I apologize for the delay. Waited all day for Paul Fowler to text me his prompt but he hasn't sent one. So I figured I'd just post one and if he sends one we can use his next week.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Street Signs
Take note of the words on signs and street names you pass while driving, walking, or riding the bus. Write a poem starting with one of these words you notice.
I apologize for the delay. Waited all day for Paul Fowler to text me his prompt but he hasn't sent one. So I figured I'd just post one and if he sends one we can use his next week.
I apologize for the delay. Waited all day for Paul Fowler to text me his prompt but he hasn't sent one. So I figured I'd just post one and if he sends one we can use his next week.
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Funny, I had been thinking of that as a prompt or at least a poetry theme...Fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to come up with prompts sometimes. I try to keep a notebook so that when I come up with one, all I have to do is jot it down and by the time it's my turn again, I have a list of prompts to choose from. When I don't do that, I usually end up repeating one of my old prompts somehow or accidentally, using someone else's idea from the past.
DeleteEnd road construction - End road construction
ReplyDeletea quiet protest we've all witnessed
along high ways, city streets
sometimes even dusty country roads
Whoever is staging this protest
doesn't need angry mobs
robotically chanting and screaming
obscenities or angry threats
No threats of bodily harm
breaking down doors
threats to blow up the White House
no name calling or bullying
I don't know how I stand on the issue
but I appreciate the dignity of the protest
and wonder why others can't follow
The peaceful protest End road construction
that was supposed to say end road work... that's what I get for posting at 3 a.m. or whatever ungodly time it I posted.
DeleteYour usual good work! You make a good point, too.
DeleteI tried commenting on this 3x before I gave up yesterday, I hope it works now.
DeleteI thought this poem was very entertaining and well written!
Actually, this try is my 7th try on this particular post. I tried to comment on the one below also. I'm to the point where I'm just rambling. But, before I try to send, I want to say that even though your poem was playful and innocent, it seemed to have an undercurrent of some deeper political.
DeleteLOL. Dear god, I hope they don't end road construction. The roads are bad enough. Cute poem.
DeleteBonnie, they can't end road construction, that would be a terrible thing...but, it is a sign of the times, LOL!!! My favorite sign comes around February when people up north here start to get sick of snow...the sign is "THING SPRING"
Deletejust looking around at the signs here. one says " here to help " and there is no one there. no one told me it was my promt this week. street signs is ok though bonita. fits in with a poem i wrote ages ago. i've got another one, but it doesn't quite fit.....i'll work on it - nicely written - love - paul.
ReplyDeletei aent you a text! you chose to write about marie instead of giving me a prompt. so don't lie. if you didn't read it that is your fault.
DeleteBet he doesn't remember, either.
Deletehe knows I sent the text. he pouted and chose to ignore it so I had to post my prompt. believe what you want but there are others who know I did send him the text asking for his prompt. end of story.
DeleteGood to know, thanks for telling me. Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes for your good health and happiness, Tasha
Deleteok. i got no text about prompts and i was probably busy getting nearly murdered by my ex girlfriend, who burned my bed and tried to strangle me, so forgive me if i might have had other things on my mind bonita than prompts. namely staying alive - thanks for not understanding again - paul
DeleteSo Paul, have you sent anyone a prompt by this point? We plan to use yours Sunday instead of this week since it didn't get done on time.
Deletebecause speaking for just myself you didn't comment on mine and it was up there when you posted yours. instead you chose to make a snarky remark about my prompt. and when are you going to send me yours so I can post it this week. enjoyed your over the top drama story. you sure do know how to tell a tale.
DeleteSIGNS
ReplyDeleteno smoking, no food, or drink, CCTV in operation, no dogs, stand clear of the doors, no more than eight persons, no service after 10.30 p.m., exact change please, give way, 30 m.p.h.,no sunday service, gone to lunch, no alcohol beyond this point, no dogs allowed on the beach june - september, no left turn, mind the step, no exit, no entry, passes must be shown at the gate, no entry without valid membership, no one will be seen without an appointment, no parking, no barking, no fun, no sex, no living, no more fucking signs!
a type of sign, straight up on the screen. here we go.
ReplyDeleteGRAfFIttI
" don't beam me up now scotty, i'm having a shhhhiiiiiiiiiit! "
" nobody in here has a clue "
" we love deacon blue "
" to rule me? you have no right "
" call this number for a good night"
somebody stole the g and l from the " national glass centre " sign
wish that idea was mine
streets named after things that no longer exist
pub signs like " the fat ox " where people go to fight
and get pissed
the sickly yellow of the street light
a sign of the time
meant to reveal surreptitious crime
standing under the street light sign, like harry lime.
Lots of signs here, signs of the times, eh?
Deletethanks tash. nobody else bothered to read my poems apparently. yeah, well. like i said, i was too busy getting nearly murdered to post a promt......why do i bother???
DeleteLOL. Kids used to steal the "L" from the PUBLIC DOCK when I was growing up. Amusing poem. Yes, graffiti is signs too.
DeleteI really like the last stanza. At first, I didn't understand how you connected to the prompt but, it works and I liked the use of "sign of the times".
DeletePaul F, I've seen other signs with letters spray painted over that changed to meaning of the word and thus the entire ad or whatever it was that they were mutilating. It's interesting to see what other's see, in fact, it's down right hilarious, sometimes.
Deletethanks vic. stealing, or spray painting over the i in toilet is always fun. as is changing the " welcome to sunderland " sign to " welcome to blunderland " - much more accurate - love - paul.
Deletethanks wolfie. to misquote bob dylan " the times and the signs are a changing " - " no idiots " would be a good sign love and peace - paul.
Deletethanks paul. they have a graffitti wall in my fav pub. bar loco.some of the ones i like are " burn the government ", " i'm not really here " and " time is an illusion " - time is for wimps ha ha - paul.
DeleteStop
ReplyDeleteIf I don't stop my car,
when I see the sign
I might suffer harm,
bump into someone
or get bumped
If I don't stop eating
when I am full of food
I may get a stomach ache
Or maybe, become ill
not to mention overweight.
If I don't stop and think
before I open my mouth
And say something I shouldn't
I may suffer embarrassment,
or worse lose a friend.
Good thing, stopping.
Makes me think about stopping like "Stopping by woods on a snowy evening." One thing I don't want to stop is life.
Deletelet's see if it will end up here this time... I thought the last verse rang oh so true!
DeleteI got a smile from this poem. I like the use of the stomach for a sign. Nice take on the prompt.
DeleteTasha, interesting take on the prompt. It was fun reading all the diversified ideas that our little organization comes up with. I especially like the advice in the last verse...lol...
Deletenice one tash. thinking before i open my mouth is never something i was good at. oh and ignoring " no smoking " signs too ha ha - love and peace - paul.
DeleteTo:
ReplyDeletettbgbzb@yahoo.com
Nov 21 at 10:12 AM
Plum Street has no plums
and Cherry Street no cherries
on Chestnut Street only bums
Behind the Cascade Club strawberries
Poor Peach Street is peachless
the streets are so misnamed
who can blame me for being speechless
when the city planners should be blamed
Perhaps once upon a time
the street names made some sense
but now there is no reason or rhyme
it's all just happenstance
We call it dreary Erie
the mistake on the lake
the mixed up street names clearly
need changed for goodness sake!
Excellent one! Really you are a good, good poet. The last verse is especially fine.
DeleteLOL. You and Paul Bole seem to have a similar theme. Makes me think to the streets in one neighborhood I lived in in Texas where all the streets were women's first names, and I used to make up stories about how that happened. LOL
DeleteNice! I enjoyed hearing the street names. Paul read the poems aloud to me this time. We like the test of listening to the poems because it seems to be the true test of a poem. And, this one is really cute!
DeleteBonnie, All the streets that you named were part of my childhood stomping grounds. Down on 4th street. My grandparents lived on 5th and Cherry. Never did see ANY cherries anywhere. I enjoyed your poem.
Deletenice bonita. a street calls " kings parade " has certainly never seen a king, or a parade. " fellgate " doesn't have a fell, or a gate.....or anything else for that matter - love - paul.
DeleteBus #38
ReplyDeletehow did I even know that it was there?
and, I would have been swallowed up
if, by chance, it hadn't...
but, I wandered through life
on the big roads, too
Rte. I #10...
on the web of highways
brings a smile to the core of my being
a big parrot lives there in a gas station
and, he thinks I'm really "hot"
then, there's that stretch on...
Rte. I #101
and the jagged cliffs that threaten
the very space in which you exist
with such stark cold beauty
like anesthesia
then, crash, and through the windshield
Rte. I #40
whoa to those who become stranded
in the panhandle of Texas
on a cold and windy night, when all seems
bleak and grim
we snuggled up, two in one coat until we got a ride...
Rte. I #70
a lot goes on down there
it practically connects the whole U.S. of A.
we camped right there in Kansas
on the way back and forth, you know
we liked to take the low road on the way to Cali-forn-I-A
Linda this is awesome! I felt like I was traveling with you and saw all those places... I actually felt chilled when I read about the cold Texas night.
DeleteFun poem!!! Liked the bit of autobiography.
DeleteI love the vignettes. A very original take on the prompt.
DeleteLinda, The United States is a big spider web of highways and I think we've been on all of the major ones. I really enjoyed this poem, but for different reasons; for me, each verse provoked an awesome memory. The poem itself is well written.
Deletetoo many roads, not enough good drivers. hell! i know people who drive, but can't even read, or tell their left from their right.......that helps - love - paul.
DeleteOne of Pittsburgh's streets is the Blvd. of the Allies
ReplyDeletebut, that's a misrepresentation and a pack of lies
the Allies broke up and then drifted apart
with all the substance of a popcorn fart
it's time to rename these streets in a truer way
not so pretentious, as if they have the final say
this is a place where many possibilities lead on
once you turn the corner it's ethereal realm is gone
we travel to and fro, expecting our desires to be filled
this is a street where people are born and some are killed
secrets line the streets, like people at the parade
watching hate and fear pose in its new charade
this street which the sign so boldly proclaims to identify
a place in time and space to anchor life and unify
street signs point out our memories and hopes for tomorrow
they can also be followed back into tragedy and sorrow
travel the well maintained streets that serve you the best
learn to read the road signs and steer clear of the rest
just try to remember that for all their finality
we all have a similar street in our own reality
Hi Guys, It's me again, Paul B. I didn't get my poem in on time last week so, I posted it today along with this one. If you get the time or inclination, please have a look. Thanks, Paul B.
DeleteI love this one...especially the popcorn fart! you're right about streets being named to try to make us feel good but they are mostly lies.
DeleteI liked the way this poem reads and how appropriate the metaphors are. Nice job!
DeleteI like the way the poem reads. And yes, streets are named randomly almost, not as they should be.
DeleteThis is really nice. You and our sister, Bonnie, did seem to go off on a tangent. Renaming streets. I find that funny for some reason! LOL!! Well written poem.
Deleteknow a place called " paradise ". they really should rename it hell. - paul.
DeleteI am getting old
ReplyDeleteI see the signs
Dangerous Curve ahead
Caution. Slow.
It is difficult
to follow them
all. I end up going
the Wrong Way,
find Street Closed, Dead End.
I Do Not Enter.
I can go just One Way
but before
I Yield, or go Slow
I plan to take
one last road trip of life.
Buckle up
get ready for Road
Work. Walk, Don't Walk.
I won't Stop, but watch for
Falling Rock.
lol! love it! love it! love it! you got a lot of road signs and it made sense with the theme of your poem. excellent!
DeleteYou did it again!!! Great way to do the prompt.
DeletePS On second thought, the poem might be jus as good if not better without the last verse. Or reverse the two...just a (2nd)thought...
DeleteI like the idea of swapping them. That does work better! Thanks.
DeleteI like the idea of swapping the verses out. I read them aloud both ways and it made such a difference...the poem actually sounded like it had and end.
Delete" walk...don't walk....talk....don't talk " - the boomtown rats.
Delete" getting old ain't for sissies " - bette davis.
was gonna talk about the signs you get on the computer, but got too bugged with it " systems error shutdown " is a good one - love - paul.