Writing

Day 11 of the Poet’s Billow challenge: Through the window

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

In this challenge we had to study an audio rendition of a a foreign language poem and try to replicate its tone and mood . I used a poem written in Czech by Miroslav Holub.

Fog-

Fog surrounds me

scowling, smothering and dense

stifling, suspended haze over space,

then suddenly, it lifts, it dawns on me!

A recognition,admission,

of what I’ve seen and heard everyday.

Flashing, racing, sprinting, mounting-

memories, conversations, revelations

that we’ve shared.

They come together as the mist disappears.

This is what we’ve wanted all along.

A taste of freedom.

Day 10 of the Poet’s Billow challenge:What’s in the tea leaves?

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

In this challenge we had to write about  fond memories of a particular experience with a sibling, recreating the context and world we lived in. I’ve dedicated this to my brother who is two years younger than me.

Fragile and fearful,

they saw you as weak.

But you were the one

who made me feel strong,

since I took the pain

all the emotional strain

with love in your defence,

protector against violence.

Yet most of all I well recall,

the tea leaves and the wood.

Fresh tea leaves from a teapot

well drawn, it never tasted so good.

Try though as I might, I can’t

recreate the taste buds

of a child of five, save the

certainty of satisfaction

of a brewed cup of tea,

plenty of sugar,lots of milk

and enough bread to dunk.

Remember, how we used

to scoop the soggy bread out

of the cup with a teaspoon?

Funny how that lonesome

memory still lingers with me.

Then the sheet of wood,

the one that was symbolic

of making our own little house,

for escape when the

world became a terrible place.

It would be our roof, our shelter

from monsters and pelting rain,

A dividing wall,when we needed

to extend our imaginary playhouse.

You treated me with such admiration.

Though we’re much older now,

I don’t think you’ve changed your view.

Of course, I’m still two years older than you

and I’m just sorry we lost that piece of wood.

We all need an imaginary wall sometimes!

Day 9-Poet’s Billow challenge: Clothed and Lonely

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

Today’s challenge asks that we write a poem which has a title that includes a physical adjective,conjunction and mental or emotional adjective. An added challenge was to have assonance in the two key words of the title. So here we go and enjoy:

A modern condition

an epidemic plague

despite all their clothes

in love they are naked

Platinum rings

warm fur coats

layered smiles

still leave them cold

The warm body

next to you

is somewhere else-

promise broken,

Unto virtual worlds do we part!

Day 8 of the Poet’s Billow Challenge:Frame of mind

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

Today’s challenge is to write an Ekphrasis poem. An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. A notable example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” in which the poet John Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion. The piece of art chosen is the Centaur’s kiss by George Leonnec as depicted below:


Often have I walked past this painting,

each time, seeing a unique aspect and ratio.

I can only guess at the artist’s intention,

vacillate in the depths of my observation.

In moment’s when I feel suffocation

has throttled the air from my lungs,

when worry, worms through my brain,

this is salve  for my bleeding wounds.

I am transported in time and place

where Wind was Caution’s favorite child,

where judgment’s gavel did not fall,

Imagination borrowed extended wings.

The freedom of spirit I see before me,

galloping completely untethered,

without fear of danger, risk or cost,

is the reverie that frequently absorbs me.

I smell the sweet scent of romance

as it’s violet fragrance floats in the air.

Passion wins the race with no shame

though reason remains in the game.

On bleak days I see a different portrait.

I hear the gossip and feel the bigotry,

of those who do not understand

that we’re all half animal, half woman and man.

That sometimes our base instincts prevail,

when we’re meant to be who we must be,

where love governs all things, regardless

of race, colour, nationality, gender or creed.

Without understanding the full context,

this is a single frame, isolated from the next.

Day 7 of The Poet’s Billow Challenge: Forbidden Fruit

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

For today’s prompt, write a poem that overindulges the senses or focuses on something related. There is little reason in this except for pure pleasure.

There should be nothing useful in terms of improving morals, values, or intellect in your poems. This is not a poem to raise our understanding of human nature. Pure hedonistic verse for the simple pleasure of sensual indulgence. Write a poem that makes the reader faint from fear, blush from arousal, or look away in modesty or embarrassment. Write a poem so delicious that readers will forget it’s only a poem and shove it into their mouths. Overdo it. Yum!

Oh yes!

You knew which button to press,

Which nerve ends to touch,

To bring out my crimson blush!

A seemingly innocent orange- quartered,

Instantly, my lips moistened, eyes watered

While I savored it, lingered over it

How the sweet juices flowed – as I bit…

You cheered me on with your verbs

As I hungered for the meaning of your words,

Dripping and squirting the juicy fruit,

Wanting so much more, I swore I’d loot!

You dangled a strawberry, once again, tempting–

Licking and swallowing, craving– still unrelenting.

Then you stroked a banana gently before my eyes.

From somewhere deep below, I heard desire’s cries!

If there is a lesson for me to take away–

When you taste forbidden fruit, do not say.

Others might want to share and I’ll have none of it!

Day 6:Poet’s Billow Challenge: Fairytales end

by Chevvy, posted in Poetry

The Prompt for this poem was to take a domestic situation and relate to  a surreal vs real scenario. Had a bit of writer’s block today but here we go:

These words

Once ripe-

Bursting for you

Now washed out

Hang limp

Pegged and dry

Ready to fold away

Nothing left to say

Cinderella is home

Her prince has gone astray

As I prepared another load

I recalled the princess and the toad….