Puddles

In the puddles water lies,
in the water stand the trees,
in the water there is sky,
reaching down as she can see
to where sky vanishes,
but what begins?

If she steps in
she’ll disappear,
go down and down
through clear, cold wet
till nothing will be left of here
(kitten in a sack plunged deep,
kitten only bubbles now).

Arms spread wide
like startled bird
she teeters
on the muddy ridge,
the puddles’ edge,
her small heart rapid,
trembling.

Don’t fall, don’t fall,
don/t ever let yourself fall in.

-Gill McEvoy

How Did It Go?

I enjoy writing this contrapuntal style of poetry, the back and forth and the weaving of melodies. In this simple poem, I only had to tweak one transition. The real challenge, I find, is in the cleave form, in which the two separate poems should be very different in mood. Blending them to make one satisfying poem is tricky.

-Jane Dougherty

How Did It Go?

It took a while to get this one done and I’m not 100% happy with it. I’d like to have another go at this form when I get time. Perhaps something a little more subtle next time.

-Tim Fellows

50 lines of short phrases and images

Here are the rules:

• Line 1 should be one short phrase or image (like “build a boat”)
• Line 2 should be another short phrase or image using the same first word as the first word in Line 1 (something like “build a house”)
• Lines 3 and 4 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 2 as their first words (so Line 3 might be “house for sale” and Line 4 might be “house for rent”)
• Lines 5 and 6 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 4 as their first words, and so on until you’ve made it through 48 lines
• Line 49 should be the last word of Line 48
• Line 50 should be the last word of Line 47
• The title of the poem should be three words long and follow this format: (first word of Line 3) (preposition or conjunction) (first word of line 47)
• There should be no punctuation

Helpful Links:

http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/blitzpoem.html#:~:text=The%20Blitz%20Poem%2C%20a%20poetry,first%20word%20as%20line%201.

https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-write-a-blitz-poem-cdf952802d32

Blitz Poem

KANE21

JD21

PB21

Bounding fence

The fence so close inviting me to climb
may become a seat to rest for a time.
Close trees offer a tempting place to go,
further trees fade into the foggy glow.

Fences on further margins of the field
invisible, so far they are beyond
forces to which my questing mind must yield.
They seemed close, before my body time bound.

Perhaps another way, my mind tied time
round my body, dancing rhythm and rhyme,
pounding unanswered rope ends into shields,
blunting pride, so peaceful thoughts I will wield.

—Michael Dickel © 2022

My treasure city
Leather bound hemp paper journal I watch him he rents
A flat wants to be a young Black American
He makes himself new
Every day
A Black cowboy rapper
As the sun comes down
Behind the close
He sings his voice
A pure tenor
What’s up old fool
He asks
Slowly

-Keith Mason