Day 22, NaPoWriMo

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Mary Beth Frezon

Today’s prompt urged us to write something for children, in the style of a nursery rhyme or a favorite children’s poet. When I finally sat down to write (having been caught long at the council of the fellowship in Rivendell tonight) two cats immediately began nudging me, one at each elbow.

I don’t have time for two nudging cats
a cat at every elbow.
Miaow! cries one, the older queen
Purrrt mutters the other, the underling.

Go ‘way! says I, I’m trying to work
I love you both very much
MEEEow! sings one, a big brother
Ooow! joins the black little sister.

Please, I beg, one little moment
This thing I just need to do
oooh-oooh! chirps one as he jumps up
Me-me! says the black little sister.

There’s no getting work done I see now
a cat at every elbow.
There’s purring and calling and mewling
until each ear has been scritched.

When they finally curl up to sleep
I might at last have some peace
their furry selves so close up to me
and a cat nap sits a top my head.

Oh silly Helpful Cats!

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Day 21, NaPoWriMo: Late night east b’jesus.

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Mary Beth Frezon

Too cloudy for the Lyrid meteors but there was something a-rustle when I stuck my nose outside.

I put down my needle and went outside
hoping to see the lyrids falling down
but the stars were hiding behind some clouds
and only the darkness was pulled round
From down the road a bird sang out
a few notes of its daytime song
from sleep, from where it perched
to spend the night. A dream?
Calling for its love? I go inside.
No more stitching for me tonight.

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Trying an old-fashioned pen

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Mary Beth Frezon

Rich brought me a prezzie from Williamsburg and I couldn’t wait to mix up the ink and give it a whirl. Thanks Rich!!

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The push

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Mary Beth Frezon

If you see this

It must mean serious business is about to begin.

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Day 20, NaPoWriMo, a bit of haikupedia

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Mary Beth Frezon

On the radio this morning came an interesting report:

Each spring, Japan is consumed by a contest for style of poetry called Senryu. The poems are just three spare lines about the trials and tribulations of daily life.

April is National Poetry Month here in the United States. But in Japan, poetry is also big this time of year when a popular poetry contest sweeps the country. It offers modest prizes and absolutely no fame whatsoever. Entries are by pen name only, but the event is as closely watched as a celebrity sighting or a speech by the prime minister. Competitors use a style of verse that is virtually unknown outside Japan. Lucy Craft looked for rhyme and reason behind the country’s love affair with this special style of poetry.

And so it seems that if you go into hair-splitting, most of my collection of seventeen syllables are indeed Senryu and not Haiku. Perhaps I’ll use the correct term when trying to impress someone LOL. In the meantime you’re stuck with some haikupedia about Senryu, ’cause that’s how I roll. (note that “’cause that’s how I roll’ is five syllables. Go for it!)

Senryu not Haiku
as I awoke this morning
I discovered truth

Content matters not
only the syllabic form
and the writer’s thought

are senryu darker?
don’t all poems observe the truth:
life and us in it?

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