Patchwork Prose and Verse
he’s a musical pirate, stealing songs
deceitful melodies some will believe
are his own original lyrics, tuned
spun from a true heart (yet nothing more fake)
these parroted words served up like spice cake
come all who’ll listen: for whom the bell dongs
this sheep in swiped robe is out to deceive
against the backdrop of clear cut pine trees
their homes have all fallen, logs now piled high
it gutted my soul as I mourned for their loss
from one lone hardwood tree left standing tall
the song of a wood thrush brings hope to all
proclaims resilience, brings me to my knees
its gratitude praise song raised to the sky
Today’s poem is a Demi Sonnet, which contains slant rhyme or rhyme, 7 lines, in the pattern ABCDDAB. I was inspired to write this one after reading The Hurt Bone by Keetje Kuipers.
The Deep Woods of Hurt
I bat away limbs in the deep woods of hurt
stumble and trip over rocks in the dark
faster and faster through scratches and scrapes
old hurts rise again from the depths of the soul
resurging emotions, bitter and cold
how quickly, how quickly the heart can revert
how deeply forever pain leaves its mark
One of last month’s prompts from Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing Calendar was Letter to a Place. I am using the tiny Shadorma form (3-5-3-3-7-5) today to revisit this tiny writing topic.
her pen moves
across the paper ~
a letter
written to
the place of her family
roots ~ Goodbye, it says
Today’s poem is a Demi-Sonnet, which consists of 7 lines and either slant rhyme or rhyme in a pattern of ABCDDAB. Last month, I had a visit from a Chuck Will’s Widow (they sound like whippoorwills) as the tree farm was being clear cut. Our Loblolly pines are becoming telephone poles, and the birds that were here have all moved on to trees on other farms.
The Forecast
Chuck Will’s Widow forecasts gloom
from atop the Loblolly pines
some say they’re spirits standing guard
there in the darkness of the night
have you seen one? an eerie sight!
but which side should prepare for doom?
she’s perched between two property lines……
it’s funny
how summer sneaks up
suddenly
like weddings~
all the anticipation,
one fleeting moment
I find inspiration in the lids of the yogurt I eat. I buy this brand not just because it’s delicious, but for the messages and the pure glass containers that will root new plant life for me to share with friends. Here is a poem inspired by Say Oui to Time Off!
Say Yes
we said yes because
what we know about us
is that we like a big window
and gray and white
and newness and matching
towels and linens
not odd assortments
and light,
plenty of light
and good music speakers
front, back, and outside
for good 70s tunes
and fifteen trips to France but
not going there
instead, staying close to home
but still away, oui?
and time off
to enjoy it
One of the things I love to do when I have a little spare time is read the blogs of other writers. I noticed that Donna Smith of Mainely Write was part of the same KidLit Progressive Poem that I was writing for 2025, so I checked out her blog and discovered a new poetry form – – a Rictameter. You can check out Donna’s blog here to read about the structure.
For today, I’m writing a Rictameter to celebrate the beginning of summer.
School’s Out!
school’s out!
what will we do?
camp in state park campgrounds
take family trips to the beach
have watermelon seed-spitting contests
read books in a hammock all day
count stars on a clear night
take a night swim
school’s out!
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Poem Made of Questions.
A Poem Made of Questions
doesn’t have
exclamation points
periods
or hellfire
narcissism directives ~
it offers free choice
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: What Your Feet Know.
What Your Feet Know
your feet know
after a long trip
the way home
your feet know
the tight pull of belonging
listen to your feet
Common Threads 