Dear Readers,
In order to give my April attempts (first drafts, really) a fighting chance to mature into good enough poems to submit to literary journals in the future, I've decided to remove some of my poems (those that I feel have potential to grow) from my blog after a day. I have to thank Romana for planting this idea in my head. Submission processes are rather exacting and at this point in my life, I'd like to find nurturing homes for my poems.
And on to Day Seven of Na/GloPoWriMo. The (optional) prompt prods the poet to
"Start by reading James Tate’s poem “The List of Famous Hats.” Now, write a poem that plays with the idea of a list. Tate’s poem is a list that isn’t – he never gets beyond the first entry. You could try to write a such a non-list, but a couple of other ideas would be to create a list of ingredients, or a list of entries in an index. A self-portrait (or a portrait of someone close to you) in the form of a such a list could be very funny. Another way into this prompt might be a list of instructions."
I'm sharing two poems today. One that I wrote just now and one from last year.
The new poem has been removed. But the one from last year awaits...
Topikapi Palace, Istanbul, April 2022
This nonet from Na/GloWriPoMo 2022 is a list of instructions:
How to make love ( a nonet)
Un-button the what
ifs, the why nots
mindfully. Take the layers off. Now
wriggle out
of all mistakes
you ever made.
Let go.
Bathe in forgiveness.
Hand on heartbeat.
Close your eyes:
dhak… dhak…
dhak.
****************************
Thank you for visiting this page. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a lovely day.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOoooh, the wisdom of mothers! Love your fresh poem, Arti, but also your nonet. I like the idea, too, of removing the work after that first showing. Reminds me of rangoli - there for a purpose then gone. A constant practice. YAM xx
Thank you Yamini. I like the analogy of rangoli--how brilliant:)
DeleteI wonder why the light blub.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why either but I reckon it's the shape of it that appealed to me-- the sun, the moon and the circle of life. Thank you for visiting Kristin.
DeleteRelatable and simple, the best kind of writing.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the right nurturing home for your poems, because they surely deserve it.
Your very very faded memory venue, took me back to the same. That ‘home’ we ‘built’ was such a safe space. Thank you for inviting me to read. A perfect weekend is with calm and chaotic writing.
Thank you for visiting Kusum:)
DeleteBoth the poems are lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you:)
DeleteArti, the first one has my heart. Moms can never be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe nonet so beautifully talks of mating of not just bodies.
Thank you Punam:)
DeleteOh yes, I remember this one. Your day 8 has stumped me. I hope you don't remove it before I've read it a few times.
ReplyDeleteJust read your comment on Day 8-- glad you are writing one too:)
Delete