I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In poems that turn up, Vaughn explains, there is an ending that turn up to a higher level of consciousness or give a feeling of epiphany. In poems that turn down, on the other hand, there is a feeling of the reality of humanity in a grounding fashion.
Hawk on a Wire, or Mom?
is she seeking (with
visual acuity)
unsuspecting mice,
or is she giving
(all-knowing) from Heaven's realm,
heart hugs from above?
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In a layered metaphor poem, Vaughn explains, writers break down metaphors into more than one aspect or detail, exposing the layers of relationship or comparison.
Kasa, shortly after arriving at her new home where now belongs
Kasa
female bird dog with a gunshot foot
for doing what bird dogs do best-
she’s a spooning foot warmer
a broken heart healer
a pleading charmer
life enhancer
my brother’s
princess
now
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In today’s exercise, Vaughn introduces readers to the extended metaphor poem, in which a metaphor is described throughout several lines or stanzas.
Seeking Little Guy Max
one tiny teardrop
big enough for getaways
to recharge the soul
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
Today’s exercise is a Just Because poem, using two images that are illogical in a cause-effect relationship until explained in a poem that begins with the word because.
Just Because
because of your sock sorters
we make time
for more important things
than sorting socks
endlessly
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
Today’s inspiration is to depict your inner self with images that depict the states of mind or heart.
Missing Mom
Hawk on a wire
checking on my seat belt
fastened tight
Feeder birds at the window
assuring me
things will be okay
Dogs asleep in my lap
reminding me to
offer peace, comfort
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
Today’s inspiration is to write a poem that brings the abstract into focus in the concrete.
Packing
I packed
a book
3 dogs
2 chairs
a bag of firewood
a box of matches
jeans
a flannel shirt
and no to-do lists
in the camper
we pulled out
of the driveway
on the road to
weekend freedom
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In today’s exercise, Vaughn encourages writers to write a poem in which a word or words are used to paint images.
Gwendolyn’s Dad
lingering blood stains
on Highway 46
at the scene
took her 27 miles
out of the way
for a year
after the fatal wreck
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In today’s exercise, Vaughn encourages writers to write about an unexpected image such as a tuba to capture a reader’s imagination with surprise. He references “Tuba” by Morton Marcus, but my mind goes straight to Billy Collins’ “Irish Spider.”
My poem today is inspired by the end of Will’s Red Coat by Tom Ryan – one of my favorite unexpected images! It still brings a tear and a message to live life fully and smell the flowers while we can.
Hooked
Will's little red coat
hanging on a wall hook, still
do you smell flowers?
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
Today’s exercise is writing a poem using a blend of senses that mix into a single experience such as mixing taste and smell (synesthesia). We’re camping this weekend at High Falls State Park in Jackson, Georgia, where the senses are in the full swing of autumn.
Campsite 68
campfire smoke
clinging in trees the
flavor of marshmallows~
ethereal, ghostly swirls
this October night
leaves crunch
underfoot
dogs bark off in the distance
conversation sparks laughter nearby
music pulses the beat of the night
around the bend
we warm our feet fireside
warm our core
drinking cinnamon spiced tea
warm our hearts
holding hands
warm our spirits
stargazing
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In today’s exercise, Vaughn challenges writers to listen to two contrasting pieces of music and compose a poem that deals with their dissonant nature. This morning, I chose to write a cento – a poem comprised completely of existing lines written by other poets/songwriters. I chose the theme of place rather than sound, and used the ten minute frame for writing, deciding to see what I could accomplish in only a short span of time. And I left it unfinished – because that’s okay. Sometimes, having an idea of using four seasons in lyrics that take us to places we don’t belong, and then come home to where we do belong doesn’t result in the fully executed plan.
I’m okay with that. No one except me knows without my admission that this piece is yet unfinished. Poetry lets me move on anyway – and that is therapeutic!
Contrasting Music Cento
on a warm
summer’s evening
on a train
bound for nowhere
there is a house
in New Orleans
they call The Rising Sun
and it’s been the
ruin of many
a poor boy
welcome to the
Hotel California
you can check out
anytime
but
you can
never leave
country roads
take me home
to the place
I belong
Common Threads 