Day 6 Prompt.... Today’s (optional) prompt is ekphrastic in nature – but rather particular! Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem from the point of view of one person/animal/thing from Hieronymous Bosch’s famous (and famously bizarre) triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights. Whether you take the position of a twelve-legged clam, a narwhal with a cocktail olive speared on its horn, a man using an owl as a pool toy, or a backgammon board being carried through a crowd by a fish wearing a tambourine on its head, I hope that you find the experience deliriously amusing. And if the thought of speaking in the voice of a porcupine-as-painted-by-a-man-who-never-saw-one leaves you cold, perhaps you might write from the viewpoint of Bosch himself? Very little is known about him, so there’s plenty of room for invention, embroidery, and imagination. I table the prompt for another time. Indulge me, I implore you, for today I shall post another poem of a similar Prompt from an entirely separate situation: at a Writer’s Workshop, put on by Nest & Story, the prompt was a random picture handed to me. I don’t have the picture, but I do have the following poem... It’s a Zoo in Here!Characters (in a roomful of other rather non-descript, stereotypical, poser party people) Paul - a dude Chameleon guy - Sly Cat - Phil - a dude Lenny - has a giraffe head Bird Brain - Buddy - And, me - hiding behind the potted plant It’s a zoo in here and I’m hiding behind the potted plant again. You see, I had convinced myself to get out of the house more. I vowed that I’d actually make it to a party that I said I would go to. I’m here. I miss the familiar comfort of my couch. So, anyway, it’s a zoo in here and I’m hiding behind the potted plant... It’s kinda cozy back here in my own little space. I peer through the leaves and sneak a peek. I notice Paul, in his dapper suit, talking to that chameleon guy, you know.... the one who’s always changing his views to please? He’s got a purple cravat, knitted knotted just so #hashtag #trending, and his hair is just so precise, not a strand out of place. Why, just once, I’d like to see it askew... I wrinkle my nose as the thick stench of pomp wafts my way, ah, but it’s just cigar smoke and I can’t stifle my.... aaaaa - aaaa - cchhhhhhooooooooo... and everyone turns to look at the potted plant that sneezed before turning back to their own one-up-manship sparring matches, each trying to become the ultra-Alpha, conversational victor of the room Sly Cat, and Phil (who’s got his bow tie on this evening, so you know it’s a special night); well, they speak of stocks and bonds and such, and since they normally never even notice me on the street, I’m not sure I have the courage to approach. Even Lenny - he’s got a giraffe head, for Pete’s sake! - even he is part of things. He’s there, with Bird Brain and Buddy, having a fine time... I’d love to know what they were saying.... Turns out, I never knew that what they were actually talking about was: Sly Cat and Phil, bow ties and bonds, Paul and cravats and cigars, Chameleon guys and that one freak crouching in the corner behind the sneezing potted plant. But, hey, it’s a zoo in here! I tried to find a picture and couldn’t. I was almost bummed out until I realized that the poem IS the picture... and I - and you - could take it upon ourselves to make a picture of our own.... ooooihhhh, fun:)
Reflection & Aha... I used to worry about posting a poem every day, which was silly. I work on poetry every day during May, nay April (but the rhyme...), which is why there is NAPOWRIMO. I realize that mass posting every day brings an increased awareness to Poetry. But, we can only do what we can do, and it may seem obvious to some, but once I gave myself permission to go at my own pace, I may actually finish a NAPOWRIMO...It won’t be 30 poems in 30 days, but it will be 30 poems, based on 30 days of NAPOWRIMO Prompts (or not, ‘cause Poetic License) spread over several months. I love this prompt and have been trying to make a poem, but it’s been a work in progress.... and I remembered that I have done a poem with this Prompt... As an occasional teacher, Aka. The Sub, this was an assignment the teacher had left for her grade 8 class. So cool! So, we all settled to poetry writing (they were really good kids at a really great school).... Believe In Youthi believe in You --
teaching in the world today takes everything we got it causes so many worries. I wish we weren’t so fraught slammed in the press for trying to do our best taking away money, packing the classrooms like sardines and it seems that no one is learning a thing AXE fumes and obnoxious attitude ooze i’m assaulted by curses coming at me, a mere messenger of knowledge -- and, I’d like to think — a harbinger of delight i try with all my might it used to be that eyeballs stared at me, they couldn’t wait to see now, they get all glazey as they peel them from their screens farther away and harder to reach thumbs thump and slide, it’s one bumpy ride machines rule the room, and I must be on a screen to make my lessons boom OMG it’s dizzy-making to think of all the changes Life’s a test, full of stress, but you’ll burst your seams, as you follow your dreams. i wish You all will soar to success. reaching all the Kids today takes everything you’ve got a worthy challenge I won’t give up on; I give it my best shot I believe in You, the future. (May 24, 2019, reworked/edited 2020) Battle by the creek:
Red squirrel defends domain; On offense now, a chase ensues. It can’t be that bad -- nuthatches laugh. Woodpeckers go about their day, knocking all the way. Crow butts in, causing chaotic scattering. Turkey vulture circles, joined by a kettle looking to kill. Here, life goes on. Robin announces it’s Spring. Dark eyed and grey Juncos peeping in the shadows of the earth. Squirrels galore, gathering and chittering. Laughing Cardinal love is in the air; Red croons to his love. She, joins him — a fine pair! Mourning dove laments — We can never be who we were before. Doggy days indeed. And still -- We laugh. Prompt: place (at this time) First Draft... Mar 19/20, 2020 ( #lifeinatimeofcorona #artinatimeofcovid #keepcalmandcreate #missnikki_poetry #everydayarteveryday ) Tumultuous Times (2020)opulent pearly pink, incandescent sky,
sultry sherbert sashays, radiating hope in rocky times oh, the iridescent greening! permeates pandemic panic and, like a colouring book, vivid rainbow petals burst. then, bugs buzz back, into my life like death hugs. |
Today is a great day to create a great day.This site is my attempt at gathering all of my creativity that I have strewn about out 'there'.... Everyday Art Every Day by Nicola Schneider is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at http://everydayarteveryday.weebly.com. Archives
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