PAD 2022 Day 20: Six Words

 This poem is presented in its rough draft form for the PAD 2022 challenge and will be revised. 

PAD Prompt: Six Words 

Poetic Form:  Sestina

“What Happens Here, Stays Here”

The lights blind you from the dis-content 

of people’s lives. A grandma, pumping

a slot machine’s handle. Hoping to double

the jackpot of nickels. Desires guide

her to this moment when chance and fate meet.

But the owner is the one wearing a suit.

He holds the Jack in all suits.

He knows the hand should make him content.

Yet, the next draw could allow him to meet

the Joker. His veins pulse as hope pumps

through his thoughts. The dealer’s look guides

his voice while moving the chips to double.

The level of noise doubles

as a group, looking the nines, in suits.

The glasses and bottles in their hands guide

them across the crowded floor. Content

on ignoring those around them, fist pumps

ricochet as their lonesomeness meet.

They stand holding hands, waiting to meet

the witness, outside large pink double

doors. Even though doubt is pumping

through both of their hearts, he is in a suit

and her, a simple white dress. Life can be content

she hopes. He will let his insecurity be the guide.

He places his hands on the shoulder, guides

the wide eyed boy out a side door to meet

the supplier. Soon that boy will feel content

or so he believes. Not knowing the cost is double

after hit one. Addiction is not a simple suit

you remove when the ER performs a stomach pump.

She is wearing glitter and four inch pumps

Dreams of big screens and gold awards guide

her across the predatory stare of the suit

that promised a chance to shine and meet

her future behind the lens, but it is a double

exposure film. She’s shattered by the viewer’s content.

The lights burn with content, the neon pumps

through our double vision. Unhappiness guides

our troubles to meet the devil in a suit.

Second Day MVICW Conference: Morning Session Love and Loss

  

 

The morning session for Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Writers' Conference was centered on love and loss. Again, these poems were done during the open writing time, so they will probably be revised later.

The first part of the session was looking at how love is displayed through ordinary moments. It made me think about a somewhat joke that my wife thinks I'm sexy when I clean, so I went with that idea to a degree with the following poem.

“20 Years”

After 20 years together

She’s heard every line I’ve used in college

We’ve danced in bars

    And around the kitchen island

I still play my CDs loud in the minivan

    My six offspring 

    Moan as I sing to the 80s on 8

But we are all silent when she sings

Her first name is odd on my tongue

Her hairstyle changes 

    With the time left in the morning

We fall asleep too early

    Yet stay awake until the teens come home

This love was built on late night whispers

    But it is sustained 

    In the clean rows left on the carpet

    After I vacuum.

 

 The second part of the session was diving into loss through those ordinary moments. The poem I wrote is based from something my half-brother said after he lost his partner.

"Silence"

 

The hallway 

    Our pictures in your favorite frames

The kitchen

    Too much coffee sitting in the carafe

The patio

Sunlight reflecting off the flower pots

All is silent

    It feels like it will stay this way forever

Just yesterday your voice echoed off of the picture frames

Bounced on the table settings

And sank onto my skin like the sun

    As we sat drinking lemonade

I feel the air

    Still and unwavering

An emptiness

    Filling the space we shared

I am drowning in it

    Lungs burning

    My heart in a panic

    I am blinded by more than tears

If I open the door I know the world will be swamped

By this silence

I move slowly through the aching silenced

    of all the times I won’t hear you say

        “I love you.”

 

 The afternoon session was an ode to joy, but was broken into different elements, like food, a body part, a moment. This poem isn't joyful, but that is OK.

 

“My Shoulders”

My shoulders hurt almost all the time

    A quick movement

    A different angle

    Will bring a jolt of age to my teeth

I’ve carried so much over the years

Thousands of circles soothing my children

    Father and daughter in orbit with the moonlight on the floor

Moved my whole home into a house overnight

Piggybacks

Parental expectations

    I’ve shouldered for decades

My shoulder hurt almost all the time

The world seems to have lodged a spur

    Into my collarbone

I can’t lift my arms up

    To hold back the onslaught of its icons

I cry tears of pain

    Of frustration

Holding myself up against the door frame

    Fearful of the weight my children

    Already carry on their shoulders

        As they dart down

            The front steps

 

Poetic Form 99: Madrigal

 What Love Means

When they see us they will know what love means.

Hand in hand in step with the fading light,

I understand why birds are called to flight.

I wake early to see the morning glean

on skin, promises mixing with sunlight.

When they see us they will know what love means.

Hand in hand in step with the fading light.

I admit to getting lost in-between

seductive kisses and your smile bright.

My heart soars with the doves in clouds of white.

When they see us they will know what love means.

Hand in hand in step with the fading light,

I understand why birds are called to flight.

Poetic Form #99: Madrigal

The madrigal is an Italian form. There are two main types, the Italian and English.

I will focus on the English. The English form was developed by Geoffrey Chaucer. 

It is written in iambic pentameter, with three stanzas: a tercet, quatrain, and sestet. 

All three of the lines in the opening tercet are refrains.

The form follows this rhyme pattern:

Line 1: A

Line 2: B1

Line 3: B2

Line 4: a

Line 5: b

Line 6: A

Line 7: B1

Line 8: a

Line 9: b

Line 10: b

Line 11: A

Line 12: B1

Line 13: B2

Poetic Form 75: Roundabout

 Still in Love

In the soft light she moved, beauty.

I fell fast to the ground,

losing my heart.

Her kiss a dart.

I fell fast to the ground

making my tongue confound.

She laughs, whispers abstract

words on starlight;

words that delight.

She laughs, whispers abstract

ideas that color the track

of scars unseen. A rite

left with cruelty.

An old movie

of scars unseen, a rite.

She lifts me to the starry night.

Hands soft, full lips ruby.

Arms closed around

beauty profound.

Hands soft, full lips ruby.

Poetic Form #75: Roundabout

The Roundabout form was created by Sara Diane Doyle. The form 

is a four stanza poem. Each stanza consists of 5 lines. The poem 

is written in iambic and the lines have 4 feet, 3 feet, 2 feet, 2 feet 

and 3 feet respectively. The second line of each stanza is the last line 

of that stanza. The rhyme scheme looks like this:

aBccB

bCddC

cDaaD

dAbbA

Poetic Form 52: Catena Rondo

Twenty-two

Twenty-two years gone by today.

One man, one woman, building a life

through moments of joy and strife.

Twenty-two years gone by today.

One man, one woman, building a life.

Six names born into the world.

Each with their own talents furled.

One man, one woman, building a life.

Six names born into the world.

Late night cries during storms.

Stories told in blankets kept us warm.

Six names born into the world.

Late night cries during storms

of rain and tragedy. Our story

tells of the power of love’s glory.

Late night cries during storms.

Of rain and tragedy. Our story

unfolds with each new day.

Even when we don’t know the way.

Of rain and tragedy; our story.

Twenty-two years gone by today.

One man, one woman, building a life

through moments of joy and strife.

Twenty-two years gone by today.

Poetic Form #52: Catena Rondo

The catena rondo is composed of a variable number of quatrains with a rhyme pattern

of AbbA. The first line of each quatrain is also the final line of the quatrain. Then, the

second line is the first line of the next quatrain The final quatrain repeats the first quatrain

word for word. There are no rules for meter, syllables, or subject matter.

Poetry Challenge Day 21: Love / Anti-love

*I decide to try to write a love poem around a moment that could have two outcomes. The love / anti-love poem put together. The moment is a huitain poem, the decision is written in two sonnets with a single couplet that works for both sonnets.

Believe In

The Moment (huitain)

Facing each other we seek it 

in the middle of a lost crowd.

Obligations in one pocket.

The other filled with dreams avowed.

Eyes hold steady, speaking out loud

my voice shakes as I ask you to

believe a fairy tale allowed.

You pause, eyes drifting down, no clue.

You Say Yes (sonnet)

As you grab my hand with yours that would soon

shine bright with ring, vows in ceremony

house bought with last of our dimes, kiss at noon

love in the afternoon, such a memory.

Soon a son to carry on my name rite.

Daughters to follow. We spend many nights awake.

Check homework, heal relationships, write

to-do list, and watch how years can take

away friends, yet build a family around

a table for the holidays. The joy

of milestones fills scrapbooks, pictures abound.

Dancing in an empty house, time is coy.

You Say No (sonnet)

My hand outstretched, you turn away too soon.

Heartbreak is a special ceremony,

I call your name. Stand alone at high noon.

No goodbye, or soft kiss for memory.

The days turn to months, years, a healing rite

I follow my muse, that keeps me awake.

Pen to paper, sorrow to page I write.

Others try to unchain my trust, they take

silence as poetic license around

their affection. Their soft hands hold no joy

for my desire to see your heart abound

through my years. At a distance I stay coy.

Concluding Couplet

A moment is all love needs to change life’s

path. For this poet, it cuts like a knife.