Wicked Woman and New York City

WICKED

 

I

shall be

horrible

when I am an

old woman who sits

and whispers wickedly,

stories into children's ears.

They must lean closer and closer

to hear me murmur tales so evil.

Careful kiddies. Too close and I will bite.

Okay, that's my fun for today. I love to write poetry, even when it's mostly bad. I wrote this one several years ago and had fun with it. But, as a kid I loved to be scared, loved spooky stories.   Not as fond of being scared now. I'll be speaking at Thrillerfest in NYC, on a panel about suspense. Now that I find scary. Why couldn't I be speaking in OKC, among friends? Oh, yeah, I wasn't asked.   This old lady, a  bit nervous about the whole big apple thing, but it will be so much fun. Amy is coming to outshine my sparkles. Can't wait. So, if anyone will be in NYC, July 12, come listen to the Suspense panel.

Thyme to Rhyme (or not) The writer as Artist

When I paint, I enter another space, just like when I write fiction, write poetry, play music. It's the reason so many writers are also artists, or musicians, or do crafts or other creative things. It,s the creative things that keep me alive and happy. Don't get me wrong, I love my regular job, but creativity is what I need, what we all need. 


I enjoy poetry, reading it, and writing bad versions of it. That's why I write about it, to encourage other people to write bad poetry too. It's the writing that counts, using the brain muscles in every way possible.


As an artist, I notice the colors of the leaves, contrasts in nature, the shape of a face and then use it in my writing. As a poet, I practice imagery, whether poetically good or not, its still good practice. As a musician, I notice harmonies, sounds in nature, all useful to translate into descriptions.


Don't let your writing take over your life to the point you can't use other art forms to make your writing richer. I have a friend, Amy, who writes fiction and nonfiction, plays the piano and cello, sings, acts and gardens. You can bet her writing is multi-dimensional.


Don't play a one note concert, let all the parts of your life enrich  your writing.  

Thyme to Rhyme-Poetry Prompt

This form is called the big ten. Write 10 lines, ten syllables for each line. Use any kind of meter, rhyme or subject.

Use this form and write a snapshot poem.

Example:

Summer-1950

North Texas summer, honeysuckle sweet
long days bright with all possibilities.

Adventure, swimming pool mermaid, chlorine-
scented hair, flowered swim cap like Esther.

Baby oil and iodine, sun worship
confession, movie magazines, real life.

Reading for hours, living other lives
Saturday morning movie theatre

Let's pretend, all the way home, jungle queen
wearring crinoline and penney loafers.

Your turn, pick a day, put a poem in comments, have fun with it.

Wednesday Thyme to Rhyme (or not)

Triolet

The triolet is a short poem of eight lines with only two rhymes used
throughout. The requirements of this fixed form are straightforward: the first
line is repeated in the fourth and seventh lines; the second line is repeated in
the final line; and only the first two end-words are used to complete the tight
rhyme scheme. Thus, the poet writes only five original lines, giving the triolet
a deceptively simple appearance: ABaAabAB, where capital letters indicate
repeated lines.

Here's a Triolet by Thomas Hardy

In "How Great My Grief," Hardy
displays both his mastery of the triolet and the potency of the form:

How great my grief, my joys how few,
Since first it was my fate to know thee!
- Have the slow years not brought to view
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Nor memory shaped old times anew,
Nor loving-kindness helped to show thee
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Since first it was my fate to know thee?

Try one, post it in comments, enjoy each other's poetry. For more go to www.poetry.org

Word Song

Words
Escape
Faster than
You can think them
crawl away from your
mind. Don't capture me, lock
me away, stuck on paper
exposed, naked for all to laugh.
Cover me. Put me in a safe place
Hold me in you heart. Sing me home to stay.