The exercise:
How is it the last day of February already? That was some kind of quick.
For this week's four line poem the starter shall be... the invitation.
Mine:
The writing is crisp and clear,
Without any hint of fear;
You would never really know
She doesn't want you to go.
Friday February 27th, 2009
The exercise:
Def Poetry Jam Friday brings you Louis Reyes Rivera's Place I've Never Been.
Mine:
Usually I'm not a big fan of repetition but when it is used this effectively I'm happy to make an exception.
The personification of the bullet is so incredibly powerful - I love the idea that it knew what it was being used for and it desperately wanted to stop it.
One of my favorite lines has to be this description of Malcolm X: "Did you go to hear a poem in his every word?"
And to keep the theme, here's a totally different Malcolm X performance by Reg E. Gains and Savion Glover.
Def Poetry Jam Friday brings you Louis Reyes Rivera's Place I've Never Been.
Mine:
Usually I'm not a big fan of repetition but when it is used this effectively I'm happy to make an exception.
The personification of the bullet is so incredibly powerful - I love the idea that it knew what it was being used for and it desperately wanted to stop it.
One of my favorite lines has to be this description of Malcolm X: "Did you go to hear a poem in his every word?"
And to keep the theme, here's a totally different Malcolm X performance by Reg E. Gains and Savion Glover.
Thursday February 26th, 2009
The exercise:
Today's prompt: labels.
Mine:
You can't escape your label,
So don't think that you're able;
They're simply everywhere -
They're even on your underwear!
So whether you're Naughty or Nice,
Sugar or Spice;
Doesn't matter if you're Dull or Bright,
Black or White.
You are what they say you are,
Whether it's near truth or far...
Unless you remember where the real you resides -
Which is, of course, a place deep inside.
Today's prompt: labels.
Mine:
You can't escape your label,
So don't think that you're able;
They're simply everywhere -
They're even on your underwear!
So whether you're Naughty or Nice,
Sugar or Spice;
Doesn't matter if you're Dull or Bright,
Black or White.
You are what they say you are,
Whether it's near truth or far...
Unless you remember where the real you resides -
Which is, of course, a place deep inside.
Wednesday February 25th, 2009
The exercise:
Today's starter is 'the job is done.'
I always find it interesting when a starter is inspired by something and then I write about something else entirely. That wasn't the case yesterday, but it certainly is today.
I was celebrating the completion of an extremely dull task at work today and then I went and wrote this.
Mine:
The last nail is in place,
Sweat rolls down your face;
Brush away the dirt
From a well worn shirt.
Stand back and admire
This work so inspired.
Stand quiet to hear
Deep peace drawing near;
Your work is now done,
Your rest is hard won.
Please sit for a spell,
Breathe deep and be well.
Today's starter is 'the job is done.'
I always find it interesting when a starter is inspired by something and then I write about something else entirely. That wasn't the case yesterday, but it certainly is today.
I was celebrating the completion of an extremely dull task at work today and then I went and wrote this.
Mine:
The last nail is in place,
Sweat rolls down your face;
Brush away the dirt
From a well worn shirt.
Stand back and admire
This work so inspired.
Stand quiet to hear
Deep peace drawing near;
Your work is now done,
Your rest is hard won.
Please sit for a spell,
Breathe deep and be well.
Tuesday February 24th, 2009
The exercise:
Today's starter: just a drop in the ocean.
Mine:
Did you hear? NASA threw two hundred and seventy-eight million dollars into the Pacific Ocean this morning.
Okay, look. I'm aware of how important the work they do is. I am. But, seriously - if you're going to invest that much money into one basket, shouldn't you make sure the launch is going to work?
At the end of the day, no matter how you slice it, this was caused by human error. This thing wasn't struck by lightening, a flash hurricane didn't blow it off course, it didn't hit a flock of seagulls - somebody screwed up. It was made by humans, from scratch - that means somewhere along the line somebody, or perhaps multiple somebodies, dropped the ball. A very, very expensive ball.
Do you know what I could accomplish with $278 million dollars? More than I care to list here, but you can rest assured - I wouldn't throw a penny of it away.
Maybe it's time NASA become reacquainted with the value of a dollar.
Today's starter: just a drop in the ocean.
Mine:
Did you hear? NASA threw two hundred and seventy-eight million dollars into the Pacific Ocean this morning.
Okay, look. I'm aware of how important the work they do is. I am. But, seriously - if you're going to invest that much money into one basket, shouldn't you make sure the launch is going to work?
At the end of the day, no matter how you slice it, this was caused by human error. This thing wasn't struck by lightening, a flash hurricane didn't blow it off course, it didn't hit a flock of seagulls - somebody screwed up. It was made by humans, from scratch - that means somewhere along the line somebody, or perhaps multiple somebodies, dropped the ball. A very, very expensive ball.
Do you know what I could accomplish with $278 million dollars? More than I care to list here, but you can rest assured - I wouldn't throw a penny of it away.
Maybe it's time NASA become reacquainted with the value of a dollar.
Monday February 23rd, 2009
The exercise:
Today's starter: life in a fishbowl.
I had originally intended for mine to be a tribute to our betta fish, who died over the weekend. But then it turned into something else entirely and I just went with it.
We'd had our fish nearly three years - considering that bettas, on average, live about three years and the ones you buy in store are usually already a year old, I think he did alright for himself. I don't have a picture of him but he looked a whole lot like this.
Mine:
My life is measured
By the circumference of this bowl;
I wish I'd treasured
My time in the ocean patrol;
Those days of leisure
The net oh so callously stole.
The days pass slowly,
The view now unchanging and stale;
My work so lowly,
Skin once bright now sullen and pale;
By all that's holy,
Swear I'll flee this cubicle jail.
Today's starter: life in a fishbowl.
I had originally intended for mine to be a tribute to our betta fish, who died over the weekend. But then it turned into something else entirely and I just went with it.
We'd had our fish nearly three years - considering that bettas, on average, live about three years and the ones you buy in store are usually already a year old, I think he did alright for himself. I don't have a picture of him but he looked a whole lot like this.
Mine:
My life is measured
By the circumference of this bowl;
I wish I'd treasured
My time in the ocean patrol;
Those days of leisure
The net oh so callously stole.
The days pass slowly,
The view now unchanging and stale;
My work so lowly,
Skin once bright now sullen and pale;
By all that's holy,
Swear I'll flee this cubicle jail.
Sunday February 22nd, 2009
The exercise:
Sunday seems like a good day for music. So, with more restraint than I showed last time around, here comes Musical Linkstravaganza number two!
I've limited myself to three artists, two songs apiece. See how good I am?
Mine:
Oh man, only three? Okay, I can do this.
First up is the Dave Matthews Band with Satellite and So Much To Say.
Your Canadian content for this edition is k-os with The Love Song and Crabbuckit.
And lastly, for now at least, I'll leave you with Morcheeba's Over And Over and The Sea. I was introduced to Morcheeba by two British girls I met in New Zealand who were shocked I'd never heard of them before. Now that I've had a few years of listening to them, I can say I fully understand.
And that's that. I shall hit Publish Post before any further music invades my skull.
Sunday seems like a good day for music. So, with more restraint than I showed last time around, here comes Musical Linkstravaganza number two!
I've limited myself to three artists, two songs apiece. See how good I am?
Mine:
Oh man, only three? Okay, I can do this.
First up is the Dave Matthews Band with Satellite and So Much To Say.
Your Canadian content for this edition is k-os with The Love Song and Crabbuckit.
And lastly, for now at least, I'll leave you with Morcheeba's Over And Over and The Sea. I was introduced to Morcheeba by two British girls I met in New Zealand who were shocked I'd never heard of them before. Now that I've had a few years of listening to them, I can say I fully understand.
And that's that. I shall hit Publish Post before any further music invades my skull.
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