Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 30

Challenge complete. As I wrote at the beginning of the month, I had no intention of completing or event starting this year’s poem-a-day challenge. But I’m sure glad that I did. I came into April with my poem tank empty. I hadn’t written one in months. I enter may with more than 30 new poems and many more drafts. Sometimes you get the challenge you need when you need it. The important thing is to keep trying, keep striving and keep moving. And that brings me to the last poem of the month: Write a moving poem. Here’s to April. Hello, May. Let’s keep moving.

Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you. —Satchel Paige

MOVE

Yesterday is an anchor

Weighs me down.

Tomorrow’s a wind beneath

My broken wings.

But which way will it blow?

I have today.

I have to get up,

Get off this couch.

I have to get up

And move.

Yesterday is no return

Even if I have the receipt

Tomorrow may be out of stock

There’s no way to know

I have today.

I have to get up.

We have today.

We need to get up

Off this couch

And move.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 29

Write a poem about “the last (blank).” Anyone have change for a dollar?

DISCONNECTED (THE LAST PAYPHONE)

All alone,

My last quarter,

This last payphone.

Dropped it in.

No dial tone.

All alone.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 28

Day 28, write a sight poem (and try not to blink).

BLINK

blink

It passed by.

blink

It's gone.

blink

It’s midnight.

blink

It’s dawn.

blink

The movie

blink

I’d like to see

blink

Is what I missed

blink

When my eyes

Failed me.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 27

Day 27, Write a Remix Poem. This prompt asks us to remix a poem from earlier in the month. I chose to remix my day 20 challenge poem. Remember that one? We were asked to write a poem using at least three of the following six words: 1. Content, 2. Double, 3. Guide, 4. Meet, 5. Pump, 6. Suit. I had so much fun. I couldn’t stop at one.

REMIX #1: ADVICE TO A NERVOUS SPEAKER

Know your *content*.

*Double* down on your talent.

Let your instinct *guide* you.

Wear your best *suit*.

Get *pumped*.

I’ll *meet* you backstage.

REMIX #2: ROADTRIP

*Double* down

Wear your lucky *suit*.

Let your instinct *guide* you.

We’ll *meet* out back

By the old *pump*.

REMIX #3: HOLIDAY DREAM

Our host *doubled* as our *guide*.

We *met* by the abandoned *pumps*.

His shiny*suit* reflected the sun.

When he spoke, his words confused me.

But I understood the *content*.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 26

Write a love or anti-love poem. May we all be loved the way LuLu, our little Shih Tzu, loves suppertime.

SUPPERTIME

To love life,

Like the little dog

Loves suppertime,

She dances with

Wild abandon.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 25

Day 25, write a response poem. This could be a response to a poem I’ve written earlier in the month or a response to someone else’s poem. This poem is a response to the haiku masters like Basho, Buson, and Issa, who have graced us with timeless poems. Thankfully, they knew how to avoid distractions.

UNPOETIC

Napping on the couch,

I missed the

Full moon

With a notebook

As my pillow, I slept

Though the sunrise

Earbuds firmly in,

I couldn’t hear the

Chickadee’s song

Checking my phone,

I missed the frog’s

Leap into the pond

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 24

Day 24, write a superhero or super villain poem.

LOST MAN

Unable to

Follow directions.

Often confuses

Left from right.

Has been

seen reading

A map while

Holding it

Upside down.

Makes stops

At F, G, L, and P

While trying to go

From point A to B.

His compass

Always spinning.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 23

Day 23, write a poem about a conspiracy.

SUNDAY MORNING

Snoring dog

Across my legs

And rain against

The window

Conspire to

Keep me in bed,

Covers over

My head.

Poem -A-Day, April 2022, Day 22

Day 22, write a poem about an Organism.

MOLD

Mold

I’m told

Is ever-so bold,

Growing in folds

In hot and cold.

Though I may grow old

I’ll never outlive all this mold.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 21

Day 21, write a sound poem.

ENCORE

“Croak,”

Bull-frog’s

Ballad

Until

“Splash”,

He exits

Pond right.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 20

Poem a day challenge, day 20, write a poem using at least three of the following six words: 1. Content, 2. Double, 3. Guide, 4. Meet, 5. Pump, 6. Suit.

Here are six small stories, each using one of the words.

Before-dinner dogs: A furry fury. After-dinner dogs: Placid *contentment*.

New *suit*, new shirt new tie. Ready for my day. What? Mismatched shoes!

*Pump* handle had a nasty ricochet. My first black eye.

If we’ve *met*, I’ll remember your face, But likely fumble your name.

*Double* socks. Double pants. Double shirt. Double coat. Double hat. Chicago winter.

Dead-end farm road. Old map *misguided* me.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 19

Day 19, write a there or not there poem. Another one possibly based on a true story.

(Another possibly true story)

CAR KEYS

My car keys are gone,

But they were just there.

Now I can’t find them

Anywhere.

For an hour I search.

Then before I despair,

I touch the cord

‘Round my neck

Where I’d hung them

With care.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 18

Day 18, write a “we (blank) poem. Here’s the finding the “whee” in your life.

THE THRILL SEEKERS

We ride our bikes

Down a steep hill,

Let go the handles

Throw back our heads

Hair in the wind

As we become

“Whee!”

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 16

Day 16, write a touch poem. August, it’s a mood.

AUGUST

Escaping heat.

In the pond,

Up to my chin.

Trying to stand

As still as

The surface.

Arms at my side,

Sun setting,

Orange cast

Across the water.

Touching bottom.

Feeling mud

And pebbles

Beneath my feet,

As tiny fish

Nibble my toes.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 15

Day 15, write a patience poem. This one is about my father, the most patient person I’ve ever known.

SUNDAY MEDITATION

My sister and I always

Ran late getting

Ready for church.

Dad waited patiently

On our back porch steps

Powder blue suit,

white shirt,

And neat tie

Never a raised voice

Or harsh word.

He’d just clip his nails

And work his cuticles,

Knowing by the time

He finished this

Sunday morning

Manicure we’d barrel

Through the backdoor,

Mom herding us

Into the station wagon.

Dad, the most patient

Person I’ve known,

And he had the

Best-looking

Fingernails, too.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 14

Day 14, write a scary poem. Sometimes the “boo” is in the fear of the beholder.

NO BOO

The ghost

Opened his mouth

But couldn’t boo.

Maybe because

He was scared

Of you.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 13

For day 13, write a “how to (blank)” poem.

HOW TO BUILD A BOOKCASE

Some assembly required.

Some tools will be needed.

Some you will have. Some you won’t.

Some directions will be in small type.

You’ll need a magnifying glass

To read them. And after, you’ll

Still have no idea what they mean.

Some screws will be lost.

Some aspirin will be taken.

Some pieces will be left over,

They look important, but

You can’t figure out

Where or why they belong.

Some shelves will slant

Someone will notice.

And some trash pick-up day,

You’ll place the bookcase at the curb.

Then, somewhere find a store

That offers one already assembled.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 12

Day 12, write a counting or a not counting poem.

BEFORE THEY’VE HATCHED

Nineteen eggs,

Then twenty

Hatched chicks?

Henry thought,

“I must have miscounted.”

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 11

Day 11, write a power poem.

YOUR LOVE IS MY SUPERPOWER

I will be your superhero.

I will wear the cape.

I’ll outrace the bullet

And defeat the alien ape.

I’m not scared of zombies.

I’ll be sure to win the day.

The only weakness that I have

Is if you go away.

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 9

Day 9, Write a breaking poem. This one may have something to do with my love-hate relationship with stuff.

I BROKE IT

I broke it.

I bought it.

I glued it.

I kept it.

I hold it.

I embrace it.

I treasure it.

I can’t replace it.