Paul Fowler has given us a choice this week. We can choose either "love and war" or "my city" or for the brave you can do both prompts. Put your imaginations in gear and write away.
Can there be love and war together? Are they mutual or opposites and cannot occupy the same space.
For my city write about the city where you live or grew up in... show us don't tell us.
I really have written too many poems. I already have at least one for each prompt. LOL. I also posted a last minute poem on the last prompt "white sheet" after finally getting an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBATTLE PLANS
ReplyDeletea pantoum
Billy’s battle rages on the playroom floor.
Tiny toy men, lined up in strict formation,
swords, shields snapped tight into their unmoving hands,
stand guard on each side of the Playmobil bridge.
Tiny toy men lined up in strict formation,
carefully arranged by their small commander,
stand guard on each side of the Playmobil bridge,
quietly stoic in their plastic helmets.
Carefully arranged by their small commander,
the battle begins, sound effects included.
Quietly stoic in their plastic helmets,
death comes quickly to the front lines as they cross.
The battle begins, sound effects included,
sounds of guns although they have none. Schoo. Aaa! Pffu!!
Death comes quickly to the front lines as they cross.
A pile of toy bodies grows under the bridge,
sounds of guns although they have none. Schoo. Aaa! Pffu!!
Billy keeps track of the rising body count,
a pile of toy bodies grows under the bridge
He narrates Things aren’t going well for the men.
Billy keeps track of the rising body count.
Many men are dying. He nods so calmly.
He narrates. Things aren’t going well for the men.
This same boy cried when his pet hermit crab died
Many men are dying, he says so calmly.
as if nothing is wrong with these random deaths.
This same boy cried when his pet hermit crab died,
tears flowed amid sobs. I just feel for Billy,
as if nothing is wrong with these random deaths,
It was just a crab with no eyes I could see.
Tears flowed amid sobs. I just feel for Billy,
held him close as he cried hard for his dead pet.
It was just a crab with no eyes I could see.
They don’t look back when they go belly up. I
held him close as he cried hard for his dead pet.
I wonder how he can kill his toy men but
they don’t look back when they go belly up. I
watch the last of them fall. The battle is done.
I wonder how he can kill his toy men but
he will set them up once more, opposite sides,
watch the last of them fall. The battle is done.
Swords, shields snapped tight into their unmoving hands,
he will set them up once more, opposite sides.
Billy’s battle rages on the playroom floor.
children play at house, school and war. with house they have a mommy and a daddy and children. They interact in more civil ways than their parents. With school the oldest is usually the teacher and depending on supplys it makes or breaks the school but those little toy soldiers can give years of fun. We are inherently warriors to begin with so we start practicing at a very young age. And to have all those toy soldiers to bump off...and bring right back to life!!!
Deletewho would have thought a poem about a war game would be so beautiful and tender. great job in combining love and war and making it real.
Deletei used to do this with star wars figures....yes. complete with sound effects " you're all clear kid, now lets blow this thing and go home " - han solo.
DeleteWOW, you are sooo good. An inspiration!
DeleteVictoria, this is a very interesting poem. I think all little boys and some little girls played soldiers in just the way you described. I enjoyed it very much
DeleteGreat poem, very well done, well-constructed and very thoughtful!
DeleteI may have posted this one for another prompt. And gee, it's another pantoum. LOL.
ReplyDeleteERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
March 2008
a pantoum
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away…
memories the radio plays. I’m transported…
Click. Silence. I can’t stand songs from my youth as I
drive the downtown streets where I hung out. They bring back
memories. The radio plays. I’m transported,
roaming through Murphy’s, Grants, The Boston Store. Now ghosts
as I drive the downtown streets where I hung out, they bring back
this feeling, my chest sinks through my heart. I recall
roaming through Murphy’s, Grants, The Boston Store. Now ghosts
like false fronts, familiar, not the same, confusion,
this feeling, my chest sinks through my heart. I recall
those old stores to life, remove the new names, faces
like false fronts, familiar, not the same. Confusion
under control, I invoke my past to rise, bring
those old stores to life, remove the new names. Faces
appear too, ghosts unbidden, cannot get the spell
under control. I invoke my past to rise, bring
old lives, buried in concrete, up through the snow. They
appear too, ghosts unbidden. Cannot get the spell
right, to bring back the good times. I want to leave those
old lives buried in concrete. Up through the snow, they
shimmer, bring me back, make it home again. It’s not
right to bring back. The good times? I want to leave those
days that smothered me like warm snowdrifts. Memories
shimmer, bring me back, make it home again. It’s not.
The past gone, I live in the present. The spell breaks
days that smothered me. Like warm snowdrifts, memories
remain behind. It looks as though they’re here to stay.
The past -- gone. I live in the present. The spell breaks.
Click. Silence I can’t stand. Songs from my youth as I
remain behind. It looks as though they’re here, to stay
yesterday. All my troubles seemed so far away.
nostalgia can throw ghosts around and pinch and punch vulnerable spots...some times old music makes me cry. I love the line...smothered me. Like warm snowdrifts...very imaginative
Deleteawesome write! took me back for sure.
Deletememories never go away do they victoria? seem to get more vivid as we get older. maybe that is just nostalgia. i like this. send me your e - mail address and i'll bug you like i do your sisters ha ha - love and peace - paul.
Deletepaul, varivas@yahoo.com
Deletecan't get your e - mail to work victoria. it's probably my fault.
Deleteit's working. it was my fault. bonita sorted me out......again.
DeleteAnother winner, goodness me. Thanks again.
DeleteVictoria, great poem. I loved hearing it. It read very smooth and tight
Delete"Slow down,
ReplyDeletethere's an Amish buggy ahead"
and we went around it
on a double yellow
on a hill
and still beat the
hay tractor on the
other side of the road.
Then I yawned
and we made it
from the post office
to the Dollar General
while my eyes were
closed...
that's my town,
in Pennsylvania
small towns have their own personalities and charm. good write!
Deletenice wolfie.
Deletenever met any amish people, but i have seen the harrison ford movie - i like a small town. less chance of getting stabbed ha ha - paul.
I didn't realize there were Amish communities that close to Erie. I saw many when I lived in State College but none in up in the Northwest corner of PA. I like the poem too!! !LOL
DeleteGood images, and enjoyable too.
DeleteI like to reply to the comments but there is no comment button under each comment like there should be. That has been inhibiting me from making comments the way I would like. Bonnie, thanks for the nice comment. I had my choice between Erie and Conneautville and I chose Cville because of the rustic charm. Blink your eyes and you'll miss it ...lol
DeletePaul F, thank you for the swell comment. Yes, there are less murders in Cville than in either big city on either side of it. Amish are very family oriented religious people.
DeleteVictoria, there are Amish communities scattered all over this part of the country. They have rigged a car battery in their buggies so they can have lights and a horn and stuff like a car. Oh blinking lights too. Thank you for the nice comment.
DeleteThe instructions for the prompt were show us don't tell us. So, that is why I structured my poem so you could see the Amish buggy.
DeleteHoney, you caught our town to a T. Good job.
Deletethe fight lasted nearly two hours
ReplyDeleteneither one could remember why they were fighting
it would start to end and something would spark
too much yelling, too many nasty names
neither one could remember why they were fighting
it was usually such a stupid reason
too much yelling, too many nasty names
they hugged and the war was over
it was usually such a stupid reason
and the passion of the love was equal
they hugged and the war was over
now they made love for nearly two hours
and the passion of the love was equal
it would start to end and something would spark
now they made love for nearly two hours
the fight lasted nearly two hours...
small battles between loved ones can escalate so quickly over nothing but love will always end the battle and return normalcy to the scene. love this one.
Deletethis may sound soppy, but the only thing i fight for is love. done the war thing - love and peace - paul.
DeleteYes, love and war. The best sex did always come after a fight.
DeleteOh my, I gues for some this works, not for me, though! Nicely written for sure.
DeleteI've seen it so many times. I like how you write in a story.
Deletefirst i'd like to thank bonita for posting my promts for this week. all the library computers in two cities crashed and i had no access to our site. just had to walk 4 miles to get here.....no worries.
ReplyDeleteLOVE AND WAR
can't take my head out of the ostrich sand
everything i like has been banned
" you know the first time i travelled off in to the rain and snow. i didn't have no place to go " - on the road again - canned heat.
a lovers voice shatters my dream
she never was what she did seem
more beautiful than a goddess
more cruel than a devil
" it's so easy to laugh and to hate. it takes guts to be gentle and kind. " - the smiths.
honesty is a lonely word to be heard in this town.
especially when you are down
maybe found a girl that doesn't give me a frown
though i wouldn't bet on it, my wounds are pretty raw
could be the same old, same old and leave my soul bleeding and sore
but all is fair in love and war.
take care guys and girls - paul.
Love and war, the ultimate extremes in a relationship. You cover them beautifully.
Deleteaawww you flatter me victoria. but i have been in enough love/wars to know what i'm talking about.....if not wise enough to flee. still do the head over heels thing - love and peace....no war - paul.
Deletewell done! is all fair in love and war? as Victoria said you cover them well.
Deleteit's not very fair around here, unless you have a minder like the hulk and a bucket of cash. did i tell you about.....no. i wont tell you that story. this is a family site - love and peace - paul.
DeleteGood Job, I had better get busy myself! You have a take on your prompt that works well.
Deletethanks tash
Deleteif i ever start falling in love again, i'm just leaving town. it'll save the war part and wasting time - love and puppies - paul.
Paul, lovely poem. I enjoyed it very much. ...more beautiful than a goddess, more cruel than a devil...I really like that comparison
Deletethanks wolfie.
Deletesortta turned to stone when she left, like a medusa. kind of returning to normal now.....whatever normal is - love and peace - paul.
my " cities poem " i was gonna call it " dead cities " but changed it...very odd for me.
ReplyDeleteHOW STRANGE MY DESTINY
one thousand clowns infect my infinity
what is the price of the redemtion principle?
two times i died in hospital
but what was it that i came back to be?
tick tock.....tick tock.....tick tock all is still
blank it all out.....take another pill
i wish to remain apart from my fellow city dwellers, for it seems such meetings always end in strife and the death of dreams
still remember my fiance's last breath
'tis madness to go on. yet if i cease the struggle madness shall surely prevail
with no one left to write this tale.
Have you ever seen the movie "A thousand clowns"? One of my favorites. Love the last two lines.
Deletequite profound!
Deleteno victoria. i haven't seen that movie. but i have seen " killer clowns from outer space ".my favourite clown joke. though it's more sad than funny. a man goes in to the doctors and says " doctor i'm so depressed, i can't go on anymore " and the doc says " you are in luck the greatest clown in the world punniachi is in town. if he doesn't cheer you up nothing will ". the man says " but doctor, i am the great clown punniachi ". always thought that joke applied to me - love and peace - paul.
Deletethanks bonita. glad your evil computer is working. just shout at it and tell it is going to silicon hell, if it doesn't behave. i wrote the darkest christmas song ever, but it doesn't fit in either category - love and peace - paul.
DeleteInteresting poem, and as you say, unusual for you. A good ead, and I liked the departure from bemoaning your fate, as well.
Deleteoh, i don't bemoan that much do i tash?
Deleteit's a bit tricky, when every time i get out of bed, people want money and i get in to trouble. still tempted to leave everything and flee - love and peace - paul.
paul, I really enjoyed this poem. I especially liked the last two lines
Deletethanks wolfie. been away, but i'm baaaaaackk. santa didn't come to sunderland. he would have got mugged - love and peace - paul.
DeletePaul F , your writing kinda grows on a fella. I really enjoyed listening to this last one.
Deleteburned the old christmas song and wrote this one. sung in a scat jazz type of way.under the " my city " prompt.
ReplyDeleteand a one...and a two....and a three...and a four. hit it!
NO TREES ALLOWED IN HERE
christmas trees are banned here, 'cos of the pine needles
pity they don't ban heroin needles
i was right and you were wrong
that's why we aren't around a christmas tree singing this song
the wait was so very......very long
jesus saves but not around here
just the stench of desperation and beer
get gangster tough, or live in fear
who are you fucking tonight my dear?
i would go out tonight, but i haven't got a stitch to wear
no tree. no presents. no girl. no turkey
in what way is this a holiday?
nowhere open and the weather is murky
i say thee nay!
Dark, as you say, yet effective. I look forward to the day you have something good to say about your life. However, you have a good take on the negative.
DeletePS YOu do too have a tree, you told me you printed out the one I sent you and put it on the wall, dosn't that count?
Deleteyes tash.
Deletei have the pic of your tree on my wall, with pics of all my friends. i look forward to the day i have something good to say about my life too, my friend. this streak of bad luck can't go on forever - love and peace - paul.
Paul F, I enjoyed hearing your delightfully dark poem. It added color to my day.
Deletepants slung low
ReplyDeletevideo cassette box traded
for envelope of cash
the police are across the street
again - young man in cuffs
in back seat as they drive away
pit bulls down the street bark
dinner missed when owners too
stoned to remember to feed them
looks like a quiet towns
sirens fill the night
welcome to Merck City
Awesome "concrete" poem, as in all of the images are right there, concrete images. Nice job.
DeleteYes, vivid and explicit.
DeleteBonnie, Your poem sounded really good out loud. I loved the imagery too. It' was like being there with you.
DeleteLove the images in this one - a lot going on behind the scenes that is suggested by the images
Deletegreat imagery. I could see and hear everything going on. I love it!!!
ReplyDeletehmmmmm you sure you've never been to sunderland bonita? it all sounds very familiar. probably more street girls and knives here though. you americans prefer your guns - love and peace - paul.
DeleteBonnie, your poem has more mystery to it than meets the eye!!!! nicely done!!!
Delete
ReplyDeletePeace is found in little things
In special smiles, in loving ways
Peace flies in on gentle wings
On ordinary days.
The simple tasks that fill the hours
Bring contentment to the soul
And alternating sun and showers
Make a perfect whole.
very pretty poem. I enjoyed reading it. It read smooth out loud also.
DeleteThank you, Linda, for your kind wors. It is the title poem of a tiny chapbook called Small Songs, which is also a book for children young ones, as they poems are all innocent. I need an illustrator and sadly though I have two very artistic daughters they are too busy o help me. Oh well such is life.
DeleteI agree, peace is found in little things, and you have to make your own contentment, not wait for others to do it for you. Nice, and different, take on the prompt.
Deletelovely imagery
DeleteTasha, I loved the imagery in this poem.
DeleteThis is an old one I couldn't resist posting. I have another I will post tomorrow that is almost finished.
ReplyDeleteuplifting as always tash. the rest of us seemed to take a darker take on my prompts, but you found the light in the darkness as always - happy christmas to everybody on our site. i'll be gone for a few days as everywhere is closed.but to quote that large austrian actor arnold swartzenthingy " i'll be back " - love and a peaceful new year - paul.
DeleteThank you dear Paul, as always, gallant. as well as kind.
DeleteI ‘ll Study War No More
ReplyDeleteI’m done with all battles, I’m finished with fighting,
no reason for struggle, no missiles to send
My mission is peace and my aim is to make it,
I’ve vowed all my energies just to that end.
I’ve laid down my armor, as well as my weapons,
I no longer think of myself as at war,
with peace in my heart there is no room for anger
that love may prevail over all evermore.
Wow. I LOVE this one.
DeleteI also, love this poem. It says a lot in a few words plus it reads well out loud.
DeleteSo glad for your kind words. Much appreciated.
DeleteI dreamed the world had all agreed to put an end to war... .simon and Garfunkel... great write!
Delete" war is over if you want it " - john lennon. still turning swords in to ploughshares tash.
DeleteTasha I really enjoyed listening to your poem. I enjoyed your use of words in the line my mission is peace, my aim is to make it. It fits in so well.
DeleteVery nice, Tasha!
DeleteMy City
ReplyDeleteIf we're talking small that's a good start
some of our people drive horse and cart
It's very nice to know the familiarity
that can be just concern or friends hilarity
If we all are accountable for our actions
we can live in peace and not in factions
My city is a place in the past living now
about a mile out of town you might see a cow
Its a small community; we all know each other
we keep it like family, like sister and brother
Y'all come on by and set a spell
We'll go down to the bar and get drunk as hell
It you don't like to drink, we've got five churches to attend
and if you're a stranger or not, you're always welcome friend
we like to do things fair, and we like to do them right
After all is said and done, we sleep a lot better at night
I like that line 'a place in the past living now'
Deletemy hometown
ReplyDeleterising from the mist
already
the accent slips
into my voice