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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 25, 2011 1:35:10 GMT -6
Here is a challenge, an exercise and an experiment all in one. I have a single line - see if you can write a poem that contains it. It can be about anything you like, in any form [well, any form that the line will fit in ;D] and it can be anywhere in the poem - first line, last line, somewhere in the middle.... you can make it all one line or split it into 2 lines or 4 lines [or 3 if you like] adjust the punctuation to suit your needs. I'm curious what people will do with it and what thoughts might be expressed.
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 25, 2011 7:38:12 GMT -6
OK, Tim, I'm game:
He stands at the mirror and asks,
"What is a girl? What is a woman? What is a man? What is a boy?"
Dressed in his mom's best party dress, and her high heels, much too large for his small feet, he pauses, scarlet lipstick in his hand, and admires his curly auburn hair, kept too short, at his father's insistence.
He carefully paints his delicate lips, smiles, and says to the figure looking back at him,
"What difference does it make?"
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Post by dustandwater on Mar 25, 2011 9:28:58 GMT -6
@fire Monkey, I love this challenge. I will come back shortly to have a go.
@brigid, an excellent response. You've set the bar bloomin' high, my friend.
Now, I shall retire for a moment and gather my thoughts.
-D&W
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Post by dustandwater on Mar 25, 2011 10:50:14 GMT -6
Right. After a quick visit to Brigid's Coffee Haiku challenge, and an ensuing cup of the good stuff, I am back.
Here's my poem inspired by Fire Monkey's line... __________________
All he has left are questions, Lying frail, wrinkled and breathless. Life, so long and so short, so full of trails; of successes and failures, and what has he to show for it?
He looks around the room to which he's been confined for so long, yet which remains unfamiliar in every way. Nothing there to mark his presence - no flowers, no cards, no crying relatives - and he knows that when he's gone he will leave nothing behind, neither in the physical world nor the emotional.
He cranes his neck trying to see the mirror, trying to see himself. He wants to see his reflection, to know that he still exists but the effort is too much and exhausted, he falls back into the uncomfortable embrace of his plastic covered mattress.
Failing to see his reflection, to confirm the existence of his self, the questions prevail. What is 'self', who is 'me'. Here, at the end of his life, he hasn't the faintest idea. What has it all been for?
What is a girl, what is a woman, What is a man, what is a boy?
He's dying yet he doesn't know when young turned to old; when boy turned to man, when life turned to death, when joy turned to bitter resentment.
His wife would be here, he thinks, if she hadn't beaten him to it. He had been there for her when all that mattered was her, when all he needed was her. But ever since he'd met her, that had been true.
What is a man, what is a boy? What is a girl, what is a woman?
When she was blonde, blue eyed, soft and fun, she was all he needed. When she was grey and worn, wrinkled and tired, she was all he'd needed. Now that he is dying and she is already gone, she is all he needs. He knows that without her, he won't last much longer. He knows that without her, in many ways, he too is already gone. He has no anchor left in this life, nothing and no-one left to remember him, even while he continues to breath.
The mirror is too far and without his reflection, without this final confirmation, he has nothing left to believe in and as he falls into his final slumber, all he has left are questions.
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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 25, 2011 14:47:18 GMT -6
I seem to have started something with this challenge - two excellent poems and two vary different ones at that. I love the responses, I was worried that the line I gave was going to present some difficulties but clearly that is not the case - I know it would give a huge range of possibilities and that has also been proven to be the case. I'm going to wait before posting a poem myself because I don't want to influence anyone [being the person who started the challenge I'm afraid people might subconsciously think that the should treat the line in a similar way to what I do even though I say otherwise - but I'll post mine soon]
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 25, 2011 16:05:28 GMT -6
Great challenge, Tim. And dustandwater, what a great response. Tim, I can't wait to see yours, but guess I'll have to. Brigid
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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 25, 2011 16:14:14 GMT -6
I just hope my poem will be able to match the quality of what comes before it ;D
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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 27, 2011 17:09:44 GMT -6
It seems that we have what we will get, so I guess I should post my poem. I thought, after reading the two posted, that I should re-work mine, but in the end I decided not to - it is what it is, and this was what I was thinking when those words came to me. The fact that the other poems posted are so different in their take on the words is absolutely perfect! ;D That really was what I had been thinking, that we each bring different thoughts to any words.
What is a girl, what is a woman, what is a man, what is a boy? The dictionary gives us all the meanings, Yet for each of us they mean a different thing. The words we use have meanings that depend on who we are, and though we like to think we know just what the words are saying the meanings seem to change with how they're said. A loving mother says "My boy" and its a thing of pride. A racist says "You boy" and it becomes a slur. If I call you "girl" am I just condescending or is it something said with deepest love?
The dictionary tells us what the words are but words cannot be bound so easily, so we must use great care each time we listen to hear the meaning of the words
- and not the definition.
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 28, 2011 8:40:44 GMT -6
So true, Tim. No one appreciates the nuances of words better than a good poet. It is especially challenging to communicate what we (or the words we use) really mean in poetry, where endless explanation is neither possible nor desirable. I have had poems of mine interpreted to mean two (or more) different things, some times polar opposites! Thanks for sharing the original that inspired the challenge. This is really a good, though-provoking topic. Brigid
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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 28, 2011 8:59:57 GMT -6
I'm still hoping for a poem or two more here, it's a fun little challenge ;D
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Post by daphnepurpus on Mar 28, 2011 12:06:32 GMT -6
what is a girl jump ropes spring day
what is a woman joy and love summer day
what is a man aging father autumn day
what is a boy new birth brightens winter day
Ok, I admit it is lame, but I'm a haiku poet and so trying to fit the long line as is wasn't going to happen for me and I saw a number of folks breaking it up so I just made bigger gaps, and I haven't reworked this--just thought I'd try a challenge as I've never done that before.
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 28, 2011 13:01:03 GMT -6
Way to go Daphne! Being a haiku-head myself, I appreciate the brevity of your piece. Let me invite you to participate in any one (or all) of our haiku challenges below. Brigid
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Post by Fire Monkey on Mar 28, 2011 13:12:30 GMT -6
I think that's excellent! I've seen chained haiku before and think it's a need idea - a poem made up of poems ;D
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Post by daphnepurpus on Mar 28, 2011 13:39:34 GMT -6
Thanks, Brigid and Fire Monkey! And Brigid, you mentioned haiku challenge "below". Have to admit I get lost around here at times. Where would I find that? In Haiku? I'll go look. Success with my first challenge post is inspiring me to try more. Thanks again to you both for your encouragement!
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 28, 2011 13:42:58 GMT -6
Hi Daphne, No, you would find the haiku challenges right in this section "Come Out and Play". I say "below" because the threads will be listed right below this one! I'm so excited that you're going to join in the fun. Brigid
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Post by daphnepurpus on Mar 28, 2011 17:03:03 GMT -6
Ah, she says as the lightbulb goes off! Thanks! And do you tweet the challenges as they start? That's how I found this one as I follow you on twitter. I'll check out the haiku challenges now. Thanks again, Daphne
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Post by Brigid Briton on Mar 28, 2011 19:45:31 GMT -6
Yes, I "tweet" the challenges on Twitter, hoping to attract new poets to site. Please spread the word if you know any poets who might like to join us.
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Post by daphnepurpus on Mar 29, 2011 14:22:49 GMT -6
Thanks, Brigid, for your encouragement. I'll give it a whirl!
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