23 Jul You made me do it
By popular request I’m going to post some poetry. Of my own.
While painfully aware that one person asking isn’t the full, honest definition of popular, it is one more than enough to flatter this non-poet into poetry. And being honest, I have already used the “Look how messed up I was as a teenager cause I wrote such atrocious verse” excuse to hide a seldom expressed poetic voice behind. Now there’s no where left to hide.
I had the nerve to suggest a minor rewrite to a poetically more prolific friend recently, so what exactly would my excuse be for a failure of poetic nerve? That I make a better critic?
It’s Monday Poetry Train day today. Let’s grin and bare it for a little exposure…
Untitled and in progress
I am the drop of glistening rain,
puddle formed by side of road,
I am the car driving straight ahead,
beneath skies clouded and grey.That is my sky,
as good as any other.I walk under that sky,
along that road,
and beneath this rain
as happy as anywhere else,
as happy as any other.
It’s a few verses short of completion, a few ideas short of expression, and true lyricism was lost somewhere around the second line—the entire first verse has been rewritten off the page. But I’m feeling so much better for the saying…
On the topic of messed up teenagers, I made an initial attempt at tidying this one up, a several thousand word story about my own formative years, posted (with embarrassing photos) for all to see on another site: Miracles out of Mountains out of Molehills. It will also do as my response to Camille’s now ancient Conversations With Your Teenage Self Meme. Better late than never.
alf
Posted at 23:37h, 23 JulyI like the rhythm and simplicity.
rhian
Posted at 23:57h, 23 JulyI liked this John – i thought these words are the heart of the poem:
“That is my sky,
as good as any other.”
Camille
Posted at 01:49h, 24 JulyRe: Miriacles out of Mountains out of Molehills
A beautiful pledge to the benefits of meditation John. I saw and felt clearly your experience of becoming an adult. A wonderful achievement.
Re: Untitled and in progress
The simplicity of poetry always pleases me. This poem says ‘I walk, I am’ to me… the basis for life is existence and movement. Good work in my opinion.
Joy Renee
Posted at 01:01h, 24 Julylove the haunting imagery.
julia
Posted at 02:55h, 24 JulyThat Rhian – always pointing out the same lines that I like…
“That is my sky,
as good as any other.”
Very nice! Glad you posted.
Susan Helene Gottfried
Posted at 03:42h, 24 JulyThis is really lovely, John. I hope as it grows and changes, you’ll share it again so we can see how it matured.
Jaitra Gillespie
Posted at 06:08h, 24 JulyGosh—you’re all so nice!
Helpful also—I’m new to this poetry thing. Thanks for the encouragement Alf, Rhian, Joy, Camille, Julia and Susan.
I believe I have some poetry to read myself now in return.
Tejvan - net writing
Posted at 07:18h, 24 JulyHi John,
did you ever fix the a issue, after migration?
http://www.bloggingtips.com/2007/07/20/fixing-the-a-and-ae-problem-in-wordpress/
I don’t think this comment is related to poetry, sorry.
Lisa Andel
Posted at 08:35h, 24 JulyIf you mean by lyricism: stylistic language that says one thing and means another. Then I say, so what? To me, these lines are just as lyrical:
as happy as anywhere else,
as happy as any other.
simple words that make a strong statement. I like it.
Jaitra Gillespie
Posted at 08:43h, 24 JulyThanks Lisa. I stand corrected of my lyrical ways.