Poetry Challenge – Day 19

Welcome to Day 19 of my 30-Day Poetry Challenge!

Comment on today’s poem to win a copy of my poetry book, “(After) Confession… I’m giving away a copy every day. Scroll down below the poem for more details about this Poetry Challenge.

But first, congratulations, Shari A, for winning a free copy of my poetry book! (I do a raffle from those who commented on yesterday’s post.) Shari, please email me your address so I can send your prize: theresa.sapphire@gmail.com

Now onto today’s poem. Don’t forget to comment, and check back tomorrow to see if you’ve won!

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Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt: we challenge you to write a paragraph that briefly recounts a story, describes the scene outside your window, or even gives directions from your house to the grocery store. Now try erasing words from this paragraph to create a poem or, alternatively, use the words of your paragraph to build a new poem.

Nothing, Said the View

Nothing happening
outside window.
Look, see
tall white house trimmed brown,
big old tree, front
stretching up, chaotic,
tangled        every        which       way.
26 years I’ve lived
here…   Elm? Oak?

Unglamorous writer with Loki, the Poetry Cat

I see
squat bungalow, crabby lady
who’d call police
on kids (petty concerns).

Still snow.
All hope melts soon.

My macro view.
I know, intricately, much
more going on
than I  see.
Excites me!

Here is the original paragraph I wrote, then plucked the words out of. It’s interesting to see what can be left out!–

Sometimes nothing seems to be happening outside my tiny attic window, right by my writing desk. I look out the narrow rectangle and see the neighbor’s tall white house trimmed in brown across the street, the big old tall tree in front of the door stretching its limbs up in a chaotic tangle of every which way. It’s a tree I’ve never bothered to identify in the 26 years I’ve lived here… is it an elm? An oak? I see the crabby lady’s squat bungalow next door– the one who’d rather call the police on our kids than discuss with us her (petty) concerns. Today there is still snow, which we all hope will melt soon. This is my macro view, but I know that on a more intricate level, there is much more going on than I can see. This excites me.

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DETAILS:

• I’m writing and posting a new poem every day through the month of April (yikes!), for better or worse.
• AND, as a gift, I’m giving away a copy of my poetry book EVERY DAY this month. FREE!
• Sign up to WIN a copy of (After) Confession by just leaving a comment beneath the poem of the day.
• I will pick a winner every day in April! So comment every day for a new chance to win.

OR, you can purchase your own copy of (After) Confession for the new low price of $9.00 USD, shipping and handling included! Click here to read sample poems and purchase a copy.

April is National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996.

This month’s posts are part of the  NaPoWriMo challenge — that’s National Poetry Writing Month. At NaPoWriMo.net, you’ll find links to other participating writers and their poetry. AND daily writing prompts for inspiration to write your own poems. Check them out.

I’m so looking forward to your comments–  it doesn’t have to be about the poem. Write anything, share the name of your favorite poet or poem, write about the weather, whatever! And thanks for reading.

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Photo credit: Theresa Jarosz Alberti, Bob Alberti