' Live-Poets Society ' – A Corner For Poetry

[Mikiesboy]

Your VAMP poem is great.

Aw thanks so much Dolores!

[Mikiesboy]

Here are mine

 

I'll be reading everyone's poem soon!!!  Looking forward to them!

[MrM]

Wow. I didn't know this was here. I'm a typical poet in that I have trouble seeing outside of my own eyes.

Anyways, I guess I'll share my collection:
 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mrm/MPoetry

[Mikiesboy]

Wow. I didn't know this was here. I'm a typical poet in that I have trouble seeing outside of my own eyes.

 

Anyways, I guess I'll share my collection:

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mrm/MPoetry

Welcome .. it's great to see you here!

[dughlas]

Wow. I didn't know this was here. I'm a typical poet in that I have trouble seeing outside of my own eyes.

Anyways, I guess I'll share my collection:

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mrm/MPoetry

It's great to see another here.

[Parker Owens]

WARNING! Today's offering contains explicit references to higher mathematics. Perhaps it appealed to my base instincts...thanks to Val for the prompt to write about layers...

 

 

APRIL 22

 

The partial differential with respect to x

has more to do with function z;

as y is held as constant, this is what protects

the coefficient y, you see?

 

Now do it once again, but with respect to y,

a different planar slope obtains.

The two define just where the tangent plane may lie,

though this may overtax our brains.

 

Despite confusion, onward go another round,

a second differential take.

But when you do, you're at a stand, what have you found?

More partial layers, for heaven's sake!

 

Four choices wait, use x or y with each or none,

two branches off each first attempt;

by now velocity in three dimensions won,

acceleration now must tempt.

 

Now Pascal tells us there are eight that we can take

in different permutations wise;

and if the student still remains at all awake,

the fourth is left for exercise.

[Valkyrie]

 

WARNING! Today's offering contains explicit references to higher mathematics. Perhaps it appealed to my base instincts...thanks to Val for the prompt to write about layers...

 

 

APRIL 22

 

The partial differential with respect to x

has more to do with function z;

as y is held as constant, this is what protects

the coefficient y, you see?

 

Now do it once again, but with respect to y,

a different planar slope obtains.

The two define just where the tangent plane may lie,

though this may overtax our brains.

 

Despite confusion, onward go another round,

a second differential take.

But when you do, you're at a stand, what have you found?

More partial layers, for heaven's sake!

 

Four choices wait, use x or y with each or none,

two branches off each first attempt;

by now velocity in three dimensions won,

acceleration now must tempt.

 

Now Pascal tells us there are eight that we can take

in different permutations wise;

and if the student still remains at all awake,

the fourth is left for exercise.

 

You overtaxed my brain with the word 'math'   Even if I don't understand the math references, it's still very clever. 

[Aditus]

@Parker: I prefer to think of cake when I hear 'layers', but I am first and foremost a biologist...a leaf-cross-section comes to mind...nah...cake. Obviously you had fun, though contrary to the student. 

[Mikiesboy]

 

WARNING! Today's offering contains explicit references to higher mathematics. Perhaps it appealed to my base instincts...thanks to Val for the prompt to write about layers...

 

 

APRIL 22

 

The partial differential with respect to x

has more to do with function z;

as y is held as constant, this is what protects

the coefficient y, you see?

 

Now do it once again, but with respect to y,

a different planar slope obtains.

The two define just where the tangent plane may lie,

though this may overtax our brains.

 

Despite confusion, onward go another round,

a second differential take.

But when you do, you're at a stand, what have you found?

More partial layers, for heaven's sake!

 

Four choices wait, use x or y with each or none,

two branches off each first attempt;

by now velocity in three dimensions won,

acceleration now must tempt.

 

Now Pascal tells us there are eight that we can take

in different permutations wise;

and if the student still remains at all awake,

the fourth is left for exercise.

 

Parker, I'm just a poor ex-street kid. Okay I can add, subtract and multiply and with patience or a calculator, divide.  But even though I have zero clue what you're writing about as a humble poet I can still see the brilliance here.  Your poetry always amazes, Parker! 

[dughlas]

WARNING! Today's offering contains explicit references to higher mathematics. Perhaps it appealed to my base instincts...thanks to Val for the prompt to write about layers...

 

 

APRIL 22

 

The partial differential with respect to x

has more to do with function z;

as y is held as constant, this is what protects

the coefficient y, you see?

 

Now do it once again, but with respect to y,

a different planar slope obtains.

The two define just where the tangent plane may lie,

though this may overtax our brains.

 

Despite confusion, onward go another round,

a second differential take.

But when you do, you're at a stand, what have you found?

More partial layers, for heaven's sake!

 

Four choices wait, use x or y with each or none,

two branches off each first attempt;

by now velocity in three dimensions won,

acceleration now must tempt.

 

Now Pascal tells us there are eight that we can take

in different permutations wise;

and if the student still remains at all awake,

the fourth is left for exercise.

Arrrrghhhhhhh! Math and poetry the banes of my high school combined ... still don't understand but this was fun. Where's Drew, he'll love it.

[MrM]

 

WARNING! Today's offering contains explicit references to higher mathematics. Perhaps it appealed to my base instincts...thanks to Val for the prompt to write about layers...

 

 

APRIL 22

 

The partial differential with respect to x

has more to do with function z;

as y is held as constant, this is what protects

the coefficient y, you see?

 

Now do it once again, but with respect to y,

a different planar slope obtains.

The two define just where the tangent plane may lie,

though this may overtax our brains.

 

Despite confusion, onward go another round,

a second differential take.

But when you do, you're at a stand, what have you found?

More partial layers, for heaven's sake!

 

Four choices wait, use x or y with each or none,

two branches off each first attempt;

by now velocity in three dimensions won,

acceleration now must tempt.

 

Now Pascal tells us there are eight that we can take

in different permutations wise;

and if the student still remains at all awake,

the fourth is left for exercise.

 

 

 

Drew Espinosa may want to marry you now, Mr. Owens. Be ready....

 

[Parker Owens]

I am busy tomorrow, so I am pre-sending tomorrow's poem now...Val's prompt on a poem as a house or structure....

 

APRIL 23

 

I built a verse upon a solid rock;

I would not have it rise upon the sand.

My syllables lay strewn upon the land,

and seemed my roll of blueprints there to mock.

 

Foundations measured in iambic feet

and formed in brief accented beats to lay

We used as moulds for mortared words and clay,

while slowly poured my images concrete.

 

My poem's house rose framed in quatrains three;

it's spacious rooms pentametered and bright;

while windows help bring metaphors to light.

This is the place I hope for us to be:

 

A home we build within a worded vale,

a place we live so we can tell our tale.

[Parker Owens]

Today's offering...

 

APRIL 24

 

Is it too humid?

Go check the weather station.

I'm just in a sweat.

 

Are these clothes all right?

I should wear something different.

Why is it so hot?

 

Why did I agree

to go out with you tonight?

A knock on the door.

 

What time did we say?

This happens every first time.

Anticipation.

[Parker Owens]

Here is today's NaPoWriMo poem. You can tell I struggled for inspiration, prompts or no prompts....

 

APRIL 25

 

Hear my cries and hear my curses,

it is time to write my verses,

but I haven't got a single thing to write;

for despite my cogitation,

I've not had an inspiration,

and frustration put my puny thoughts to flight.

 

Late last night I tried a sonnet,

told my brain I'd get right on it,

but of all my noble thoughts I made a wreck;

and my rubayat, salacious

sounded clumsy and not gracious,

and I'd filled the page pretentiously with dreck.

 

Later, crafting verses blankish,

my results were still more rankish,

as my trochees were despondent as the rain;

so I downed a liter lambic,

switching to the foot iambic,

and I set upon my poet's quest again.

 

Though I aimed for something serious,

filled with meaning and mysterious,

every fit and start made worse my shameful plight;

now instead, I wrote a ditty,

and it isn't very pretty*

for the drivel that I wrote was only lite.

 

 

 

*the original draft read:  "and it's really pretty...awful"

[Valkyrie]

 

Here is today's NaPoWriMo poem. You can tell I struggled for inspiration, prompts or no prompts....

 

APRIL 25

 

Hear my cries and hear my curses,

it is time to write my verses,

but I haven't got a single thing to write;

for despite my cogitation,

I've not had an inspiration,

and frustration put my puny thoughts to flight.

 

Late last night I tried a sonnet,

told my brain I'd get right on it,

but of all my noble thoughts I made a wreck;

and my rubayat, salacious

sounded clumsy and not gracious,

and I'd filled the page pretentiously with dreck.

 

Later, crafting verses blankish,

my results were still more rankish,

as my trochees were despondent as the rain;

so I downed a liter lambic,

switching to the foot iambic,

and I set upon my poet's quest again.

 

Though I aimed for something serious,

filled with meaning and mysterious,

every fit and start made worse my shameful plight;

now instead, I wrote a ditty,

and it isn't very pretty*

for the drivel that I wrote was only lite.

 

 

 

*the original draft read:  "and it's really pretty...awful"

 

I love it, Parker.  A very clever take on what it's like to struggle to get something on the page.  I love the rhythm of the piece, too. Nicely done

[Former Member]

Greetings, all my lovely Live Poets! I've been away, working on a pesky novella, and have a lot to catch up on.

 

April has been the month of poetry on GA, and my heart glows to see it all blossoming as it is.

 

I know there has been a lot to see, and the poetry postings disappear from the 'Recent Story Updates' as soon as they clear the day's list, which is a huge shame.

 

Anyway, I'd like to point out a recent posting of mine that I think is worth your time. Here's the link, and below is the poem in question.

 

*rubs hands together* Now, I better start playing catch up with everybody else's poetry postings. I'm glad this thread is here so we can all alert each other when something new is out there.

 

Cheers!         

 

 

 

 

From: My Twentieth Year

 

 

Poem No. 34

 

 

Prelude:

 

When love's not love…

And has apathy only for hate…

When the sincerest insult is to tell the truth…

 

 

Poem:

 

On a summer night

When the heat is past its height

I lie awake

And wonder just what's at stake

 

My dream's a depressing sea

On a boat un-tethered but still not free

Sailing through a fog I cannot master

Because the mist simply rolls in faster.

 

I float along in the windward lee

Sensing the weight of utter despair, she,

Is a power that I won't be able to shake,

And could sink me perhaps before I wake. 

[Parker Owens]

Today's offering for NaPoWriMo.....as ever, thanks to Val  for the prompt!

 

 

APRIL 26

 

The span astride the creek is wide enough

for vehicles to pass, and for a man

to cross without the trip becoming rough:

at least, that's in the bridge designer's plan.

 

The Chevrolets and Fords go to and fro

as once the civil engineer foresaw;

but did the builder in his office know

that I would stand and watch a winter thaw?

 

I do not think the plan accounted much

for phoebe's place to nest and greet the day,

or yet the course where kingfishers and such

might race along the bank to hunt or play.

 

He did not think that I would stand and gaze

upon the Milky Way as I walk home,

and from his bridge see heaven all ablaze

with galaxies and planets as they roam.

 

Such unimagined uses as he missed,

his bridge would take a person to the stars;

and just beneath, a place where lovers kissed -

his bridge is so much more than trucks and cars.

[Former Member]

 

I could not post yesterday, but here are my offerings for yesterday and today.

 

 

 

For this, I took Val's prompt to compose a prayer...

 

APRIL 16

 

I call upon that love so deep

to bless and hold you as you weep;

and may such love that broad and high

dry every tear, hear every sigh.

 

I pray the love that has no end

your hurt and sadness to attend;

and not in some amorphous way,

but by each face throughout the day.

 

I bid the love that lights the stars

to bind your wounds and fade your scars;

and may that love made manifest

keep watch with you and give you rest.

 

 

And for this,  I just got the idea from a sneeze...

 

APRIL 17

 

Pollen, like rumor, drifts airborne, unseen.

Its news irritates, accumulates, intensifies

in subtle ranks or trapped in corners. 

          Green gossiped buds release messages maddening to the eyes,

          running them red with tears. 

 

Branches collect tales to make hearers allergic to further detail,

and every mouth an open flower, 

decked in choicest, colorful, fecund story. 

Warm breeze, exhaled,

           carries all aloft. 

 

Unnumbered wild bees are far too few to fertilize every situation.

And later, the chatty, whispering trees release 

whole clouds of irresponsible speculation.

 

Gosh, April 17th just makes me laugh and cringe at the same time; gossip and pollen, what an original and apt analogy. There is something deeply satisfying too about how complex this is to read as well. Perhaps that's also comment on the nature of rumor itself. I'm not sure I can adequately tell you how much I like and enjoy this poem.

 

On the prayer, it's direct and heartfelt. All prayers should be, and the sentiment to relieve others of a pain well known to the supplicant is touching in the extreme. Beautiful!     

[Former Member]

Day 17

I liked the idea of writing a prayer, thanks to Parker and Val… so wrote this for us and Ripley.

 

A Prayer for Ripley

 

Lord listen to my weeping heart

The time had come for us to part

Keep him safe in heaven above

Lots of bones and plenty of love

 

Pure and simple is the love of a dog

Ours deserves a special epilogue

He taught me love, acceptance and joy

Ripley was our very best boy.

 

I miss his spirit, his was great

In his world, there was no hate

He lived now and loved his people

Ripley will be a terrific angel.

 

Please ignore his naughty moments

And don’t forget the fire hydrants

Give him lots of jobs and things

So he can earn his angel wings.

 

So my lovely darling pup

Our time here isn’t yet up

Your spirit now is beyond our ken

But I know that we’ll meet again. 

 

 

RIP my sweet boy.

July 2005 to April 16, 2016

There is an innocence to the way grief is expressed here, and I think that's beautiful. It's a boy mourning the loss of a friend, and what could be more pure and emotional that that. Lovely, my friend.  

[Former Member]

I've been posting my NaPoWriMo poems on Thursdays, but I wanted to share this one a little early.  I wrote it for Tim  

 

Loss

Empty sunspot,

Devoid of warmth.

 

Cooking dinner

With no fear of tripping.

 

Silence

When the doorbell rings. 

 

Hope

We will meet again one day.

Beautiful! The cooking dinner moment is so true.... this touches me 

[Former Member]

 

Today's offering...taking up a Val prompt about a song...

 

APRIL 18

 

I quietly lived my life alone

when a song broke out within my soul.

The melody cracked my silent stone

to release the stream that made me whole.

 

No popular background music this,

not the stuff of bank or airport bar.

Its quality pierced the ear with bliss,

like the velvet night pierced by a star.

 

I understood stillness, single, one,

but the music went on unceasing.

You entered my walls, now I am done;

and my spirit its hymns releasing.

 

This seems like a deeply personal poem, and yet it's universal too. I'm going to pull down a book....this.

 

"I find I cannot exist without poetry –

without eternal poetry –

half the day will not do –

the whole of it –

I began with a little,

but habit has made me a Leviathan."

                                                  John Keats

 

That's what I think when I encounter this poem of yours, Parker  

[Parker Owens]

Today, a bit of free-ish verse...

 

APRIL 27

 

What you see of me seems solid trunk,

though there are softer spots that you can find;

and all that I might do is branching bravely for the sky.

 

You think you see my actions in the wind,

but none can guess emotions running high

and summer will mask their meaning.

 

But while my arms caress the breeze 

which carries every kiss your way,

 

my heart will beat around a granite block,

and draw upon its deep, dark distant histories

to make us twine together.

[Dolores Esteban]

I'm busy with the found poetry prompts. After a couple of weird prompts, I found prompt 26 intriguing and I actually spent hours with it. Guerre du Feu. A tribute to my raver days. Warning: Techno.

When the month is over, I'll complete the Lullaby poem. I've not forgotten about it.

[Former Member]

 

Today's offering...taking up a Val prompt about a song...

 

APRIL 18

 

I quietly lived my life alone

when a song broke out within my soul.

The melody cracked my silent stone

to release the stream that made me whole.

 

No popular background music this,

not the stuff of bank or airport bar.

Its quality pierced the ear with bliss,

like the velvet night pierced by a star.

 

I understood stillness, single, one,

but the music went on unceasing.

You entered my walls, now I am done;

and my spirit its hymns releasing.

 

This poem is brilliant in that the 'song broke out within my soul' could be caused by a loved one appearing, or a beloved new experience showing up all of a sudden. Mystery in verse is always good, but it must first mean something to the reader to work. Many poets do not seem to understand that, but here you clearly show you do.  

[Former Member]

 

Missed yesterday...so a double offering today....

 

APRIL 19

 

Now the desolation of the inward spirit,

now the empty, silent halls;

now all planning, thinking, waiting, has no merit,

useless echo on the walls.

 

Once prepared and keen to fight the noble battle,

once made ready, full of hope,

once full confident of lance and shield and saddle,

now all strewn upon the slope.

 

Here the blooms wave cheerful in the bleak destruction,

Here a face in grey repose,

Here the youth lies victim of the last seduction,

Once who sniffed a crimson rose.

 

Tell me what the reason was that killed my lover?

Tell me why he marched to die?

Tell me who decided on this field, no other,

here the meadow he should lie?

 

Who can know the processes of thought,

that with so much so very little bought?

 

 

 

APRIL 20

 

Sunlight on sunglasses,

Fresh cut green scented grasses,

Great place for passes.

 

Easy laughter smiles

Amusement happily whiles

As midday beguiles.

 

Later, sun may frown;

Together, evening may crown

Fields made out of down.

 

Strength upon strength. Each day of the challenge you seem to push yourself further and higher. On the 19th, I can see lots of similarities to WW1 poets (as Dugh mentioned), and also a hint of FitzGerald's riff on Khayyám….but my interpretation is a different one. One along the lines of knowing we all must be hero and lover of ourselves at some point. Very moving, Parker.

 

The 20th is so scenic, and yet again, the emotional hook is present to tell us this poem is not only a word painting, but has great meaning as well.

 

Thank you, Parker.  

Edited April 27, 2016 by AC Benus