National Poetry Month Challenge - Day 30 'Adieu Dear April'

For the final day of the National Poetry Writing Month challenge, I departed from my pattern. Every other day that I wrote, I followed the prompt faithfully.  But on the last day -- especially since Maureen had made it clear that the prompts were merely optional suggestions -- I decided to ignore the prompt and write what I felt. It seemed a fitting close to this challenging and inspiring week. 

More than 2000 poets from around the world took part in this adventure, and I thank Maureen Thorson for working so hard and so faithfully to provide us such a wonderful opportunity. I look forward eagerly to April of 2014.

ADIEU, DEAR APRIL

Dear April, I bid you adieu.
It has been great fun.
To play so with meter and rhyme,
Though no prize I've won.

Still, you're the most challenging month;
You've stirred up my muse.
And most of the poems I've composed
I can put to use.

I've gone to great lengths to match prompts,
Called up gifts by command;
Stretched self to plumb depths still unreached
To create on demand. 

So, April and NaPoWriMo,
I appreciate you.
And fondly, till next poets' month,
I bid you adieu!

~

To visit the site and connect with the poets who took part, you may visit this link: http://www.napowrimo.net/

National Poetry Month Challenge - Day 29 - 'To Love'

A poem using at least five foreign words: That was the prompt for day 29 of the National Poetry Writing challenge. 

Now, since the first foreign language I actually studied was Latin, I felt it was only right to start with that. Then in my college years, I switched to French, so I felt obligated to throw in a little of that as well. And ... since I am an English teacher, it seemed quite appropriate that I use a verb conjugation as my format. Hope it gives you a smile today:

TO LOVE

Amo: I love;
Amas: You love;
Amat: He loves;
And love, it makes the world go round, n'ecst-ce pas?

Amamus: We love;
Amatis: You love;
Amant: They love;
Mai oui, there's love enough to bless us all!

~

There's still time to join the fun for the last day of April: http://www.napowrimo.net/

National Poetry Month Challenge - Day 28 - Poems Based on a Color

Day 28, and our prompt is to write a poem based on a color.  I've actually done that, since I wrote two poems the day we were supposed to write one that began and ended with the same word. I wrote about the color green that day. However, I didn't think it was fair to use it again for this prompt, so I have written about a different color today. Here's my totally light-hearted look at 

YELLOW

Yellow sun, yellow moon,
Yellow ribbon on yellow balloon;

Yellow crayons for coloring,
Yellow bird that chirps and sings.

Yellow duckies, yellow chicks,
Yellow grapefruit freshly picked;

Yellow squash ripe on the vine,
Yellow daffodils -- all mine.

Yellow hair, with cheeks so pink,
Yellow lemonade to drink;

Yellow butter drips and drops

From tender yellow corn-on-cob;

Yellow cheese - aroma strong,
Yellow beer to go along.

Yellow curtains, crisp and bright,
Yellow anti-bug porch light; 

But yellow has its ugly side:
Yellow fever; could have died; 

Yellow-bellied, yellow streak,
Yellow-livered, backbone weak.

And sometimes yellow can't be seen:
It hides in blue and turns to green.

~

You can still visit the site and find links to the bloggers who participated. http://www.napowrimo.net/

National Poetry Month Challege - Day 25 - A Ballad

I got the last 4 poems that I did for NaPoWriMo posted onto my WordPress blog during April, but I did not get them posted here before the end of the month. Nevertheless, I will share them.

Also, I'm fudging just a little on Day 25 - the ballad - because I did not write this poem just for the April challenge. I actually wrote it some time ago.  However, taking the definition of 'ballad' in its simplest form -- a rhymed poem that tells a story -- this piece fits the criteria perfectly. And since it's a poem I enjoy very much myself, I decided I'd take advantage of the prompt and use it again.

I should probably add that the poem is based on a true event that I read about a couple of years ago. There really was a couple that had this experience during World War II, and there actually was an operator whose kind heart helped save their romance.

LOVE ON THE LINE

I read about a Navy guy;
'Twas during World War II;
He felt that he was so in love
But one thing he could do.

He was on leave, New England way,
And running out of time;
Snowed in, he could not meet his love.
His only hope - a dime.

So in the pay-phone booth, he dialed
The zero. Faith was high.
He told his soulful story to
The operator, Vi.

He gave the number for his love,
St. Louis her address,
And Vi said, “There's no promises,
But I will try my best.”

So, hanging on the line out east,
The sailor heaved a sigh
And waited with a pounding heart
Till he heard back from Vi.

“I have your party, sir,” she said,
Three minutes' worth of time."
“Three minutes!” cried the sailor.
“That isn't enough time!”

His darling's voice broke through the wire,
Her voice so light and thrilled,
“What great surprise, your calling now!
I heard you're snowed in, Bill.”

“Yes, dear, and now I can't get there
Before my leave is through,
But there is something vital that
I have to say to you.

“You know I've loved you for a while;
And I have to know for sure -- "
But Vi broke in just then to say,
“We've lost connection, sir.”

“Oh, no!” he cried. “You've got to help!
I'm ready to propose!
I couldn't go back overseas
Unless I'm sure she knows!”

“I'll try again,” Vi said, but then -- 
Back on the line, so sad -- 
“I can't get you connected, sir;
The weather is so bad.

“But I can hear your party, sir,
And it seems she can hear me.
If you'd want me to relay your words,
I'd do so happily.”

He heaved a sigh, wiped tear from eye,
And drew deep breath somehow.
“All right,” he said. “It'll have to do;
I need her answer now.

"Please say, ' I'm so in love with you
That before I go to sea,
I'm asking you to be my wife;
Please say you'll marry me.'"

So Vi relayed the message sweet;
He waited in a stew
'Till Vi came back online and said,
"She'd love to marry you!"

Now many years have come and gone;
The couple made their home.
And in every room the pride of place
Goes to the telephone.

~~~

The challenge is finished for this year, but you can still visit this link to find the blogs that participated and read their poetry:
http://www.napowrimo.net/