Poetry Prompt - The Finish Line

The NaPoWriMo finish line is in sight - It has been a rough go this time around.  I have struggled with the metaphorical equivalent of bonking (running out of steam) and also after taking a few wrong turns (too many obligations) I have spent half the month feeling lost and wondering if I would ever cross the line.  Would I end up with that dreaded acronym by my name in the race roster - D.N.F.?

So I dig deep, pull my soul inside out and give it all I got.  I can hear my triathlete friend yelling - "if you are not spitting blood, you can push harder".  That's the thing though.  I need to see the crimson flowing from my creative veins onto the page.

Cheering zone (prompts)

Did you participate in the NaPoWriMo?  If you did - write a poem based on the overall experience.  Was it easy?  Did you stay focused and write a poem a day or did you end up with poetry debt?  

Write for 5 minutes about a time you decided to give up on a goal before finishing it - did you feel guilty? Relieved?  Now write a poem explaining your decision (good or bad).  Perhaps write a poem describing how you saved the world by  making the decision (you are granted permission to embrace the absurd). 

WORD/topic Prompts

Racing

Determination

Perseverance

Quitting

Sprint

Victory

Bragging

Please share the link to your poem (or post your poem) in the comments below. And, if you're on Facebook, post it to Poets on the Page. 

Jenny Astramowicz is a writer, poet and aspiring wellness coach.  She resides in San Francisco where she works at the local university and trains for endurance events.  Her long term dream is to live in France with her two cats.

Not all who wander are lost...

#OctPoWriMo  #NaPoWriMo #NaNoWriMo #Poetsonthepage

Find her on  Google +  Twitter Instagram

You can read her poetry at h

NaPoWriMo - Time

We are halfway through NaPoWriMo, are you reading and writing poetry everyday or periodically like I am? I get so caught up in day to day life that I let things get in the way of my poetry. I was hoping I'd be better at it this time but I never seem to be able to do it every single day. Not berating myself though, just noticing.

Be kind to yourself on this journey of life.

NaPoWriMo - Time
Photo by MDragonwillow

diving into the depths
words flow
gently and
explosively
onto the page

***

broken questions
between whispers
begin a dance
of a universal language
exploring magic
in a rainbow sky
naked desire
in a blazing heart
soul prisoner
love's searching
time



~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you write a poem on your blog for NaPoWriMo and would like to share it with us, place your link in the comments below. We look forward to reading your poems.


Peace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
Read, Dance, Write, Repeat.

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a writing rebel, foodie, urban gardener, recovering perfectionist, facilitator of magical circles and poet who (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. When she isn't working with clients, writing or dancing, you can find her encouraging and supporting her writing community at @StoryDam, #OctPoWriMo, #PoetsonthePage, and  Playing with Words on her blog.

Yes she is on Google+ too!

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NaPoWriMo - The Loneliness of Pretty

Image by John F. Ashton-Keller

Beauty’s only skin deep they say,
So peel off my skin.

If your right hand offends you then cut it off.
Remove me from you.

You who made me a part of you
Then turned your back on me.

You who professed forever,

Then dwindled to sometimes,
Then occasionally,
Then rarely,
Now never.

You curse me
Blame me.
Fine.
I remember
when you said,
“Mine.”

Selfishly, then, you’d cling to me
In the white hot embers of afterglow.
Selfishly, now, you blame me for seeking
What you promised to give, but forgot.

Was the promise forgotten?
Or was it only me?

You were my everything –
My present and my future.
I depended on you.
I wanted you.
I needed you.

Though we were together, I found myself alone,
Aching and desperate to be needed again –
To be important again,
To mean something to someone again.

Opportunity merely knocked.
I hesitated at first,
wanting you to stop my outstretched hand,
to take it into your own and claim me once again.

The hand that took mine was not yours,
But the hand of Opportunity.

I only wish you’d have knocked first.

Amy McGrath is a mixed media artist, a writer, and a performer. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and is the mom of two amazing young men. 

NaPoWriMo - Untitled Reflection

It is darkest before the dawn

my space is warmed by soft light 

sounds and scents 

rendered sweet

there is comfort here

of care

a willingness 

to practice what supports

instead of distracts

it is a place

a state of being

that I share 

with a minion of thoughts

all vying for my attention

it is ok

I do not mind

I like company at the table

as my words wake

bit by bit

with every stretch

scratch 

and scrawl

the darkness 

makes my windows

a mirror

 so instead of seeing outside

I see myself

as I am sitting here

but the image is transparent

spiritlike

ephemeral

she rests her face in her hand and looks back at me

 accepting we are one

the streets are flooding

 with the sounds of rain soaked roadways

and early commuters rolling

 through the intersection

 of night and day

it is the urban ocean wave

crashing on the sidewalk shore

without rhythm

or pattern

only the continuation

as they come

like moments

the breath

and being

we are here together

waiting for the sun

as the earth turns over

in her bed

towards the start 

of a new fresh day

NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo 2018 - Day 3

Jenny Astramowicz is a writer, poet and aspiring wellness coach.  She resides in San Francisco where she works at the local university and trains for endurance events.  Her long term dream is to live in France with her two cats.

Not all who wander are lost...

#OctPoWriMo  #NaPoWriMo #NaNoWriMo #Poetsonthepage

Find her on  Google +  Twitter Instagram

You can read her poetry at https://zwabisabi.blogspot.com

NaPoWriMo - Simplicity

NaPoWriMo - Simplicity
Photo by MDragonwillow

Simplicity  
Simplicity of a flower that's a weed 
Weed out the choking emotions that stop you
You stay silent when your heart is screaming
Screaming for you to pay attention to your needs
Needs of many and needs of one
One is a number that doesn't have to stand alone
Alone in a crowded room filled with those who don't understand
Understand what true love looks like
Like a person with a voice
Voice of purpose and passion
Passion sliding along your skin 
Skin set on fire by your touch
Touch as soft as your breath
Breath that brings you back to the center
Center of your being, of simplicity
Simplicity

~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you write a poem on your blog for NaPoWriMo and would like to share it with us, place your link in the comments below. We look forward to reading your poems.


Peace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
Read, Dance, Write, Repeat.

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a writing rebel, foodie, urban gardener, recovering perfectionist, facilitator of magical circles and poet who (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. When she isn't working with clients, writing or dancing, you can find her encouraging and supporting her writing community at @StoryDam, #OctPoWriMo, #PoetsonthePage, and  Playing with Words on her blog.

Yes she is on Google+ too!

Make sure you sign up to receive our updates, tips and prompts to share in all the poetry fun!

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Life's Seasons

Photo by Annis Cassells

“All seasons have something to offer.” ― Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. We can count on the seasons like clockwork to follow each other. We can compare and predict. “It’s going to be a cold winter.” Or, “We had a shorter spring and went right into summer.”

Life’s seasons, though, are non-linear. They may be sudden and random. And we can never predict their duration. The seasons become a metaphor, a symbol, for how our lives play out.

With regard to Life’s seasons, within days or even hours, we can experience each one. They often catch us by surprise, and though we deal with them, we may not see the seasons as a metaphor at the time. That insight comes later, upon reflection, but life’s seasons correspond to weather’s.

Summer – When we are carefree and relaxed, when experiences and places are welcomed and enjoyed. 
Fall – We’re in contemplation and preparation, harvesting ideas or gathering skills or insights we’ll need.to carry on. Or move on. 
Winter – Which we find challenging, even difficult, yet filled with blessings. Blessings that we may not see until Spring. 
Spring – The season that always follows winter with light and new life, with hope, renewal, and possibilities. We catch our breath and reflect on the wonder and blessings Winter provided. 

Life’s seasons may change as often or as fast as the wind. We wake up in Summer – all is great and we are happy. Life is going our way.  Within hours, there’s a SNAFU and we feel the ice of Winter. Then we’re in Fall as we react, marshal our resources, figure out a plan, and begin executing that plan. Sometimes, we have to come up with alternate ideas before we reach Spring. But soon Summer is on the way again, and we bask in its goodness. 

The Prompt 

Think about what season you're in right this minute. What got you there? Was it the rocky-ness of life or a smooth path? Make a list of all the words that come to mind as you think about your seasons -- now and past. Come up with a first line using some of those words. Then let your free verse or haiku or couplets flow.

OR

Write a poem about your favorite  OR your most dreaded season of the year. Maybe this will take you back to your younger days. Maybe it will take you to looking forward.

Word Bank

cycle

change

growth

dormant

awakening

light

harvest

Photo Prompt 

Photo by Annis Cassells

Please share the link to your poem (or post your poem) in the comments below. And, if you're on Facebook, post it to Poets on the Page. We're looking forward to reading your work.

Annis Cassells is a writer, poet, life coach, and teacher.  She divides her time between Bakersfield, California and Coos Bay, Oregon. She is a member of Writers of Kern, a branch of the California Writers Club. See Annis’s blogs at www.thedaymaker.blogspot.com and www.poemsbyannis.blogspot.com and her website at www.connectionsandconversations.com

NaPoWriMo - Remember

Today kicks off the National Poetry Month, NaPoWriMo. We are not doing daily prompts for this but we, the volunteers at Poets on the Page, will be sharing some of our poetry with you.

I am struggling with what love means, love as in LOVE. I've started dating again after a two year hiatus. It is a struggle for me. When I find someone that I care about, my heart gets involved pretty quickly. It's all or nothing for me. I think it has to do with being an empath, I tend to feel things quite deeply. Probably why I chose not to date for two years. I will be exploring what love means to me through my poetry this month. Here is my first exploration through loop poetry. I chose loop poetry as it helps me dive deeper into my thoughts.

NaPoWriMo - Remember
Photo by MDragonwillow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

remember
remember to find that special someone
someone that is the other half of me
me on the inside is being pulled out
out of the dark and into the light
light expanding outward brighter than the sun
sun rises in the morning, shining through the darkness
darkness crushes the internal light of hope
hope springs upward for all to bathe in
in the beginning everything looks bright
bright like a shining star that died a millennium ago and
and you snuffed out the light as that star dies
dies to the possibilities of you and me together
together will never be today or tomorrow
tomorrow there may be hope if I allow myself to bloom
bloom like the flower seeds that are buried in the earth
earth walking toward my inner being
being myself is the only way to find happiness
happiness is possible if I remember who I am
I am a spark of divine creation
creation is the ultimate of being here now
now is bright with possibilities if I allow myself to remember
remember

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My heart aches but maybe writing about love through poetry I'll be able to transform how I'm feeling now into glowing from the inside out with my own inner love and light. How are you using poetry this month? Are you reading poetry as well?

What I'm reading: 

If you write a poem on your blog for NaPoWriMo and would like to share it with us, place your link in the comments here and/or on the posts with our poems. We look forward to reading your poems.


Peace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
Read, Dance, Write, Repeat.

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a writing rebel, foodie, urban gardener, recovering perfectionist, facilitator of magical circles and poet who (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. When she isn't working with clients, writing or dancing, you can find her encouraging and supporting her writing community at @StoryDam, #OctPoWriMo, #PoetsonthePage, and  Playing with Words on her blog.

Yes she is on Google+ too!

Make sure you sign up to receive our updates, tips and prompts to share in all the poetry fun!

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