Poetry as Past Time
by Jacqui Morton
As I write, the Red Sox are playing the Yankees, hoping to maybe get their second win of the season. It’s a beautiful day in April (minus the, um, maybe second win part) and I’m not playing. Not watching. Likely, I won’t know who won until much later tonight. If the Red Sox lose, I will surely have cursed them by writing this, for which I will feel eternally guilty. There, I’ve said it. (If this makes not an ounce of sense, stop reading. Go watch Fever Pitch. Do come back after that.)
I’m sort of holed up, if you could call it that, in an undisclosed location. Writing. To my left there is a big green chair and to my right, some floral pillows. I’m in a silent sunroom with two walls of sliding doors open to usher in some much welcome spring air. When I left this morning, my husband and son were headed outside with a soccer ball sized for a toddler. No doubt, one is now napping and one is watching baseball.
I’m a little jealous. And feel a bit guilty to say, I’m also entirely grateful for the silence. This is a pull many of you know, but it’s the best pull there could possibly be. I’m grateful for every moment I spend writing, and every moment I don’t spend writing.
Enough about me. It’s April. Which means it’s time for – you guessed it – poetry! It’s National Poetry Month. Some dedicated folks are writing a poem a day, and thanks to the web, they have a little help and a community in which to share should they choose.
If you aren’t already writing like mad, we at Splinter thought this might be a good time to send a little inspirational help your way. There are some great spots on the web offering a poetry prompt for each day of the month. Here are a few for you to try:
Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides
Corva Priya’s InkSeeds
Poet’s & Writers’ Poetry Challenge
For the little ones: Brimful Curiousities
Personally, I can’t dream of keeping up! But, I did grab my dictionary before I left today, thanks to a cue from another mom who is a poet/poet who is a mom. And, since this happens to be the prompt posted for tomorrow, April 10 at Poets & Writers, I thought I’d leave you with something to get, um, in the swing of things:
Write a poem using the N+7 form, conceived of by the French poets of the Oulipo movement. Choose a text, such as Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art,” and replace each noun in that text with the noun occurring seven entries below it in your dictionary. Next, try the exercise with one of your own poems. For more on the poets of the Oulipo, read “Oulipian Feats: Postcard From New York City.”
P.S. I just checked the score. I might be in big trouble with some of my pals.
I made it three days and then got swamped. Nice post, and hooray for the Oulipo shout-out!
p.s. go sox (and phils)! boo yankees