Everyday Poetry

Day 7: try a new poetry form,  the shadorma. A verse of 6 lines,  26 syllables,  in the pattern 3/5/3/3/7/5. The poem may have more than one verse.  This morning I heard that my friend's dog Jess had passed away.  She was a much loved member of our poetry group,  finding it increasingly hard to get out of her basket to greet us, except when the cake appeared.  I thought it only right to commemorate her.  Our friend's dog - Ancient labrador - Yesterday Passed away Leaving our poetry group One loved member short. Sonorous Sighs, soft slumbrous snores, Small twitches, Fragrant farts, Accompanied our readings - No silent member.  Her nature Loving, loyal, sweet, Readily Accepted, Rewarded with fuss, and cake, Leaves an empty space. © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Day 6: Go to a book you love. Find a short line that strikes you. Make that line the title of your poem. Write a poem inspired by the line.  Then, after you've finished, change the title completely.   I've recently fallen in love with Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, a magical story which has as a refrain "something is going to happen", giving the story a sense of foreboding, yet everything that happens ultimately turns out for the best.   There are those who say All that has been, and all that is to come Is written in the stars; we are simply acting out Our predetermined destiny.  There are others who say  We make our own fate,  Hold destiny in our own hands If we are bold enough to fashion it.  I say: At that magical time  When you stand at the cusp Of what's known and what might yet be Hold your breath and make a wish, Trust to your instinct, And step bravely into the future.  © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Rese...

Day 5:  find a poem, then write a new poem that has the same shape of the original, and in which every line starts with the first letter of the corresponding line in the original poem. Quite a challenge! I chose Wordsworth's Daffodils,  because it is a particular favourite of mine.  It has 4 verses of 6 lines,  8 syllables per line,  and a rhyme scheme of ababcc. I've even gone for a similar theme of loneliness.  In hindsight I should have chosen an easier/ shorter one!  I never liked being alone Too much time for introspection. Whenever I'd days on my own And no chance to make a connection,  By whatever means, I would try Filling time to quieten my mind. Coronavirus changed all that As it forced isolation upon me - Too many days to fill with chat Always with the same company - There's been times I've sought out silence To revel in self reliance. Things are starting to change again, Opening up, but it's bittersweet: Although I can be with the frie...

Day 4:   a place or sensation that exists at or on both sides of a boundary or threshold, neither one thing or the other, but something betwixt and between. With magician's hands You lead me to the place where At the same time I long to hold back in delicious antìcipation/ I need to tip over into the wild ride. We'll never know how long This liminality can last; I'm always too greedy to linger.  © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Day3: I wasn't inspired by today's NaPoWriMo prompt so have turned to Writing Magazine instead.  Their suggestion was to write a poem along the lines of William Carlos William's poem This is Just to Say, imagining someone has eaten the last biscuit and left you a plate of crumbs. This is my twist.  Those sweet treats you bought for yourself And hid from me at the back of your cupboard Are now two shortbread fingers fewer.  They called to me while you were out Dunked themselves in my coffee,  Melted deliciously on my tongue.  You can have some of my plums for your supper.  © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Day 2:   write a poem based on your own road not taken – about a choice of yours that has “made all the difference", as in  Robert Frost’s “ The Road Not Taken .”  I travelled a road chosen in my teens Far longer than it gave me joy Bound by those who followed in my footsteps, Afraid to take the unknown road Glimpsed through the trees.  Many miles and milestones later I trod other paths in short stretches To see where they could lead Always hopeful before reaching each dead end Forced to rejoin the safe but rocky road.  Once those who'd followed me Had found their own secure side paths, I discovered I'd reached a crossroads; Chose to follow heart not safety  And didn't look back. I still catch glimpses of that other road Running parallel in the distance Linked forever by side paths binding us close. Although I can see where it would have led  I never regret the road now taken.  © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

 Day 1 of the NaPoWriMo challenge: write a poem  inspired by this  animated version of “Seductive Fantasy” by Sun Ra and his Arkestra . I love jazz, but this was off the scale dissonance,  and the animation followed suit!  Fantajazzy The band erupts into a cacophony A symphony of disharmony,  A whole new world, unfurled Through fantastic animation,  A landscape of alienation, b looming With each mad syncopation, Each punchy note b lown, drummed, strummed, Familiar yet strange -  Flashes of beauty amongst the deranged. Images fracture, coalesce, This brave new world is our globe nevertheless, Spun on a singer's single finger. As I'm drawn into the scintillating third eye The images, with the music,  Begin to fade, and die.  © Copyright 2021. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved