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On short notice Tinker

A Case of Puppy Love

She was a beauty of her kind
And he adored her so
The shear madness of it all
Was consuming him from head to toe

He thought he would buy her a gift
Then realized to his dispair
He had no money at all
In his pockets anywhere

He could pawn his antique watch
But dismay crept ‘ore his face
Both big hand and little hand
Were gone with out a trace.

Walking the path to her house
Surrounded by rows of hedge
He came to upon a rippling stream
Then stood there at its edge

“I have a bit of a problem
I have to give it some thought
Would she like me just for me
Though a gift I had not brought?" 

A decision he quickly made
He turned about and headed home 
He'd find buddies to play baseball
Deciding today he would not roam

YarnSpinner
copyright 3-28-2018

 

Edited by bob
? mark punctuation added.
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Prompt for March 31, Write a poem of any form, about a bunny, a chick or a lamb or all of them.

Three Limerick, a chick, a lamb and a bunny

There once was a chick called Harry,
he was born in the barn of a dairy.
He played with the cows
and took lots of bows,
making Bossie and Bess both merry.

There once was a shepherd's daughter,
who had a lamb that her daddy bought her.
She called him her Sweet;
danced jigs when he bleat,
and laughed when he splashed in the water.

There once was a cute little bunny,
whose nature was playful and sunny.
He hopped all around;
jumped the creek in one bound,
and thought wiggling his nose was so funny.
                    ~~ Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Your assignment: Write a poem about some recent event using specific, but fictional, details of texture, color, scent, shape, and flavor to make your narrative come to life, as Robert Frost did in his poem After Apple-Picking:

Outside the VA Clinic

Mostly men in somber colors
cluster along the covered walkway,
sitting or standing near the white
metal benches that line one side
of the cement VA Building.

The absence of cigarette smoke
drifting from the green "smoking area"
allows the scent of roses
that grow groomed on the other side
to dominate the Spring air.

There is a cacophony of laughter,
a cough and bass and tenor voices
that drawl in conversation.

A jacketed, sad-eyed PTSD Dog
hugs the leg of his young master
whose hand absently strokes a silky ear.

Bob sits a little taller in his chair,
sporting his Korean War cap,
as I wheel him to the entry door
and a Viet Nam vet, opens it for us.

The savory, sweet taste of camaraderie
is extended to each newcomer
in a nod, a hand, or a word.
Brothers born of war.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Can't help it Tinker:

Written many years ago.

Bless You
Cat crouched
Mouse sneezed
Cat pounced
Appetite pleased.


It’s Gone
Our cat’s on the table by the gold fish bowl,
Looking unconcerned as can be.
How can he look so angelic I wonder. . .
There’s no fish in the bowl...I can see.
YarnSpinner

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3 hours ago, Tinker said:

For April 8, write a poem about something you thought was bad for you and you found out it was actually good for you.

it's too long for here Tinker:

see White Powder Sugar in Memory Poetry (Overflow)

YarnSpinner

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On 1/6/2018 at 4:20 PM, Tinker said:

For January 7, 2019 Write a poem inspired by this Edgar Allen Poe quote:  "They, who dream by day, are cognizant of many things which escape those who only dream by night.".

There is some truth to Edgar Allen Poe's statement. However It might be said, and he did not mention...there are a writers who have trained themselves to waken during these moments of dreaming at night, and jot down highlights of said dreams in order to recall them the following day, There are times I still do that. Pen and post ems by the bedside. Make note though...even though these thoughts come to you while dreaming, the brain also says is it noteworthy? If not sleep on .

YarnSpinner

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On 1/19/2018 at 10:21 PM, Tinker said:

Prompt for January 20, write a poem prompted by "running out of water". 

I should say my timing is too late, but instead, I'll just say the bus has already come and gone. I'll just catch the next one, it's going in the same direction.

Many readers will consider this poem the work of a Prophet Of Doom; Humorless Cynic, or Pessimist.

Well, they could be right. It should be noted, there are alarmists, warning the World of misuse of our natural resources.

We could be headed into an abyss, that we may never recover from?

Not Recyclable, No deposit, No return 

From outer space, came one and all,
To study a planet near a sun named Sol.
To learn of mishap and despair,
How a planet died, from lack of care.

Its atmosphere is dismal and black.
Nothing now could change it back.
Thousand of years still drifting down,
Pollution settles onto lifeless ground.

Deep beneath its soil below,
Water lays silent, no place to go.
It became corrupt...multitudes were cursed.
Filters were useless, they perished from thirst,

It must have been a dreadful fear...
Alarming, yet they seemed not to hear.
Many things they could have done,
Yet chose instead, to do little or none

Earth was once a beautiful place,
Populated by the Human Race
They ravaged it; gave nothing in return,
Their planet changed, scorched, then burned

Visitors grieve this place called Earth.
It lacks essence of happiness or mirth.
Forever it will remain for all to see,
Waste and greed has a harsh penalty.

Yarnspinner
 

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On 1/30/2018 at 10:59 AM, Tinker said:

Promp for January 31 is to write a poem from different person's point of view.  Write a Mask or Persona poem.   

One example would be Spoon River Verse, a subgenre of Persona Poem.  In Spoon River, the character speaks from the grave.

Another example would be Zimbabwe Child. I created this child in 2011 after reading a book about the devastation of Zimbabwe under the rule of Robert Mugabe. I was so moved I did a lot of research, actually donated to help a school for girls there and I have continued to follow events as they are reported. Recently (November 2017) I read that Mugabe finally resigned at the age of 93 and is now under military arrest. My first thought was, I wonder if "he" (the imaginary Zimbabwe child of my poem). :wub:

See "Whatzit"

YarnSpinner

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Prompt for April 10:   For today’s prompt, write a poem which includes every letter of the alphabet at least once.  Bold the letters at least once.  Any form, any genre. No minimum line count.
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Shifting with the Seasons

A shift is subtle
          at first unnoticed.
A shift from the freeze
          to the thaw needs warmth.
A shift from grey
          to golden, prisms light.
A shift from barren limbs
          to cherry blossoms is poetic.
A shift from dying
           to new life, a miracle.
Seasons shift,
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
           then come full circle
shifting over and over
           through centuries.
I'm in my winter years,
           would that I could
shift to Spring and on,
          like the seasons.
{indent}{indent}~~{i}Judi Van Gorder{/i}
{dropnote:"Notes:"}
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I think writing a poem a day for April kind of pooped me out and I took a little break, plus my husband is back home from the hospital after a month and I have to readjust to care giving again.  So here is a challenge for May 14.

  1.  write a poem using these words   hummingbird, lilacs, poppies, echo, breeze, lace, picnic, field
  2. Words can be in any order and anywhere throughout the poem and can be any form of the word.


  

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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  • 2 weeks later...

Boy, I've been slacking here.   Prompt for June 17  write a poem in any verse form inspired by this photo:sea shells.jpg

 

Low Tide

white foam on the tide
scallop shells litter the sand
a red starfish marks our spot

a morning beach stroll
seeking shells along the way
we met right here at low tide
                  ~~Judi Van Gorder

Sedoka

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Prompt for June 18,  Write list of pet peeves, Write poem as if you were sent to hell which  pet peeve would you dread most? 

Here is my response to this prompt.
Pet peeves

         disrespect
         complacency
         cell phones in the theater
         whiners
         people unwilling to learn more
         drivers who cut in and out of traffic
         spinners, those who won't answer a direct question with direct answer. Answer the damn question as asked
         people who say one thing then do another. Do what you say you are going to do

What torment would I dread most?
What does complacency look like?
What does disrespect sound like?
Abstract to concrete?

In hell would any of those peeves bother me one little bit?
How do I envision what hell would be like?

Gone to Hell       {rewrite)

In the wasteland of chaos,
a cacophony
of clanging cries,
barking dogs,
and banshee screeches,
deafen me.

Flashing
strobe lights confuse,
redirect my thoughts
and I cannot grasp
or hold
a single concept.

My mind, tangled
in an anchor chain of broken
promises, struggles
to break the surface of clarity
I am separated
from the Creator within.

The endlessness
of this place makes petty peeves
only pesky
flies at a family barbeque.
How I long to return there now!
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Gone to Hell    (Original)  

Peace and freedom I seek in a waste land of chaos
dragging heavy chains pulling me down
onto the hot surface of hard cracked ground
The cacophony is deafening,
shackles scrape my hot flesh
wait, do I have flesh?
I have only my mind
my body was left behind.
Wandering strobe lights
confuse and redirect thoughts.
My essence floats unfocused,
burdened with the need to flee.
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Prompt for June 20 write a 10 - 20 line poem about some seasonal scene focusing on literal or figurative imagery.

Parole

The cool showers of Spring
give way to shimmering waves
                                of Summer’s heat.
Burgeoning buds of April
are in full bloom by June.
The riot of pinks, yellows and purple
                   declare, “Summer is here”

How I used to count the minutes
until the last school bell would ring
and I was free to chase
                                           butterflies
or with a splash, dive
                              into a sparkling blue lake.

No more morning alarm
                      clanging in my ear
or the drone
         of Mr. Andover’s voice
explaining some math equation.
Only brilliant sunny days
         and warm romantic nights
My parole couldn’t come soon enough.
                                  ~~Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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  • 3 months later...

The Daily Poem Challenge at Writing.com that I used for the daily prompts has taken a hiatus and I've been too lazy to create my own.  But there are many other sites offer prompts or challenges.  Here is one I recently ran across.

We all have dreaded demons that impede our ability to write.  What gets in the way of your writing?   Write a poem that describes your "dreaded demons".

Death and Taxes
"in this world
nothing can be said to be certain,
except death and taxes.”
                Benjamin Franklin


I bounce from pillar to pillar,
a pinball attempting escape,
fearing the IRS
more than the grim reaper.
Mind frozen from forming a plan
to meet imposed deadlines,
I deny reward until the deed is done.
                             Judi Van Gorder

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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In 24 syllables include the word “labyrinth

Beyond

The golden labyrinth
beyond imagination threatens
a madness
from which there is no return.

                        ~~ jvg

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Write Halloween Tanka   

Tanka #7

Black Moonlight

Witching moon merges
into the starless night sky.
Vampire bats scatter
while gossamer ghosts float by.
Dare if you must, trick or treat.
                     ~~ Judi Van Gorder.

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Write a poem using synesthesia, a sensory experience described in a different sense.

Day’s End

Sunset sounds,
        the golden tones of an oboe,
play the melody of an ocean breeze
         with a crust of salt
riding the surf of its day end song.
                       ~ ~ Judi Van Gorder

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Write a poem about some every day task. Turn your imagination loose to guide your powers of association to several levels of awareness as did Carl Sandburg in Passers-By.

I wrote  An Apple a Day

 

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Write a  160.     This is not a form or a technique, it is a challenge.   Write a poem in exactly 160 characters including space between words and punctuation.  Meter, rhyme or not is at the discretion of the poet.    This is an exercise in paring down and it is harder than it may first seem.  

 I wrote   Wings

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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For today Monday October 29, 2018   Write a Lento    

Use these prompt words within your poem: dormant - bonfire - cobwebs - sleep - hunt- pine cones - scarecrow

I wrote a double lento:

Fall's Fancy

Four busy grey squirrels hunt
dormant seeds amid the leaves to
store before first snow.
Chores to survive, a must do. 

Pine cones gathered,
nine in a row.
Sign of the season,
lined near a sad scarecrow.

In the early autumn morning
spinning spiders play,
thin lacey cobwebs
pinned and on display.

Keep the bonfires burning,
sleep when ere you can.
Sweep away lazy summer, 
leap into fall, be a fan.
            ~~Judi Van Gorder 
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Another prompt On Halloween, you (or your character) decide to hand out miniature tubes of toothpaste instead of candy. Write the STORY or POEM in the Comedy genre 

Trickster

Daring digits chomp and chew,
you've no idea how vital to you.
Gremlin grunge around your gums
will drill decay into your porce-lum.    ?
So tonight when you trick or treat
looking for sweet goodies to eat
and minty goo that shines your teeth
is what you find beneath
the candy corn and Hershey bars,
know someday, you'll thank your lucky stars.
                         ~~Judi Van Gorder

Yes, I know how to spell "porcelain".   

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Prompt for Oct 31, 2018 write a poem using power words....

War Zone

Incendiary political speak,
     "invasion", "collusion",
     "impeachment", "conspiracy",
"deplorables", "elite", "socialist",
     "alternative facts",
     "racist", and "fake news",
are a springboard
       for pipe bombs,
       ricin mail, slaughter
       in a synagogue,
       and shots fired 
       at campaign quarters.

Rhetoric on both sides
is igniting violence.
But the true power word
       inspiring hope,
     Vote! Vote! Vote!
can lead to positive action.
              ~~Judi Van Gorder

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Today's prompt: Write a Grook , originally written as short clever poems that carried anti Nazi sentiment to the Danes during the Nazi occupation.  The originals were pithy, ironic and paradoxical.

Here is my attempt.  Perfect timing to parallel with the political climate of the day.

Caravan

15000 troops deployed
to protect us from the hordes.
Caravan of families flee to avoid
hunger and homeland discord.
Maybe Trump should wait
try to greet with love not hate.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

Caravan II

Invasion of killers and thugs
disguised as hungry kids with their moms.
Swat them down like pesky bugs,
they're surely packing drugs and bombs.
Or let's risk and listen to their plight
and do our best to do what's right.
                  ~~Judi Van Gorder

I am all in for securing our borders. But 15000 troops to greet a couple thousand families who won't even arrive for a month is a whole lot of overkill. And the idea that they are all thugs and killers and smugglers is stupid. This is just fear mongering. Will a bad guy try to slip through, very possibly but the vast majority are just people trying to flee poverty and violence. That's the real problem, can we care for all of the people in the world when we have our own poverty and violence? I believe we need to try. We are nation of laws, we must find a way to help within the confines of those laws.  We are also a nation of immigrants, all but Native Americans come from ancestors who immigrated here. Immigration is at the core of who we are. The caravan is a dilemma that is solvable but not with 15000 American soldiers and ads trying to scare citizens into believing that the immigrants are coming here to murder us.

These folks are a month away from even reaching our border, election day is 4 days away.  Let's vote and let our leadership know that we are not a nation of scared isolationist but instead we are strong and compassionate and willing to find a way to help those who seek asylum or just a better way of life.

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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  • 4 weeks later...

Embarking on a 30 Day Challenge, Here is the 2nd prompt and my response. (I posted Day 1 in Member Poetry} Feel free to join in.

"Day 2 Nov 24 Early prompt again :)" Prompt for: 24 November
Subject or Theme: Leftovers
Word(s) to Include: Leftovers. And at least three foods but not actually referring to food at a dinner. He was a total turkey while at our house is fine But we had turkey is not. (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s):No specific foods unless being used as above.
Additional Parameters: Rhyming or not. Min 12 lines.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.


Remnants From the F Word

Thanksgiving break
and I have to spend it
studying because
I fudged
my way through my last exam,
fishing for answers
from my spaghetti brain
and praying for leftover
knowledge tucked away
somewhere between
my ears.

If I don’t get
at least a B on my next test,
I’m toast!
          ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes: ▼
Written from the perspective of my granddaughter who has senioritis and failed (The F word) her last exam and was relegated to her room for the Thanksgiving break to study.
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Prompt for: November 25, 2018 (Ren)
Subject or Theme: Holiday Decorating - a source of joy or agony?
Word(s) to Include: 5 decorative items (e.g. wreaths, lights, Santa), appoint, red, green, glitter (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): decorate, decorations, box, hang/ (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: Must be a minimum of 125 words (please include word count at bottom of poem)
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.

Prepping for the Season

A nativity scene waits to be placed,
it's from here the season is based.
I'll buy fresh straw for the manger,
to which the Christ Child is no stranger.
The Wise Men will stay put away
until they arrive on Epiphany Day.

Grandma's Elves appointed in tacky green glitter
will adorn the shelf next to Rudolff.  A ladder 
is needed to accomplish this, mine's 
broken.  I have yet to take down the vines
of
autumn leaves currently on display.

Outside, I cut brush for garland spray,
and to make wreaths for family and friends.
I'm not much for modern day trends,
a tree with homemade ornaments, red
candles, poinsettias
and Santa by the shed.
Old country traditions with redwood boughs,
still warm my heart in the here and now.
                            ~~Judi Van Gorder

 

 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Day 4  November 26, 2018

Theme: Personification poem. Pick one of the five items mentioned in yesterdays (green highlighted) poem and write from that object's point of view. Let it see and feel, have emotion.

BE the object. Words to use and Forbidden words: None this round; just make the object live and breathe; let it feel and be! Other parameters: Rhyming or not, minimum 24 lines.

 

Eternal

My Celtic roots
sing in my soul,
I dance to the rhythm
of the sun and earth.
Round and round I go.

My evergreen boughs
waft with the essence
of the forest, fresh
and rinsed by the rain.
Round and round I go.

When I lie down, candles glow
showing the way for
the resurrection of Spring,
or the weeks of Advent's passing.
Round and round I go.

Suspended at entry ways
I welcome all who enter
with eternal joy, hope
and most of all, love.
Round and round I go.

My circle embraces
the universe, perpetual,
enduring and constant.
I am the earth and sun.
Round and round I go.
              ~~Judi Van Gorder


25 Lines

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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epizeuxisI learned a new word today, Epizeuxis - Sound Element, a figure of speech referring to the repetition of a word or phrase once or twice in a row without other words between. example "Liar, liar, liar!"

Epizeuxis is a literary device wherein a word is repeated in immediate succession,   This device is very useful for emphasis, as applied in a popular beer commercial ( dilly, dilly, dilly) and can also be used to generate rhythm, as clearly demonstrated in the Everly Brothers' hit song All I Have To Do Is Dream or the original "dilly dilly" song Lavender Blue . Your assignment: Write a poem about some holiday experience or impression using the Epizeuxis technique.

A Visitor

Santa's here, Santa's here, Santa's here!
Sounds of hooves on the roof,
Eyes large with anticipation
the children quiver in excitement,
a Ho Ho Ho resounds.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Day 5 Prompt ▼

Theme: A wintery scene viewed.
Words to use: home, Christmas
Words forbidden: tree, field, street, car, road, lights, store, people, the
Additional parameters: At least 24 lines, rhyming or not.

My Neck of the Woods

Brisk winds,
cold soggy ground,
no more pink
or yellow blossoms
only holly berries,
white crocus
and crimson poinsettias
will be blooming now.

Redwood boughs
hang low
weighted with rain,
encroaching
on our narrow byways.

Frequent showers
make asphalt slick,
our windy
mountain lanes
are dark and pot holes
are difficult to maneuver.

I'm home after
a week long visit down south.
Content, I sit
near a crackling fire
wrapped in my snuggly throw,
writing this poem
instead of
planning for another
Christmas holiday.
I'll have to get on that soon..
             ~~Judi Van Gorder
 

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

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Notes: ▼
Day 6 Ren wants a haiku . Just 1 haiku.
so.
Theme: Winter or Christmas Haiku. 1 (ONE) singular.
No specific words to use or not use -
Additional parameters: title must include the specific word: Essence

OK, I have to admit this prompt bothered me a bit. Normally haiku are untitled. But I went with the flow and besides my "title" helps my images in this case.

Essence of Hope

a humble stable
far away and long ago
a wee babe is born
                      ~~jvg

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Form of the Week - The Aquarian

Notes ▼
Aquarian Verse
The Aquarian is a simple form of quatrain (four line) stanzas contrived by A Maris Mazz with a structure of 2, 4, 6, and 2 syllables per unrhymed line, as demonstrated in the following links:

The Aquarian
Rainbow Communications - Aquarian
Poet's Collective

Thanks for the Rain, Lord

For now
no more wild fires.
Paradise burned to ash
Tragic.

Rain storm
hammered the night.
Welcome relief for drought
parched earth.

Carpet
of soggy leaves
cushioned my morning walk
today.
              ~~ Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Prompt: ▼

"day 8"
Theme: A special face at Christmas. A loved one: a best friend, a child, a spouse, a parent. A person who is real; not a book character. Someone you see, if only occasionally. Someone alive. Write it TO that person, FOR that person specifically. Use their name as your title. IE: My husband - Ken or My Child - Rob. ( or some variation along those lines that gives the relationship in some form.)What do they look like? What about their face gives you joy? Makes you feel some emotion? (safe, warm, loved?) Tell us about them by how they look. (When looking at you, laughing etc.) NOT what they do, but what you see and how they make you feel when you look at them.

Words to use: no specific ones today.

Forbidden words: face, you, (changed my mind after an hour and a half trying not to use that word.) <---NOTE lined out word!

Additional parameters: Rhyming or not, (or a combination) and at least 20 lines.

George, Mi Amigo

I'm missing you.
      Hermano to my son
      Godfather to my grandchild
      Gentleman
      Familia
of choice and friendship.

I'm missing you.
      Your laughter that fills a room
      Your teasing with a twinkle
      Your sincerity I trust
      Your tall tales that so entertain
      Your generosity with all you have
      Your BIG smile
      Your traditions
so different from mine.

I'm missing you.
      My chest fills 
      My smile broadens
      My mother tiger wakens
      My toes tap
      My family grows
when you are around.

Feliz Navidad.
              ~~Judi Van Gorder

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Day 9
Theme: Christmas Traditions Around the World. (go for the obscure!)
Pick somewhere you've never been. Research and then write your poem about a Christmas tradition (up through New Year's) practiced there now or in the past..
Words to use: The name of the country you pick, the tradition
Forbidden words: none but be creative!
Must rhyme

Merry Christmas from Estonia

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Notes: ▼
Day 10

Prompt for: December 2, 2018 (Ren)
Subject or Theme: Pick a winter or winter holiday song then use it to inspire you to write your poem. Do NOT do a parody, write something based on your song.
Word(s) to Include: none (free day)(or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): none (free day) (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: at least 30 lines.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.

Wonderland Dreams

I'd love to hear
      "Sleigh bells ring"
and I've listened.
      "snow is glistening"
a rare sight here but I can dream.
      "A beautiful sight"
The pristine magic
of a white, sparkling sheet
blanketing autumn's messy
fallen leaves
           and muddy earth
sparks a cleansing, refreshing and ready.
In my mind snow looks like the song,
I admit, I don't really
want to deal with the slush
                and mush,
the reality of living in snow,
but the ideal dazzles.

      "Gone away is the bluebird"
but hummingbirds still hum,
      and a colorful jay just strutted
across my footpath.
Bluebirds are ceramic
      birds of happiness on a shelf,
I always loved the metaphor.
The lyric sings joyfully in my ears.

"Later on we'll conspire
      As we dream by the fire"
Ah yes, there is something about
a fire in the hearth, warm, inviting,
     to reflect, to plan,
            read or write.

"Walking in a winter wonderland,"
Romantic dreams of the perfect winter
      captured in a song.
           ~~Judi Van Gorder

35 Lines of Text
Song: Winter Wonderland by Aretha Franklin (I love Aretha but this will always be a song sung by Johnny Mathis to me.)

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Day 11 Notes ▼
Theme: A visit to the North Pole --what is it really like?
Words to use: ambrosia, Q-tip, charcoal, impossible
Forbidden words: Santa Claus, workshop,
Additional parameters: Be descriptive! Do not repeat any words.
Min 20 lines

You don't realize how much you depend on words such as, a. the, and, for, is, my, I, and with, until you try to use them only once in 24 lines.   It does make you reach for alternative words with is a good thing.  But often the syllable of a "the" or an "and" makes the poem run smoother.  This was a real challenge. 

Returning Home

Back from my trip planning a route,
preparing landing I give out shout,
thankful children believe without doubt.

I've always loved the golden glow
reflecting off pale, silver snow.
Welcoming warmth waits below.

Fluffy ambrosia-like mounds
circle love's little compound.
Holly berries, mistletoe abound.

Helpers bustle, polish yon sleigh
next to rustic stables, there reindeer stay,
so able, ready, soon, "up and away".

Studio sanctuary where magic gets done,
hums with sounds of laughter, much fun,
designing presents for everyone.

No charcoal this year, forgiveness is best.
last finishing gifts receive Q-tip test,
near time earnest elves have well earned rest.

Some say "one night", an impossible feat,
millions, both boys plus girls deserving treats.
I'm not swayed, listen, you'll hear hoof-beats.
                             ~~Judi Van Gorder

24 lines
Classic Triplets

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Day 12

Notes: ▼
Theme: Something, anything to do with a particular Christmas.
No restrictions - just make it real. And at least 20 lines long.

Christmas Blurred

Over my 77 years,
no one Christmas
stands out.
Most of my childhood years
are pretty much a blank slate.
I do recall one Christmas morning
sitting on the policeman's desk
my legs dangling
while Mama bailed out Daddy.
And another Christmas the police
brought Daddy home,
the cuts on his face
and his guilty smirk scared me.

I know I have cooked
the holiday meal
the giant portion
of my years,
sometimes more than once.
Even as a kid I peeled potatoes
and other easy tasks,
by my teens I always baked the pies.
(I had a knack.) Since I married, 55 years ago
I have never not cooked
for the special day.

One year I cooked a full feast
for my brother and friend
at home, before joining
my husband in Baja
where I helped cook
Christmas dinner at the kayaking school
for 40 people on El Coyote Playa
where we anchored.
Then two days later prepared
another Christmas dinner
for our Irish friends
who were at sea on Christmas Day.
One other Baja Christmas
I cooked the turkey and pies
and campers on the beach
brought side dishes
for a potluck.
Locals brought traditional tomales.
We strung colored lights on the tenders
and trolled the shoreline
playing Carols on a boom box
while Santa buzzed the beach
in an ultra light.

But my favorites
are Christmas at home
Midnight Mass,
family and friends
at my table.
Just the unremarkable
comfort of Christmas.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

56 Lines

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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