The End of PAD

And here we are, April is over, which means the PAD Challenge is over. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the prompts, it was kinda fun. And I ended up with 29 poems out of the deal and some of them aren’t half bad. Yes, I know April has 30 days, but there was one I just couldn’t come up with anything for. Yet.

At the very least, the challenge got me writing poetry again, which is a good thing because 2022 has been a bit of a wasteland for me as far as creativity goes. And I had just enough fun that I’m seriously considering making Wednesdays a poetry day. There are still a lot of forms out there I haven’t explored, and if I can’t manage a new one I’m sure I can find an old one to post. So we’ll have to wait and see what next Wednesday brings.

In any case, here are my final offerings from the challenge:


25. Write a response poem

this is a response to the kerfuffle at my poetry group meeting last Wednesday

There was a gathering of poets
in the church’s basement hall
and though we didn’t know it
it would end in a ne’er brawl.

A poem of old was read aloud
a question soon was asked,
was it once taped before a crowd?
The gauntlet down was cast

It seemed there was a question
of when there’s rights to shoot
and share a public session –
this was the great dispute.

A slippery slope this freedom
of the press ‘tis true
but what about my freedom
to stay out of public view?

There was no group agreement
to who was right or wrong
two members were quite vehement,
their argument wasn’t long.

Myself, I comprehended
both sides of the dispute
but what’s done is done and ended,
so the point was rather moot


27. Write a remix poem

For today's prompt, write a remix poem. Take one of your poems (preferably from this month) and remix it. Make free verse a traditional form or vice versa.

Remix of day #13 – Write a How to Blank poem

How to Make Me Lose Interest in a Challenge (which was written in free verse)

The challenge is presented
the point of PAD this is
a prompt each day invented
by a man who’s in the biz

Some are kind of boring
others kind of lame
some will set me snoring
and others look the same.

My enthusiasm’s shaky
I often fall behind
the words are often flakey
for this challenge so maligned.


28. Write a sight poem

Sea and sky will join as one,
the fog rolls in to veil the sun;
the silent shroud is closing in,
I hasten now, my steps begin.

The fog is such a joy to me
there’s magic everywhere I see,
a softness coating tree and grass
swirling everywhere I pass.

I take a step and disappear
with just my thoughts remaining clear.
Even when I lose my way
I love to see a foggy day.


30. Write a moving poem

Boxes packed, and neatly stacked
moving day has come
one last look in cupboard and nook –
to be sure that we’re all done.
One last glance, one last chance
before we turn to go
memories made, soon will fade
and join the afterglow.

PAD Challenge Three

Almost caught up, and still not exactly thrilled with the prompts but I’m finding a few inventive ways of dealing with them. Like opting for the form of senryu for day 17, and after a day of staring at a blank screen, using a page of text about organisms to create a black out poem for day 22. I think I’m finally getting the hang of black out though. I highlighted the words I wanted to keep, then it dawned on me that I could also highlight the rest of it, only with black. However, the problem with that is that Word won’t highlight blank lines. So what I did was add random letters to move the black to the end of the line, which is why there are red and blue editing lines in the picture.

16. Write a touch poem

Spring is finally here
and the day is sunny and clear
my neighbor is outside
in her garden, filled with pride
as she should be. I believe
she started it with seeds –
the lilies and the glads
guard the sweet peas growing mad;
there are daisies, asters, mums,
and the crocus, almost done;
impatiens, begonia, phlox,
in a gaily painted box;
the path is pansy lined,
the roses, several kinds
and the tulips, always Dutch –
She has the magic touch.


17. Write a mad poem

this prompt is unclear –
mad can be angry or daft
one word, two meanings

you’d have to be mad
to take up a challenge so
many days behind

mad does not cover
how I feel when driving and
someone cuts me off


20. Write a six words poem: content, double, guide, meet, pump, suit

I wish that I could be content
with how my minutes and hours are spent
or maybe even see them double
and in that way avoid some trouble.
A nonsense poem needs no guide
just copy down the words with pride
and circle round until words meet
to make the poem all nice and neat
and just to give it a little pump
make it rhyme with callithump.
Whatever you like to make it suit –
a nonsense theme is always cute.


22. Write an organism poem

Organism

An entity with life
of one or more cells,
the fundamental biological unit.
Life form; living being; living thing.
Responsible for an organism
are mutations.
Natural selection
may be beneficial to change.
Light energy,
chemical energy,
keep them alive.
Building up includes
breaking down.
Living things
can detect changes:
sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing –
response is crucial.
Organisms give rise to
a new individual

PAD Challenge Two

I’m still a few poems behind, but I’m catching up. And I have to say, I’m not enjoying this as much as I thought I would be. Part of it is the prompts – they kind of suck. So, naturally my poems mostly reflect this. My vision of having thirty awesome poems at the end of the month is slowly fading away. Anyway, I have a couple that I’m not too embarrassed to share.

10. Write a taste poem

Choices

I stand before the menu board
so many choices
how can one decide?
Something different for a change . . .
there’s London Fog, sweet vanilla cream
with a hint of bergamot
or maybe a creamy, smooth Macha Latte.
Emperor’s Clouds and Mist offer
a gentle, smoky, earthy flavour,
while Peach Tranquility appeals
with its fruity goodness.
The mint and lemon of Lemon Majesty
would be a refreshing change,
as would the Honey Citrus Mint
with a touch of honey.
So many options,
so much to choose from.
I sigh, resigned,
and order my usual
a creamy, spicy, Chai Latte.
Why mess with success?


11. Write a power poem

I watch
safe behind the glass
hidden behind
the houseplants on the sill.
The yard is alive
with activity,
the birds facing off
with the squirrels
for the pleasure of
emptying the feeder.
Back and forth,
a swing and a miss,
chittering squirrels,
squawking birds,
but wait!
The chipmunk sneaks through
the line of defense,
up the shepherd’s crook
to the feeder
reaching the goal.
Power play!


12. Write a counting poem and/or a not counting poem

I’m counting on
warm summer breezes
the trees greening up
the garden emerging
soft summer nights.

I am not counting on
the endless grey
dismal rainy days
the cold creeping back
and wet snow on the deck.


14. Write a scary poem

The scudding leaves lead the way
the wind is chill, a hint of spray
from darkened clouds laying low,
truly ‘tis a night of woe.

The moon above’s no longer bright
as red begins to dim its light
and footsteps echo in the dark
while shadows dance and leave a spark.

I slow my pace as I draw near
the dark and ancient stone menhir
where waits the coven for the rite
to bring to all eternal night.

The bones are cast into the fire,
spirits shriek as flames leap higher,
hands are joined and words are said
to fill the mortal world with dread.

Dark spirits mass to watch and wail
and wait their turn to cross the veil;
the mortal world is ours this night
you cannot hide, you cannot fight.

Dark desires rule here now
it does not matter what you vow
you cannot stop what is to come
your only choice is to succumb.

PAD Challenge Sampling

I was a little late joining the annual Writer's Digest PAD Challenge  this year, but I’m pretty much caught up. And I figured it was the perfect time to revive my Wednesday posts by offering a sampling of these poems.

That being said, these aren't the greatest poems I’ve ever written, but they’re better than nothing. I’m not including all of them, but I am including the prompt Writer’s Digest gave for each given day. And away we go:

1. Write an F-title poem

Foolish Thoughts

Foolish thoughts fill my head
When I’m awake, when I’m in bed
They keep me entertained, it’s true
But I’ve got other things to do.
I’d banish these thoughts if I could
It really is for my own good
But foolish thoughts will oft persist
No matter how long is my list
So work can wait another day
And foolish thoughts can have their way.

4. Write a catch up poem

Like a hamster running on its wheel
Spinning, getting nowhere fast
I fall behind, and then catch up
But it never seems to last
I fall behind, catch up again
The cycle just goes on and on
Perhaps I need a bigger push
Before the catching up is done.

8. Write a what they never tell you poem
I wrote this one while hanging out with my granddaughter, so she may have inspired it a little

They tell you
not to be in a hurry to grow up
but they never tell you why
They tell you
to mind your P’s and Q’s
but not how to deal with those who don’t
They tell you
money doesn’t grow on trees
but not where it does come from
They tell you
eating vegetables makes you strong
but not what to do with that strength
They tell you
to be kind to others
but not what to do when others aren’t kind back
They tell you
“one of these days”
but don’t tell you which one
They tell you
lots of things
but leave out a lot of things too.

9. Write a breaking poem

I stand upon the path at night
and look toward the sky
the stars are fading with their light
the moon no longer high
the water’s calm, there is no wind
as to the shore I am drawn
I face the east, I may have grinned
to watch the breaking dawn

Week Three of the Jamie and Carol Poetry Challenge

Whoops! I almost forgot. It’s Saturday, and that means it’s time to post my week’s worth of poems. In case you missed the previous posts, you can find Week One HERE and Week Two HERE. And don’t forget to check out Jamie’s poems HERE.

Without further ado, POEMS!

Poem #15
The Monotetra can have any number of stanzas of four lines each, but must have at least two. Each stanza contains a mono-rhyme, so that the pattern is aaaa, bbbb, cccc, and so on, and eight syllables, and the last line of each stanza has a repeating four-syllable phrase, like an echo, to make it look like a refrain.

The Price to Pay

The wind is from the west today
I stand and watch the branches sway
a storm is coming, so they say -
perhaps it may, perhaps it may.

But wind and rain are not what wait
for one like me, no it is fate
upon my soul it’s hunger sate
so filled with hate, so filled with hate.

I dabbled in what I should not
never thinking I’d be caught -
it’s not as if I’d not been taught
but I forgot, but I forgot.

There always is a price to pay
for those who once were made of clay
but changed to stop life’s slow decay
to my dismay, to my dismay.

I come to you, confess my sin
remind you all of what has been
the world around me starts to spin
please let me in, please let me in.

It doesn’t matter anyhow
alas there is no succor now
for those who broke a sacred vow
the end is now, the end is now.

Poem #16

You know, you’d think Sunday’s poem would be easier because I’m not following a specific form, but I still have to come up with a subject, and my brain feels like it’s full of sawdust.

I Make The Plans

I make the plans and then I watch
as plans go all awry
all that time gone with a splotch
and all I can do is sigh.

I make the plans and then I see
other things to do
I go upon a cleaning spree
and then I sit and stew.

I make the plans and then I find
a web cam on the ‘net
I watch the feed ‘til I’m near blind
and so the pattern’s set.

I make the plans but never seem
to stick to them, I guess
plans for me are just a dream -
they only cause me stress.

Poem #17
Naani is one of India's most popular Telugu forms. The name means “an expression of one and all”. It consists of four lines, with a total of 20 to 25 syllables. The Naani has no rhyme scheme and there is no set length to each line, nor is the poem is not bound to a particular subject. My kind of poem! It was so much fun I did three of them. :-)

I offer you a cup of words
take what you want -
the rest will fly free
like dandelion seeds on the wind.

Look up, look up
into a clear blue sky
where thoughts and dreams drift
in the shape of white clouds.

Ink spills across the page
needing the mind’s eye
to decipher the meaning
of the poet’s thoughts.

Poem #18
The Ochtfochlach (points if you can pronounce it) is from Ireland. It has 8 lines, any consistent number of syllables, and the rhyme scheme is AAAB CCCB.

Split

There is a darkness deep in me
Down where no one else can see
Filled with all of life’s debris
and what I perceive is pay back.
Sometimes I let the darkness out
but only when no one’s about
and then true evil starts to sprout
and there’s no turning back.

Poem #19
The Pensee is a syllabic form with five lines. The structure is as follows:
Line 1: subject – 2 syllables
Line 2: description – 4 syllables Line 3: action – 7 syllables
Line 4: setting – 8 syllables
Line 5: final thought – 6 syllables
Titles are optional, but I titled mine and did two of them because they’re short.

Magic
faeries
in the moonlight
flittering and dancing free
in the hidden magic forest
make me feel young again.

Depression
journey
into darkness
the black dog is chasing you
to the edge of the mind’s abyss
the dark night of the soul.

Poem #20
I had a lot of choices for the letter Q and in the end I chose my two favorites.

A quinzaine is an unrhymed verse of fifteen syllables. These syllables are distributed as follows:
Line 1: Statement of 7 syllables
Line 2: Beginning of question with 5 syllables
Line 3: End of question with 3 syllables

I always expect the worst -
why do I do that?
I don’t know.

The flapping of wings fills the air.
Where do ducks come from?
Will they stay?

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

A Quatern is a sixteen line French form. Rhymes are not a requirement and if one is used the rhyme scheme or rhyming pattern is entirely up to the poet. The Quatern:
1) Must have four verses.
2) Each verse must have four lines.
3) Each line must have eight syllables.
4) It must have a first line which is a descending repeated line.

Magic Rare

A quality of magic rare
dwells within the most worthy souls;
a hidden essence sometimes shown
but only to those who believe.

Like a ghost on the earthly plain,
a quality of magic rare
is often sensed rather than seen
like a will-o-the-wisp at large.

A moonlit path of fairy dust
that shimmers and glows will lead to
a quality of magic rare
for those who have the eyes to see.

With pen and ink I start to write
trying to capture the coy words
and wish that somehow I could find
a quality of magic rare.

Poem #21
Like so many other French forms, the Retourne is all about repetition. It contains four quatrains (four-line stanzas), and each line has eight syllables. It’s kind of like the Quatern in that it has a repeating line, but in this case the second line of the first stanza becomes the first line of the second stanza, the third line of the first stanza becomes the first line of the third stanza; and the fourth line of the first stanza becomes the first line of the fourth stanza.

My Path

I walk a path that no one sees
It takes me to unknown places.
I see things most others cannot
I hold the magic in my veins.

It takes me to unknown places
This path of mine I walk alone
Though others are free to follow
If they truly wish to do so.

I see things most others cannot
Which is disconcerting at times
But oh, the beauty in the world
So often overlooked by man,

I hold the magic in my veins
And walk a magic path of words.
As hard as it is, still it’s mine
And I wouldn’t trade for anything.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

And there you have the poems for week three. Next week is going to be challenging because I’m getting into the harder letters of the alphabet. And seeing as April ends next Sunday, that’s when I’ll be posting the final week’s worth of poems. Don’t forget to check back!

Week Two of the Jamie and Carol PAD Challenge

Wow! It’s becoming more and more difficult to keep up the pace of the poetry challenge, but somehow we’re managing. Would it have been easier if we were posting every day? Hard to say. In any case, if you missed the first post about National Poetry Month, you can find it HERE and for those of you who’ve had these posts delivered to your email so you can’t just scroll down, my first week’s worth of poems can be found HERE

And now, on to the poems!

Poem #8
The Gzha is a Tibetan poetry form written in four unrhymed lines with six syllables per line. It's really only supposed to be one stanza, but because it's so short I kept going - technically any of the verses could be a stand alone.

Pearls of wisdom fall like
drops of blood from a wound,
bruising whatever they
touch with unwanted truths.

Whispers in the darkness
meant to lure and beguile -
a maelstrom of choices
too tempting to resist.

What good is truth really?
When a well thought out lie
is much more seductive
and easily believed.

Poem #9
This poem fell on a Sunday, and I’m taking Sundays off from forms and just doing whatever pops into my head. :-)

A Poem Every Day

What was I thinking?
A poem every day -
I really don’t have
all that much to say.

A poem every day?
It’s a lot of work
when lately my writing
I’ve tended to shirk.

And sticking to forms -
what’s that all about?
A lot of those rhyme schemes
fill me with doubt.

A poem every day
is a pretty big chore
but I hope by the end
I’ll keep writing more.

Poem #10
Today’s form is the Hexaduad which is comprised of one stanza of six rhyming couplets or twelve lines. The structure is fairly simple: 1st couplet has 2 syllables per line, 2nd has 6 each, 3rd has 8 each, 4th has 4 each, 5th has 6 each, and 6th has 4 each. The rhyme scheme is aa bb cc dd ee ff

Oh look,
a book!
Because it’s so well writ
I find I must read it
and nothing will stand in my way
even if it takes me all day.
Give me a chair
out of the glare
and a pot of hot tea
and perhaps a cookie -
no talk until
I’ve read my fill.

Poem #11
The Imayo is from Japan, a four line poem with twelve syllables per line. However, it’s not quite as simple as that, there’s a caesura (or pause) separating each line after the seventh syllable, giving it the typical seven/five pattern. Because it’s so short I did two of them, but I cheated a bit and did the five syllable part as single words.

Stargazing
Childish wish upon a star, imagination
the truth appears in a dream, interpretation
things fall into place for once, serendipity
the future spreads a bright path, illuminati.

Progress
Toxic waste flowing freely, contamination
always there is an excuse, justification
quasi clean-ups just in time, organization
money obscuring the truth, civilization


Poem #12
The Jagati is a Hindu verse form. The Jagati is written with 4 lines or padas to a stanza and 12 syllables in each pada.

Disconnection

A cool white moon, shining high in the midnight sky
Keeping silent vigil o’er an uncaring world,
Pacing across the heavens in an age old dance,
Seeking the perfect partner that does not exist.

A lost god, winging his way across the heavens
Forever in pursuit of the truth, of the way,
Fruitlessly searching for the vision gone astray -
Steadfast, the mission to find a forgotten past.

A rising sun, red on the distant horizon,
Herald for a new day of unanswered questions,
As eternal and enduring as time itself -
Archaic habits cannot be changed on a whim.

Poem #13
Today’s form is the Kwansaba, which is a non-rhyming form that consists of seven lines of seven words per line and each word cannot be more than seven letters. You’d think this would be a breeze with no rhymes or syllable count to worry about, but I kept wanting to use words that were more than seven letters. Go figure. LOL

Dreamer
I lie awake in the dark night
my mind awhirl with this and that
hopes and fears and what might be.
Sleep still eludes me for a time
but as my turning thoughts slow down
visions begin to appear in my mind;
soon I’m lost in a dream world.

Poem #14
The final form for the week (written fresh this morning) is the Luc Bat. Luc Bat is Sino-Vietnamese for "six eight", referring to the alternating lines of six and eight syllables. It will always begin with a six-syllable line and end with an eight-syllable one, however, it can be as long as you wish. It has a really funky rhyme scheme, which you can learn all about  HERE.

So It Begins
The drifts of snow are gone
and sooner comes the dawn, soft glow
the winds begin to blow
the sap begins to flow, unseen
the grass becomes more green
and has that special sheen, once more
the rain begins to pour
like it has done before, in spring
the birds begin to sing
celebrate everything, at dawn.

And there you have it. The second week’s worth of poems.

Don’t forget to check out Jamie's Poems too. She may not be using specific forms, but following prompts can be just as challenging, if not more so!