It’s Tuesday and the dVerse Poets Pub is open with a big box of Danish pastries, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer and wine, tea and coffee, as well as a selection of excellent poetry. I’m Kim from writinginnorthnorfolk.com, your host for this week’s Poetics.
First off, a dVerse announcement:
ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Open Link Live (OLN LIVE) this month:
Saturday, April 13th from 10 to 11 AM EST.
***If you’re not in Boston’s EST time zone and wonder what time these OLN LIVE sessions run where you live, go to https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter.***
To participate in OLN LIVE, simply click on the link that will be provided and join us with video and audio. Read a poem of your choice or just come to listen. The more the merrier!
NOTE: You may still post ONE poem as usual to OLN, even if you do not join us live.
This month is a busy one for those of us poets who take part in NaPoWriMo, writing a poem a day, sometimes in addition to regular prompts and, of course, our other poetry that comes from experience, event, dreams and other things. Which is why I’m keeping this prompt short and sweet.
One of my many favourite British poets is Gillian Clarke, a Welsh poet and playwright. Her work has been on the exam syllabuses for over thirty years, and she performs her poetry regularly for student audiences at Poetry Live. She was awarded the Queen’s Gold medal for Poetry in 2010 and the Wilfred Owen Award in 2012. She has also written radio and theatre drama, and translated poetry and prose from Welsh.
A poem which I think lends itself well to a Poetics prompt is ‘My Box’, which you can read here. You can also listen to it here.
I love that it is written in free verse, that it explores the themes of relationships, strength, love, and eternity through the metaphor of the box, and that it is a personal poem, in which the narrator speaks about events and experiences in her life, but with which most of us can identify.
I also love how the box is described as being made of golden oak, an evergreen tree, which emphasises the importance of the box, as well as it being a gift from a lover.
There is so much more to love about this poem, which I’m sure you will discover for yourselves.
Your challenge today is to write a poem about your own metaphorical box. It doesn’t necessarily have to be about a relationship, but I would like it to be autobiographical, free verse, and in three stanzas similar to those in Clarke’s poem: the first stanza describes the box; the second what is in it; and the third where you keep it, with a summarising list in the final two lines.
If you are new to dVerse and/or Poetics, here’s how to join in:
- Write a poem in response to the challenge;
- Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below;
- There you will find links to other poets, and more will join so check back to see more poems;
- Read and comment on other poets’ work – we all come here to have our poems read;
- Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog;
- Comment and participate in our discussion below, if you like. We are a friendly bunch of poets.
- Have fun.
The link to this prompt closes on Thursday.
kim881 said:
Welcome poets! The bar is open and so is the box of a variety of Danish pastries; I’m expecting a great variety of poems too. Link up, take a seat and enjoy yourselves.
sanaarizvi said:
Good evening, Kim and all!
Loved the prompt 🥰 I will be back tomorrow to read and comment on new entries .. it’s Eid tomorrow so I m heading to bed early .. 🩷🩷
sanaarizvi said:
PS: Danish pastries to go, please 😉
kim881 said:
How many and what flavour? I suggest one cinnamon swirl and a custard one.
sanaarizvi said:
I will take the cinnamon swirl and a custard one! Thank you, Kim 😍
kim881 said:
Coming up!
kim881 said:
Sleep tight, Sanaa, and enjoy Eid.
sanaarizvi said:
Thank you! It was a wonderful Eid day 🥰🥰
kim881 said:
That makes me happy, Sanaa!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello, I really liked the poem, and it was a challenge to keep up the good work… I am a little down so it wasn’t easy to keep it bright…
kim881 said:
Sorry to hear that you’re down, Björn. I’ve had a couple of strange days. I hope there will be some happy poems this evening to cheer us up.
dorahak said:
Thanks for hosting, Kim! Enjoyed the attempt to conform to Clarke’s poem which is so captivating! Loved her reading of it too. I would love a Danish with a cup of ginger tea. 🙂
kim881 said:
I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, Dora. She’s written some fantastic poems, many of which would make good prompts or examples. A cinnamon Danish with a ginger tea is on its way. 😊
dorahak said:
Nice. Thanks much! 😊
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Kim. I enjoyed Clarke’s poem and love the prompt. I was busy these past few days as I was visiting my mom who was not too well. I am back now and will post my response in the morning.
kim881 said:
Hi Punam. I’m sorry that your mother has been unwell but pleased that you’re back safely. I look forward to reading your poem in the morning.
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writingpresence said:
What a yumtious prompt, Kim, and invitation to fill a box. I love Gillian Clarke’s poem and also remember her at a poetry reading in Cambridge where – being deaf – I was shown to a seat abour three inches away from the speakers, GC and Carol Ann Duffy no less!
Hope to come back to read some work – not writing this week but I’ll have an apricot pastry, with a weak decaff tea, before bed x
kim881 said:
You were lucky to get to see both Clarke and Duffy. You’re very welcome to an apricot pastry and tea, and to come and read.
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Ali Grimshaw said:
Kim,
Thank you for the prompt and the opportunity to connect. I have been ill for many days and feel a shift toward the positive. I would love a hot cup of tea as I make my way to read what others have shared.
Make it a great day,
Ali
kim881 said:
I’m so sorry that you’ve been ill, Ali, and hope that you’re on the way to recovery. How about a cup of my favourite cranberry and raspberry tea?
petrujviljoen said:
Even though it is our spring a hot chocolate sounds about right. Put a dashof whisky in please?
kim881 said:
Coming right up!
V. Sparrow said:
Interesting prompt!
kim881 said:
Thank you!
V. Sparrow said:
😊You’re welcome
kim881 said:
I’ve read and commented on the poem you left as a pingback. Please, remember to add it to Mr Linky so that other poets can read and comment too.
V. Sparrow said:
Thank you…I was lying down for a rest, and forgot about it.
petrujviljoen said:
I’ll be back in the morning to read the rest. It’s way pass my bedtime!
kim881 said:
I went to bed before you commented, but I’m up again and about to read and comment!
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Sunra Rainz said:
I love this Amy Winehouse song and was listening to it just today 🙂
kim881 said:
Now that’s a pleasant coincidence, Nina! I was lucky to have seen Amy live at The Waterfront in Norwich. She had such a unique voice.
Sunra Rainz said:
Ohh, that is lucky. I’ve never seen her live. I would have loved to. She was taken too soon.
kim881 said:
She died less than a month before my father.
Truedessa said:
Hi Kim, Thanks for hosting. I was thinking of two different boxes but, I went with the one dearest to my heart. It’s been along day I could use a nightcap.
kim881 said:
I look forward to reading your poem shortly. In the meantime, one hot toddy coming up!
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Frank J. Tassone said:
Good evening, poets! Thanks for the inspiring prompt, Kim! I’ll take a bottle of burgundy when you have the chance! 😉
kim881 said:
A whole bottle Frank? You must need it!
rothpoetry said:
Thanks for hosting, Kim. This is a very unique prompt. I love the concept. I will think on it until tomorrow to see if I can come up with something to fit the prompt.
kim881 said:
It’s always lovely to see you at the dVerse bar, Dwight, and I’m glad you like the prompt . I look forward to reading your poem.
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petrujviljoen said:
I forgot to link my poem to blenza last night! Fixed.
kim881 said:
I’ve only just got up myself and am about to read and comment!
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Oloriel said:
Wonderfully inspiring prompt, thank you for hosting; I enjoyed writing and rushing slightly to get it all up before the window closes!
kim881 said:
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! No need to rush, you have until Thursday, and then you could link up to OLN.
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seanatbogie said:
My box is a timely sequel. Thank you for the prompt.
kim881 said:
I’m happy you joined us, Sean!
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pvcann said:
Thank you for hosting us tonight Kim, and Interesting prompt that took me way back.
kim881 said:
I’m pleased you joined us, Paul, and glad the prompt had a positive effect.
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Jane Swanson said:
Getting the oops message again. Don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Can you help me please? Nice prompt.
Jane Swanson said:
getting the oops message
can you help me
please
kim881 said:
Is that when you try to link up, Jane? Have you added a pingback?
Jane Swanson said:
Yes. It has happened the last three prompts. I don’t know what gas caused the change. I don’t know about pin backs.
kim881 said:
You’re linked up now. I can’t see why it happened, but I will ask Bjorn if there is anything he can do as admin.
kim881 said:
Hi Jane! It looks like you managed to link up. I’m just about to read your poem.
Jane Swanson said:
I see they both popped up. Thx for helping. Loved the prompt.
kittysverses said:
Thank you for hosting, Kim. I liked writing to this unique prompt. 🙂
kim881 said:
So pleased you’re here, Kitty, and that you enjoyed the prompt!
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msjadeli said:
Hello Kim and All. A full day late, but here now. Spent yesterday at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (FMG) with friend and family (got lots of good pics also, yes!) which put me behind on writing. Lovely, lovely prompt, Kim. Can’t wait to read the poems sprung from it.
kim881 said:
Welcome Lisa! I’ve not heard of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, so I look forward to seeing your photos. We’ve had some fantastic responses.
msjadeli said:
Thanks, Kim 🙂
kim881 said:
My pleasure!
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Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Kim… 🙂 I haven’t felt, so this is late. ✌🏼🫶🏼
kim881 said:
I understand, Rob. If you ever miss a prompt, there’s always Open Link Night.
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kenhume31 said:
Hi Kim. Sorry for the delay in posting this but here’s the link to my contribution to the prompt:
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