In honor of National Poetry Month (again), I thought I’d write another haiku, but then A Lotus pointed out to me that when the seventeen syllables focus on human irony and interactions, it’s more accurately called “Senryu.” According to Wikipedia, Senyru are more “darkly humorous.” Since that is my intention in the following verse, I think this is probably a Senryu. Any thoughts and pointers on what the different forms “require” would help me.

Weather Means More (Now that I Have a Yard): A Senryu

I groan and dawdle
on Saturdays clear and bright:
weeds mock and taunt me.

(It’s my third month of having a yard, and I’m beginning to dislike yard work already!)

The prompt is from April’s Café Writing, In the Garden: Option One Poetry

Weather means more when you have a garden. There’s nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans.
~Marcelene Cox

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about weather meaning more

In the spirit of National Poetry Month, I thought I’d try some more poetry.

A Lotus from Poetry by Lotus inspired me to try my hand at a “Thirteen Ways” poem, in the mode of Wallace Stevens’ “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” Imitating this poem was also mentioned as a poetry writing prompt in Rose, Where Do You Get That Red?, which I read and reviewed on Rebecca Reads last week.

Note that I am taking some phrases from Stevens, not with the intent to plagiarize but as poetry guidance and prompts for my own ideas. In some sense, this is all a joke, for I don’t think it is great poetry. As you read, please keep in mind that I’m not a poet.

Despite that fact, I sure had fun writing this. Each of these stanzas references a different way that I, a stay-at-home mom, look at books.

If you choose to do a “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a…” poem yourself, leave a link in the comments. (more…)

April is National Poetry Month.

Poets.org shares a number of different activities, including an emailed poem every day this month. Check out their site at the link above for more ways to participate.

I’ve been reading some poetry this month because I certainly appreciate reading poetry, but I am not a poet by any stretch of the imagination. That’s why this site has been silent, as I’ve struggled to figure out how to celebrate when I certainly don’t feel my poetry is “post worthy.”

However, I’m going to try my hand at some of the “exercises” in style in various poetic forms. I’ll try some in the coming days.

How are you celebrating National Poetry Month?