From Writer's Digest PAD Challenge - Day 2
Welcome to day two of the April Poem-A-Day Challenge. Anyone can show up for one day; it’s the people who show up for the second day who are really in this challenge to get their poem on.
For today’s prompt, write a space poem. Your poem could be about outer space or inner space. It could opine on the social spacing much of the world is currently doing. Or poets can write an ode to having the space to write or read or whatever. Honestly, I’ll be disappointed if there isn’t a Star Wars or Star Trek inspired poem today. Now, I’ll back off and give everyone plenty of space to write their poems today.
Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt.
Not exactly "space" but loosely.
ReplyDeleteLove in the Time of Corona
Wash your hands.
So what that you washed them
ten minutes ago.
You touched the mail,
the front door.
That pear disinfected?
Give it here to wash,
make sure it’s clean.
No, I am
not scrubbing the skin off.
Have you Skyped your Aunt
Julie, cousins
Abby, Zack.
They want to hear from you.
Do you miss them too?
Do your homework.
Yes, I know
it’s all “home work” these days.
Read. Listen. Write.
Investigate life.
I catch you
sneaking out of the house
to visit your friends
you’ll wish you were
infected.
Two in ten of us won’t
catch it. Wipe that
toilet handle,
and your phone.
And don’t you touch that face.
Sage advice.
DeleteThe space between you and your hands...
DeleteWhat a fine poem and so timely.
DeleteSOCIAL DISTANCE
ReplyDeleteWe’re all in hijab
only eyes
give a clue as to our
identities
which means you get no
demure smile
no tightly pursed lips of
disapproval
no frown no scowl no
knowing leer
no one can undress you
as it turns out
with his eyes alone
by themselves
eyes simply can’t do much
which may be why
Sharia law is so
effective
makes you start to wonder
why we ever
believed we could know
each other
or if we’ll even want
when the plague’s past
to take the masks off
Love that question aa the end! Clever poem.
DeleteInteresting point.
DeleteI keep thinking of those countries, France and I think Holland, who outlawed face coverings because of hijabs. Yes, we are all i hijab now.
DeleteSpace May Be
ReplyDeleteSpace can be
Large or small,
or not at all.
Space can be,
distance from
or shelter in.
Space can be
wide and tall
or very small.
Space can be
a gift to give,
a way to live.
Nice last line tying in our current times.
DeleteI love the contrasts of the same word. Nicely done.
DeleteThank you, fellow poets. Your kind words mean a lot.
DeleteNegative Space
ReplyDeleteFeel
the air
as you breathe in.
The air takes shape in your lungs.
The air takes space in your lungs.
See
the air
space around you.
The air takes shape and takes space
from the edges of your stuff.
Grin
Engage
Ship Shape your space.
Explore the changes in space
where no shape has gone before.
Move
your stuff
and change the shape.
Make the negative air space
take the shape of enterprise!
I love the changing "shape" line in each stanza. And the repetition of it in the first. I usually don't critique the actual poem but since the first two are senses. And "move" could be the sense touch, I'd love to see two more stanzas with "hear" and "smell", and then end with the "Grin" stanza.
DeleteThanks! Here it is revised.
DeleteNegative Space
DeleteSee
the air
space around you.
The air takes shape and takes space
from the edges of your stuff.
Noise
bounces
through the air space.
Echoes? Echolocation?
Reverberation? Sound dance.
Sniff
the air.
Wafting scents of
smell fill the space with hunger
for food or motive to clean.
Move
your stuff
and change the shape.
Make the negative air space
take the shape of enterprise!
Grin
Engage
Ship Shape your space.
Explore the changes in space
where no shape has gone before.
I
The last verse was very nice, especially.
ReplyDelete