Poetry Book - 4. National Poetry Month 2018 - Week One - In A Town I Don't Know

01

Prose Poem

Walking Down The Lane

I walked down the lane of a town I don't know. It was a mild November day and the sun hung low. I met you in a corner of the town. There was a paved roundabout where a windmill grinds. The two of you were laughing and holding hands. I went to a cafe and drank red wine. What's there is not. Who am I? A name to a list? A name not remembered? A name to be blamed? I emptied my glass and the sun went down. I walked down the lane and round a corner. I saw the paved roundabout where the windmill was churning. I was surprised. I thought the lane had no turning.

02

Sonnet

Just Who Am I?

We meet on the corner of a small town
A paved roundabout where a windmill grinds
The sun hangs low and I want to walk down
A lane to a cafe and drink some wine

Two blocks down the street I stop and I watch
The two of them laughing and holding hands
We could have done things, but what's there is not
I'm drinking red wine and don't understand

Just who am I? But a name to a list?
Someone you meet on the corner of town?
A name not remembered; just finished with?
I empty my glass; the sun's going down

I go down the lane, the windmill's churning
It is a long lane that has no turning

03

Villanelle

What’s There Is Not

I walk down the lane of a town I don't know
A paved roundabout where a windmill grinds
It is a mild day and the sun hangs low

I meet you in the corner where willow trees grow
On a mild autumn day. The November sun shines
I walk down the lane of a town I don't know

The two of you laugh and make quite a show
I walk to a cafe and drink some red wine
It is a mild day and the sun hangs low

It came unexpected and it's quite a blow
What's there is not. So what! Never mind
I walk down the lane of a town I don't know

The lane has no turning. Don't know where to go
Am I a name to a list? I was careless and blind
It is a mild day and the sun hangs low

It’s getting dark as I walk on and go
On the paved roundabout where the windmill grinds
I walk down the lane of a town I don't know
It was a mild day and the sun hung low

04

Triolet

Day After Day

Day after day
I put my life on the line
I drive down the freeway
Day after day

Crows sit in trees and the sky is gray
I feel so alone as I drive past the sign

Day after day
I put my life on the line

05

Ottava Rima

I Drive

I drive down the freeway and pass the sign
I drive past the exit on my way home
Crows sit in trees and the sun doesn't shine
And day after day I feel so alone
I know that I put my life on the line
I think I can hear the crows croak and groan
The trees with the crows are long out of sight
I drive in the morning, it's getting light

06

Sonnet

Coming Home

I drive down the freeway and pass the sign
I drive past the exit on my way home
I know that I put my life on the line
And day after day I feel so alone

Crowds of crows sit in trees, the sky is gray
An ache of sentiment comes over me
It's hard to get over you on my way
It sure's not like anyone's able to see

Day after day I take the long way home
I drive in the morning, can't sleep at night
I think I can hear the crows croak and groan
The trees with the crows are long out of sight

I drive on the freeway; getting home late
I do not mind because coming home's great

07

Sound Poem
Use sounds (of words and phrases) you like

A Town I Don’t Know

A paved roundabout
The sun hangs low
Crows sit in trees of
A town I don't know

An ancient windmill
Opalescent rain
Molten pavement
I walk down the lane

I go to a cafe
The sun goes down
I drink red wine in a
Nocturnal town