NaPoWriMo Day 30

 Hello!

It's the final day of NaPoWriMo.  I'm rather saddened by this.  I've had this burden on my heart lately and writing poetry this month has helped me to express some of the feelings and ease the burden.  I guess I can keep writing poetry even though it's not NaPoWriMo, but it just won't be quite the same.  I do hope you've enjoyed all my poems though!

As for today's prompt, it's to write a cento, which is a poem made up entirely of lines from other poems.  While I do have poetry books and ideas I could have used for this, it occurred to me that music is also poetry and the lyrics of songs are poems too. So, in going with the inspiration of expressing my feelings that I've been working through, I took a list of songs that are important to me and used their lyrics to write this poem.  Enjoy! 

The colour of blue 
Reminds me of you
And let me say I owe it all to you
And I want to thank you
For making the sun come shining through
You'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forevermore. 
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you're in the world. 

Everyone's changing, I stay the same
A solo cello outside a chorus
This is me, for forever
One of the lost ones
Without a name.

Someday love will find you
Break those chains that bind you.

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel.
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough.
But do I really feel the way I feel?

Sometimes the only pay off for having any faith
Is when it's tested again and again every day
I'm still comparing your past to my future
I wanna tell you somethin'
About somethin' I found out
Might never have known
All that I'd been missing in my life

I can't escape myself
So many times I've tried
I can't control myself
Cause I'm lost in you, lost in you so how
How the hell do I find my way out?

Daydream
I dream of you amid the flowers
For a couple of hours.

I've been runnin'
Just to get away from what's inside me
Rush
I'm drowning under the rush
And so it starts
You switch the engine on
We set controls for the heart of the sun.

Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its harms
'Till I find my hero's welcome waiting in your arms. 

Thanks for reading!  And for another great NaPoWriMo!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 29

 Hello!

For today's poetry prompt, it uses the idea of fairies blessing a newborn with gifts, and right away I thought of the beginning of Disney's Sleeping Beauty and how the fairies give her good gifts while Maleficent gives her that curse.  The prompt wants you to think about yourself with regards to what gifts or curses you might have received, and so here is my poem about my own gifts and curses written as a scene similar to the beginning of Sleeping Beauty.  Enjoy!

Today the announcement of Amanda's birth
A celebration of her arrival on Earth. 

Now your gifts on her you may bestow
Something she can cherish or help her to grow.

For my gift I will make her mind smart
A passion for science and astronomy will reside in her heart. 

For my gift, creative our Amanda will be
To her creating new art will come easily. 

Bravery will be my gift to her
Trying new things is what she'll prefer.

I was not invited so I'll keep it swift
Now it's my turn to give her a gift!

She will not feel sexual attraction
She will want love, but without all "the action". 

Her heart will love freely and easily
But it will bring her pain until she learns of polyamory

And neurodivergent her mind will be
Cursed with autism, anxiety, and ADHD.

With your gifts she may be loved by all
But to feel different and weird will be her downfall.

Oh dear, oh my, was that a blessing or a curse? 
Will Amanda grow well or has her life been made worse?

For the final gift, to help settle your mind
My blessing will be that Amanda will be kind.

Caring for all the lives that she'll touch
Everyone will love and support her very much. 

Though she may struggle, stumble, and fall
She will always have someone to aid her at her call. 

Easy her life will not always be
But she'll always succeed when she tries, you will see. 

So our dear Amanda, be happy and well
As for where life will take you? Only time will tell. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 28

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to write a concrete poem.  That's where you write a poem but it's also art in that the shape of the poem is related to the topic of the poem.  While trying to think of what to write about, my mind kept thinking about the concrete poem I wrote back in 2020 for NaPoWriMo.  I really love that poem and I feel like I couldn't come up with something new or better because I would be constantly comparing to that one.  So instead today I'm going to share a poem that I wrote earlier this month but haven't shared yet. Enjoy!

Nicol Bolas, Rakdos, Winota
Three more times my heart breaks
Three more names engraved into my heart
Each name etched in gold
To fill the cracks
Of my kintsugi heart.

Nerds, Smarties, Mylo, Guss
Vega, Andromeda
Orion, Dash, Vector
DI, Ham, Breeze
So many golden scars
My heart so full of love and sadness with each name. 

But now a new name
Heylor
A name of silver. 
Not a scar, but a permanent mark nonetheless
For here is someone who loves me
Loves me in his own way
As I have loved so many others. 

My heart belongs to Memphis
And his to me
But there is still so much love to give
And to receive.

How glorious it feels to receive
To unknowingly receive!
The flipside of the coin I have tossed so many times. 

A stamp of silver, not a broken name of gold. 

Perhaps there is hope for me yet. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 27

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a duplex poem.  It's a variation on the sonnet.  Inspiration came from something that has been on my mind lately and I wanted to use my poetry to help get the feelings out.  Enjoy!

To the one I call Breeze who blew into my life
At a time when my heart and mind were filled with strife

Strife from a mentor leaving me
In time you'd take that place, I'd come to see

I'd come to see your soul, your heart
I could tell you cared for me from the very start

You cared for me, have always wanted me to succeed
Always there for me in my time of need

There for me to help me improve my work
All our coffees, lunch walks, you'd always greet me with a smirk

A secret smirk, I've never known the feelings your mind held
Still the love for you in my heart could not be quelled

I care for you, even though to another I am a wife
To the one I call Breeze who blew into my life. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 26

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to write an epic simile.  So many similes this month. lol  Here is mine.  Enjoy!

The Summer Wind

It was a cold spring day but the wind smelled like summer.
Like summer in all the best ways
The kind of summer day where the sun kisses you awake
Then you throw open all the windows to feel the sweet touch all around you
The morning is calm and relaxing
The afternoon spent outdoors with friends
Swimming or biking in the park
Ice cream dripping down your hands
The evening spend around a BBQ and campfire
Eating all the best foods
And even after the sun sets its kiss lingers on your skin
As you gaze up at the stars
Until you can't keep your eyes open any longer
That's the kind of summer the wind smelled like this spring day. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 25

 Hello!

So I don't feel like describing the whole prompt today.  But with the prompt idea I got hooked on the idea of also using alliteration, but in trying to keep with both of those ideas it made this poem more of a story and less of a poem.... maybe?  Where does one draw the line?  I'm not sure, but I hope you enjoy!

The Countess of the Convention

While contemplating the creative endeavors of cosplay
I was confronted by a cloud-like being.
The Countess of the Convention. 

Confused I called out to her
"Clearly you come to me catering to some greater cause!
Convey to me your message!
Let us have a conversation."

"I bring words of caution and concern for the continuation of the convention.
Currently conventions are conflicting.
A congregation of the geek community and all the conflict that comes with it.

We must cut out the contrary attitudes of the geek culture
And cultivate a community of acceptance and caring.

Create a kingdom of commonality
Where all who crave to be among kin
Who are crazy about the same geek culture. 

Construct a code of conduct so that all are cordial to each other.

When all are careful and considerate
Then our community can thrive."

As the Countess of the Convention faded 
I contemplated her words and made a covenant with myself
To comply with her ideas and care for those around me. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 24

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem that uses vivid similes like those of a hard-boiled detective novel.  It's a really fun style to write and so I wrote a whole poem filled with them.  Inspiration for this poem came from Magic the Gathering again, in particular my favourite planeswalker.  Enjoy!

Forest Traveler

While out in the forest the other day I met this lady
Not the kind you usually see 'round these parts.
Legs for days with brown hair that flowed like the Nile down her back
Dressed in greens and browns like the forest itself wrapped around her.
I watched her as she went about her business
Stalking through the woods like a panther
Blessing the land as a southern Baptist preacher blesses his congregation. 
In her wake the trees awoke from their thousand year slumber
And the elves emerged from their hiding, popping up like daisies.
As the beasts of the forest appeared I thought she'd be afraid
But instead she smiled like a mother to her newborn babe.
Before long she passed beyond my sight
Continuing her journey through this land.
To this day I still don't know who she is
But I visit that forest every day hoping to see her again. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 23

 Hello!

I'm just going to jump into today's poem.  Enjoy!

The beast master whips
snap fall in
line and do as
I say.  I'm the 
one in control
here and I have
control over your lives.
You do my
bidding or you
are useless to me. 
I don't keep
useless things. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 22

 Hello!

With today being the 22nd day of April in 2022, the prompt for today's poem is all about repetition.   It seemed simple, but I was having trouble thinking of an idea.  It was thinking about my usual social gathering on Friday with friends to play Magic where I got an idea.  So enjoy another Magic the Gathering poem!  (I'm such a geek, or nerd.  Probably both.)

The Elves Come Out To Play

The elves feel the call of the forest
The forest gives them energy
The forest gives them life

Tap

Only the smallest of elves at first
The forest still small and weak

Tap Tap

In time the forests grow in number
And more elves are able to answer the call

Tap Tap Tap

Before long an army of elves has gathered
They support each other
Lend strength to each other
And to the forest itself

Tap Tap Tap Tap

But they are not alone
Monsters lurk in the dark
Other armies amass
Waiting to wipe out the elves from existence

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap

Attack!
The elves will not go down quietly!
They will fight for their forests
Fight for each other
Fight for survival

As the dust settles some elves are lost
But many still remain

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap

More elves join the fight
Forever called by the forest
Forever to return and fight again
The elves have come out to play.

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 21

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt was strangely specific.  At first I didn't know what to do, but then a couple ideas started to come to me and I was able to meet the prompt.  Here is the prompt:  "This prompt asks you to write a poem in which you first recall someone you used to know closely but are no longer in touch with, then a job you used to have but no longer do, and then a piece of art that you saw once and that has stuck with you over time. Finally, close the poem with an unanswerable question."   See?  Strangely specific.  The inspiration for this poem came from an old friend that I don't talk to much anymore, but he's still very dear to my heart.  And it just so happens that I met him at a job where I no longer work, so it felt like two birds, one stone for this poem.  Enjoy!

Those Summer Days

Andromeda, my Summer Sunshine
How I long for those hot summer days again

Working at Glenrbook Day Camp
Where we first met
And shared so many laughs and tears

Dogpiles with the campers
Splashing in the creek
And tie-dye shirts on that fateful day

Driving in your mom's minivan
Bass thumping and the windows rolled down
We were the coolest together

Afternoons spent watching the fish in your backyard pond
Or playing Nintendo games for hours
It was me who got you hooked on those games again

You lost your father the night you were with me
With our friends and camp coworkers
You felt so much sorrow, I didn't know how to bring you joy

I told you years later of my feelings for you
My love for you, though not with such strong words
You didn't love me back

But a strong friendship we still shared
It has always felt fragile and tenuous, but I know it's made of stronger stuff
Like Tulips outside the Guggenheim in Bilbao

Though distance separates us
And time has put space between those summer days
My feelings for you still remain

Is it possible to unwrite someone's name from your heart?

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 20

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to personify food.  While I did consider writing about cheesecake (it's against my morals) I then remembered that I've written poems about jelly beans for previous years so I decided to write about jelly beans again.  Enjoy!

The Jelly Beans

Watermelon and peach are the best of friends
The perfect pair

The citrus gang is always around
Orange, lemon, lime, just standing around
Trying to look cool
It's grapefruit that's the trouble maker

Tutti-fruity and berry blue always the social butterflies
Flitting around, always able to be a part of any group

The pink ladies, everyone's favourite
Cherry and strawberry are so kind
Such pretty girls with sweet smiles
But bubble gum is the real leader of the group

Pear, the ugly outcast, the loner
No one likes pear
Some find him disgusting
You can see him there, watching the others
Black licorice sometimes spends time with him

Grape is always following the others
Wanting to be one of the cool kids
Wanting to fit in, to be liked
Maybe one day they will be

There's the group of the off ones
Marshmallow, the hopeless romantic
Always looking for their soulmates
Cinnamon, she's got attitude
But she's sweet so many like her
Popcorn is quirky and unique
Always talking, always has a story to share
You wouldn't expect them to be friends
But they always like to hangout

As the jelly beans gather, you never know what will happen next. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea 

NaPoWriMo Day 19

 Hello!

The poetry prompt for today is to start the poem with a command.  I had some trouble coming up with ideas, but ultimately my inspiration for today's poem came from Pokemon.  When battling with Pokemon you need to command them to use the move you want them to use, so that lead into today's poem.  I decided to use the first 5 gen water starters and they have a special place in my heart.  Enjoy!

The Pokemon Battle

Squirtle use bubble beam!
Because we are a team
And champion is my dream!
Currently I gleam
That the opponent is weak to water.

Totodile use crunch!
Because I have a hunch
That once you throw that punch
We'll win and go get lunch
To celebrate our victory.

Mudkip use muddy water!
This fire Pokemon is getting hotter
But he's also starting to totter
So hit him and win without a slaughter
Together we will be triumphant!

Piplup use metal claw!
This battle we will not withdraw
I see the weakness is the opponents paw
We will win and all will be in awe
Of our amazing teamwork.

Oshawott use furry cutter!
My words I do not stutter
You will slice the opponent like butter
And it will faint, their disappointment utter
As we secure the championship!

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 18

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to write 5 answers to the same question, without saying what the question is.  I had a lot of fun writing this, though perhaps the question will be a little too obvious when you finish reading the poem.  Either way, I hope you enjoy!

1
See the magic around you
In your success
In the success of others
In failure
In the little in-between moments
Magic can be found everywhere.

2
Bringer of joy
Harbinger of peace
Herald of good-will
More than just thoughts and prayers
But actions and responsibility
For a better world. 

3
Money, Power, Love
First you work your life away for coin
Then you will have the favor of those around you
Giving you all the love and attention you deserve. 

4
Walk down every road you see
Peak around every corner
Crawl under every bridge
Open every door and window
All you need is what you can carry
Go see the world

5
42
The asterisk
The wildcard
Whatever you want it to be. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 17

 Hello!

The poetry prompt for today is to write a poem about dogs.  I admit, I'm not a dog person, I prefer cats, but there have been a bunch of dogs in my life that were owned by family or friends.  So I decided to write about all of them because I couldn't pick just one.  And for those who have been following my poetry for the past few years, you will know that I love haiku's, and this year I haven't written nearly enough of them, so here is a haiku for all the dogs of my life.  Enjoy!

Happy dog named Max
"Please don't leave me here alone!"
"With the pack I stay!"

English gentleman
The named Conquest is he
"Please give me more pets."

Thudster and Taurus
The perfect poodle brothers
Well behaved and trained

Destroyer Charlie
Toys don't stand a change with him
Quickly torn to shreads

Crazy dog Skippy
Jumping, barking, licking all
Please don't come near me.

Timber derpy dog
Sleep in the day, up all night
Such an anxious dog

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 16

 Hello!

So today was another new style of poetry, the curtal sonnet.  To be honest I can't remember if I've ever written a regular sonnet, so I had to look up the style and how best to write it.  Perhaps if I have time this month I'll write a regular sonnet to go with today's curtal sonnet.   For the topic I decided to write about the weekly Magic the Gathering games that I have with a group of friends.  We played for about half the day yesterday and it was so much fun, it's something I look forward to every week, so I wanted to immortalize in a poem.   Enjoy!

A Gathering of Friends

Magic the Gathering, a gathering of friends
with cards in hand we gather 'round the table
sharing laughs and stories and our favourite cards
we play all evening until our time together ends
looking forward to the next game, next week if we are able
a time each week we can all let down our guards.

Each week a gathering of people, of friends, of souls
playing cards each turn unless we are unable
each trying their best to earn "the winner" label
a time for fun, to take our hands off the controls.
A group of wildcards

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 15

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write about something that you have no interest in.   For me, that's business.  I hate hearing about it and being in conversations where people are talking about it.  I just don't care.  It just speaks of ... well here is my poem to describe my feelings.  Enjoy!

Business

The market is bull
Stock prices are good
Shareholders have received record profits
The synergy of our team creates big bonuses for the management
Inflation is going up
Interest rates remain low

Business, business, business
NUMBERS!
Is all I hear. 

White privilege
Born rich
The masses just another cog in the machine
Bureaucratic tape
Stopping what needs to get done
Slowing efficiency
Draining the life out of the workers.

Time to break away from an old system
A broken system
And create a new normal. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 14

Hello!

I am really loving this month of poetry so far!  I feel like I'm on a roll with my poems, with so many of them being great.  Today's prompt was a fun one to think about:  write a poem that takes the form of the opening scene of the movie of your life.  I had a rough idea of the imagery I wanted it to have, but how to write it?  I decided to go with a rhyming poem because I like the feel of rhyming poetry and I wanted a style that I felt represented me along with the description of the scene.  As for what I wrote, well it just sort of came to me as I went.  I hope you enjoy today's poem!

A gentle wind blows, soft and warm
After the passing of a recent storm.

The camera pans up a hill
Atop a lone figure standing still.

To the horizon her eyes gaze
While upon her skin she feels the Sun's rays.

Who is this girl who stands alone?
What is her story? It's not yet known.

Her clothing is colourful, her style unique
You can see from the details she's a nerd and a geek. 

A few minutes pass, then she turns with a smile
And you feel such a warmth, your wait was worthwhile.

For in the smile of this strange rainbow girl
You feel safe and loved, your heart can unfurl.

On the surface she's cheery, happy, and wise
But if you look closely you'll see pain in her eyes. 

What is her story? Why is there pain?
Why is she on this hill after the rain?

She holds out her hand to you and says but a word
And in that moment it's the sweetest you've heard.

"Tell me your story, let's go for a walk
We will go on an adventure, see the world while we talk."

So please take her hand, because you never know
Together let's find out how this story will go. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 13

 Hello!

Kinda in a rush today, so let's just jump right into my poem.  Enjoy!

The darkness closes in around me
Whispering words of failure and worthlessness.
It's so easy to fall into it
To listen to the words and believe them.
But I can't.  I won't. 
I won't fall into the Oblivious Oblivion. 

I fight back against the darkness with light
My inner light of hope that knows it can be better. 

I remember our adventure to the four corners of town
Or that time you spent the day hanging out with me. 
I seek out fuzzy blankets and fluffy pandas.
I take my happy memories, favourite foods, and soft comfort items
And build a nest to shelter me from the darkness. 

It will take time, but dawn will come again. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 12

 Hello!

So another simple prompt today to write a poem about something small.  The opposite of yesterday.  I must admit I was really stuck.  I couldn't think of what to write about or any words.  Eventually I just started saying rhymes and thinking of little things like bugs and raindrops and flower petals, and then this poem just kinda formed itself.  I'm don't feel it's really about something small, but I love the feel of it, so in the end it's about writing poetry and not about sticking perfectly to the prompt.  Enjoy!

Drip of water, drop of sun
While in the grass the ants now run.

Dripping, dropping, falling more
Very soon the rain will pour.

Forgotten petal, fallen from bloom
While up above the dark clouds loom.

Little ladybug stops to rest
Before it flies off heading west.

Dandelion wishes blow on by
To soon be whisked up to the sky. 

Another drop upon my head
The coming storm fills me with dread.

Perhaps some cover I should find
And leave these little things behind. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 11

 Hello!

The poetry prompt for today was another rather simple idea, but one that had me stumped most of the morning.  Write a poem about something very large.  My first thought was to write about the universe, the cosmos, the biggest thing you can possibly imagine, but I couldn't find the words to write that poem.  So as I tried to think of what else I could write about, I was sitting on the bus, on my way home from some errands this morning, and the bus went past my favourite used bookstore.  It reminded me of all my fond memories there, and reminded me how much I love the city that I'm currently living in.  Cities are very large, at least compared to people, so as I thought about the city I found words flowing out of me.  So here is my love letter poem to the city that I live in.  The city I love.  Enjoy!

London, Ontario

London
This city has my heart
I may not have been born or raised here
But it's where I found myself
And forged my soul.

The city grew on me
As moss grows on a rock
Years of university
Adventures to the four corners
And bus hoping around town for work
I have seen its sights
And learned its secrets. 

All the geeky gaming stores
The best used bookshop
Hidden parks and pathways of beauty
And old stone campus buildings
They are mine and I am them
For I have become one with this city. 

This city has my heart
No matter where I roam, this will always be home. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 10

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to write a love poem.  Seems simple enough, but there are so many people or things that I could write a love poem about.  It was a tough decision.  In the end my poem ended up being fairly generic because I wanted it to be that way.  Enjoy!

I love you.

I love the way you make me feel
My insides full of butterflies at the sight of you.

I love how we can talk about anything
Sharing my passions and hearing your stories. 

I love that you make time for me
People make time for what's important so clearly I am.

I love when you remember the little things
Those little things are the most memorable to me. 

I love your clothing style
It's so perfectly you and you always look so good.

I love when you share your favourite things with me
Books, movies, music, it gives us something to bond over. 

I love how everyday I fall a little more in love with you. 

I love you. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 9

 Hello!

Today I learned of another new poetry prompt.  Every year when I learn at least one or two more styles of poetry I'm amazed just how many different poetry styles there are.  With today's prompt I learned about the nonet.  Another type of poetry that is structured by syllables, which I really love.  The number of syllables in each line decreases as you go, and so right away I was reminded of a the book Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston.  In it there's a scene where a character is having their memory erased, and they are repeating the names of the people important to them so that they won't forget, but they do forget and with each repetition of the names there are fewer there.  The style of the writing fits so well with this poem, so I used that scene as inspiration for my nonet.  Enjoy!

I must not let them make me forget
All my friends and our adventures
Ana, Jakks, Robb, and I'm Di
Our adventures in space
Protecting them all
Ana, Jakks, Robb
Ana, Jakks
Ana
Di

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 8

 Hello!

Another day of poetry!  Today's poem is about thinking about your alter ego and writing a poem in their voice.  Well I have many different sides to me, so I picked some of my favourite ones and wrote a poem about them in their voice.  Enjoy!

I'm Attentea
Leader of this little group
The one in control

I have gone to school
Studied a lot and know much
The logical one

My blue hair is long
My clothing style unique
The blue haired space girl

The inner child Amanda
Whose favourite animal is the panda
With jelly beans in hand
A picnic was planned
The Empress Goddess of the Pandas

The girl she had purple hair
And rainbows she loved to wear
Yellow pants so fuzzy
Most colourful was she
She went through her life without care

I'm Celeste, I am here, the day is mine
With me at the wheel everything will go fine.

I'm bold, and confident, and brash
When I enter a room a smile I'll flash.

With my red braided hair, my style is sleek
I'm strong and powerful, you won't see me weak. 

I'm the one that they call with things need to get done
When all is complete then we'll relax and have fun.

Thanks for reading!

Attentea, Amanda, Celeste

NaPoWriMo Day 7

 Hello!

Today's prompt is a fun idea: I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that argues against, or somehow questions, a proverb or saying.  I decided to go with my favourite quote, and in turn write about one of my favourite topics.  I hope this poem leaves you feeling rather inspired afterwards.  Enjoy!

Shoot for the Moon

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars.

Why shoot for the moon?
That seems to low.  So close. 
And who would want to be among the stars?! 
The seemingly infinite void between them all. 
Floating in nothingness.
No.  You can do better. 

Shoot for Mars
Even if you miss you can make some minor course corrections and still get there.
Spend time hanging out with all the robots we've sent there. 

Shoot for the asteroid belt
Even if you miss one particular asteroid you'll still be in the region of the asteroid belt.
Go visit Ceres or 263251Pandabear. 
You're not alone.

Shoot for Jupiter
Even if you miss you'll be among its moons. 
Visit Io and watch its rainbow volcanic activity.
Visit Europa and explore its unknown ocean depths.
Or Callisto or Ganymede and scale the rocky/icy terrain. 

Shoot for the Sun
Even if you miss you will be in an orbit that will pull you back to it. 
Become the glorious comet you know you can be. 

Shoot for Pluto
Even if you miss you'll be in the Kuiper Belt.
Go discover some new KBOs and help Pluto make some new friends. 

Shoot for any number of stars in the sky
Even if you miss you'll have a whole exoplanet system to explore. 
Be the first to see a whole new world. 

Don't shoot for the moon, and settle for being among the stars.  You can be so much more.

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 6

 Hello!

Today's prompt is based on the good old acrostic poem.  That's where the first letter of every line spells out a word.  Well today's prompt takes it up a notch as says to use a phrase or a line of poetry as the first letter of each line.   I decided to keep mine a little simpler today and went with a short phrase.  Today is also International Asexuality Day, and since I identify as Ace I decided to write my poem about that.  Enjoy!

I may not feel the same feelings as you.

Attraction comes differently for me. 
Maybe I want you physically, but more likely I want your time, your story, to see your soul.

Very rarely I feel sexual attraction.
And when I do it's fleeting, never lasting long. 
Longing for your touch, your kiss, but in a sensual way. 
I feel uncomfortable when others sexualise me. 
Demisexual asexual is what I am. 

Thanks for reading!  If you'd like to learn more about this feel free to message me or leave a comment. 

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 5

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write about a mythical figure doing something unusual.  While I could have written some rather silly combination, my mind went to thinking about this miniature I had seen the night before of a tiny dragon with a tiny dragon hoard.  Usually when people think of dragons they think of large dragons with huge piles of gold and gems.  Well this poem is about a baby dragon who's just getting started and has collected some unusual items.  I hope you enjoy!

There's a tiny baby dragon
With a tiny dragon hoard
Filled with tiny little treasures
Each one lovingly adored. 

Here you'll find some dirty pennies
A paper clip or two
Some thread that sparkles golden
And buttons, there's a few.

Many dice are in the pile
Of different colours, shapes, and size
He really loves the blue one
For it sparkles like his eyes. 

Bits of cloth are all around it
To make it soft and warm
Here is the dragon is safe
When outside it does storm. 

His hoard is full of treasures
But not the kind you would expect
For he sees value and wonder
In items others would neglect. 

In a tiny little crevasse
A dragon lives alone
With his tiny little treasures
He has made himself a home. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 4

 Hello!

So today is an interesting poetry prompt.  It's inspired by @MathiasSvalina on Instagram, and it's to write a poem in the form of a poetry prompt.  So meta and awesome and I love things like this! lol   I've been feeling wanderlust strongly lately, as you might have noticed from my poem yesterday, so my poem today also has a similar feel to it.  I should probably get out of the house more and go on more walks. lol  Until then, enjoy this poem and perhaps use it yourself to help write your own poem.

1.  Leave your house wearing your wandering shoes
2.  Wander your life until you find the hill of dreams. 
3.  Soak in the warmth of love and joy and hear the words your heart sings. 
4.  Then fall down the rabbit hole.
5.  Slide forever down until you stand on the edge of the void. 
6.  Shout all your sadness, anger, and pain into the void. 
7.  The echoes that remain are your poem. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 3

 Hello!

Today I learned of another type of poetry.  Just when I think I know it all, NaPoWriMo says "write a poem in this style" and I learn another style to add to my poetry repertoire.  Today's prompt is to write a poem in the Spanish glosa style. It is an interesting style as it takes a quatrain from a known poem and uses that as the last line of each stanza in the poem you create.  When looking for a poem to use for this I found Dreams by Langston Hughes.  That poem was so familiar to me, I probably saw it in a book of poetry or quotes growing up and it really spoke to me.  So I used the second quatrain of that poem.  When deciding what to write about in my response to that, I found inspiration from another quatrain, this one from a song I love.  I'm not going to say the source, I'm going to see if you can figure it out because it's also woven into my poem.  ;) So here it is, my glosa poem.  Enjoy!

Adventure

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
~Dreams by Langston Hughes

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere.
To be able to just go
See the world and all its wonders.
View a thousand sunsets
From a thousand new locations
And wake up to a new sunrise
In a place that isn't home. 
Wandering from whim to whim while I
Hold fast to dreams. 

I want it more than I can tell.
To belong to no where
To belong to no one.
I fear staying still
Getting stuck in one location
Having life shackle me down
So I can not fly away.
But my dreams, they fly on
And I am left broken and empty
For when dreams go.

And for once it might be grand to have someone understand
That while I love my life
My family, friends, and home
My heart must also wander free.
There will always be a part of me
That needs to explore
And see new sights and sounds
Moving my feet forward.
For if I am not a wanderer
Life is a barren field. 

I want so much more than they've got planned.
My own home, my own family, my own career,
I want all of those
And so much more. 
The world can also be mine, 
and I of the world.
Forever going, forever moving, 
Onto something new.
I will not settle down and let my heart become
Frozen with snow.

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 2

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt is to take one of the interesting words from @HaggardHawks on twitter and use it as inspiration for a poem.  I learned the word Phanopoeia which means "the creation of an image using language".  I feel that's what poetry often does, so I thought it was a great word to use for my poem, and write a poem that creates an image using my words.   But what image to create?  My mind quickly when to a video game I've been playing recently called Astroneer, and to my favourite planet in that game, Glacio.  I decided to use that as inspiration.  (Also, see below my poem for a drawing I created of that planet.)  I hope my words create the image of what it is like to be exploring Glacio.  Enjoy!

Phanopoeia

The frozen land stretches out to the horizon in all directions. 
I stand alone on the edge of an icy cliff contemplating my next step. 
A cold wind howls around me, blowing past the obelisks of ice that jut out of the smooth tundra. 
The wisps of plant life near my feet are too thin and fragile to be an impedance. 
Twilight now upon the land as the star sets below the horizon, removing what little warmth there was. 
The stars above begin to glitter in the clear skies as I step back and return to base.  My companion awaits my return. 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea

NaPoWriMo Day 1

 Hello!

It's April so it's officially NaPoWriMo! Yay!  The prompt today to get things going was rather complex: "The idea is to write your own prose poem that, whatever title you choose to give it, is a story about the body. The poem should contain an encounter between two people, some spoken language, and at least one crisp visual image."  To be honest I had to look up what prose poetry was because I wasn't sure.  Turns out it's not as complicated as I thought, and so as I thought of an idea to meet the other requirements I found myself thinking of a memory from around the time when I learned that I was asexual.  I already knew I was demisexual, but didn't fully understand how ace I really was.  Now that I have this understanding about myself it makes this memory even more important and interesting to me because it was a rare moment where I felt a strong physical/sexual attraction to someone. I decided to use the memory as inspiration for this poem, to express my bodily feelings in that moment, to share a glimpse of what that felt like for me.  Enjoy!

Attraction

My stomach grumbles, it's lunch time. I grab my lunch bag and head for the lunch room after I quickly message my coworker friends to say that I'll be there.  Hopefully he is there.  "So how is your day going?", another coworker starts a conversation as I walk by. "It's good." I smile and keep it short as I move along. I want to get to my destination.  When I arrive there is no one there yet so I grab my favourite spot, the one that looks towards the back so that I can watch for him.  I begin to eat when I see someone approaching, their face covered by the signs on the clear Plexiglas wall, but I can see their body.  OMG their body is so hot!  Wait... why did I think that?! I never think that? What is happening to me??  I'm so attracted to them physically.  But who is that?  I can't see their face yet.  My mind races to think of my coworkers and who it might be.  It's not him.... is it? It's only a few seconds, but it feels like forever in my mind, waiting to see who has the attractive body.  They finally move close enough to enter the lunch room.  It's him!  It is him!  Butterflies explode in my stomach as they begin to flutter around everywhere inside me filling me with that awkward feeling.  Electricity courses over my skin and I can feel myself blush a bright red.  I can't let him see me like this.  I try and push the feelings down, but it's not working.  I already have feelings for him, feelings that he doesn't know about.  No one knows about.  But now I have learned he also has an attractive body as well as mind.  How did I not notice this before?  What is wrong with me?!  He smiles at me as he sits at the next table over and brings out his lunch.  I smile back, a silent communication between us.  So many words, yet so little said.  How do you say 'I think you are attractive', how do you say 'I love you', when your brain doesn't work and your insides have melted into goo? 

Thanks for reading!

Attentea