From Writer's Digest PAD Challenge:
When we finish today’s poem, we’ll be officially 20% of the way through this challenge. Poem by poem, we’re building up some great first drafts. So let’s keep it going!
For today’s prompt, write a trap poem. There are physical traps—like mouse traps and bear traps. But people also sometimes fall into language traps or social traps. Many competitive types in business and various games try to set traps for their competitors. Of course, for every person setting a trap, there’s likely another person trying to avoid falling into traps.
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.
Man Trap
ReplyDeleteMove
Alone
The table there.
Shift the couch here. The chest there.
Uh oh! I am trapped between.
Call
for help?
My phone is there.
I am wedged behind the chest.
Wiggle and push. An inch more.
Tip
over.
Careful. Careful.
Push. Slide. Grunt. Wiggle an inch.
Suddenly there is movement.
Done
Looks nice.
Sitting with pride.
He’s home. He sees? He sits down.
He says, “What d’ya do today?”
Very funny.
DeleteCute one!
DeleteLOL. Love it. Not at all what I expected given the title.
DeleteI love this and have lived it so many times!!! I used to start moving at midnight. I thought my husband might divorce me eventually! Haha
Deletetrapped in a world
ReplyDeletewhere nobody cares
candid people claim
rights of others
honoring no one
trapped in a scheme
so sour and stale
that no on is free
what happens now
is up to you
evolve, enlighten
... find free thought
fight oppression
offer peace and respite
find liberation from
the snares and entrapments
of society...
only you can claim
the deliverance you
deserve...
I like all of this except maybe the beginning - "where nobody cares" is maybe too obvious. Howevver, reminds me of something a friend used to say, that maybe I'll work into a poem.
DeleteI'm so glad you joined us, Linda. I have missed you here. Love the ending, and so true.
DeleteTRAPPED
ReplyDeleteGetting free was the easy part:
Vos papiers. monsieur? and I
had them, passports in seven
different names, five different
nationalities, and currency,
rubles, marks, francs, pounds,
and everyone wants dollars, so
plenty of those. A cigarette
boat waiting in the harbor,
a map of the channel--shoals,
eddies (watch for low
hanging branches), night
vision goggles, an Uzi, extra
ammo, and if I didn't think
about how I'd turned
her in, good to go.
Somehow this made the Warren Zevon song "Lawyers, Guns and Money" start circling in my head. But I don't think you perverted the prompt. I think the poem is right on.
DeleteFine fun to be had! What a tale in verse, nice! Thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteTrapped
ReplyDeleteHelplessly trapped
means I can't do anything
to get out of a situation.
Or can I? Am lying to myself
because I don't want to
do what I need to get out
of the trap or am in
such a comfortable trap
I don't want to leave it
unless I get too uncomfortable
and decide I'm not helpless
after all.
Yes, a comfortable trap. When I worked as a computer programmer I said I was trapped by money. I was initially going to say I'd like detail of the "situation" in the poem, but it applies to so many situations I changed my mind. It works well.
DeleteI love the way it keeps turning on itself.
DeleteHow nice to read your positive comments. It wasa a challenging prompt.
DeleteNot trapped
ReplyDeletein my own home
but am free to play house
keep my agoraphobia
intact
A cinquain! I like this form for short and pithy much better haiku, and I like the way you've used it here. Each line introduces something new.
DeleteA lot of times someone who invents a new verse form names it after herself, but in this case the poet chose not to. Probably just as well. Her name was Adelaide Crapsey.
Well, with this poem a day thing, I feel like I'm writing crapsey. LOL
DeleteTo write a new poem gives room to fix later or o ditch, which ever works. No worries, eh?
Delete7 TIMES TRAPPED
ReplyDelete“Trapped” is a predicament
One should try hard to stay out of
Not in.
So I thought about it all day,
Trapped in thinking about what
I was thinking within.
I’ve thought of being trapped
and wondered...
like miners, 33:
Is the greatest stronghold
From without,
That within, holds me?
But the more I thought,
And considered my own
Heavily,
Being trapped is strongest,
I think, behind the face
Given me.
To my being, Creation’s mirth
Gave the greatest freedom
At birth.
And yet, born with two hands
It’s odd, I find, one hand trapped
The other’s worth.
The image of me, in my mind’s eye,
Is multi-faceted in doubt
And desire,
I’m trapped by proxy,
By limbic shades of feelings,
By mind’s ire.
And so, the sage told me,
With eyes trapped, I cannot see
Myself clearly.
The best mask is faith
It clears away
To see myself dearly.
I know this truth
For I was given
A clear vision
Healed of brokenness
Not trapped by life or shroud, .
Freedom gained by decision.
Wow. I love the imagery, esp. "limbic shades of feelings". I wish I'd recruited you to write poetry many moons ago.
DeleteI love this one. Especially love the first verse, but it's witty and though-provoking all the way through.
DeleteAn interesting progression, Were I your editor I might cut it a bit...and I'm not, so please take my comment with a grain of salt, or pepper if you like?
Delete