For NaPoWriMo: Day 3
http://1sojournal.wordpress.com
The Sunday Whirl: Wordle #245
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com
brief, endless, erotic, witness, grace, claim,
feed, speak, root, threads, empty, rare
Sunday’s Whirligig: Wordle #53
http://sundayswhirligig.blogspot.com/
penguin, beak, wings, loosen, remains, stone,
preening, reclaiming, thanks, bite, scratch, survive
Poets United: Poetry Pantry #296
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
No Blue Thing
Am doing my own thing,
nothing blue about it.
Am being witness to
my own survival.
Claim no special grace
preening face of what is.
Reclaiming wings and beak
of words, colors that speak.
Like a penguin, I waddle-roll
through endless black/ white threads
of memory, briefly loosening what
remains beneath icy stones
of forgetting. Seeking that
which will feed roots of soul,
and take bite out of rare
empty moments of loneliness.
Instead, give thanks for almost
erotic sense of joy in knowing
that however long I continue
may never get far beyond
scratching its surface.
Elizabeth Crawford 4/3/2016
Notes: I’ve been doing one poem a week for about nine months. Each one fashioned from the two Sunday wordles. I didn’t want to interrupt that practice, so I swiped the two lists and made them into the prompt at my prompt site for NaPoWriMo. I usually accompany my prompts with some form of musical inspiration. For this one, I used No Blue Thing by
Ray Lynch. Obviously that’s where I got my title as well. I had copied the two lists before
seeking out the music. Had chosen instrumental music because we already had 24 words to deal with and didn’t need any more. The moment the music started, I had my title and first verse. This piece of music always makes me think of the Fool setting off on his journey, head in the air, and knapsack over his shoulder. By the time the number ended, I had a good rough draft of the poem. Somehow, the penguin simply fit with the music. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8d7CJFSSyY
The image is a photograph manipulated with the kaleidoscope app. And I did use all of the words.
Soul's Music 
Lucky are those that have achieved all they want in life but most of us still have more to do, to reach, to find because that is the way we are made of never being satisfied.
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I keep rereading that second stanza, Elizabeth. It carries a zen quality that I like. That last line makes me smile, and I’m impressed that you used 24 words in this piece. That in itself deserves a brava! Perhaps weekly. ❤
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Being witness to our own survival – perhaps there is no more powerful thing..there are ups and downs..penguins and clowns but we keep going..we keep going xo
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I particularly liked the image of those penguins.
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Like a penguin, I waddle-roll
through endless black/ white threads
of memory
Such beauty in your lines 🙂
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Penquins in a line….penquins on the gangplank….all in its own good time. Loved the write.
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I love everything about this poem, from its wonderful beginning, to the end. I especially relate to the waddling penguin, smiles……you are making an admirable journey, my friend, nothing blue about it. Shine on.
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“Am being witness to my own survival”–this is such a strong image…empowering and like a battle cry in some ways. It makes the reader want to rise up and move forward with the journey too.
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Now…if I want to quote a favorite line I’ll have to quote the whole poem…from title to the last line …wowzers Elizabeth…
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Some wonderful lines in this Elizabeth! Bravo for some amazing multi-tasking here!
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Oh I absolutely love this especially the ending as I keep re-reading it! Just scratching the surface….
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Yes – as someone else said, wowzers Elizabeth … this is truly a tour de force. I think the idea of combining prompts is brilliant and it’s obviously working out well for you. Nicely done.
http://soundofthewordnight.blogspot.ca/2016/04/rare-days-and-grace.html
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To be able to do your own thing without the intent of causing harm to others or to the world is already a rewarding life for me. I like the image looking like a mysterious beautiful flower. 🙂
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” …Seeking that
which will feed roots of soul,
and take bite out of rare
empty moments of loneliness.
Instead, give thanks for almost
erotic sense of joy in knowing
that however long I continue
may never get far beyond
scratching its surface.”
Those lines really hit hard, Elizabeth. Can relate well.
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Love these lines…
Like a penguin, I waddle-roll
through endless black/ white threads
of memory, briefly loosening what
remains beneath icy stones
of forgetting.
To me, those lines jumped out as I thought about those I know & love who have struggled with Alzheimer’s.
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