NaPoWriMo Day 30

 Hello!

Yay! Made it to the end of another NaPoWriMo! Woo!  The prompt for today is to describe different times in which you've heard the same band or piece of music across your lifetime.  I was having trouble thinking of what sort of music I had heard repeatedly throughout my life, and then remembered a song that was played at so many graduation ceremonies and events.  I used the lyrics in my poem to recall the various times I have graduated over the years. Enjoy!

As we go on we remember
walking up to receive the French award at my grade 8 graduation.

All the times we had together
high school convocation in the fall
seeing my friends again after we had gone our separate ways.

And as our lives change, come whatever
standing outside the Physics & Astronomy building
with all the P&A undergrads who are graduating this year. 

We will still be friends forever
receiving my master's degree
standing for photos outside Cronyn observatory. 

Thanks for reading and here's to another year of NaPoWriMo!
Hopefully see you next year with my re-ignited passion for poetry. 

NaPoWriMo Day 29

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem taking inspiration from the life of a musician, poet, or other artist.  And I was having none of that.  So I looked up previous years and from 2016 got, a list of things you remember.  And still no good idea.  To be honest writing poems this year has felt more like a chore than something to enjoy, and I haven't written as many good poems as I usually do.  I've been disheartened that my passion for poetry hasn't been there this year.  Which then lead me to my poem for today.  Inspired by my own life, I wrote a list of times where I remember loving poetry.  To remind myself why I do this and that even if this year was a lull, that passion is still there.  Enjoy!

I Remember the Poet

I remember when I first learned poetry in school
so much passion I wrote more poems than anyone in my class.

I remember when I was in school and a classmate died
the other class wrote poems and I did too, to express my grief.

I remember when I would spend hours reading through a book of poetry
a beautiful leather tomb with golden pages and magical words. 

I remember when I first learned of NaPoWriMo
so much excitement to explore my love of poetry again.

I remember when I wrote the poems that are gems in my collection
of algae's flagella, peaches, pandas, jelly beans, and clerics. 

I remember when I had a passion for poetry. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 28

 Hello!

For today the prompt was to write a poem about music at a ceremony or event.  And I had no ideas for this.  Nothing.  And I was really busy today so I didn't have much time to sit and think about it.  So I did what I do when I can't write a poem, I wrote a haiku.  Enjoy!

A celebration
without music to be heard
contains no feeling

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 27

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a poem about a painting and start with a grand statement.  The painting I am describing is one that I painted myself.   Enjoy!

The sun is rising on a new day
the hero, in silhouette, stands alone on the hill
his sword raised ready to answer the call
in Hyrule field, at dawn, the colours fill the sky
while all the phases of the moon overhead show the passage of time
this last is in danger, but the hero has returned
and answered the call to banish the darkness seen fading from the sky. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 26

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a sonnet.  I'm pretty sure I've written one before as part of NaPoWriMo, but now I can't remember when.  Feel free to look through my blog here and let me know. lol  As for the topic, well I was watching the Lego Batman movie this evening and it was the best idea I could come up with.  Enjoy!

The Joker steals the plane with all the bombs
and sets a trap to destroy the city
Batman shows up and fights him with his palms
and saves the day though Gotham's still gritty.

The Joker will be back again once more
and Batman must be ready for that time
He'll cause a flood or maybe rob a store
it's Batman's job to prevent every crime.

And on it goes the battle ever fought
each time the Joker has a plan anew
sometimes it seems like stop him he cannot
but Batman will see each new mission through.

To Arkham the Joker once again goes
and what will happen next, nobody knows.

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 25

 Hello!

For today the prompt is to write a poem that recounts an experience with listening to music.  One of the first few ideas that came to mind was the many Great Big Sea concerts I've been to over the years.  They always start with the same song and I really love the effect it creates. So here is my poem trying to capture that moment.  Enjoy!

Beep beep ba-beep beep, beep beep ba-beep
Across the restless crowd the alarm clock rings.

Beep beep ba-beep beep, beep beep ba-beep
Everyone quiets and looks around. 

Beep beep ba-beep beep, beep beep ba-beep
All eyes to the stage as movement is there. 

Beep beep ba-beep beep, beep beep ba-beep
The band takes up their places and prepares to start.

Beep beep ba-beep beep, beep beep ba-beep
The alarm stopes and the chords ring out.
It's just another Ordinary Day. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 24

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem about making music together, but also include a line of song lyrics.  I decided to go with the soji poem style, I learned about it years ago with NaPoWriMo and I wanted to write another poem in that style.  The twist ending of the poem works well with the idea I came up with.  Enjoy!

Several friends in a band, their dream come true as they perform
They play and sing for their song to be heard around the world
That echoed in the sound of silence. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 23

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem about a bird song, and all I could think about was my poem from NaPoWriMo 2020 about a chickadee song.  I was tempted to copy it, but wanted to write something new.  I couldn't decide what bird song to write about, until I was on my way home and heard some geese honking as they crossed the road.  It was the inspiration for this poem.  Enjoy!

My name is goose
a honk a produce
to let you know that I am here.

I honk and cry
so that might I
get the food and things I want. 

I'll honk and sing
about everything
to share my story with the world.

Honk honk again
it's not a feign
I want attention back on me. 

I honk once more
for you adore
the beautiful sound that I produce. 

Honk honk-e-doo
this song's for you
about how wonderful I am. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 22

 Hello!

For today the prompt was about showing appreciation for hobbies and lessons.  I decided to write a poem about my hobby room and all the things I have in there.  Enjoy!

There's a flute and a recorder
and a piano keyboard
and a blue acoustic guitar
all my instruments are stored

There's a table set for crafting
where a sewing machine sits
beside it a box full of yarn
it's the only place it fits

There are drawers of felt and fabric
with buttons, ribbon, and glue
and oh so many patterns
so many things to do

Several boxes full of round beads
and a bin of clasps and string
an another drawer for craft stuff
I really do have everything

A basket full of minis
with brushes and lots of paint
none of it is great quality
that's my only real complaint

I crochet and sew and tie knots
and find new ways to create
I have so many ideas
that most of them have to wait

My hobby room is filled with
all the things I love to do
but still I love to seek out
a hobby that's brand new. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 21

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a poem about something that is normal and proceeds in a set and understood way, that goes haywire, but is still described as normal.  I decided to take something normal like cooking dinner, but give it a twist of that dream-like surrealism.  Like when you can remember your dreams, but things go weird, and it feels normal in the dream, it's only after you wake up and remember parts of the dream that you think WTF?!  I wanted to capture that feeling.  As for style, my brain is potato today so I went with something familiar, the haiku.  Though I wanted something longer, so I used my modified extended haiku style where I alternate lines of 5 and 7 syllables.  Enjoy!

Time to make dinner
what is the plan for tonight?
cook up some chicken
with rice and some vegetables
I grab the food out
the chicken is frozen still
icicles fall off
the broccoli and beans fall down
the beans are now lost
fallen into the abyss
I chop the chicken
and cook the rice in the pot
the chicken is blue
the top hats sizzle loudly
in the frying pan
broccoli is growing tall now
too big to now bite
and the fridge has run away
so hungry am I. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 20

 Hello!

Today's poetry prompt didn't make any sense to me, so I just gathered ideas from old prompts for today, and easter, and previous poems to come up with the one I wrote today.  Enjoy!

The cuddle bears gather round
for the festivities are here
the many flavoured jelly globs
are the treat to have this year. 

A joyous ruckus fills the air
in the forest of bamboo
munching, crunching, bopple, bop
there is so much to do. 

They'll feast and sing and dance and snuggle
from morning until night
full of jelly beans and joy
to the pandas all will be right. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 19

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a ballad, and have it be about something tragic or sad.  For inspiration I turned to a video game I played recently, Outer Wilds.  The game has a really cool story and exploration and a sad ending.  I tried to keep this spoiler free, as the game is best played with little to no spoilers, but there are a couple hints in my poem.  So if you want to plan to play this game and want to stay spoiler free, please do not continue.  To all others, enjoy!

A boy who's grown now goes to space
among the first his kind.
To travel out to unknown worlds
is what he has in mind. 

Nomai relics on all the worlds
their history is lost
Did the come from our star system
or from the stars they crossed?

The boy goes out to all the worlds
to see what he can see
But dangers lurk 'round every turn
and sometimes he must flee.

There's mysteries around our star
there's something called the eye?
The Nomai wished to seek it out
it's somewhere in the sky.

Their secrets hidden everywhere
he does not have much time
For the star goes supernova
it is well past its prime.

But time repeats and loops again
he has another chance
To follow clues and mysteries
of the eye he gets a glance. 

He learned of all the secrets here
and knows what he must do
With core in hand and lost shop found
he will now see this through. 

The eye is very powerful
but cannot save his friends
The universe is dying now
this is how it all ends. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 18

 Hello!

For today's prompt, it's about writing a poem about driving/riding and singing, and bonus points to include song lyrics.  The prompt itself made me think of the song For Forever from the musical Dear Even Hansen, so I decided to use the imagery and lyrics from that song to write my poem.  Enjoy!

It's end of May or early June
we're on a country road
my best friend is at the wheel
on our way to A La Mode.

We grab a scoop and carry on
singing as we go
driving this winding country road
our destination we don't know. 

And then we see the perfect spot
a field that's framed with trees
we both hop out and find a spot
to sit and shoot the breeze.

The view around is beautiful
the weather nice and clear
telling jokes and quoting songs
perfect time and place is here. 

For forever this does go on
all we see is sky
Two best friends on a perfect day
we let the world pass by. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 17

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a poem about friendship. I decided to go with a rhyming poem again and realized I hadn't written an ode this year.  It's a fun type of poem.  Today was stressful though, so it's just a short one.  Enjoy!

This is an ode to those I call a friend
you've been in my heart from beginning to end.

Our time together is important to me
even if together in person we cannot be.

From games, to coffee, to an online chat
our time spend together never falls flat.

My dear friend I write this to show you I care
that you are special to me, all the time, everywhere. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 16

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to overlay music on an everyday situation.  When trying to think of a song, Jupiter kept popping into my mind.  It fits well with how my work day was going, and how most days go.  The trouble was I couldn't find the right words to really write a poem.  So here are... words.  Enjoy!

The flurry of opening notes of Jupiter
mirrors the chaos of tasks and questions I face this morning. 

The melody notes ring strong
as I setting into my main task to accomplish today. 

At lunch a calming break
Jupiter's hymn's slow calming melody sooth my soul like the conversations with coworker friends. 

Then back to the flurry as the day goes on. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 15

 Hello!

Today was another prompt for writing a poem in another poem's style.  But I'm busy and have no patience for it today.  So here is my poem.  Enjoy!

This chaotic week
No patience for poetry
Just get the work done

Thanks for reading! 

NaPoWriMo Day 14

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem about the music of the natural world.  I took inspiration from the wind blowing through the trees as it's so nice and peaceful to listen to when walking outside.  Enjoy!

Symphony of the Trees

In the forest when the wind blows
if you listen you can hear
the symphony of the trees.

It starts low and slow
the base line of pines echoes deep.

Then the trilling picks up
the piccolo notes of the poplar and the cottonwood float along. 

The main melody begins
as the sugar maples and oak trees sing strong like trumpets and violins.

The chimes add accent and grace
the willow trees as their part. 

Just listen to the symphony of the trees.

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 13

 Hello!

The prompt for today was to use a new style invented in a poem by Donald Justice.  As for the inspiration, I was half watching a new anime yesterday evening and it had the song Moon River in it, which is now stuck in my head.  Ugh.  It's not a bad song... just I'm sick of it now. lol  But it made for good inspiration for this poem.  Enjoy!

The moon river's magic flows down from the sky
To the two lonely drifters watching it pass by
The lovely world they travel for there is to see
They go because of heartbreak and hope time passes by
Following the magic for it's going their way
Soon to find each other and learn of a new way. 

Thanks for reading!  (sorry not sorry for getting the song stuck in your head. lol)

NaPoWriMo Day 12

 Hello!

Today's prompt was inspired by a poem that reads like a symphony of music.  The prompt had a bunch of things to put into the poem to try and re-create that feel, but it felt too needlessly complicated to me.  Plus a I have other stuff going on today, so instead I used the idea of poetry and a symphony of music to write this haiku.  Enjoy!

Symphony of words
Each letter a music note
Music for my eyes

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 11

Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a poem that uses song lyrics, and the example that inspired the prompt is also a villanelle style poem.  I decided to use both suggestions for my poem today.  At first I thought this was going to be difficult, but when I picked a song that I really love, (Un)lost by The Maine, well the words just fell easily into place.  Enjoy!

I'm not looking to be found
I know myself and where I want to go
I just want to feel (un)lost.

I love the view I see
finding joy in life today and hope for tomorrow
I'm not looking to be found.

But I know something is different with me
the path I take is not one other's follow
I just want to feel (un)lost. 

The longing for someone to join me on this journey
who sees and understands the parts I keep hidden below
I'm not looking to be found.

My path a coddiwomple to what makes me happy
twisting and turning, going to and frow
I just want to feel (un)lost. 

A simple life of joy where I'm free
with optimism for the future challenges I'll undergo
I'm not looking to be found
I just want to feel (un)lost. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 10

 Hello!

The poems for today are more that play with sounds.  The first one is inspired by using words that I have trouble spelling.  The second is using alliteration.  Enjoy!

Right on schedule I'd like to take this opportunity, 
to write my poem,
Because I can't in good conscience,
miss a day.
The physicist in me thinks logically,
but the artist wants to create,
and hopes that spell checker is working on this poem. 

I can't keep crying about creating poems continuously,
I crave to complete a compilation of crappy and creative compositions each April. 
Consistency is key to completing the collection and concluding the challenge. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 9

 Hello!

The prompt for today was to write a poem that rhymes, but uses lines of different length.  I've done this kind of poem almost every year, if not every year, so I thought I'd go back to it, and just try and change the line lengths more.   The inspiration came from my life, and the realization that I'm really good at operations management, which is middle management.  I also read an article about middle management this morning so the idea was bouncing around in my head.  Enjoy!

The Burden of Middle Management

I am what they call middle management
a new direction my life went
managing chaos is how my time is spent
somedays I vent
but mostly I am content
to work hard and apply my skills to my extent
and be present
to help prevent
any mistakes or dissent
by a team who's intentions are well-meant
for me to have my role ascent
would be torment
it's my intent
to forever represent
as middle management. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 8

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a ghazal poem.  I always love the ones where I learn a new style of poetry.  This one though, I had trouble coming up with inspiration.  This style is usually a love poem, and usually I'm good at those, but I just wasn't feeling it.  I still wrote what I feel is a love poem, but I'm not totally happy with it.  Hope you enjoy!

New beginnings there
my destiny was there

Looking to make new friends
and I found you there

Wanting a friend to talk to
you awaited me there

Needing to rant and sooth my hurt
your ears without judgement there

Breaking down, I can't go on
your arms to hold me there

my life in chaos, a big change
with you patiently waiting there

I see you as more than just a friend
your devotion has always been there

We take things slow, but things move quick
so much affection is what we find there

I love you Amanda, you say
our love has found us there. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 7

 Hello!

I'm not really enjoying the music/art themed poetry prompts this year, so I went back into the NaPoWriMo archives to find a prompt.  I went with the April 7th 2015 prompt to write a poem about money.  I wasn't really coming up with any good ideas, so I started writing down things about money without referring to money.  The result sounds a lot like a riddle and I'm happy with it.  Enjoy!

Money

It grows on trees
It can't buy happiness, or so they say
The rich man has it, the poor man wants it
It comes in all the colours of the rainbow
Adorned with important people, animals, and symbols
It makes the world go 'round
It talks, but is also time
One should save it for a rainy day. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 6

 Hello!

For today the prompt was some food words, with random words to describe them.  I went with watermelon, splash, and mocking.  Because I had other plans today I didn't have much time to write a poem, so here is a haiku.  Enjoy!

Watermelon slice
a splash of fruity sweetness
mocking to eat more. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 5

 Hello!

For today's prompt it involved picking things off a chart.  Without any context, I picked "gradually becoming a disaster", "power ballad", and the words vampire, centaur, moonlight and roses.  And here is the crazy sh!t I came up with. lol Enjoy!

Under pale moonlight
the lovers gather near
in the secret grove
a place they both hold dear.

The roses grow around
while the centaur and the vampire
and their forbidden love
both hearts are set afire.

It starts with an embrace
a gentle lovers caress
their passions burn so strong
and soon start too undress.

A passionate kiss
a kiss of love so true
but then the vampire sinks his teeth
it is what his kind do.

The centaur cries in pain
but passion holds her close
her blood now seeps away
a danger this does pose.

The vampire drinks deep
his urges can't be controlled
the centaur she grows weak
her skin becomes ice-cold.

When finally it ends
and the lovers come apart
what the vampire sees
it breaks his undead heart. 

He's killed his lover true
has consumed all of her blood
the centaur's body there
just lying in the mud. 

The vampire flees the scene
never to return
he will close his heart to love
from her death he will learn. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 4

 Hello!

The prompt for today is to write a poem about living with art.  I started by thinking about the art that I have on my walls.  I still have many things that I want to hang up, but one of the things I've had up since I moved a year ago are my Magic the Gathering cards.  I have a bunch where I really love the art and so they are framed and hanging on a wall as art, and not the collectable playing cards they are.  I decided to use that as the inspiration for my poem.  Enjoy!

Fancy Bits of Cardboard

Fancy little bits of cardboard
hanging on my wall,
A premium printed card game,
is it really art at all?

Many will collect these cards
to play a little game,
And while I do have cards like that,
these ones are not the same. 

The artists have spent time and care
to make these illustrations,
Of space and planets and strange new worlds,
new places from imagination. 

I hang this cardboard on my wall
so I can see all day, 
The beauty of these far off worlds,
these cards are art per se. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 3

 Hello!

Today's prompt is to write a poem that explains why you are something and not another thing.  Through work I have been reflecting on why I studied astronomy, when clearly I could have also made a good engineer. I decided to use that as the theme for my poem.  Enjoy!

I've always had a curiosity for how things work
Yet my mind wanders to space and what mysteries lurk.

What gears and springs and mechanics make this go
But what's hiding in our solar system, or beyond, I must know.

I love building with Lego, with blocks, and Meccano too
But in the mysteries of astronomy, my interest in them grew.

The path of engineering, a natural progression for my mind
But it would be in astronomy, my passion I would find. 

Thanks for reading!

NaPoWriMo Day 2

 Hello!

For today's prompt... well I was too tired and cranky to try and figure it out.  My brain is sleepy and the weather is miserable so I wrote about that.  In haikus because they are easy for me.  Enjoy!

Rain lulls me to sleep
It is warm and safe inside
Why am I at work?

What is one to do
When the wind blows and the rain falls
But you're far from home.

The comfort of sleep
My mind drifts away to dreams
Now is not the time. 

Thanks for reading.

NaPoWriMo Day 1

 Hello!

Today's prompt was to write a poem using inspiration from terminology from music or art.  I chose "Ostinato" which is a part that repeats the same rhythm or melodic event.  While looking through the list of musical terms that word resonated (pun intended) with me based on some personal experiences I've had lately. Enjoy!

Ostinato Legacy

When I was there I participated,
lead and planned so many things. 
To me it was fun, a passion,
Creating a rhythm to clubs and events. 

Years later I return, my part in it all long forgotten. 
but ostinato is present.
The same passion echoes through the students today. 
My hidden legacy in the rhythm repeated through time. 

Thanks for reading,