For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Urban (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Urban Cowboy,” “Urban Warfare,” “Urban Daydreams,” “Urban Living,” and so on.
Robert Lee Brewer's original post.
I discovered limited HTML works in this box so I am trying it out because otherwise it's impossible to format a cleave poem. It won't do tables, centering or fonts, so I'm even trying to "space" it properly isn't working. I hope it works because otherwise it will be too difficult to read. If you aren't familiar with the cleave form, read each column first, then read across the columns to make entire rows of the three columns of text. This is, btw, the first time I have tried a 3 column cleave. I usually do 2 column ones.
ReplyDeleteUrban, Suburban, Rural
I have lived - in urban apartments - in rural acres
in suburban tract houses - so many people - where I lived
where my children - face dangers - like cows
were not - living in streets - mountains, rivers
afraid to cross streets - there is culture - beautiful landscapes
neighbors - poetry music theater - rednecks
Stepford wives - so much going on - nothing going on sometimes
where I have lived - the city - is the best
Damn, he formatting is still bad. Please try to read the first "column", second column then third, then read across the line. Sigh...
Deletegot it! excellent poem! It took several times to get the gist of the format but I got it and it was great. I loved the imagery.
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DeleteReally well done! Descriptive, visual and also a point in each dimension!
Deleteyou nailed it! this form is so hard to write and you got it perfectly. each poem read wonderfully separately and as a single poem and all were very visual and easy to picture
DeleteWell I like the Urban prompt - so here's mine:
ReplyDeleteUrban Quiet
When the traffic thins
and finally stops
When the street vendors
put away their carts
When the road crews pack up,
leaving the DANGER signs in place
When the stores close their doors,
pull security grates in place
When the cleaners leave the offices,
their night’s work finished
And the pigeons and the rats
have devoured the best rubbish
And the bouncers have
cleared the drunks from the clubs
There is one brief moment
of stunning silence
Before the trash trucks roll out
from the Public Works yard
Before the day shift workers
enter the subways
Before commerce and industry
devour the human spirit
Before the promise of a brand new day
is broken
The City is alive
with endless possibility.
©Priscilla Anne Tennant Herrington
I love the idea of that one brief moment of stunning silence between the noises of the city.
Deletegreat stuff Priscilla! I like the City is Alive , with endless possibility...
DeleteI know whereof you speak and it is maigcal.
DeleteI lived in Philadelphia for three years. This is perfectly descriptive of an aspect of the urban not usually thought about. That strange beauty of the city momentarily at rest.. Thanks so much for reminding me of it!
Deleteyou took me back to NYC! where the city is always alive and it vibrates through you making everything more exciting. love it!
DeleteThe Urban Lawman by Linda Rivas Bole
ReplyDeleteThe urban lawman
thinks he's a state boy
he wants to play SS
he thinks he's tough
he thinks he's rough
he wants to make a bust
he eats raw eggs for breakfast
and steroids he pumps for lunch
doughnuts make his supper
that's how he keeps his paunch
he needs that paunch
to push around
the little guy with a joint
he throws him on the ground
and knocks him all around
cause the urban lawman
likes to play SS
I like what you say here - and I really like HOW you say it! Your meter is spot on!
DeleteAnd I'm Priscilla - none of the options work for me so I have to post as Anonymous!
yep you did what you did best with this one... the internal rhyme that brings life to the words. well done.
DeleteLove it!! I love the internal rhyme and great imagery.
ReplyDeleteThe Urban Shaman
ReplyDeleteThe Urban Shaman wields the forces of light
he rides the city byways each and every night,
keeping the forces of darkness at bay
shielding the weak upon whom they'd prey.
The urban shaman is a mighty force
riding upon his magical horse.
Paroling the streets of the night time city
he eradicates evil and strikes without pity
protecting the weak and reinforcing the strong
He sings a mighty and powerful song.
I'm the urban shaman and I'll do what is right
to keep the city's people safe at night.
He sings and he rides and he wields the light
his heart is strong and his eyes are bright
his magic is made of a marvelous intent
to defend and protect those to whom he is sent.
Singing I'm the urban shaman and I'll ride evil down
I'll clean up the streets and safeguard the town.
Great narrative poem. I love the whole idea of the "urban shaman."
DeleteSeems like a song! Maybe the good policeman song bringing peace and "marvelous intent" We need some of these....
Deletei agree that this flows like a song. interesting concept and well written.
DeleteThe magic
ReplyDeleteOld golden ceilings
You beside me
reminiscent of a day gone by
The city Embraces us
a large playground
Fountains, Towers
And tops of a mysterious elixir
Reaching for bottles and stools I never thought I would
An impossible hand guiding me home
I imagine the mysterious elixir spouting from the fountain. You really are great with imagery.
DeleteI imagine the mysterious elixir spouting from the fountain. You really are great with imagery.
Deletei have to agree with Victoria. you are great with imagery and it is somehow magical in this one.
DeletePart time Urban
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of cities,
walkup neighborhoods, museums, coffee shops
the mix of culture and habit
.
I need busy and humming sometimes
bumping up against the world
in a subway or a pub
.
More often though I like quiet
equilibrium, siting in a swing
on a porch listening to rain fall
.
I like the bright lights,
then I like going home
walking in the quiet dark
yep! me too and you made this poem come to life as the scenes burst around me with each verse
DeleteUrban Music
ReplyDeleteThe streets come alive with the rhythm
of the drums as hands clap and fingers
snap as feet dance in unison to the music
and the night comes alive with electricity.
People stop and listen and find themselves
pulled into the sounds that fill their
hearts and souls with a longing they
can't and will never understand.
In the apartment above the street
people turn off their tv's and
open their windows to the heat
of the night to listen to the beats of the street.
The night is alive and sings to them
but too soon it ends as daylight approaches
and real life sets in as they get ready
for work anticipating tonight's reawakening.