Mad Macedonian

Poetry A Day Challenge 7: Jealousy

Welcome to Day 7 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

Write a jealous poem. Maybe you’re jealous. Or maybe someone else is jealous of you–or someone else. Whether envious of another or suspicious of a partner, dive deep into this emotion today.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

In my elementary school days, in the college town of Claremont, Ca., going to an all white school full of the kids of mostly wealthy parents, many with ties to the nearby colleges, part of being bullied meant, in my case, the mispronouncing of my first name, as Queeriel...the kids didn't even try the last name, hee, hee!

In Mid-4th grade my family moved to the next town over, Pomona, and I found myself going to schools with a mostly black, and poor to middle-class student body...thus leading to differnt sorts of bullying until I learned to fight back beginning in 8th grade.

In middle school, and high school, my sense of humor and creativity began to shape who I was and one part of that was learning how to deal with teaching others about my name.

The biggest success, here, was teaching Pomona High's Principal, Mr. Walsh, how to prounounce them so he would not embarrass himself at my graduation.

Anyway, by the time I was 40 I finally came up with the perfect way to teach people how to pronounce my first name.

Think of the word cereal, but with a K...as in Special K, not Fruit Loops! :-D

Poetry A Day Challenge 6: After

Welcome to Day 6 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

Take the phrase “After (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “After Dinner,” “After You,” “After Hours,” and/or “After I Finish Writing This Poem.”

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

Today was a busy day, before work, as I had errands to run...so not a hell of a lot of thought went into this one, written before leaving for work.

 

After 15 yrs by Kiril Kundurazieff

After 15 yrs. I returned to a blog post.
I needed inspiration for a poem, you see.
A painter there was who I once wrote about.

My poetry led to a long piece,
Full of memories of my early writing life.
I reached out to the painter to see if she remembered.

To my surprise, and great pleasure,
I got a reply from Kit Miracle.
Thank you dear lady, from The Cycling Dude.

UP NEXT: Poetry A Day Challenge 7: Jealousy

Poetry A Day Challenge 5: Stolen Poetry

Welcome to Day 5 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

"For today’s prompt, write a stolen poem. And no, don’t steal anyone’s poem! But you can write about doing such a thing. Or stealing hearts, stealing time, stealing minds. Or steeling your mind (remember: I don’t care if you play on my original prompt). Steal away into a comfortable place to write and break some lines today.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

 

 

Poetry A Day Challenge 4: Bicycles and Painting

Welcome to Day 4 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

"For today’s prompt, pick a painter, make him or her the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible painters include Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, or Pablo Picasso. Of course, you don’t have to go with the big names. You can use more obscure painters or more contemporary ones.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

 

While not a painting, this caricature of me, done at Knotts Berry Farm, in December 2011, is as close as I ever got to having me and my creativity reflected in a "Work of Art", hee, hee!

For the prompt I had intended to link to an old blog post of mine, on my long defunct bike blog, something from 2004, and link to the website of the subject of the post.

However, the website appears to no longer exist, though she mentions it on the About Page of her new website, as the artist moved on.

Before I say more about her and my piece...here is my poem...

Poetry A Day Challenge 3: Animals and Poetry

 

Welcome to Day 3 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

"For today’s prompt, write an animal poem. The poem could be about an animal. Or it could just mention an animal in passing. Or include an animal in your title and fail to mention the animal once in your poem. Your poem, your rules.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

In 17 years of blogging I have lost count of the animal themed poems I have written...most of them with cats as the subject, though other critters caught my fancy from time to time, including a snail.

Rather than write a new poem, today, I want share links to those works and encourage you to read and comment on them, and possibly be creatively inspired.

In October 2016, an encounter with the fine specimen featured in this blog post, near where I work, led me to write a poem inspired by a song by a famous rock band.

Travelin' Caterpillar

The snail was encountered in the apartment complex I was living in, in Santa Ana, Ca., in April 2008, and the resulting poem was inspired by a famous WW1 song.

It's a Long Way to the Prairie

Both blog posts feature several photos of the critters.

In addition to this blog I have also written cat themed poetry, under the names of my cats, beginning with Mr. Nikita (RIP), and continuing with Miss Elvira, Miss Sneakers, and Miss Friday, right up to the present day.

I, and the girls. invite you to explore the 9 year archive, over at Opinionated Pussycat:

Poetry and Storytelling

 

Stay tuned for Day 4!

 

 

 

 

 

Poetry A Day Challenge 2: Crossing the Street

 

Welcome to Day 2 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

"Today is actually a special day: Two for Tuesday! Pick one prompt or use both…your choice!
Write a worst case poem. What’s the worst that could happen?
Write a best case poem. Take the worst and reverse it!

Remember: As mentioned yesterday, these prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

National Poetry Month 2019 is Here! Challenge Yourself!

Happy April Fool's Day, Houston!

It has been 9 years since I last wrote about it, and wrote a poem based on a prompt.

This is no joke, but a very serious, vey popular, month of the year for those with the creative spirit in them.

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets, in 1996, as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The concept was to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our poetic heritage, and to poetry books and magazines. In the end, its founders hoped to achieve an increase in the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry in our culture.

National Poetry Month has been successful beyond all they could have hoped and has grown over the years into the largest literary celebration in the world.

I hope this post will encourage you to read poetry, and even write poetry of your own.
You may think you don't have it in you to write a poem, but you would be mistaken.
I discovered my own talent for poetry 17 years ago, and have been writing them ever since.

If I can do it, you can, too!

ON TAKING A WALK: A Poem

Sometime in the 1990’s the poet Leo Dangel wrote a poem about walking called “How to Take a Walk.”
Reading it, recently, I found myself inspired to write an update.

On Taking a Walk by Kiril Kundurazieff

 

This is Car Country
Everyone will believe
You are nuts
If you go for a walk
Just to think, be alone, maybe find inspiration.
So carry a reusable shopping bag,
Pretend you are going shopping
And your walking will not
arouse suspicion.
But don’t forget to
Load the bag.
They will know
If your bag is empty.
A notepad, a pen,
Your cell phone…better yet
A REAL camera.

Walk your neighborhood,
Explore local parks and trails,
Or the streets of Downtown.
Stop often.
Look around you and
Take in your surroundings,
Listen to the activities
You never notice
From inside a vehicle.
See the Squirrel, hear the birds,
In the park.
Smell the food
As you pass the Taco Truck, 

And observe the people

Sharing the sidewalk with you,

But remember a cat
May be watching from the bushes.
When you cross the street,
And have the green,
Pause to make sure
That you are seen.
Most of all
Take pride and possession
Of your pedestrianism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whose Streets?: Some Poetic Thoughts

In 1922 Robert Frost wrote a poem, it was called "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
It was published the following year.
This moody pondering of mortality, as this writer calls it, became one of his most revered poems.
Until recently it was not in public domain.
When I read the above article and the poem, recently, I found myself inspired to create a poem of my own.

 

WALKING THE STREETS ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY by Kiril Kundurazieff

 

Whose streets these are I think you know.
His home is in the suburbs though;
He will not see me walking here
As I daily come and go.

The commuting motorist must think it queer
To travel, by foot, far and near.
Between one’s house and work
5 days a week through all the year.

 

 

He gives his middle finger a hearty shake
To address pedestrians behavior he thinks a mistake.
The problem being
The attention to driving he fails to make.

Walking is healthy. Beauty experienced can make one weep;
So get off your butt and take the leap,
Explore your community, wide and deep.
Walk many a mile before you sleep.

 

 

Alone 3: A Poem and Essay Update with Photos

In November 2018 I undertook a walk along historic Fannin St., a walk that began at Allen's Landing, and, due to darkness and my camera batteries dying, ended at TMC Transit Center.

I took some photos and intended to return to finish my journey and take more photos.

I returned twice, the 2nd time with camera in tow.

Fannin St. is 8.3 miles in length, and one sees a lot, from historic buildings, including numerous churches, to 2 bayous, murals, inspirational sidewalk quotes, museums, a zoo, a college, statues, transit centers, hospitals, walking and cycling trails, sports and entertainment venues, and a number of restaurants and a gas station for when you need to go potty mid-walk.

The purpose of this post is to reprint my poem and essay, from November, and include the Fannin St. photos...

I hope that, by including the photos, added inspiration is given to any readers to get out and explore their community on foot.
This is something I intend to do more of now that I have a work schedule that allows me more freedom to do something more than sit at home in between work shifts.

 

ALONE 3: A Poem About Fannin St.

In the afternoon I walk
Along an historic city street; myself
Looks about, and sees busy workers, tourists and the homeless,
Each alone in their own little worlds,
The sounds of a vibrant city
All around me;

I explore and experience this scene

 

Seeing what is to see, and hearing what I can not; Conversations
of those I pass, with others and with themselves; and myself
With hands in my sweater pockets,
Smiles, tired, yet content, as
I make my way along Fannin St.