Hiya 🙂

The last day of NaPoWriMo has dawned again…*sniff*

I have really enjoyed it this year – a trip down memory lane with the prompts, and the humour that has brought up for me – thank you to Maureen Thorson at the site for twenty years of this community and for giving me a challenge that definitely gets me thinking every April!

This was our final prompt:

“Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a palinode – a poem in which you retract a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. For example, you might pick a poem you drafted earlier in the month and write a poem that contradicts or troubles it. This could be an interesting way to start working on a series of related poems. Alternatively, you could play around with the idea of a palinode by writing a poem in which the speaker says something like “I take it back” or otherwise abandons a prior position within the single poem.” [From here]

I looked back at some of my poetry from 2018 (my first NaPo ever) and came across this one about two brothers:

https://acomfykindofrestless.com/cross-words-napowrimo-2/

The younger brother in the above poem was grateful to his sibling, and looked up to him.  I then wondered how things would progress as they grew (now we’re six years down the line, and everything).

I take it back, Jake’s NOT my friend

He pokes and prods me with no end!

I used to love being his bro

He always had my back – no more!

He’ll tell you I’M annoying, but

I can’t do nuffin’, or he tuts!

Like High School’s cool and he’s the King –

I work harder and everything!

He never lets me use his stuff

Or join his games – I’ve had enough!

I’ve a good mind to tell that Jo

he wants her phone number! And oh

the things I know! The dirt I keep!

Jake should be losing major sleep.

I swear to God I’m past my limit

One pic on Snapchat….

drop him in it…

And that’s a wrap, folks!! 30 poems written in a month (even if I didn’t always manage to get them up on my blog within the allotted days…) it always feels a bit weird when I leave April behind. 

Thank to to all those who have been on the journey with me this year, I’ve enjoyed your comments and encouragement, and of course the poetry I have read from other participants, as always 😊

Usually I write something here about hoping to be back on my blog in the next week etc – then somehow manage to toddle off into the sunset and only return for April poetry month again…so I’m not making any promises this year.  What I will say, however, is that I wrote a very ambitious plan for this year and writing (plus drawing) was definitely heavily featured for the darker months, so I’m optimistic 😉 I’ve also paid up this blog’s hosting etc until December 2024, so that’s also a good wee incentive!

Look after yourselves, keep doing what makes your heart happy, and I will endeavor to find my way back here before the year is out! (Subscribe to the blog if you want to be notified when I do wander past 😉)

Big hugs! Take care!

Monty X

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Howdy!

For Day 29 I had to turn my thoughts to the treat cupboard:

“Start by reading Alberto Rios’s poem “Perfect for Any Occasion.” Now, write your own two-part poem that focuses on a food or type of meal. At some point in the poem, describe the food or meal as if it were a specific kind of person. Give the food/meal at least one line of spoken dialogue.” [From here]

1.

The late Choco and I were friends with the best secrets.

He would share himself with me

more than I’d known before,

celebrate and commiserate in equal measure –

would show up unannounced sometimes,

just to twirl me up inside

and give me a boost.

My friends loved him too, and he was generous with his attentions,

but he and I had an understanding that

I was the one he lived with the most.

2.

Life moved on, and we accepted that

we became different people,

met different people…

“A bit of time out will do us good, ripple into the rest of our lives, keep things interesting”

He’d whisper into my hair.

I knew those girls were younger,

their bodies able to revel all night like him –

but I still craved his scent

in my weaker moments.

Now, galaxies apart,  it’s becoming easier to evade his ghost.

No man’s sugar

is worth flaking on life for.

I’m obviously not bitter at all about giving up all brown chocolate, then…

How many referrals to different types of chocolate bar did you spot?! It will be easier for those in the UK, admittedly, but to give everyone an equal footing, I’ll leave these links for you 😉

Here, here, here annnnd here!

Pop in the comments how many you think are there and I’ll let you know if you’ve found them all! 

Monty X

[Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay ]

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Boo!

It is Day 28! Our prompt guru, Maureen Thorson, said:

“Today, I challenge you to write your own index poem. You could start with found language from an actual index, or you could invent an index, somewhat in the style of this poem by Kell Connor. Happy writing!” [from here ]

I picked this slice of index yumminess from my Audible app’s Particle Physics for Non-Physicists by Stephen Pollock (for ‘The Great Courses’).  I liked the look of Chapter 5’s title 😉

THE QUANTUM MECHANIC GETS SERIOUS

Away with your myopic, macroscopic mania, mate!

The details are delightful, don’tcha know?

We wave you off

From our friends

And you start reminiscing about the old days.

Just get yourself a cat

If you’re wigged out.

Was it you or me who left this spanner here?

Anyone else want to exclaim “IT’S GREASED LIGHTNING” after the first two ‘M’ words in the first line…? Just me…? 😀

(If the poem doesn’t even make sense to Physics peeps, I apologise – I haven’t actually listened to all the course yet…)

Now there are only two more days of NaPoWriMo 2023 to go!! Whaaaat?!

Monty X

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How Do?!

Another backdated beauty for Day 27, I’m afraid: this April is the fullest month! (Hang on…that’s almost poetic…)

So this is what I had to work with:

“Today, begin by reading Bernadette Mayer’s poem “The Lobelias of Fear.” Now write your own poem titled “The ________ of ________,” where the first blank is a very particular kind of plant or animal, and the second blank is an abstract noun. The poem should contain at least one simile that plays on double meanings or otherwise doesn’t quite make “sense,” and describe things or beings from very different times or places as co-existing in the same space.” [from here]

I conveniently wrote the title to this in the process of messing around with all the complex prompt-stipulations for my poem for Day 8 😉 I may have borrowed a few other things from that poem, too…

Susan,
The Donkey of Self-Doubt,
brays from across the wibbly water
and dares the rabbit
to stop chasing himself,
and hop towards her.
But Susan knows Mr Bunny’s secrets…

Like a horcrux
hoping not to be slain,
Susan does hee-haw
to tempt bravery after that.
It does not behoove her
to play fair;
her subtle plague starts
as if she cares,
asking him questions about his health,
letting him rabbit on –
reminding himself how weak he is.
(Her insincere appraisal of his soliloquy
driving those bolts through his neck)

Prometheus sighs and watches his fire
exit the eyes.
Somewhere an eagle clicks his beak
in anticipation.

And Susan,
satisfied no swimming
will be accomplished today,
gives her big donkey grin
and makes sure to graze
on the greener pasture
by the water’s edge.

Weird enough for ya?! 

See you back here soon…

Monty X

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Hi!

Day 26’s prompt was:

“Write a portrait poem that focuses on or plays with the meaning of the subject’s name. This could be a self-portrait, a portrait of a family member or close friend, or even a portrait of a famous or historical person” [from here]

So I had to cobble something together, as I was stumped (and overtired from one of those frustrating days when I wandered about getting lots of things half done, but didn’t actually ‘achieve’ much – though I managed to do over 10k steps without leaving the house!  Thanks restlessness, heehee):

What a fool

Is that Monty!

So uncool,

(Far too jaunty).

Smiling at

You all like friends,

Carving content

With her pen.

From French ‘mountain’

(Means “pointed hill” )

But there’s a take

That’s better still:

She’s the whole deal/

The whole she-bang;

It’s all a-swirling

‘Round her

– dang!

A ‘plume’ to hide ‘hind?

Yes, we know:

All smoke and mirrors,

All for show.

But maybe someday

She’ll catch sight

Of her picked pen name

Up in lights…😉

Here’s my former offering (which I like much more) from when I tackled a similar prompt back in ’21!

Hopefully I do better with Day 27’s directions 😉

Monty X

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Hellooooo 😉

It’s Day Twenty-Fiii-iiive…

“Begin by reading e e cummings’ poem [somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond]. This is a pretty classic love poem, so well-known that it has spawned at least one silly meme. Today’s prompt challenges you to also write a love poem, one that names at least one flower, contains one parenthetical statement, and in which at least some lines break in unusual places.” [from here]

 

I had fun writing this one, and it again began to take shape by using a word from the prompt 😉

[NB:  Scottish kids from where I did most of my growing up used to say “You’re Het!” if they caught you in a game of tig (tag).  That meant that you were now ‘it’, or the chaser. ]

I’m the parent-hetical

So stifling and logical

I’ll hasten you with prod-icals

(Run screaming from me, toddicals!)

I stalk

                 your bedrooms

                                                       nightly

Wrap you both up so tightly

Step

in

when

you’re

all

fight-ly

(Let your dandelions delight me).

I am summoned when you cry,

Or when you just don’t want to try;

Always assuring: “You’re the guy!!”

                                                             y.

                                                        k

I’ll praise hard effort to the s

I’m (annoyingly) just there

When you wish I didn’t care.

(I’m not bothered who will stare,

If there’s a lesson I can share.)

Cos I’m addicted to your strops,

And your crazy-hair-day ‘mops’ –

My motivation never stops,

Around you boys so

                                                           CALL THE COPS!!

A love poem of sorts to my cherubs, no?!  I mean look at the cuteness I lived with every day:

Youngest was 3 and Eldest was 6 here, on our hols to Castle Douglas in 2016. Eldest read to his brother a lot that holiday, and Youngest really appreciated it 🙂

See ya the morra 😉

Monty X

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Hi!

NaPoWriMo’s 24th prompt lead me towards a poem I didn’t expect to pop out of me today, but it felt cathartic <3

“Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem in the form of a review. But not a review of a book or a movie of a restaurant. Instead, I challenge you to write a poetic review of something that isn’t normally reviewed.” [from here]

*Trigger Warning: Suicide*

Ten out of ten for consequence,
Ensuring nothing made much sense;
For leaving everyone you knew
So struck with grief (but anger too).
Yes, your religion likes to say:
“You committed sin that day,
And though you’d nuances at play,
Your empty space makes others pay”.

You always struck me as such fun,
And a devoted friend and mum;
But circumstances truly sucked…
I hate you felt all out of luck.
Well done for all the friends you made,
So many people wish you’d stayed,
Your Facebook page I visit still,
I like to see your smile, at will.
Your children grieve you even now,
(I know you’re watching them somehow)
The state of mind that sealed the act
Did not explore all the impacts.

But, as I age, the more I see,
What grew in you’s also in me.
I make my choices every day
To stand in solidarity –
Rememb’ring we can never know
The full extent of what’s unshown;
Each person’s island is awash
With all their traumas, fears and loss.
(Some of us do a stellar job
Of plastering a smile – a fob)

I’m sorry I was one of those
Who saw your businesses and clothes
(And driving skill, organised home…)
Assumed you rarely felt alone.

You had a purpose, made your mark.

Now you’re a beacon in my dark.

Be back soon for Day 25 – last week of NaPo ’23! 

Monty X

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Hey 🙂

Did you miss me?! Day 23 dawned and this was the prompt on the NaPoWriMo site:

“Start off by reading Arvind Krishna Mehrotra’s “Lockdown Garden.” Now, try to write a poem of your own that has multiple numbered sections. Attempt to have each section be in dialogue with the others, like a song where a different person sings each verse, giving a different point of view. Set the poem in a specific place that you used to spend a lot of time in, but don’t spend time in anymore.” [from here]

I decided to go with a narrator’s voice following the ‘main character’, then interspersed that with two other characters.  You can see if it works:

1.

A crisp packet curls,

Carefully caressing the current.

Despite the classroom confines

Of cool computation,

this curious character

contemplates the curve

of tree-congested scenery;

While conjuring the courageous

Casting of a climbing cord –

And her absconding.

2.

Here we go again

Why do I bother?!

There’s Donny’s stupid “mordez” chant again

(What does that even MEAN?)

I really need him to knuckle down.

I know he’s a nice kid and everything

But geez…

And if Duncan whacks that chair off the back wall once more, I freaking SWEAR!!

Honestly, he thinks he can get off with murder cos of that stupid kiss-curl.

[Yeah, yeah Superman, whatever you think…]

Annnd there she is, little Miss Daydream –

She REALLY needs to pull her socks up!

Can’t tear her eyes away from the window –

I really should move her,

I’m not convinced she can even see the board properly from there, anyway?

But if I swap her with Duncan she’ll have to sit behind Trisha

And Trisha can be mean

(Who’d want to breathe in all that Impulse O2 cloud, anyway?!)

And if I put her down the front she’ll have to sit in with all the boys

And they’ll distract her.

And I learned my lesson sitting her next to Lesley –

Oooooh –

Those two can chat for the whole British Isles!

She seems happy enough, I suppose.

She always hands in all her work

After she finishes it at home.

I’ll just mention how unfocused she always is to her mum on Thursday,

I think she’s one of the ones who’s got a slot with me…?

3.

A packed lunch in a playground

Where the kids are much too ‘cool’

Is never any fun at all:

Better to leave the school.

A swing park after midday

Is this people-watcher’s dream,

As the teenagers take over

Spinning fast – the girls scream.

Autumnal leaves are coming,

But the warmth’s still in the sun;

And, though she’s slunk from all her friends,

This feels so free and fun.

4.

“Hiv ye seen it?”

“Oh my God all on her no pals again?!”

“Ah ken, got tae sit starin’ at us a’… D’ye hink she fancies one ae us…?”

“God, I hope it’s no me!”

“Or me!  Mibby it’s one o’ the lassies…! HIE! 4-EYED BLONDIE! WAN’ A PITCHER?”

“Ooft look at the rid neck!”

“OR YE JIST WAN’ A GO, EH?! COME ROUN’ THOSE TREES AN’ WE’LL TALK, EH?!”

“Dinnae go gettin’ her hopes up, mind!!”

“Nae bo’er mate, if she’s gein it oot fur free ah’m achully no that fussy.  She’d prob’ly look nae bad if she ran a brush o’er that heid and ditched the glaesis.”

“That right, aye?!”

“Shut it!  Ah’m just sayin’…”

“Too late anyway, she’s leavin’, that’s the bell”

“Ah hink I’m done fur the day, like”

“You no’ in enough trouble, mate?”

“Nah, you run along, ah’ll just stoat aboot here.  Cannae be faffed wi’ any mare o’ that writin’ bollocks…”

5.

Their cat-calls and verbal volleys

Penetrate poetic pores,

(Sotto serpent’s rants/repeats

Lancing creative core).

Yup, wouldn’t go back to High School if you paid me – luckily they knocked mine down so I can’t 😉

See you soon for Day 24!

Monty X

[Images by Светлана from Pixabay and Gordon Johnson from Pixabay ]

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Hi!

I have a long-standing dinner date planned for this evening, and was hoping today’s prompt was going to to be an easy one, so I could get on with all the stuff I need to do before I get out.  When I read it was about Ms Dickinson, however, I knew it was not to be rushed…!

“Find an Emily Dickinson poem – preferably one you’ve never previously read – and take out all the dashes and line breaks. Make it just one big block of prose. Now, rebreak the lines. Add words where you want. Take out some words. Make your own poem out of it!” [from here]

I did find one I had not read before, quite a few in fact, and stopped for them a little longer than I should have (a bit like death…but only the ‘doom scroll’y kind 😉 ).  I loved the premise of “Forever – Is composed of Nows” (see the picture for a screenshot) but decided to change it to mean something slightly different.

Forever – is composed of Nows – (690) by Emily… | Poetry Foundation

Forever is composed of noise,

It’s not a different chime

To that of Infiniteness;

But gratitude of Home

From this experience is enhanced.

Relish the dates to these hallowed days,

Don’t let months dissolve in further months

And years fold in on years.

Without debate or pause,

Or celebrated days,

How indifferent our years would be!

Like faceless dominoes.

I hope it fits the prompt ok for you, I did not break lines but I don’t hate it 🙂 see you back here for Day 23!

Monty X

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Hiya 🙂

I was very tired after getting lost in a decluttering project (having done the usual householdy stuff and my reading and Duolingo targets) that was actually very interesting because I was looking through all my jewellery and make-up and hair accessories… But I got to bedtime (after scrubbing off lots of very pigmented eye shadow in the shower…) and realised that although I had read a few others’ poems for NaPoWriMo Day 21, I hadn’t written my own!

The prompt said:

“choose an abstract noun from the list below, and then use that as the title for a poem that contains very short lines, and at least one invented word.” [From here]

So I wrote a quick haiku, chopped up the longer line, and was asleep pretty much straight away!

(Yeah, I’m backdating this post again 😉 ). (My self-care accessories are now nicely organised, however, and I let go of quite a bit)

Courage in Failure

One kerfudgulates*,

Pivots,

pirouettes,

re-plans,

Ends ninjabulous*.

Monty’s Glossary:

*Kerfudgulates = messes up spectacularly; to fall on one’s face with a wonderfully onomatopoeic ‘kersplat’.

*Ninjabulous = to be a black belt in coping/getting oneself out of sticky situations/fighting one’s corner (or out of a tight one).

Meet ya back here (later) for Day 22!

Monty X

[Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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Please do not use any of my content (posts, pictures, poetry etc) without my permission, but feel free to link back to my blog if something catches your eye. Thank you!