato chips and popcorn: salty things,
I have a tendency to overeat,
Especially with spice to give a zing.
I’d rather eat my dinner than dessert;
Savoury will always be my pick.
And now you know the map into my heart:
Some fat, some spice, and maybe a salt lick.
Bacon is my favourite of all—
Along with spaghetti and meatballs.

Steak sandwich: yum

OctPoWriMo 16 - Always Moving Forward

All the shows I've been watching lately seem to have the same theme. On Arrow, Oliver remembered his friend telling him about how the shark will die if it ever stops swimming. On The Flash, Barry learned that going backward will ruin his life. On Supergirl, Kara discovered where she wants to go and how to move forward. On Luke Cage, Pop gave Luke the advice: always forward. I think someone is trying to tell me something.

Today's prompt is in-depth, and the suggested form is the nonet. I was thinking about always moving forward, and about how we cannot see what is under the surface of deep waters, and somehow, it became a double nonet, or a reflection, or an iceberg lurking in the depths.

Always Moving Forward

We must never stop and sit inert

Should continue moving forward

Like a stream flowing onward

On toward the ocean

Never ending life

Hope forever

Always on

Forward

Now

Deep

Below

The surface

Always moving

Even in winter

When ice freezes over

The river will never stop

Even though we cannot see it

Always moving—it will never stop

OctPoWriMo 15 - Autumn Begins

Today's prompt is blue, and the suggested form is Musette. I have never written one before, so this was a lot of fun. I decided to talk about this time of year, since it is my favourite season, and blue does make me think of falling temperatures. Even though orange, red, and brown are more the colours I think of for Fall.

I took this picture a week or so ago in my front yard

Autumn Begins

A chill
Over my skin—
I thrill.

It’s Fall;
Autumn begins:
Enthrall.

I feel
Like I will win.
Ideal.

OctPoWriMo 14 - Screaming at a Wall

Today's prompt is shameful, and the suggested form is the Villanelle. I love this form and the prompt really resonated with me today. Lately, I have been feeling a lot of frustration over the shameful behaviour of someone whom some of my friends still blindly support. I have gotten into a lot of arguments on Facebook over the last few weeks.

Screaming at a Wall

Sometimes it feels like might makes right
And I am screaming at a wall—
Still I rage against the coming night.

Their arguments all seem so trite,
Caught up in their leader’s thrall:
Sometimes it feels like might makes right.

I kick, I shout, I punch, I bite;
This has devolved into a brawl.
Still I rage against the coming night

He’s not able to be contrite:
A swaggering neanderthal.
Sometimes it feels like might makes right.

I no longer am polite
To their unmitigated gall.
Still I rage against the coming night

I will not give up the fight;
Pride will surely make him fall.
Sometimes it feels like might makes right;
Still I rage against the coming night.

OctPoWriMo 13 - Go

Today's prompt is flow, and I took it in a little different direction. Instead of thinking about less struggle and more flow, and I kinda went completely the other way. Ooops.

Go

Go with the flow
Don’t rock the status quo
No
You’ll never shine if you don’t glow
So go
Take the throw
You know
You will grow
If you don’t tiptoe
So be a tornado
Be a torpedo
Just go