31 days & 31 poems
Call me crazy, but on the spur of the moment I made a decision to join Matthew Dryden in his December Poetry Challenge.
This is a creative pursuit that I can’t ignore and a fresh inspiration to wake up to every day this month. Just what I’ve been looking for. The month of December at Shades of Crimson will be a laid-back, creative month. A place for you to relax and enjoy a new poem every day (I hope).
You might recall my announcement from a few weeks ago that I was going to slow down on blogging.
“I have decided to shift my focus and spend less time blogging and re-prioritize my life.”
My focus did shift; I started doing things that I’d been missing and somehow, magically, blogging is still finding a space my life. Funny how that works.
ABC poem
I have no idea if I’ll be able to come up with a poem every day this month, but I’m willing to give it a go. Like I said, the idea appealed to me and I decided on the spur of the moment.
Here is the first submission. If you’d like to join in this Poetry Challenge, visit Matthew’s blog Writing with a Pulse for more details.
This is an ABC style poem. It is a poem that has five lines that creates a picture or a mood. The first four lines are composed with words or phrases, with the first word of each line in alphabetical order. Line five is one sentence.
Poem #1: Canine Catnap
Zenith sun upon his face.
A lazy paw, whimpered speech.
Beneath his slumber,
Cats to chase.
Dreaming… still he sleeps.
Photo Credit: SarahB
If you’ve ever watched a dog while it sleeps, I’m sure you’ve smiled once or twice.
patricia
Hilary
Tony Single
Linda
Barbara Swafford
Deb Dorchak
Chris Edgar
{ 21 comments }
Hi Davina,
Yes, I was wondering about you “slowing down” with your blogging. I, for one, am happy blogging found it’s way back into your days.
I love the poem. And what a great idea having the first letter be alphabetical.
Sleeping dogs make me smile too. I wish I knew what they dream about, especially when their legs start moving – like they’re running or chasing something. I always imagine our dog is chasing a cat. :)
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Save Time – Copy & Paste A Post =-.
Hi Davina .. I love the idea of poem writing – and it’ll certainly be creative .. you poem together with the clean feet! .. they wouldn’t be here .. they’d be imagining the rabbits up on the Downs and we’d be thinking of the muddy paws on arrival home. Dogs have a wonderful way of twitching their way around when they’re dreaming … must catch a bunny, not a twitching bird .. and cats – well they just luxuriously and languoriously stretch out one paw, then another .. then turn onto their backs and stretch the tummy to the world & carry on sleeping … lucky things!! Makes me want to go back to bed – for a good long sleep and the day’s only just got going .. but I think I have an excuse (well I do!) – I need some sleep ..
Lovely – and I look forward to each and everyone .. of the ABCs or perhaps the LMNOQs … enjoy the creativity spirit – Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters inspirational Stories
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..What Christmas memory comes back to you at the beginning of December? =-.
I love the poem Davina, so simple and evocative. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m glad you’re finding a pulse for your blogging that goes beyond ‘blogging’… lessons for all of us here :-)
.-= Joanna Young´s last blog ..Essential Lines from 2009: Group Writing Project =-.
LOVE ths post! And I really love the poem too!! :)
.-= Positively Present´s last blog ..the magic of giving (& first ever giveaway!) =-.
The challenge scares me; especially the thought of writing a new poem everyday. But somehow I believe you will be able to do it. :)
That’s quite a challenge, but I think you’re up to the task as you write poetry in your prose, too. And it looks like this will revitalize your blogging. Doggy paws! I miss those paws in my life. The poem brings back such memories of them “running” and whimpering after their prey. After all, they were hunters originally. It is fun to watch.
.-= Dot´s last blog ..Comment on Full Disclosure by Dot =-.
Oh, Davina, I am so glad you did this. You’re a natural! I think one a day will be a piece of cake for you. This one is wonderful; I just love it. The mood is THERE. Just reading this makes me mindful of those moments when my heart was so full of warm protectiveness while watching my dog sleep. Happy memories.
Your poetry is delightful, and I’m so glad to see you back at it. Relaxing the hold on your blogging freed your voice. Yea! :)
.-= Julie´s last blog ..A Different Thanksgiving =-.
Delightful, oh you of many talents!
I had several doggies in my life whose paws looked just like your photo, and I loved tickling the lines of fur between their footpads when they were sleeping to see them twitch.
Like everyone, I’m glad that you’re still blogging. Our days have infinite moments for that which we love. Thanks, Davina, for this one.
.-= Betsy Wuebker´s last blog ..A Potluck Full of Do and Feel Good =-.
Hi Davina
Well this is a surprise indeed – but that is what going with the flow of the moment of life is all about. We may intend something, but the truth is, we will never know how we will feel, what we will want to do until the moment arrives. So good for you for taking on this challenge! (But at the same time, don’t be hard on yourself if one day you just don’t feel like writing a poem :)
And the photo is amazing! I have never seen such a great paw photo! Your poem is perfect with it!
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Ride Your Own Wave =-.
Davina — I loved the poem. What creativity you have to write something so visual and perfect in five lines!!! Wow.
I must confess when I first looked at the picture, I couldn’t figure out what it was, but your poem took care of that.
I look forward to the next one and I’m glad your life has created room for blogging again:~)
.-= Sara´s last blog ..2010 Calendar Giveaway =-.
I love the poem yet think you are crazy for taking this on! :)
Good luck…
.-= vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Former Miss Argentina Dies After Cosmetic Surgery =-.
Hi Barbara.
I’ve learned that by giving permission we realize we DO have a choice. Somehow things fall into place when a person shifts their perspective. I liked that idea of the ABC poem too. It helped to give the writing some structure. Dogs are fun to watch when they sleep — I wonder about us sometimes :)
Hi Hilary.
“Muddy paws on arrival home…” that is pretty poetic. I love watching cats stretch too; those huge lazy yawns of theirs and bright pink tongues. Hope you get some of that sleep you’ve mentioned.
Hi Joanna.
Glad you enjoyed the poem — 99% perspiration :)
Hi Dani.
Thanks. I think I’ve lost my mind now… after the fact, but we’ll see where this takes things.
Hi BK.
Yep… it’s scaring me too. Thanks for believing in me; this is gonna take a miracle.
Hi Dot.
They are certainly fun to watch — I agree. I like to watch strangers with their dogs too; how they handle them and how the dogs respond to each other on the sidewalk. Quite comical sometimes, and scary other times.
Hi Julie.
A piece of cake? Oh, I hope so. I’m now wondering what I was thinking when I took this on. Still haven’t written today’s installment. Having pets is a blessing isn’t it? Especially dogs, more so than cats. Cats are fun but just a little too aloof. Dogs are like big kiddies you can play with.
Hi Betsy.
Help me please!!! :-) Tickling the line of fur between their footpads — thanks for that reminder. Isn’t THAT a precious moment.
Hi Evita.
Surprise is an understatement! :-D This photo IS amazing. Was lucky to find it early on in the search. “Don’t be hard on yourself if one day you just don’t feel like writing a poem.” *nodding in TOTAL agreement*
Hi Sara.
Thanks! I had to squeeze that poem out… don’t know where it came from or how it happened, but I’m thankful it did. Don’tcha just wanna tickle the pads of those feet? :)
Hi Vered.
Yep… I think I’m crazy too! Completely and utterly out-of-my-mind. I’m walking, eating and sleeping poetry now.
Hi Davina .. no .. I wrote a long post over on Jan’s other blog – Awake is good .. and it got lost not in translation but over the airwaves .. and it was long!! Now I’ve just been to a minimalist film society film .. that’s made me cry – and I’m still awake and blogging!!
But this is really about poems .. Mum’s cousin sent us today a “Clerihew” .. I think I’ll have to do a post on them … – so the brain apart from being sad is trying to the grey cells around Clerihews!!
Night – oh yes .. the Keats’ new film is out here on the 11th for a week – must get to see it .. more poetry .. and I was thinking of Christmas is coming the Goose is getting fat .. and now have to find the rest of it .. for another Christmas post … Bye – really gone! Hilary!!
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..What Christmas memory comes back to you at the beginning of December? =-.
You are up for this challenge…and I will be reading. I read a poem every morning before my meditation time….I will add yours
Loved the picture and your precisy delft dance of words.
what fun….
.-= patricia´s last blog ..Tripping and Reading the Light Fantastic =-.
Hi Hilary.
LOL, you’re “loosy goosey” re: the Goose you mentioned & your lack of sleep :-) Thanks for sharing about Clerihew poetry. I just checked it out and they sound like fun! May your grey cells see a darker shade… zzzzzz.
Hi Patricia.
Thanks for the support. After writing two poems now, I have serious doubts about keeping this up every day. But we’ll see what happens. Oh me oh my… writing on the fly. :-)
Hi Davina,
Poetry does have a certain freedom to it — letting emotions and words run together across the page, so different from the more practical prose. Have fun with it!
I love the simplicity of the poem in this post — it captures dog dreams wonderfully.
.-= Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..How a family password keeps your kids safer =-.
Fun!
I didn’t realize Matthew had a new blog. I must check him out.
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Getting To Know Him… Getting To Know All About A Wonderful Blogger. =-.
Hi Lori.
That’s a great way to put it: letting emotions and words run together across the page. It’s neat to experience the rhythm of the words and rhymes as they emerge. Often a poem takes on a life of its own. Funny with this one, I’d originally wanted to write about myself lying in the sun. Woof! :)
Hi Jannie.
Fun… from Funster, yeah! Double trouble? :)
Hi Davina, I totally missed this with my changing technology moments, I read the poem once and saw the word cats, then I focused on the picture and realized it was not a cat, then I read the title, then I read the poem again slowly… and looked at the picture again, and thought of my Teddy, because the paws look just like him.
I’ll see how you are doing in a bit. I know I saw other posts as I quick came to your blog, but I didn’t yet check if you had kept up with your goal. I would think it would be hard.
As you noted in my comments, you don’t start by reading instructions, you dive in. I don’t read thoroughly first and poetry has always been a challenge for me because I read so fast, skimming… and that is a whole nuther topic… But keep writing, I love your posts, poetry or not. This is another one of those comments that Barbara Swafford referred to last week in Blogging without a Blog. I could turn it into my own post…
See you later. :-)
Hi Davina – This is great – now I see why you’re writing so much. I’m reading your recent posts backwards.
.-= Cath Lawson´s last blog ..Does Social Networking Improve Your Business & Your Brain? =-.
Hi Julie.
Good thing it was a short poem ;-) I know what you mean about poetry funnily enough. As much as I enjoy writing it, I find I have to be in a certain mood to read it. This has been difficult; more so than I thought it would be. Hope you’re making out okay with your technology upgrades; lot of info to download and absorb eh?
Hi Cath.
Well… I WAS writing so much — sigh. Inspiration is dwindling now and it just feels like work. Think I bit off more than I can chew… and in December too (that rhymes; heh, heh).
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