Maureen Thorson’s NaPoWriMo prompt: “[W]rite a poem that plays with the idea of a list.”
Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem-a-Day prompt: “[W]rite a small poem. . . . The poem itself could be concise, but it could also be focused on something or someone small.”
Here is Alan's poem, arising from both prompts.
The Four Best Cigarettes My Dad Ever Smoked
The one he lit up in front of his mother when she came, angry during an intermission
in the revival service, to ask why he had not returned for the third preacher,
confirming her suspicions and knowing she would berate him all the way home
after the service ended,
The one he dropped into the fuel fill hose of a 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria when the
shop manager cussed him and told him to pack its wheel bearings yet a third
time,
The one from a new pack of Pall Malls he bought when he also first bought my mom a
new pack of Salems. He had slipped his half pack of Pall Malls in his front pants
pocket so he could start a fresh pack when she did. I don’t know why he told me this
story.
The one when he left the nursing home for the first time after having taken his mother
there to stay, each inhale slower than the previous one, until he felt still
enough to drive home to us.
—Draft by Thomas Alan Holmes [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
Okay, here's my poem . . . arising also from both prompts again. As far as small goes, the poem is relatively small, I guess. Just 10 1/2 lines, a curtal sonnet again. I suppose I have written small poems all week. For what it's worth, I do recommend something small in the poem.
What to Do?
What things might one put on a to-do list
at this time of year? Maybe plant some spring
flowers? Snowdrops, poppies, bluebells, primrose?
Nothing there for me to do or assist,
even. Mother Earth’s got that. Spring cleaning?
Been keeping on it all winter, so those
small tasks are covered as well. Maybe dust?
Nah, it's got to be a small list. One thing
on it: just live, baby, just live. Who knows?
We could be gone like that! Everyone must.
A small list, kept close.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
Friends, won’t you comment, please? Love to know what you’re thinking. Thanks!
Ingat, everyone. ヅ |
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3 comments:
Two fine list poems. I liked your last stanza especially, Vince - very poignant. And Alan - really good curtal sonnet.
Bruce, thanks! I thought I was writing a non-list poem, but I just realized, from your comment, that there's a small list right in the middle.
BUT, you have the poets switched. Though maybe you've challenged Alan to write a curtal sonnet now!
LOL, I didn't read the bylines. Usually yours is first.
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