Poetry as a Journey

At the end of the Editor’s Note in the March/April 2019 Poets&Writers Magazine, Kevin Larimer writes, “I hope this issue provides a little inspiration, a bit of insight, and maybe even some companionship for what can feel like a long, lonely journey. Never give up.”

He’s talking about the writer’s life as a journey, but a poem can also be a journey. Like in the Ada Limόn poem “The Magnificent Frigatebird” that I am studying all week, she takes the reader to Rio where she first saw a Magnificent Frigatebird before she knew what it was called. She takes us on a journey of discovery and then wonder and imagination, all in one poem.

When writing a poem, I want to be more open to letting my poem take me on a journey. I felt that starting to happen in yesterday’s poem. Letting the poem take control and go where it wants to go felt a little uncomfortable, which I take as a sign that I’m getting somewhere.

The Prompts

NaPoWriMo : Write either a monostich, which is a one-line poem, or a poem made up of one-liner style jokes/sentiments.

PAD Challenge : Write a memory poem.

It’s open link night (OLN) at dVerse Poets Pub, so head on over and link up your poem, and read, enjoy, and comment on the poems by poets from around the world.

Today’s Poem

Lines From Fleeting Memories

I think I remember it was blue, wasn’t it?
That time when you didn’t turn left.
We ended up at that one spot, don’t you remember?
You know. That guy was there with the thing.
There were three parrots, I’m pretty sure; could have been five.
And a tiger. Remember that tiger?
I remember a mariachi band playing, because you had just said . . .
Oh, and our table was right there in the sand.
No wait. That was another time.
But now I’m sure. The sky was blue that day I knew.
I just knew.

See you tomorrow!