A poets thoughts...

My third and final poem is about writing poetry itself - a mad pastime, but an immensely fulfilling one!

 

When words don't come

 

Sometimes the words don't come,

They stutter on my finger tips,

They get stuck in the crevices

Of my mind

 

Sometimes I struggle to think

Of words that flow or rhyme,

I'll sit and stare for moments on end

Wasting precious time

 

When the words don't come,

I continue -

I write until

They slide off my bones,

Onto my keyboard

 

Until like Hemingway,

I bleed.

 

Andrea Vermaak

 

 



A fond farewell...

Now, the end is nigh (for NaPoWriMo 2014, at least). As suggested, my final poem for this challenge is a farewell poem...

A fond farewell

 

Farewell my friend,

Until next we meet -

Cliches filled with sincerity -

For I truly will miss you

With all of my heart,

My love, my brother,

My friend

 

I will miss your bright laughter,

Your clear, smiling eyes,

Your generous embraces

 

I will miss your sleepy existence,

Your energy and fun,

Your wise and comforting words

When I need them

 

But I'll se you again,

Hopefully soon,

Until then I truly will miss you

With all of my heart,

My love, my brother,

My friend

 



Sounds like...

I will, in this last sprint to finish before midnight, write a short poem using onomatopoeia and alliteration.

 

The Ocean

 

The ocean sighs

On shores

Scattered with shells

 

Foam flies and flings and flails

 

The rush and roar,

The crash of waves

Softly sing me to sleep.

 

Andrea Vermaak

Hello haiku!

Another form of poetry with which I have always struggled is the haiku. Now is my chance to prove that I am worthy of the form (I hope!)

 

Autumn

 

Many colours of the sunset

Lie scattered on cold and dusty ground,

The winds begin to change.

Andrea Vermaak

A little limerick

Fifty minutes to midnight and seven more poems to write. Let's make them short ones... Perhaps I should try a limerick. I was never really great at writing limericks, but I enjoy a challenge... Here goes...

Southern Belle

There was a girl from the South

Who had a very large mouth,

She stuffed it with pie

People thought she would die,

But only gained in her health.

Andrea Vermaak

The last stretch...

Today is the last day of NaPoWriMo 2014. I need to write eight more poems to complete the challenge of writing 30 poems in 30 days. Although I began late, missed a few days of writing due to work and such, and wrote more than one poem on other days - no matter how unconventionally I strive to meet the challenge - I, nonetheless, endeavour to meet it!

Today I am going to have a bit of fun, challenging myself to write in the style of a few poems to which I have recently been reintroduced in my readings. I will also write a few poems prompted by our hostess.

Firstly, I wish to write an ode. An ode is a poem which praises or glorifies 'an event or individual, describing nature intellectually as well as emotionally'.

I will take cue from the classic ode, structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe and the epode. However, I will use the English ode's most common rhyme scheme (also used by John Keats in his famous odes): ABABCDECDE. Keats also makes use of iambic pentameter. I'll do my best...

I will use a prompt from a dear cousin to write a humorous piece dedicated to one of my favourite subjects (read 'obsession'): cheese.

 

Ode to Cheese

 

Oh yellow goodness mild, potent and sweet

On all occasions do we eat you oft',

You're lovely melted and poured over meat,

You're wonderful crumbly, hardened and soft;

Often do we eat you on toasted bread,

We like to cut you into thick slices,

In a pot we melt you with herbs and wine,

For sarmies we love you as a thick spread,

Sometimes we add pepper, salt and spices -

In any form with you we'd like to dine.

 

Since I discovered you, I loved you much,

Of all your flavours I love gouda most,

If ever I am craving cheese as such

I grab some bread and make a piece of toast;

I cut thick slices of your golden glow,

Add lemon pepper and watch 'til you melt,

Until your deliciousness starts ooze,

Then I grab you and eat you on the go;

More delight have I very seldom felt,

Of you my friend, I will not dare to lose.

 

 

Now that I have declared my love for you,

Now that I can't think of more words to write,

I do, dear cheese, hope that you love me too,

As very little are you out of sight;

For breakfast, I'll make sure that you are there,

For lunch, I'll take you to my favourite park

Where I'll eat you melted over my fries;

For dinner we'll dine with fine wine and flair,

For cheese must always be there after dark,

And I will never to you say goodbye.

 

Andrea Vermaak

Out in the open

My sixth and final poem for today draws inspiration from outside. We are prompted to look outside a window and spend a bit of time jotting down all the nouns and colours we see, as well as all the things that are taking place outside, writing down the relevant verbs for each action. We are then prompted to use our list of words to inspire a poem.

I can't help but think of the scenes outside my flat window, below the castle, when I lived in Edinburgh. On rainy days, when I was not at work, I would happily watch the world go by, sitting on the couch and staring out of the window. My poem is, therefore, also about those outdoor scenes, that happy time. Not much colour is used though, but I think the scene sets itself... Either way, I hope you enjoy it!

Looking out

 

Looking out of my flat window,

I see the puddle splashed streets below,

The grey, cloudy skies above

 

 People run to catch buses

Or catch-up with friends;

People sing in the rain

 

Mothers carrying heavy bags

And herding laughing children,

Dodge early party-goers

Already skipping in the street

 

Rabbits hop and hide in shrubs

Between oblivious walkers

And Queen Mary's quarters,

Which dominate the skyline

 

Two young men

Sing and wave at me;

I smile and wave back

 

All is right with the world.

 

Andrea Vermaak