Wednesday March 31st, 2010

The exercise:

You get a double assignment today: write a poem using some (or all) of the words in the following list:

Yoga, Muse, French, Dance, Teacher, Nature, Music, Garden

The second part of your assignment? It's Kat's birthday today and all those words relate to her in one way or another. So feel free to make your poem about her or for her or however you can manage it :)

Mine:

Yoga mats are gently placed

Upon a deck beneath the sun;

Nostrils are filled with the scent

Of herbs swaying in the garden.

A calming voice leads us through

Deep breathing and meditation,

Before we progress into

Free flowing sun salutations.

We don't need a stereo,

Birds are providing the music;

Our souls perform a slow dance,

The peace is nearly hypnotic.

As the class draws to a close

We know we're all nature's creatures;

With a final vibrant chant

We say thank you to our teacher.

Tuesday March 30th, 2010

The exercise:

The Two Haiku Tuesday prompt this week is: new tricks.

Kat and I are leaving for a weekend in Osoyoos on Thursday afternoon so I'm scheduling the posts from today until Sunday tonight (Monday). We're going out for dinner Tuesday night and then it's Kat's birthday on Wednesday (more on that tomorrow!) so I won't have the time to do it before we take off.

Mine:

There ain't nothing wrong

with how I do things, so just

let this old dog be.

*     *     *

Pick a card, good sir!

Don't be shy, any will do!

Er... except that one.

Monday March 29th, 2010

The exercise:

The prompt today: the learning curve.

I learned a very important lesson in training today: in order to survive seven hours in the sauna room, get there first and sit directly in front of the fan.

Mine:

Perched on the starting line, the peak seems unattainable, hidden behind clouds of confusion. Students on either side of you are digging in their heels, crossing their arms, and muttering dark threats about not even trying.

There is a temptation to join them in their grumbling but you push it away. Instead you begin to examine the ground before you and soon realize that there is a way through the razor sharp glass and massive boulders.

Those who have gone before you have cleared a path.

Knowing that you are not the first fills you with confidence. You take the first step, leaving the others behind. The going is not easy but it is manageable.

As you near the top the clouds begin to clear and you pause to admire the view. Far below you hear the struggles of your fellow students and wonder what they are stumbling over. With a shrug you continue on to the peak.

Once there you smile as you survey the remaining terrain, knowing that it's all downhill from here.

Sunday March 28th, 2010

The exercise:

Your late night prompt is: lost in the jungle.

Not sure where exactly that came from, but let's see where it takes us.

Had a good time last night, with the final two fights sending everyone home happy. GSP is so good it's scary but I'm hoping the UFC will be able to find him some proper competition soon.

Mine:

The mosquitoes are

Bigger than zeppelins

And the ferns are like

Nature's skyscrapers.

About a mile back

I saw a snake grin,

Its tongue spitting foul,

Poisonous vapors.

I'm losing hope so

Fast my head's spinning.

If only I could

Recall what I read

In that survival book

By Professor Ling!

I guess I really

Should have stayed in bed.

Saturday March 27th, 2010

The exercise:

Your four line poem prompt this week is: the baker.

Hanging out with some friends tonight to watch UFC 111 - should be a good night of fights. Unfortunately, the PPV will still be going when Earth Hour hits so I don't think I'll be able to celebrate it like last year.

Mine:

He smells like pastries and bread,

Our friendly local baker -

But he's slender as a knife,

So I think he's a faker.

Friday March 26th, 2010

The exercise:

Your four lines of prose this Friday shall be about: the taskmaster.

On a (somewhat) unrelated note, that was one long week at work. I'm happy to see the weekend walking through the door as I type this.

Mine:

His footsteps in the hall resounded like the drumbeats that galley slaves used to row ancient ships to - maybe that's what he did in a previous life. Beat massive drums to make convicts and prisoners of war propel his master's ship faster and faster until they died of exhaustion.

It wouldn't have surprised me if that was the truth of it.

I began typing away at my keyboard again as he neared my cubicle, the heavy iron chains attaching my wrists to my desk rattling in time with each keystroke.

Thursday March 25th, 2010

The exercise:

I collected a couple more gift cards at work today (from a positive quarterly review by my supervisor to the temp agency) so today's prompt is: the gift card.

Oh, I think it's well past time that I mention Seven Days Seven Answers - I'm really enjoying the writing prompts over there and highly suggest you check it out. If my prompt of the day doesn't do anything for you, maybe Cate's will :)

Mine:

It came in the mail

In a plain envelope -

Most unassuming!

I thought it was junk

Or perhaps a bill -

Oh how presuming!

I sliced it open

With a rusty knife

(Nothing works better).

A gift card fell out

And on it was writ

(In bloody letters)

Good for one deathblow

To any member

Of your family

So I redeemed it

On my little brother

Immediately.