I heard your name
calling to me from long ago.
I heard your name,
(Oh, that melancholy refrain!)
whispering words so soft and low,
memories I need to let go.
I heard your name.
This poetry form is called a ‘rondelet’ and plays with an A/B rhyme, lines of 4/8 syllables, and a repeated refrain (as you can see!).
NaPoWriMo prompt for Day 21 was to use repetition modelled after http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/poem/2008/11/there_was_a_man_of_double_deed.html.
There was a girl who spoke the words
That wrapped the world, but went unheard
When the girl began to dream
T’was like the universal scheme
When the scheming came to naught
T’was like a void that time forgot
When the void it opened wide
T’was like a cave with home inside
When home called loudly, she went in
T’was like relief flooding within.
.
.
.
.
.
(ignore ads following)
.
.
.
Once, masks were metaphorical;
pandemics were historical.
Now, cortisol flood makes us
fatter every day.
Isolating’s creating a nation of moles,
nervous of leaving our holes,
as each wave proves more deadly,
We’re wishing consequences on anti-maskers
and anti-vaxxers: be sacrifices for your cause,
carry a card that you’re happy to
leave hospital beds for those who
take this seriously, those
who sacrifice comfort for society.
We’ll try to survive by masking insecurities,
and wait eagerly for our vaccines,
praying variant strains, don’t over-strain us.
Masking anxiety until we can
Breathe easier again.
.
.
.
.
NaPoWriMo Day 6. Another day ignoring the official prompt ’cause I had other stuff in my mind. Weird how often I’m playing with rhyme this week.
Oh, yeah.
I used to gleam.
Shining sparkling day-glo shimmer
You know what I mean?
But Covid, man.
It’s worn me out.
Dulled my bright-light
What’s this exhaustion about?
It’s just going to work,
same as before
Just wearing a mask
washing hands, washing hands, and washing some more.
What’s so tiring about that?
I have absolutely no clue
But I’m heading to bed now at dinner time.
How are you?
.
.
.
#NaPoWriMo Day 1. The official prompt from napowrimo.net was a video that triggered my TBI sensory over-load so I couldn’t watch it. 
I’ve come home from work, and again it’s not even 6 p.m. and I’m ready to crawl into bed with an eye mask, a heating pad, and an audio book. I can’t believe how exhausted I am all the time now! How’s a girl supposed to get poetry written, let alone books and stories! Arg. I hope you’re feeling less exhausted.
.
.
.
Ignore any ads below. Unless they’re for Fluevog shoes, I don’t endorse them!
.
.
Oh my!
Blue sky!
If only the promises could be true
that this is is just a preview.
Has spring finally arrived?
Today my class is learning about the PANTOUM poetry form, while in the US, protesters have broken into congress amid riots, so here’s our demo pantoum.
Throw me a line
What’s going on?
I need a sign
Sanity’s gone
What’s going on?
There’s all this shouting
Sanity’s gone
The laws they’re flouting
There’s all this shouting
Is there any hope?
The laws they’re flouting
This filth needs some soap
Is there any hope?
My heart is afraid
This filth needs some soap
A nation’s betrayed
My heart is afraid.
Will the people declare
Their nation’s betrayed?
Does anyone care?
Will the people declare
this is the sign?
Will anyone care
to throw us a line?
What is this woodblock in my chest
beyond kilos and pounds to tons (or tonnes)?
Quivering, it vibrates my spine,
my foggy head,
all’s aching weight,
anguish and dread.
Like Red Rose Tea:
only in Canada?
confused identity.
Reindeer
are just caribou.
Who knew?
Another demo pantoum written with an English class. 🙂
I wish we were happy
I wish we were glad
This poem will be quite sappy
But it will not be sad
.
I wish we were glad
I wish we were silly
But it will not be sad
Though the weather is chilly
.
I wish we were silly
That election is scary
Though the weather is chilly
The situation is hairy!
.
That election is scary
But koalas are cute
The situation is hairy!
But I bought new boots!
.
Koalas are cute
Mac and cheese comfort food
I bought new boots!
Folks, don’t be so rude!
.
Mac and cheese comfort food
Make this poem quite sappy
Folks, don’t be so rude!
I wish we were happy
The morning skies were grey
but they saw the sashay
and knew it wasn’t a day
to stay that way, you
might construe something at play,
but my boots made the sky turn blue!
.
.
FWIW- I was wearing my purple velvet, sparky embossed leather and black patent leather Fluevog Atria boots today. No such thing as ‘too much.’ 😉
.
.
.
.
.
(Ignore any ads added by WordPress. They’re not endorsed by me, unless, of course, you see a Fluevog ad! In which case, very much endorsed. 🙂 )
.
.
.
.
Shawn L. Bird 