NaPoWriMo 2017
1
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BRYAN
A hot, swirling gust of wind picks up progressive bass notes
And hurls them over the amphitheatre
Eucalypt branches dance with a frenzy of dreadlocks
Rooftop solar panels rattle
Threatening to set themselves free
Like barefoot bespoke Bryan
And hurls them over the amphitheatre
Eucalypt branches dance with a frenzy of dreadlocks
Rooftop solar panels rattle
Threatening to set themselves free
Like barefoot bespoke Bryan
2
This app called Blackout Bard is pretty cool... Couldn't be arsed writing a sonnet so here we are...
3
Sideways teeth on a starched cream collar
Kind eyes marching
Airborne in the final moments
The workshop calm
As wood shavings
Broken by kids balancing
On wooden stilts that you made
Kind eyes marching
Airborne in the final moments
The workshop calm
As wood shavings
Broken by kids balancing
On wooden stilts that you made
4
Over nature-strip pockets
And zippered rooftops
And zippered rooftops
The sun sets
Like a smile unreturned
Like a smile unreturned
People speak with
Mirrored glass intentions
Mirrored glass intentions
My thoughts and words meet
Like a mistimed handshake
Like a mistimed handshake
5
Writing prompt: The haibun is a combination of prose poem and haiku. It was originally developed as a sort of travelogue or character sketch , in which the writer would first describe a place in prose, and then pen a haiku appropriate to the place or scene.
The gum tree in our front yard at El Nido Grove hung precariously over the power lines.
I held onto the ladder as best I could as it rocked from one leg to the other, my dad puffing as he attacked the thick branches. Sawdust bounced off his Stubbies and landed in my eyes.
Slow motion crackle
Scratching leaves, tearing wood grain
Dazzling light show
Scratching leaves, tearing wood grain
Dazzling light show
6
13 WAYS OF THE FELINE
I
Stretched out superman. No crime tonight
Stretched out superman. No crime tonight
II
Sudden mood swing. Attack with vengeance
Sudden mood swing. Attack with vengeance
III
Intense eyes. Bird in the distance
Intense eyes. Bird in the distance
IV
Bolt to cupboard. Sound of a motorbike
Bolt to cupboard. Sound of a motorbike
V
Reluctant eyes open. 13 hour nap
Reluctant eyes open. 13 hour nap
VI
Chew all. Electrical cables
Chew all. Electrical cables
VII
Sandpaper. Tongue bath
Sandpaper. Tongue bath
VIII
Devour the grass. Mystery spew
Devour the grass. Mystery spew
IX
Pot plant. Conveniences
Pot plant. Conveniences
X
Regal sphinx. Staring competition
Regal sphinx. Staring competition
XI
Pillow mouse. Standing proud
Pillow mouse. Standing proud
XII
Stalk the legs. Claws on upholstery
Stalk the legs. Claws on upholstery
XIII
Stealth on lap. Head back pats
Stealth on lap. Head back pats
7
Prompt: write a poem about luck and fortuitousness
Once I found a wallet
In a cubicle
At Bangkok airport
In a cubicle
At Bangkok airport
Stolen and tossed
No cards, no ID, no money
Just a faded passport photo
No cards, no ID, no money
Just a faded passport photo
A man
middle aged
with a neat moustache
middle aged
with a neat moustache
And a piece of paper
Folded tightly in
A tiny package
Folded tightly in
A tiny package
My mind filled
with curiosity...
And crowded jail cells
with curiosity...
And crowded jail cells
It was full of dust
Sacred dirt or the remains
Of a loved one
Sacred dirt or the remains
Of a loved one
8
The sun's come out of a jangling pocket of gold coin donations
The sun’s come out in a sequined bodysuit dancing down the footpath
The sun’s come out of dive bars, smoking old golds under streetlights
The sun’s come out punching holes in pincushion clouds
The sun’s come out of the cracks in dark passageways
The sun’s come out spinning from its a pine-lime orbit
The sun's come out with a highlighter marking thoughts at random
The sun’s come out.
9
THOSE THOUGHTS...
Slingshot
Mirrored back
Carried under arm
Dropped away
Bounced around
Flattened out
Trimmed and
Misshapen
Mirrored back
Carried under arm
Dropped away
Bounced around
Flattened out
Trimmed and
Misshapen
10
AWAITING A VISITOR
Smoking on the porch
Head tilted in reverence to
nicotine gods
Leathery hands
In many places at once
Ripe green olives lie
Fallen on the concrete
Forgetting to breathe
Bamboo shoots break
Through loose fence pales
Head tilted in reverence to
nicotine gods
Leathery hands
In many places at once
Ripe green olives lie
Fallen on the concrete
Forgetting to breathe
Bamboo shoots break
Through loose fence pales
11
Sophisticated black. So smooth
And we'll balanced
Beautiful crisp lines drawn
On Reflex. I played with you
Under the table
During boring meetings
Remember that time
When you lost your top
In the pocket of my shirt
Oh baby. I just want see you again
Somebody tell me
Who stole my fucking pen
And we'll balanced
Beautiful crisp lines drawn
On Reflex. I played with you
Under the table
During boring meetings
Remember that time
When you lost your top
In the pocket of my shirt
Oh baby. I just want see you again
Somebody tell me
Who stole my fucking pen
12
Prompt: Write a poem with alliteration and assonance
Shadow boxing
Long branches fight
until the streetlights
leave the night
In synthetic stanzas
until the streetlights
leave the night
In synthetic stanzas
13
Prompt: Write a clerihew. This is a four line poem biographical poem that satirizes a famous person.
Bob Hawke
When handed a drink did not baulk
Given a beer at the match
It disappeared straight down the hatch
When handed a drink did not baulk
Given a beer at the match
It disappeared straight down the hatch
14
The green silk sash
Fringed with gold bullion
was soaked red with blood
A present for saving a boy’s life
Down near the old bridge
At Hughes Creek
And now tied in a half knot
Around the neck of
A marked man
Fringed with gold bullion
was soaked red with blood
A present for saving a boy’s life
Down near the old bridge
At Hughes Creek
And now tied in a half knot
Around the neck of
A marked man
15
You slept so late tonight
When you finally showed up
Deranged, glowing
You made up for lost time
Blazing between the stars
What were you
Chasing?
When you finally showed up
Deranged, glowing
You made up for lost time
Blazing between the stars
What were you
Chasing?
16
TIDDLEY WINKS
I played with that yellow wink
That you gave me
But I pressed too hard
And the wink nearly missed
Its target
Luckily you
Caught the wink
Just in time
That you gave me
But I pressed too hard
And the wink nearly missed
Its target
Luckily you
Caught the wink
Just in time
17
Write a poem that incorporates overheard speech.
Bleached blonde
Falling
Across raised eyebrows
Falling
Across raised eyebrows
Flashing lights
Shining
On leopard print
Shining
On leopard print
Red nail polish
Pointing
With crooked fingers
Pointing
With crooked fingers
Tangled around
Bowie
on the dancefloor
Bowie
on the dancefloor
In the morning
Over
Strong velvety coffee
Over
Strong velvety coffee
I found that I liked
Andy
Just as much as I liked Mandy
Andy
Just as much as I liked Mandy
18
Write a double elevenie - an eleven-word poem of five lines, with each line performing a specific task in the poem.
Windows
Show people
In high apartments
Busy doing everyday things
Alone
Show people
In high apartments
Busy doing everyday things
Alone
Curtains
Hang lightly
Over the glass
While keeping the street
Hidden
Hang lightly
Over the glass
While keeping the street
Hidden
19
Write a poem that explores a small, defined space
The smell
Of camphor
Will always remind me
Of that mysterious box
In the hallway
That was only opened
Once a year
Of camphor
Will always remind me
Of that mysterious box
In the hallway
That was only opened
Once a year
20
Marginalia
Magical distractions
The decoy
Balancing
Skillfully
She reaches
For his dagger
Magical distractions
The decoy
Balancing
Skillfully
She reaches
For his dagger
21
Musical notes in
crooked orbits
Around crudely drawn
Strings of planets
Pulsing with impossible
Frequencies they call it
The new punk
crooked orbits
Around crudely drawn
Strings of planets
Pulsing with impossible
Frequencies they call it
The new punk
22
Write a poem that explores your sense of taste
Balance the sour world
On your tongue
Close your eyes
Screw up your face
Feel it disassemble
Then reassemble
Hang in there
Feel the seconds
Melt
Into
sweet
Amnesia
On your tongue
Close your eyes
Screw up your face
Feel it disassemble
Then reassemble
Hang in there
Feel the seconds
Melt
Into
sweet
Amnesia
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