I received a new fountain pen today: The Pilot Metropolitan in a 1.0mm medium cursive italic nib. Honestly…I wish I’d just purchased a few of this pen instead of dipping my toes into custom-ground 14k gold nib Sailors. The steel nib on the Pilot isn’t as smooth, but the pen costs a fraction of what the Sailors do. Oh well, we learn.
I am also contemplating entering the Writer’s Digest Kimo contest. We’ll see. I actually love that form, so it could be fun.
Onto the poems. We get personal this week. That’s all I’ll say. IYKYK.
Prompt (Day) 19: Write a There and/or a Not There Poem
Obviously, I did two. Obviously. The first one is about a well-known tragedy I happen to have a tangential personal connection to. I did not find out until nearly two years after the fact that I had this connection. I feel it’s best to anonymize it as much as possible, given I wasn’t aware of the link.
I wrote “There” in free verse, which is not a favorite of mine. A lack of parameters stresses me out. I didn’t know the person to whom I’m alluding in that poem.
“Not There” is appropriately written in Waka style. (5 lines, 5-7-5-7-7 syllable counts.) Apparently, that’s a style to be used for expressing grief! I did know the subject of the 3rd and 4th lines of this poem.
THERE A former factory south of the Trinity where once cogs-in-the-wheel punched their timecards Now a building repurposed pre-Recession and fitted with poorly-secured apartments for the reckless Millennial crowd. I have given that building many a thousand-eyed stare From my perch inside the Renaissance Tower Forty-two floors above the ground I watched the DART wend its way around the town silent, thanks to skyscraper windows. These days, I glance at the former factory on my way out of town The building exists, its appeal gone.
NOT THERE One death a case of mistaken identity the other a death in situ, his beloved store these lines can't being either back.
Prompt (Day) 20: Write a Poem Containing at Least 3/6 of the Following Words
We return to chained hay(na)ku here. I needed a break after the Day 19 poem subjects! We had to use at least 3 of the 6 following words: content, double, guide, meet, pump, suit. We were allowed a little leeway. Of course I used all six!
Today I will content myself with doubling the daily prompt requirement. I will guide this poem with words proffered me. When we finally meet, please know that I will pump your minds full of words which suit whatever mood awaits me on such a day.
kellyekosanda 