Identity crisis

The daily prompts this year are fantastic. Today's optional prompt (or, as I like to refer to it, challenge) is to write a list of all our different layers of identity. We are then to divide all the ways in which we could be described or viewed into two lists: those which make us feel powerful and those which make us feel vulnerable. We are then to write a poem in which one identity from the first list contends or converses with an identity from the second. I don't think I even need to draw up lists. I already know what I want to write about...

Get up!

Stand up 

and fight!

The blood of Vikings

runs through your veins

Your voice should be heard

over land and sea

But I avoid conflict,

I stand in the shadows

of my own annoyance

My lips are often sealed,

while my mind races,

tells me to step up,

stand out

Because that is where you belong,

on the mountaintops of your forefathers,

your head held high

You were born of kings

and not dry leaves

trampled underfoot

You were forged 

in centuries of 

strength,

pride

Get up!

Stand up

and shout!

The blood of a warrior 

runs through your veins

Breaking lines

We are now challenged to leave our comfort zones regarding line breaks. Let's
go! (See what I did there? It pains me, but it is somewhat
liberating!)

So, I've decided to write a poem about breaking the rules, playing with line breaks at the same time.
I like to be cheeky sometimes.


Let's bre-ak the
rules,
Let
us be
free
of form and limitations

Who cares
if anyone is
watching?

Who cares if anyone
is
judging?

We are

liberated

by being our

own

       stand out

poets

Connections and responses

It is perhaps best if state today's prompt as is: 'to write a poem that, like the work in Translucence, reacts both to photograph and to words in a language not your own.'

We are to begin with a photograph. I have chose the photograph below:

We are then to find a poem in a language we don't know (this site was recommended). I decided on A voz era pánico by Chus Pato. The title of the poem purely coincidentally translates as 'The voice was panic,' which, in my opinion, represents the chosen photo perfectly. (I promise that I did not seek this out, but merely stumbled across it.) 

I have chosen to respond to only part of the poem as it is a very long poem:

A voz era pánico
e desexaba, insistía, ter hábito(s) no poema
.........................

pero non todo pode ser transportado (non a voz, desde logo)

si o espírito que invade ao bardo, entre as uces irtas

e porque chove, os habitantes do poema teñen que abrir os seus paraugas // sacan o que levan dentro e búscanlle acomodo fóra

[só porque ti pousas a mirada no texto podo comezar coas solucións]

isto é o que consegue Cabaleiro Amábel, facer que seres alienados se presenten ante o mundo, e moi ao seu pesar, como persoas ceibes

pero só a voz empasta as tres historias
a voz que a escritura non acubilla

así pois, un poeta é un ser ancián.

We are then to ignore the accompanying English translation and translate 'the poem into English, with the idea that the poem is actually "about" [our] photograph' [My insertion]. We are to use 'the look and feel of the words in the original to guide' us along as we write, 'while trying to describe the photograph.' Here goes...I think this may turn out to be rather, um, humorous.

The voice was panic

It insisted on being in this poem
.........................

It wanted to be transmitted (not the voice, but a thought)

Yes, a spirit of irritation had invaded the boy's mind

Please, it wants to be heard in this poem,

Do not accommodate those who will stand in its way

[Listen please, no text is ever a solution to the chaos]

The consequence is that Cabaleiro Amabel, will have to face a series of great foreign presentations, and you and me, coming and going

Hear the voice of the empire through history

A voice of excruciating pain

Also, of a poet of ancient times.

There you have it. I'm not quite sure if it works (*laughs and cries at the same time), or even if it is indeed a response to both the chosen photograph and poem. Also, I may understand more Spanish words than I gave myself credit for. It may have detracted from my creativity. Let me know your thoughts...

A concrete abstraction

The challenges are becoming more difficult every day, but I embrace it! Today's challenge is to write a poem about something abstract. However, we need to discuss or describe that abstraction in the form of concrete nouns.

Can you guess what abstract quality I chose to write about?

Feeling the grass beneath my feet

As we eat yoghurt 

And listen to jazz

In the park

Saturday morning grocery shopping

And stopping in the park

To soak up the sun

And catch up

Spanish dancing across the street

On our way home,

Laughing at the company

We keep

Watching fireworks over the castle

As we stand on the North Bridge,

Mocking your silly sayings

And giggling like kids

Coming home to the smell

Of your hubbly bubbly cherry smoke

And joking about how the floor shakes

When anyone does laundry

Staying up late

For dinner parties,

Or nights out

When you take care of me

What's in a name?

Today's challenge is to write a list poem in which all the items are made-up names, preferably around a theme; for example, band names, titles for novels or television series. We are encouraged to be as extravagant as we like. I've decided to try and write a poem using potential song titles (any genre). *Takes a deep breath*

I miss you more

Every day I'm away

I'll be back,

But I can't stay

I wish

I could hear the seagulls call

To walk your streets,

To stand up tall

I'm a little less confident 

When I'm here

When I'm with you

I've not a care

Say you, say me

Today's challenge is to write a poem that plays with voice. It's quite a challenge, but I'm up for it!

Who am I to you, you ask?

Yes, indeed, who am I?

But firstly, who are you?

I am a steaming cup of coffee

On a cold day

I'm a brisk walk on a crisp morning

You're the song on repeat in my mind

As I clutch onto fragments of you

And you're the sweet smile of homecoming,

The tear I wipe away

You're the memory of pressed daffodils,

The ever-changing skyline of my dreams

I'm forever tied up in your heart,

The aching knot in your stomach

We long for each other

In the mists of our anamneses

How do I love thee?

It is that time of the year again: Global Poetry Writing Month (otherwise affectionately known as GloPoWriMo, or if you're in the States, NaPoWriMo, as April was originally National Poetry Writing Month before it spread globally).

Today's prompt is to write a poem in the form of a love letter...to an object. Let us see if you can guess what I love with all my heart before you get to the end...

My dearest

You're a sweet delight

Though your coldness sometimes

Hurts me

You're smooth and rich

But that does not unnerve me

You complement almost all temptations

Though sometimes

All I want is you

You're there in good times and in bad,

You've never let me down

I love you

My delicious delight,

My cone of shame,

My ice cream