So, no I haven’t been here for awhile, other than to contribute some 14-word poems for the Valentine project. I will attempt to have more of a presence, and write regularly. After all, isn’t that the point of 20 Lines? I’ve reinstated my Facebook account and have been updating it, and have also been concentrating on weight loss. That keeps me busy shopping and cooking well, eating healthfully and tracking what I eat, and making sure I get in my daily exercise. Whew. That’s all time-taking.
But…my first love is writing, so I will return with a poem:
Connecting once again on Facebook, loss
of weight…important, yes, but not the boss.
I come to write, and writing fills me up,
brims, spills and overflows my little cup.
Words come to me in silences of night
or when the sun melts snow, the sun so bright
that I can barely look outside. Could spring
be far behind? Words wonder, question, sing.
In early morning earth tunes up its harp.
Emerging from the flat dark night, the sharp
shrill bird songs call me from my silent sleep
where I in cottoned quiet cannot keep
my consciousness awake. I spiral down
to places where my dream becomes my town.
I star in my own movie, watch the flow
of action, but then with the morning’s glow
remember nothing. Now the flutes sing tunes
and I come into wakefulness. Day croons
its melodies from sunrise into bright
surprises. Could these gifts have come from night?
Yesterday, downtown Calgary, a view from the LRT platform at rush hour. Looking north beyond Courthouse Park and artist Joe Fafard’s horse sculpture “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do.”
Photographed by Sheryl @ Flowery Prose.
Well, I hope you are not angry for reading this poem(yes it is a poem) which is full of meaningless phrases and words.
But I loved writing it and I hope you are also going to love it.
Blitz is a 50-line poem, completely made up of small phrases. Rules-
1. Line 1 should be one short phrase or image.
2. Line 2 should be one short phrase or image, using the same first word as the first words of Line 1.
3. Line 3 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 2.
4. Line 4 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 2.
5. Line 5 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 4.
6. Line 6 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 4.
7. Line 7 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 6.
8. Line 8 should include the phrase, using the last word of Line 6.
9. Keep on repeating the routine till Line 48.
10. Line 49 is the last word(only) of Line 48.
11. Line 50 is the last word(only) of Line 47.
If you have any questions, do ask them. And try it- I know it is a little time consuming and a little confusing as well, but it is quite entertaining when we write it.
When I was young I’d lie down in the grass,
look up, and try to count the little lights
that shone on me. They had a certain class,
those stars illuminating my dark nights. What makes them sparkle, twinkle? Help me know
the science of their shining midnight show.
No, no, I much prefer the mystery
of skylit jewelry made of filigree.
How interesting to see that I’ve been writing many these, but with a slightly different rhyme scheme. They go abab ccdd. Anne, I think I’ll use your topic, if you don’t mind.
My Brain
With all its neurons doing what they should,
my brain stays wide awake and in the light…
unless, that is, a seizure draws a hood
of darkness down. Then all things turn to night.
I love to use my brain and use it well,
but hate when seizure throws it into hell.
Most times it functions in the brightest sun,
although I’m never sure what I have won.
