Update on Book #4

You didn’t know there was a #4 in the works now, did you? Full of surprises here… I’m working on compiling many of my poems–some published on this blog and some brand new–into a small book of poetry for adults! And that’s the reason for the many older poetry books in these photos. Doing lots of reading research, yay. There are days when I sit down to work on my next alphabet book, and all that will come are heartfelt words about a current circumstance. When I allow my hand to release those words, then and only then will the cutesy little alphabet rhymes come. It’s good practice to have a few things going at once, things that spark different parts of your brain, and that practice has been helpful to me.

Side note: I have become smitten with Wendell Berry’s writing. (The one pictured above is from Given; that book made me cry more than once. **affiliate link**) His poetry is so specific to himself, and yet somehow it speaks to me on such a personal level. I so desire to connect with people through my words in this way.)

My poems percolate for a while, swirling around like a snowball, accumulating extra snow with every roll. Hence, they can take weeks before they’ve collected enough snow to make their poetry snowmen (and therein lies my final winter analogy, because it’s SPRING, people!). Here are some current poems in the works:

“Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”
These petals turned a dead brown the next day.

“Your Promises Are No Good Here”
But we promise we’ll put the cushions back!

I’m not sure if this has a poem coming yet,
but this photo just makes me all kinds of aww and ack!

“A Tale of Two Me’s”
This one’s stewing about some changes I’ve undergone…
and what’s stayed the same through the process.

And lastly,

“Paranoid” OR “It’s For You”
This poem is being inspired by a hilarious poem (I don’t know who it’s by, but if anyone knows, you MUST let me know!) making light of anxiety. Anne Lamott talks in her book Bird by Bird (an excellent read if you need to be inspired in your own writing) about the importance of not taking our issues too seriously, and I’m ready to try it! But first, you simply must enjoy this poem with me. Don’t let me be the only one to read it over and over and laugh all the while…

We who are
your closest friends
feel the time
has come to tell you
that every Thursday
we have been meeting,
as a group,
to devise ways
to keep you
in perpetual uncertainty
frustration
discontent and
torture
by neither loving you
as much as you want
nor cutting you adrift.
Your analyst is
in on it,
plus your boyfriend
and your ex-husband;
and we have pledged
to disappoint you
as long as you need us.
In announcing our
association
we realize we have
placed in your hands
a possible antidote
against uncertainty
indeed against ourselves.
But since our Thursday nights
have brought us
to a community
of purpose
rare it itself
with you as
the natural center,
we feel hopeful you
will continue to make unreasonable
demands for affection
if not as a consequence
of your disastrous personality
then for the good of the collective.

Question: Do you read poetry? Check it out from your library? Buy it? Ebook or printed copy? Who are some poets you love? Aaand because I have to ask, do you have any favorites from my poems here on this blog that must be included in my book? Leave a comment or reply to the email.

 

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