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Create a Poem From a Poem...

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09-11-2010 at 02:40:15 AM

Create a Poem From a Poem...

Create a poem from the following line written by David Lehman:

"Death was last seen in the auction room, looking worried..."


This challenge can be expanded to include any line of your choosing from a favorite poet. I found this one and thought it was a great place to start! If you choose another line, please give credit to the author you are quoting! smile

Best of luck!!!

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10-19-2010 at 02:49:54 PM

RE: Create a Poem From a Poem...


Dear Simoneaugustus
I have used the quote of your suggestion, [from "Fifth Amendment", by David Lehman]
"death was last seen in the auction room, looking worried...'

using 13 meter

the Voices
___________



"death was last seen in the auction room, looking worried"
life was coming, signaling regrowth, bulging, hurried
rousting spiral dust, obscuring the views, as blurried
storms from passion's volcano tornados that flurried

moving awareness to thirst on a meal of black bone
stagnant hating, each piece of the green that sprouts from stone
one soul waking, swearing, "maaaama, don't leave me, ungrown"
overhead sunshine on sproutlings, each kneeling alone

"We are close by, and it's warm on this bright, other side."

"Listen to the stillness that becomes your inner guide."

"Feel the bursting, new beyond the tombs of ground that hide...
...unknown more, it's there, reach for it, all your might," she cried.

Are they singing to you, seedling, or my life," she sighed.

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10-20-2010 at 01:15:04 AM

RE: Create a Poem From a Poem...

Oh. My. Goodness. You have so totally blown me away! I am struggling for the words to convey just how incredible and inspiring this piece is, and I just sit here, dumbstruck, mouth agape, in awe and an intense appreciation for your outrageous talent. I keep starting sentences in my head with 'That was...' 'I just...' 'How did...' 'WOW.' You, dear, are are such an exceptional writer, and this response superseded any expectations I had hoped for with this challenge. I suddenly feel the need to give you 20 more challenges, just so I can see what you come up with, lol! Simply breathtaking!

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10-20-2010 at 09:41:55 AM
  • Londo
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RE: Create a Poem From a Poem...

Great idea, Simone. Here is my entry for the upcoming holiday:

From: The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Listen my children and you shall hear
The sounds of goblins gathering near
‘twas a night just like this, one Halloween
So dark the moon could not be seen
That a ghastly crime was committed here

It is said, the ghost of Willard Dread
Still comes here looking for his head
While walking through the woods that night
He lost it in a nasty fight
With goblins that he startled, breaking bread

In a clearing in the woods
Sat the goblins, wearing hoods
‘round the fire burning bright
Noshing candy they stole that night
How they laughed as they divvied up the goods

As Willard crouched behind a tree
He couldn’t believe his eyes did see
The goblins having such a glorious feast
He couldn’t believe it, in the least
They appeared to be so full of glee

This made Willard laugh out loud
Which of course alerted the crowd
They all turned to see his face
There, amidst his hiding place
It seems that spying was simply not allowed

They set upon him, then and there
One goblin grabbed him by the hair
His throat was slit from ear to ear
Now Willard’s ghost still comes here
Searching for the head he lost RIGHT THERE!

vampire

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A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness. It finds the thought and the thought finds the words.

Robert Frost (1875-1963) American Poet.
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