Tag: W3

Abandoned and forgotten

Punam’s prompt guidelines

  • Write a Pantoum on the theme of abandonment.

What is an pantoum?

  • The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming ABAB in which the second and fourth lines of a quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the succeeding quatrain;
    • Each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme as BCBC, CDCD;
    • The first line of the series recurs as the last line of the closing quatrain, and the third line of the poem recurs as the second line of the closing quatrain, rhyming ZAZA;
  • The design is simple:
    • Line 1
      Line 2
      Line 3
      Line 4
      Line 5 (repeat of line 2)
      Line 6
      Line 7 (repeat of line 4)
      Line 8
    • Continue with as many stanzas as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza (as its first and third lines), and also repeats the third line of the first stanza, as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth. So the first line of the poem is also the last.
    • Last stanza:
      • Line 2 of previous stanza
        Line 3 of first stanza
        Line 4 of previous stanza
        Line 1 of first stanza

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It was left abandoned and gathering dust

Having adorned my wrist for so many years

The watch I wore with pride is now collecting rust

Without its reassuring presence I had so many fears

~*~

Having adorned my wrist for so many years

I was able to be on time, was given punctual as a label

Without its reassuring presence, I had so many fears

Of missed appointments and messed up time table

~*~

Now a fitness tracker my left wrist bears

I had the audacity of replacing my watch

To feel elation when I complete my target as it cheers

I moved ahead with my goals, bringing my fitness up a notch

~*~

I had the audacity of replacing my watch

The watch I wore with pride is now collecting rust

I moved ahead with my goals, bringing my fitness up a notch

It was left abandoned and gathering dust

➰➰➰

This is the first time I’ve written a complicated poem like this pantoum! So if I haven’t followed the rules I beg forgiveness 😅

In response to W3 # prompted by Punam this week and hosted by David

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A substitute!

Michelle’s prompt guidelines

  1. Take out your handkerchief (yes, the one in your pocket right now- no cheating).
    • Remember that during the Renaissance period, a handkerchief was considered to be a powerful symbol of a woman. Giving this item to a woman meant true love, honesty, commitment, and righteousness.
  2. If by chance you don’t have a handkerchief, explore your creative side and imagine you are holding one right now.
  3. Write an ode to your handkerchief (or make-believe handkerchief). Make it sound like a love ode.

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I searched my pockets, my bag but it wasn’t there

A hanky I knew I had kept for emergencies, handy

Disappointed, I felt I had to resort to using paper napkin

For this auspicious occasion, just something disposable

I wiped my streaming tears and running nose discreetly

Stowed away the soiled napkin in a corner of my pocket

The handkerchief that I had hoped to use to treasure this occasion

Was left ironed and folded on my dressing table, forlorn

On my daughter’s wedding, I had no memento to record

The joyful tears of a mother witnessing her precious child’s foray

Into the wedded bliss, leaving her parent’s home forever

➰➰➰

In response to W3, hosted by David

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W3 # 45 – My story

David’s guidelines;

Write a poem from the perspective of an inanimate household object, using personification.

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Sitting on your nose, grabbing both your ears

I guide your eyes to see, perceive and read what you want

Sometimes you wear me like a crown on your head

And then like a lost fool, look around for me everywhere

I hold the most important position in your life especially

As you grow old and can’t see without me even a foot

It’s true that I am so important to you that you keep

Not one or two but many spare pairs of me all over your home!

In response to W3, hosted and promoted by David

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Breaking news!

Selma’s prompt guidelines

The prompt

  • Write a ‘prose poem’ in the form of a news article you wish would come out tomorrow (imagine it will come out tomorrow).

Rules

  • Format your ‘prose poem like breaking news;
  • Give it a bold attractive title; 
  • A beginning/middle/end;
  • Make it a Good News account of something that will benefit us all. Use strong, positive VERBS;
  • Add enough detail to make it believable/relieve us of some stress;
  • Not short, but not too long;
  • Have fun. Happy Writing!

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Free healthcare for all deserving people

Dear readers, we have some amazing news for you today, the sort of news that will delight your hearts and brighten your day.

The government has declared that from today no one has to pay for essential medical services, the caring people of the federal government have forgone all their privileges and remunerations and created a special fund that will receive donations from the ultra-rich elite of our beloved country and will provide not only medical services but life-saving drugs free of charge to EVERYONE!

So rejoice people of this wonderful nation, for finally the humanitarian spirit has woken up and the pain of the ordinary man has been redressed by those in charge.

➰➰➰

I don’t know if this is just prose or prose poem but it people read or heard this piece of extraordinary news, they sure would be extremely happy!

Written in response to; W3, prompted this week by Selma, hosted by David

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W3 # 43- Taking a dip on a summer afternoon

Kerfe’s prompt guidelines;

  • Compose a haibun that contrasts past and present;

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My beloved city boasts of a canal running through its entire length in a curving line, following its contours. When days were younger and people were not that plenty, the road running parallel to the canal was often deserted in the hot summer afternoons, save people, especially children who had no air conditioning, or access to a swimming pool would like to swim in the not so clean water of the canal. They’d streak across the road, its hot surface burning their bare feet and take a running jump into the canal water. Now we have a population of around 12 million and people are more affluent, but on summer afternoons, your eyes will meet the same sight as they did 30-40 years ago!

Hot deserted roads

Squeals of children jumping

In muddy water

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In response to W3 # 43, hosted by David

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W3 # 42 – A Puente

Tanmay’s prompt guidelines

  1. Write a “Puente” poem;
  2. The middle stanza should contain the title of a song;
    • You can add more words to the middle stanza if you wish.

Puente

The form has three stanzas with the first and third having an equal number of lines and the middle stanza having only one line which acts as a bridge (puente) between the first and third stanza. The first and third stanzas convey a related but different element or feeling, as though they were two adjacent territories. The number of lines in the first and third stanza is the writer’s choice as is the choice of whether to write it in free verse or rhyme. 

The center line is delineated by a tilde (~) and has ‘double duty’. It functions as the ending for the last line of the first stanza AND as the beginning for the first line of the third stanza. It shares ownership with these two lines and consequently bridges the first and third stanzas.

I’ve chosen A hard day’s night by Beatles

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Dropping shoulders

Aching muscles ready to collapse

Working like an animal in bondage

I curse my luck, complain about my life

What a life this is I think to myself after

~A hard day’s night~

Can rest your weary bones

Give your tired mind a new thought to think

Rejuvenate your soul so that it is

Battle ready the next morning

Rearing to go again

➰➰➰

In response to W3 # 42, hosted by David, prompted by Tanmay this week.

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Paying tribute

Written for; W3 # 41, hosted by David

Ange’s prompt guidelines

  1. Select a haiku written by someone other yourself;
  2. Construct a “Golden Shovel”poem from that haiku.

Golden Shovel?

A golden shovel is a poetic form in which the last word of each line forms a second, pre-existing poem (or section thereof), to which the poet is paying homage.

➰➰➰

I have selected this Haiku by Yosa Buson;

“Lighting One Candle”

The light of a candle

Is transferred to another candle—

Spring twilight

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Allure of the

Serene light

Twinkling of

Million stars on a

Inky sky, just like many a candle

Lit is

Hypnotic and mesmerizing, transferred

Via our retina to

The wandering thoughts, another

Thought occurred to me like a candle

Lit scenario, the stars sparkle in the spring

Sky, the twilight

Shimmering

➰➰➰

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Riddles in rhymes

Brandon’s prompt guidelines

Riddle me this… I would like to you to compose a riddle or “puzzle” poem.

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You can make it

You can feel it

You can fall for it

It can change decisions

It can alter mindsets

It can attract you

What is it?

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I am writing a riddle poem for the first time. This is perhaps too simplistic but here goes!

Written for W3 # 39- Riddles, prompted by Brandon, hosted by David

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