Friday, September 11, 2015

Pantoums and Villanelles

My latest creative writing assignment. Structured poems, pantoums and villanelles. I thought I would hate doing poetry, but it turns out I am enjoying it! Now I just need to pick one of these for my workshop submission. Suggestions for which one???


 
 
         Staying Close
 
Hand held tight, life meeting death

I watch as you fade into elsewhere

Struggling to reach every breath

Staying close to show I care

 

I watch as you fade into elsewhere

Being strong, holding back tears

Staying close to show I care

Facing the moment of all my fears

 

Being strong, holding back tears

Knew this would come, but ill prepared

Facing the moment of all my fears

Flashing through all the memories shared

 

Knew this would come, but ill prepared

I was a child, you were still young

Flashing through all the memories shared

I sat on your knee, songs were sung

 

I was a child, you were still young

Struggling to reach every breath

I sat on your knee, songs were sung

Hand held tight, life meeting death
 
 
          New

Meeting the first time, just me, just you

Welcome to the world. pure, sweet, new

 Crazy How fast those nine months flew

 Seems forever I’ve been waiting for you

 

Welcome to the world. pure, sweet, new

On to many adventures, memories, life

Seems forever I’ve been waiting for you

Life rich in beauty, some struggle, strife

 

On to many adventures, memories, life

Growing, learning, a child, then a man

Life rich in beauty, some struggle, strife

I’ll Stand beside you, help all I can

 

Growing, learning, a child, then a man

So much promise, great things coming

I’ll stand beside you, help all I can

See what is in store, what life will bring

 

So much promise, great things coming

Crazy how fast those nine months flew

See what is in store, what life will bring

Meeting the first time, just me, just you

 
    Frogs and Toads
 
Love of my life, cliché but true

I sorted through nonsense and

At the end, happy, I found you

This love is strong, forever, grand

 

I sorted through nonsense and

Many obnoxious frogs, some toads

At the end, happy, I found you

A journey , many twisting roads

 

Many obnoxious frogs, some toads

Kisses given, heart taken, but untrue

A journey, many twisting roads

They couldn’t last, had to be you

 

Kisses given, heart taken, but untrue

Thought I’d found happiness, wrong

They couldn’t last, had to be you

Only the real one, meant to last long

 

Thought I’d found happiness, wrong

At the end, happy, I found you

Only the real one, meant to last long

Love of my life, cliché, but true

 
 
   Freedom?
 
Rivers of scarlet, ghosts of life

With purpose, with meaning, lost

Surrounded by pain, filled with strife

 
   
Man leaves his children, his wife

Fights with valor, meets the cost

Rivers of scarlet, ghosts of life

 

Friends and arms, a bullet, a knife

Valiant to a fault, holds the post

Surrounded by pain, filled with strife

 

Prays for him daily, hourly, his wife

unwelcoming country, his host

Rivers of scarlet, ghosts of life

 

Sweating, crying, fear is rife

Those who love him hurt the most

Surrounded by pain, filled with strife

 

Is it his choice to give his life?

Sent to fight, in heat or frost

Rivers of scarlet, ghosts of life

Surrounded by pain, filled with strife

 
 
            Lift!
 
Fizzy, bubbles up to the top, alive!

Brings a spring to my step, awake!

I’ll only have one, or maybe five.

 

Unscrew the cap, satisfied that I’ve

Earned a little boost for to take

Fizzy bubbles up to the top, alive!

 

One year without, I did strive

Song long deprived, now a break

I’ll only have one, or maybe five.

 

Pulling, a magnet, a bee to the hive

Birthday boy to sprinkled, frosted cake

Fizzy bubbles up to the top, alive!

 

Carbonated pool, in I will dive

Dark and cool, inviting cola lake

I’ll only have one, or maybe five.

 

Feelings of joy, clear orbs derive

Bring me an icy cup, I will partake

Fizzy bubbles up to the top, alive!

I’ll only have one, or maybe five.

 
 
          Just to Remember
 
Fourteen years and a lifetime away

But hasn’t it only been moments, a blink

Sobbing, fetal I curled, crying, gasping, that day?

 

Holding candles at night, gathered to pray

No room in one’s mind, can’t even think

Fourteen years and a lifetime away.

 

Phone lines busy all morning, mom, I’m okay

Tried to get through, brought to the brink

Sobbing, fetal I curled, crying, gasping, that day.

 

Husband, children, good and bad, work and play

Must teach them, don’t forget, make the link

Fourteen years and a lifetime away.

 

Not to fear, but to live life fully, and pray

Not let disaster strike again, my heart to sink

Fourteen years and a lifetime away

Sobbing, fetal I curled, crying, gasping, that day.

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment