NaPoWriMo 2026, Day 27

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Mary Beth Frezon

Almost to the end of NaPoWriMo! Today’s optional prompt was “write your own poem in which all the verses contain the same number of lines (whether couplets, triplets, quatrains, etc.) and in which you give the reader instructions of some kind.” LOL I didn’t do that exactly but I did string together three haiku (which I often do anyway) and a tanka because you know living better with math (3×3)+5=sonnet.

What of changing forms
are you missing haiku too?
join me this morning

I pursued sonnets
a whole month of fourteen lines
it was quite spacious

Petrarch hadn’t heard
of anything like haiku
so he did his thing

writing just sonnets
was a good break from haiku
with more wriggle room
now make paths to brevity
budding trees whisper to sky

Photo: landscape with late evening sun running across bright green grass. In mid-ground, a couple red barn-like buildings. Behind them there's a white rail fence and then bare spring woods and a blue cloudless sky.

Posted in Do the Work, haiku, In the neighborhood, landscape, NaPoWriMo, Poetry and Lyrics, sonnet, taking time to look, the creative process | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NaPoWriMo 2026, Day 26

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Mary Beth Frezon

You want an ars poetica? I’ll give you ars poetic! And your little dog too and a host of golden daffodils!

what is poetry you’re asking again
won’t you know it when you see it?
that spot where pencil meets paper
just as, just before the line starts
that tiny spot of ink before
the first letter appears out of nothing
that moment fingertips resting
on the keys, tapping the rhythms
waiting, waiting, the beating feet
undecided insertion point blinking
blinking blinking and then appears
the first word scribbled written typed
where does it come from isn’t the question
it comes to ring that bell for you.

A small host of golden daffodils doing their thing under a couple evergreens

Posted in Art in the world, Do the Work, drawing, fountain pens, gardens and flowers, landscape, NaPoWriMo, Poetry and Lyrics, sonnet, taking time to look, the creative process, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NaPoWriMo 2026, Day 25

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Mary Beth Frezon

Sometimes you need to pour the coffee and close the door. I already hear the distractions calling: you need birdseed! you bought soup makings! you said you were going to make and freeze lasagna!

The end of april drawing near
Christmas a mere eight months away
I wanted to stay in bed but
there’s so much to do so much
feed the cats, of course, that’s first
then clean up and breakfast for me
the first of the last daily poems
just best not to overthink it
get it done before the news starts
racing in from all directions
and the calendar reminders
and the spam phone calls begin jingling
all of which is to say I’ll be
in my workroom hiding from distractions

Photo of my quilt "A Place to Stand" hanging on the wall with light from the door's window across it. The quilt is made of small equilateral triangles in yellows, oranges and blues in an abstract design.

Posted in Do the Work, NaPoWriMo, Poetry and Lyrics, quilting, sonnet, taking time to look, the creative process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

NaPoWriMo 2026, Day 24

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Mary Beth Frezon

A true tale. Last week, she jumped up on the chair where I sat. I snapped a quick photo and sent it to her foster mom. So last night was a bold move on her part. She usually snuggles with a brother or behind my knee. Her two brothers (one really is her sibling) are about half again her weight so maybe she’s taking me up on my “us girls gotta stick together” advice.

last night the little dink of a black cat
walked along me waiting in the dark
and stood by the pillows until I asked
are you waiting to get in, now?
I lifted the quilt and under she went
curling round until her nose pointed out
and her eyes could keep me in view but
then she put a paw on my arm and
overflowing with happiness, pride, at
the trust of this little cat born feral
she staked out her nest between the blankets
she knew I would not move my arm
three years she has dashed away from my hand
last night in the dark I melted again.

Selfie Photo: Miss Nyx cuddling up with me for a good visit. Black cat in the crook of my arm while we both look up at the camera.

photo: black cat with head and feet sticking out of a brown paper grocery bag. Sitting on a wood floor with a cardboard "tudor" house behind.

Posted in cats helpful cats, Do the Work, family and friends, gratitude, kittens, NaPoWriMo, Poetry and Lyrics, sonnet, the creative process | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

NaPoWriMo 2026, Day 23

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Mary Beth Frezon

I described my month so far of working with sonnets as a sort of DIY therapy program. Didn’t have that intent when I started but if you plop a line on the screen/paper and wait for the next to arrive, anything can happen. Not all gems, not all mud but anything may emerge.

while waiting for the eggs to cook
and the coffee to brew again
how shall I not think of you
and sip the coffee, eat the eggs
savoring well each bite of each
until you are all inside me
you once more, the others to sustain me
and any other crazy thoughts
i may not be sure of the future
but these eggs and coffee and you
you are done so long ago I cannot
remember all I probably should
I remember you are gone and good
so my bowl and mug, so starts my day

photo: on a natural color hand-loomed placemat, a white bowl with blue design along edge holds several chopped up eggs and some butter. Nearby is a big white mug of coffee, regular. In between sits a folded pair of glasses.

Posted in coffee and tea, food, Miscellany, NaPoWriMo, note to self, Poetry and Lyrics, sonnet, the creative process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment