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Hi everyone!
Did the title put you off? I hope not. Today’s poetics is much more than the title suggests. Today is the last day of April, last day of NaPoWriMo, last day of A to Z challenge, Val’s Scavenger hunt and many such challenges that take place this month. (I do wonder, why?) Some of you must be sighing with relief, wondering why you put yourself through this frenetic writing spree, while others maybe dreading tomorrow, wondering what would keep their muse busy. I decided this year to save myself from the punishing routine I had been following for almost seven years and did not participate in NaPoWriMo.
Like most of you I do write frequently but before I press the publish button, there is always a niggle – is this worth sharing? Not all that we write everyday is good by our own standards. Sometimes deadlines do not give us enough time to polish what we have written. Sometimes we want to be the first one to respond to a challenge and forego revision and rewriting. There are also times when despite our best efforts we are unable to satisfy the critic in us. We take too much pressure in these times of instant gratification and Melissa (Mom with a blog) recently commenting on one of my posts wrote that we are very good at harsh criticism of ourselves. She is so right! We scrutinize our own words, agonize over the rhythm and rhymes, assailed by self-doubt many a times.
So now that the pressure of a poem/post a day has eased, how about showing a bit of love and gentleness to yourself.
Read these beautiful lines by Derek Walcot from his poem ‘Love after Love‘.
“The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you“
Who does not remember these compelling lines from ‘Invictus‘ by William Ernest Henley!
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed“
Or look at these lines by Melody Godfred.
“Of all the
things I own,
my worth is my
favorite possession“
I have saved the best for the last. ‘Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven‘ by W B Yeats.
“Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
For today’s poetics prompt, I have a simple challenge for you, write a poem about self; self-love, self-doubt, self-scrutiny, self-healing…whatever you feel comfortable about sharing. For a whole month you have written for others, today write for yourself. The length and the form are of your choice.
After you have written your poem, post it on your blog. Link it back to this post and don’t forget to leave the link of your post at Mr. Linky. The challenge will be open till 2 pm EST Thursday. Do take out time to read the other poems shared. Hope you enjoy the prompt, hope you will write this one last poem for this month, I eagerly await your poems.
Thank you.
kim881 said:
Good evening dVerse poets, good evening Punam and thank you for hosting with some excellent examples of poems about self, especially the Derek Walcott, one of my absolute favourites. I anticipate some gems from this prompt.
paeansunplugged said:
Good evening, Kim. Glad you enjoyed the poems. I too am sure we will have some excellent poems tonight.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Happy Walpurgis. tonight many people in Sweden go to see bonfires and believ that spring is here.
Today has been beautiful and we had some time to watch the cherry blossom in downtown Stockholm
Grace said:
What a beautiful scenary it is. Happy Walpurgis. Happy cherry blossom day.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you…
paeansunplugged said:
You are welcome.
paeansunplugged said:
Happy Walpurgis, Björn. I do hope spring is there to stay. Here we are in the midst of summer.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Selfie of myself with cherry blossoms
Grace said:
Love it!!!! Our cherry blooms here have died already as they were peak blooming last weekend.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
They peak today or tomorrow I think.
paeansunplugged said:
Wow! So good! Your shirt and cap are the colour of the cherry blossoms. Thanks for sharing.
rog said:
great pic
paeansunplugged said:
Hello everyone. Welcome to Poetics. I am so looking forward to your poems. Please do let me know your choice of drinks. I baked orange cake and oats cookies in the evening.
Grace said:
Hi Punam. Oats cookies look delicious. Thanks for hosting this Poetics prompt.
paeansunplugged said:
You are welcome, Grace.
Grace said:
Hi Punam! Thank you for hosting this Poetics. Love where it took me.
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Grace. My pleasure and I am so glad you enjoyed the prompt.
Melissa Lemay said:
Hi Punam!👋🏻 I’ll have some orange cake.🍊
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Melissa! A large slice of orange cake just for you. 🍰
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rog said:
hi punam
hi poets
late one for me tonight as running behind on everything
hope you have all had a good day
rog
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Rog. No worries about being late. The link is open till tomorrow.
rothpoetry said:
Reflections on myself, what an interesting prompt. Thanks for hosting, Punam.
paeansunplugged said:
So happy you like the prompt, Dwight. My pleasure.
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marialberg said:
Thanks for inspiring me to start a project I’ve been seeding all month. I had fun with this. Now time for the Academy of American Poets reading: Poetry & the Creative Mind on Youtube!
paeansunplugged said:
You are welcome, Maria. I am glad this inspired you to start your project.
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Frank J. Tassone said:
Good evening, poets! Thanks for hosting, Punam! I’ll be around the trail tomorrow. Let me help myself to a little port nightcap! 😉
paeansunplugged said:
A glass of port for you, Frank. Enjoy. 😀
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Helen said:
Thank you .. thank you for sharing my favorite “Sia” with the group!!!! I think she is amazing! Also for the invite to a bit of introspection .. I am needing a bit of self-exam / critiquing this fine Wednesday.
I’ve never had the pleasure of Orange Cake … maybe a pot of English Tea? I will share with you.
paeansunplugged said:
I agree, Helen, she is amazing. So happy it made you happy. Wonderful, I look forward to your critique of self.
Orange cake has a lovely slightly tangy flavour. I will cut two huge slices and make a pot of English tea and it would be lovely to share with you. ❤️
pvcann said:
Thank you Punam, what an interesting prompt, I enjoyed the challenge.
paeansunplugged said:
So glad you enjoyed the challenge. Look forward to your poem.
kittysverses said:
I enjoyed the poems and as well as my favourite “Unstoppable by Sia”. It was fun writing to this prompt. 🙂
paeansunplugged said:
Glad you enjoyed the poems and the song, Aishwarya. Great to know you enjoyed the prompt, I loved your poem. 😊
kittysverses said:
Thank you, Ma’am. 🙂
paeansunplugged said:
My pleasure.
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Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Punam. Great prompt! Took me in an unexpected direction. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
paeansunplugged said:
Rob, thanks for writing to the prompt. Will visit soon.
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Dale said:
So funny. Not long before this email came into my inbox, I had listened to Cillian Murphy’s reciting of “Love after Love”. Oh to have that gift – of writing and reading!
paeansunplugged said:
I must find that recording, Dale! Yes, it is a gift for sure.
Dale said:
Here you go!
Dale said:
Sorry, silly me. It was “When You Are Old”.
Still enjoyable. 😉
paeansunplugged said:
I am sure it was. 😀
Dale said:
Well, you can click and listen 😉 Even if it was the wrong poem!
paeansunplugged said:
A good poem is a good poem, no right or wrong about it. 😊
paeansunplugged said:
Thanks so much for sharing, Dale. It is a beautiful poem and he recited it so well!
Dale said:
So glad you enjoyed it!
paeansunplugged said:
❤️