gtunesmiff

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 23

Today is our fourth Two-for-Tuesday prompt, which would usually mean it's the final Two-for-Tuesday prompt of the month, but we're lucky this year: five Tuesdays!

For today's Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

Write a "(blank) of the Heart" poem, and/or...

Write a "Heart of the (blank)" poem.

Not sure what I'm talking about? 

Replace the blank in either of these phrases with a new word or phrase, 

make the new phrase the title of your poem, 

and then, write your poem. 

Possible titles might include: 

"Total Eclipse of the Heart," 

"Coney Island of the Heart," 

"Heart of the Champion," and/or 

"Heart of the Night."

Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #robert lee brewer #2024 april poem a day #Day 23 #2-fer-Tuesday

[gtunesmiff]

Zion National Park, Utah

More of our amazing world

[gtunesmiff]

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 22 ~ SIMPLY WHERE WE ARE

SIMPLY WHERE WE ARE ©2024 G. Smith (BMI) ================== Underneath the pavement, Underneath the steel, Underneath the ever-present, Ever-turning wheels.

Underneath the plastic, Underneath the fumes, Underneath the ever-present, Everlasting gloom and doom.

Underneath the concrete, Underneath the grass, Underneath the gravel, And the artificial grass.

Underneath the heavens, Underneath the stars, Underneath the sun and moon, Is simply where we are. Underneath the sun and moon, Is simply where we are.

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #2024 april poem a day #Day 22 #Earth #Simply Where We Are

[gtunesmiff]

Meet Pando, not a forest but a single tree. Every trunk of the Quaking Aspen is genetically identical & connected by a single 80,000 year old root system, making it one of the largest and oldest living entities on Earth!

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 22

Today's prompt, direct from Robert Lee Brewer's blog, Poetic Asides:

Write an EARTH poem. 

The poem can be about nature or the planet. 

But it can also be about anything or anyone on the planet. 

Or dirt (aka, earth); feel encouraged to write a poem about dirt. 

Or earthlings! 

Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.𝖌

<))><

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #robert lee brewer #2024 april poem a day #Day 22 #Earth

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 21 ~ THOSE COUNTRY GIRLS

THOSE COUNTRY GIRLS © 2024 G. Smith (BMI) =================== Katie, your father flew planes for a living, My dad just worked on old cars. Yours was a deacon at the Methodist church; Mine hung out in the bars downtown, Mine hung out in the bars.

We met in middle school, you were the new kid, I sat on the very last row. I thought you were cute, but out of my league, How was I to know, Katie, How was I to know.

You came from Miami, I grew up right here, You were a high-flying princess, that much was clear; I was a hard-scrabble local with dirt under my nails, Headed for trade school, or probably jail; Headed for trade school or most likely jail. But you saw something in me that I didn’t see, Something that told you we were meant to be. A fish out of water when it came to your world, But then so were you with those country girls; Then so were you with those country girls.

You made new friends, I had my old crowd, Still we got along, as far as things went, The folks you hung out with were quiet, mine loud, Moving through high school and special events. Moving through high school and special events.

Homecoming, prom and then graduation, Going our separate ways, our futures both bright; We sat on the curb at the Waffle House wondering, And then both of our lives were changed on that night; Both of our lives were changed on that night.

You’d from Miami, I’d grown up right here, You were a high-flying princess, that much used to be clear; I was a hard-scrabble local with dirt under my nails, No longer headed for trade school, or probably jail; Not headed for trade school, not headed to jail. ‘Cause you saw something in me that I didn’t see, Something that told you we were meant to be. A fish out of water when it came to your world, But then so were you with those country girls; Then so were you with those country girls.

You know you’d always been nice to me, No, more like kind, That was something I’d looked for, But unable to find.

And I know where I noticed – At the homecoming dance, When you said that you’d go with me, And gave me a chance; When you said that you’d go with me, I got a second chance.

You came from Miami, I grew up right here, You were a high-flying princess, that much was clear; I was a hard-scrabble local with dirt under my nails, Headed for trade school, or probably jail; Headed for trade school or most likely jail. But you saw something in me that I didn’t see, Something that told you we were meant to be. A fish out of water when it came to your world, But then so were you with those country girls;

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 21

Once we get through today's poem, we'll be finished with the first three weeks of this challenge. Where has the time gone?

For today's prompt, write a trope poem.

For most people, tropes are common plot devices used in certain genres.

In romance, for example, the "different worlds" trope brings together two characters from different walks of life and/or cultures.

Meanwhile, a popular trope in horror fiction is to split up, which usually doesn't end well for many of the characters.

Mysteries frequently feature the "unassuming suspect" trope.

Pick a trope or mix a few in your poem today.

If you need help getting started, check out these lists of popular tropes:

21 Popular Romance Tropes for Writers.

21 Popular Thriller Tropes for Writers.

21 Popular Science Fiction Tropes for Writers.

21 Popular Horror Tropes for Writers.

21 Popular Mystery Tropes for Writers.

21 Popular Fantasy Tropes for Writers.

Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #robert lee brewer #2024 april poem a day #Day 21 #Tropes

[gtunesmiff]

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 20 ~ UNCLE BENNY AND THE BEAR

UNCLE BENNY AND THE BEAR © 2024 G. Smith (BMI) ================== Picking on the back porch one Easter afternoon, Singing Resurrection hymns and good old gospel tunes. We took a break to tune up, and the way they always do, My bride’s daddy’s brothers started telling a tale or two.

Barry told a story ‘bout a beat up Shiv-o-lay, His dad nursed to work and back nearly every other day. Melvin spun a yarn about the step side pick-up truck, With a milk crate for a driver’s seat, that ran on prayer and luck.

All of us were laughing hard as coffee made the rounds; But the story Benny stared had us rolling on the ground. “Remember when that circus train got sidetracked up in town?” And he went on to tell about the elephants and clowns,

The man on the flying trapeze, and the lions and tigers and horses, The jugglers and high wire walkers, and the painted lady, of course. “C’mon now, Benny, get to the point. Your tellin’s gone to ramblin’.” With a twinkle in his eye, he kept on going without scurrying or scrambling.

“What I remember most of all, if you knot-heads will be quiet, “Was when the bear broke from his collar and nearly started a riot. “Remember that ol' trainer standing in the middle of Main, “Watching that rascal run away down Broad Street from the train?

“Why I can still hear Mama yelling over all the noise, “’Sam, you better get to roundin’ up our boys!’ “Well, Paw got all y’all, you know, except for lil’ ol’ me, “And I don’t guess I was much older than maybe two or three.

“But I remember clearly that I was quite surprised, “When that big ol’ bear stopped right there, and looked me in the eyes.” This is where Benny’s story telling takes on a little flair, And almost makes you think it’s true, that you are really there.

“Yeah, that furry beast looked down at me, I just looked right back, “Both of us just waiting to see which one would be attacked.” Benny had us where he wanted us, and paused for great effect, And not a single word was heard, the sign of true respect.

“That bear began to lick its chops, then stopped, and started howlin’ “’Cause he saw there behind me Mama staring back and growlin.’ “Well, that ol’ bear turned tail and ran, straight back to his trainer, “He knew gettin’ between Mama and me was mother-n-cub no brainer.”

No one on the porch could top that yarn, and no one tried, We’d laughed so long and hard that all of us had nearly cried. These family get-togethers would be too often under-praised, If not for all the stories and the memories they raised

If not for all the stories and the memories they raised.

===== Write a poem using at least three of the following six words: ◾ Bear ◾ Collar ◾ Flair ◾ Hear ◾ Praise ◾ Ramble …or for extra credit, use all six words.

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #robert lee brewer #2024 april poem a day #dAY 20 #Six Words #Uncle Benny and the Bear

[gtunesmiff]

It’s not the thing you fling, it’s the fling itself.

~ Chris Stevens || Northern Exposure

(Season 3 | Episode 13 ~ Burning Down the House)

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 19 ~ GRIEF

GRIEF © 2024 G. Smith (BMI) =================== I heard you passed away, Katie; Just the other day. I stood alone, looking at my phone, Not know what to say. Not knowing what to say.

It was the last thing I expected, When we talked last Sunday night. I counted on seeing you next week, How on earth can this be right? How on earth can this be right?

No, it can’t be real, It can’t be true. What in the world am I gonna do, Without you, Katie, without you? What in the world am I gonna do, Without you, without you?

I wish I’d done much more for you; You always did so much for me. And it hurts to think how I could have said, Or done them differently; Or done them differently.

It makes me mad to think of things, We’ll never do again. Where’s the fairness in this pain? What I’d give to have you here, my friend. What I’d give to have you here.

Oh, it can’t be real, It can’t be true. What in the world am I gonna do, Without you, Katie, without you? What in the world am I gonna do, Without you?

I know this pain will pass with time, But it’s a scar I feel won’t heal; And your present presence though you’re gone, Is real, so very real, Is real, so very real.

Now some say grief has seven steps, Some say merely five, And soon your memory will bring a bittersweet joy, To life and being alive, To life and being alive.

Still, it can’t be real, It can’t be true. What in the world am I gonna do, Without you, Katie, without you? What in the world am I gonna do, Without you?

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #robert lee brewer #poetic-asides #2024 april poem a day #Day 19 #Emotions #Grief

[gtunesmiff]

Life isn't as long as you think it is. You have a choice: You can go and try to live a playful life, or you can go and live a life which excludes playfulness. And it doesn't get you anywhere. Playfulness gets you somewhere.” 

~ Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel 

[gtunesmiff]

[gtunesmiff]

[gtunesmiff]

The Vatican, Rome, Italy

photo via gabrielle

[gtunesmiff]

2024 APRIL POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE: DAY 19

For today's prompt,:

pick an emotion,

make it your title

and write.

Possible emotions might include:

happy,

sad,

grumpy,

angry,

scared,

Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.

#poetic asides #poetry prompts #poem-a-day #robert lee brewer #2024 april poem a day #day 19 #emotion