It's The 2025 Poem-A-Week Challenge Discussion Thread

[_Land]

Father's Day, Belated

You said memory is everything
so I gave you memories
knowing they couldn't last.

I fed you chocolate ice cream
and taped pictures of the children
to the hospital bed. You watched

them until your eyes closed.
Later I put them in your pocket
even though you couldn't see them.

Now I have those memories.
I like to think I keep them
for both of us, but I'd trade them

for some new ones with you.



Week 25, Poem 1, Total 23

Wow @Angeline I love you and I love your poetry you are amazing....... This really hit hard... Thank you...... Well this didn't speak specifically of my dad it very much brought memories of my grandfather back and the battle with Alzheimer's.....

 

[Angeline]

Wow @Angeline I love you and I love your poetry you are amazing....... This really hit hard... Thank you...... Well this didn't speak specifically of my dad it very much brought memories of my grandfather back and the battle with Alzheimer's.....

Thank you.

I'd planned to post it on Father's Day but I was tinkering with it. Still not sure I'm satisfied with it but I didn't want to hold off any longer. The editor in me never wants to let go. I'm still editing shit from 2004.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I know a poet should never explain their own poem. That’s the poem’s job, to communicate meaning. However, the mess I just posted in the weekly poems thread… so tempted to explain it. At which point it’s a disaster. Not a poem.

Now for my famous last words: I couldn’t help it. I apologize. I poet won’t do that again. (in a hurry).

 

[Angeline]

I know a poet should never explain their own poem. That’s the poem’s job, to communicate meaning. However, the mess I just posted in the weekly poems thread… so tempted to explain it. At which point it’s a disaster. Not a poem.

Now for my famous last words: I couldn’t help it. I apologize. I poet won’t do that again. (in a hurry).

I think you should let it set for a while and see how you feel. My take is the emphasis on sound and visual impact is good and worth exploring. That thread, and this forum for that matter, isn't a contest about who can write the best or most whatever. It's about exploring and learning what works for each of us as poets. At least that's how I see it.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I think you should let it set for a while and see how you feel. My take is the emphasis on sound and visual impact is good and worth exploring. That thread, and this forum for that matter, isn't a contest about who can write the best or most whatever. It's about exploring and learning what works for each of us as poets. At least that's how I see it.

Thank you @Angeline for the feed-back. You and Walter Benjamin's essay The Task of the Translator, have given me an idea worth exploring further.

I apologize to all 'Lit' people poets in advance.

Arrrugh?

 

[Wonderer67]

Goddam, I wish I could write.

I have had NOTHING for 6-7 weeks. I try. I put something on paper, but nothing is going anywhere.

My other method is when I’m driving and something poetic hits me and I’ll do talk to text.

But I’ve been coming up dry there too.

Any ideas??

 

[Angeline]

Goddam, I wish I could write.

I have had NOTHING for 6-7 weeks. I try. I put something on paper, but nothing is going anywhere.

My other method is when I’m driving and something poetic hits me and I’ll do talk to text.

But I’ve been coming up dry there too.

Any ideas??

Sometimes you just need to let the dry season run through. I have found that it usually precedes a change in the way I write, like an understanding of something I hadn't grasped before. Sometimes growth is happening subconsciously.

However I also have a few things I'll try to get my writing going. I'll read new (to me) poets everyday to try and wake up my muse. The Poetry Foundation and The Academy of American Poets are great resources to explore though there are many other great ones online.

As I read, if I find a line or title that really strikes me I'll use it as a first line of my own poem. I don't keep it; I don't intend plagiarizing. I just use it as a technique to jump start my own writing.

My other practice is to write in a traditional form, a sonnet, villanelle or even haiku, tanka, American Sentence, Fibonacci...anything. I know some folks hate this but I find the discipline can help me get started. I may not like or keep what I write (or I might as I enjoy both traditional form and free verse), but if it's enough to break a dry spell it's good.

Good luck and I have faith in your muse. You got lotsa poetry in you, buddy.

 

[Angeline]

Oh also try writing a Blitz Poem. It's an easy simple form that can really surprise you with where it takes your imagination.

 

[Tzara]

Goddam, I wish I could write.

I have had NOTHING for 6-7 weeks. I try. I put something on paper, but nothing is going anywhere.

My other method is when I’m driving and something poetic hits me and I’ll do talk to text.

But I’ve been coming up dry there too.

Any ideas??

I second Angie's suggestion of writing some kind of form poem, not so much to get an acceptable poem out of it as to simply work on word skills. It's kind of the poetry equivalent of batting practice for a baseball player or practicing scales for a musician—you need the fundamentals of word selection and rhythmic sense to be able to express yourself well, even if you don't intend to write formal poetry.

I also like her suggestion of using a line or title from someone else's poem to get you started. Something similar that I often do is take a poem I like by an established poet and try to imitate it. Not copy it or plagiarize it, but try to write something similar in some way—try to adopt the style of the poem, for example, or write something relevant to your own interests or obsessions using the format of the poem. Like taking, say, this poem—

​

Poem​

Billy Collins​

​

It's like writing a short letter​

to everyone in the world at once,​

​

only I don't have anyone's address​

and there is no thin blue envelope to carry it,​

​

no tiny picture of a famous aviator​

or of a blooming flower to speed it on its way.​

​

and using it as a kind of model for something like this:

​

Poems​

After Billy Collins​

​

Mine often seem​

like Post-It notes, stuck​

​

on the various random surfaces​

I touch during the day—​

​

the bathroom mirror when shaving,​

the refrigerator​

​

looking for ice for my Coke.​

Or perhaps seeking milk for the wheat flakes​

​

I eat each morning while reading​

about the latest disaster​

​

or why I'm cold all the time​

(anemia?). They are not so much letters​

​

as little reminders to myself​

to pay closer attention​

​

as I wander idly about​

the phenomenology of this,​

​

my once, my only, world.​

​

Classic suggestions from writing instructors include things like free writing, keeping a journal, or taking a poem you wrote some time ago and completely rewriting it. Or, alternatively, taking one of your other poems and moving lines or stanzas around, leaving every other line out, or something similar. These may or may not work for you (free writing is pretty much a waste of time for me), but might be worth a try.

We all go through periods where we're blocked in one way or another, so don't worry too much about it.

 

[Wonderer67]

Thanks guys, I feel like maybe I have my mojo back a little bit. I wrote one poem about my time in Iraq that have been twirling around in my head for a few weeks.

And I find the warm summer nights to be so inspirational and beautiful.

So I wrote about one of each!

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Just vomit on the page.


It can suck out loud.


Nationwide, even.


Just get it out, even if it's not much at all.

 

[Angeline]

Poets, you are really rocking the Poem-A-Week thread. We're over six months into the challenge where one might expect a midyear slump yet there's great reading posted daily. Thank you all for continuing to contribute. If you haven't felt like writing lately (believe me I get it), we look forward to your return. And if you've considered joining in well there's no time like the present: yes we started in January but newcomers are always welcome!

And a special shout-out to Tzara's latest offering, On Misreading the Inscription in My Copy of a Professor's Book. It's a great title (apropos to our title discussion in 42's thread) that introduces a narrative poem that's sweet, funny and self-deprecating. In other words it's a human experience that any reader can relate to which is what good poetry can do, right? Bravo, T-Zed. Go publish that puppy!

Again, thank you all for keeping the forum alive and poetic!

 

[42BelowsBack]

Poets, you are really rocking the Poem-A-Week thread. We're over six months into the challenge where one might expect a midyear slump yet there's great reading posted daily. Thank you all for continuing to contribute. If you haven't felt like writing lately (believe me I get it), we look forward to your return. And if you've considered joining in well there's no time like the present: yes we started in January but newcomers are always welcome!

And a special shout-out to Tzara's latest offering, On Misreading the Inscription in My Copy of a Professor's Book. It's a great title (apropos to our title discussion in 42's thread) that introduces a narrative poem that's sweet, funny and self-deprecating. In other words it's a human experience that any reader can relate to which is what good poetry can do, right? Bravo, T-Zed. Go publish that puppy!

Again, thank you all for keeping the forum alive and poetic!

I absolutely love reading everyone’s poetry. Fank you for an awesome space to get it up in. What ever that means. Props to you and Tzara for keeping it fun, informative and a great space stick it in (and every other f-word one can think of)

Um, just to reframe my comments. I appreciate the range and variety of poems and poets. You write inspirational poems and posts . My poetry has benefited from this space. I especially appreciate the growth in my understanding of what makes good poetry. In particular I feel my poetry is being inspired and improved by two very thoughtful and experienced poets, (and through others). You know who you are.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

This is the peaceful forum on this website. It actually inspires some thought and self analysis. Anyway, thanks for being here.

 

[Angeline]

Dear Mr Sperm Factory,

Your Poem-A-Week post is great! I've read it a bunch of times and it's hilarious, especially those last two lines. I know it has another title (I was secretly made no mistake a Winner), but in my crazy mind it's your namesake poem. Love it: thanks for sharing it. Also I can't read it without thinking of the iconic scene from Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (but were afraid to ask).

 

[LustyScribe]

Forgive me Angeline, for I have sinned... It has been TOO MANY weeks since my last submission. LOL

Finally climbing my way out of a bit of a slump. Depression is a cruel Mistress. But I just got off of a 4-night cruise with my wife (see my poem) and I had a blast inventing back stories for people I saw or met. A cruise is a great place for inspiration, because you see people in a relaxed (and/or highly intoxicated) state.

 

[Angeline]

Forgive me Angeline, for I have sinned... It has been TOO MANY weeks since my last submission. LOL

Finally climbing my way out of a bit of a slump. Depression is a cruel Mistress. But I just got off of a 4-night cruise with my wife (see my poem) and I had a blast inventing back stories for people I saw or met. A cruise is a great place for inspiration, because you see people in a relaxed (and/or highly intoxicated) state.

I'm glad you're back, LS, and found a place to people watch and get inspired. I've never done a cruise but I imagine it can be a great opportunity for a writer. I enjoyed your poem about the experience.

As another member of the Fuck Depression Club, welcome back.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Indeed.


Fuck Depression


I find that as I continue to push through it, Depression cannot hit a moving target.

 

[Wonderer67]

Some amazing poems out there. Wow!

I’ve only skimmed, but will try to dig in sometime over the next few days.

 

[_Land]

I Smiled Out Loud

The perfect July morning
The humidity broke
And it was still wet and thick
But cooler out
Bright sun shinin

I passed patch after patch of
The last days of the ditch lilies
Each little orange receptacle
Having their one and only day

It was the last gasp
Of ditch lilies as they complete their annual cycle
And return

Now roadside chicory is
Coming on strong
It’s pale blue flowers, warming my heart
In late July

Freshly mown hay
That smell!

As the road strobes shadow to sunlight

My Little Red Book by Love came on the radio
And I smiled out loud

21/52

I love this @Wonderer67

Thank you for the beautiful read and inspiration


Chicory Resilient

It flares in ditches,
in cracks where concrete split from weather,
sky-colored stubbornness sipping morning
from broken glass and gravel.
Not a garden’s darling
but it opens just the same,
brilliant and brief,
unbothered by invitation.

This is how I survive
no applause, no perfect soil.
My roots grip anything
like a promise,
and still, I rise
petaled in defiance,
wearing this wild blue
like it was always mine.

 

[Angeline]

Oh Wonderer, your Route 33 poem is so evocative. You are so my homie! Those farms and farm stands: Jersey tomatoes and Silver Queen corn, chocolate dips from Cremee Freeze, the way sand would appear at the side of the road and eventually you'd smell the Atlantic. So much gone now, people with "Pray for me, I drive 33" bumper stickers.

Thank you for the memories. I'm wearing a goofy smile.

 

[_Land]

Appalachian mountain trails

In Blood root, Moma when I see you
the air springs through the moving
meadow of Daddy’s truck windows.

In a knot of trail color, my heart burns
to sing with you in life’s mountain range.

The carboretta in Daddy’s old eight
flutters in a wooded glade that dips off
the road’s elbow. Daddy stops.
The super heated engine ticks.
Then cools.

We alight into dawn’s first lite kiss

your endless new life greets us Moma,
you two, little brother in his white flower
hues with no shoes.

Daddy stands at your feet, his big coated back
turned into thoughts of his life’s dark doorways.

I feel the wild flowers bless my feet, urging me,
sing.! Reach out! Touch the Flame Azalea,

I think of you holding my hand Moma, listening
to my heart beat when I tell you I just can’t stay
here with you.

My voice in clime, smokey hewn, through the years, I sing-

Daddy's eyes were always scarlet red wild
flowers when we buried you -There lies
Granma an Pa, in their bed of Carolina Lillie.
Moma please hold my hand when I leave you
-cause I just can’t stay here in heaven.

25/52

This is incredible work

The utilization of the flowers is elegant and tender! The grief carries like an echo in my holler


Thank you for sharing

 

[Wonderer67]

Oh Wonderer, your Route 33 poem is so evocative. You are so my homie! Those farms and farm stands: Jersey tomatoes and Silver Queen corn, chocolate dips from Cremee Freeze, the way sand would appear at the side of the road and eventually you'd smell the Atlantic. So much gone now, people with "Pray for me, I drive 33" bumper stickers.

Thank you for the memories. I'm wearing a goofy smile.

Glad you liked Angeline. It was a fun day (I ended up at Brielle).

I was driving and the memories came flooding in from 50 yo.