Dedication to Deon during National Poetry Month

 

Poetic Day 15 of National Poetry Month:  April 15, 2019, Monday

 

While planning and posting a new poem and five prompts for each weekday (thus far) of National Poetry Month, I am inspired to achieve my goal by a poet/writer/blogger friend–Deon Lyons.  My plan has been to dedicate this poetic effort on WORDWALK to Deon at the midpoint of National Poetry Month.  I thought I should wait until the middle of April so that I could be certain that I would reach my poetic goals for National Poetry Month of 2019.  I have waited until today to announce this dedication; however, sadly, the mourning dove flies over WORDWALK again.

 

At 11:15 p.m., on Friday, April 12, Deon–my friend and twice poetic collaborator–passed away peacefully.

 

For someone who had more than once written a poem and posted it on his blog for each day of National Poetry Month of previous years, how poignant that Deon passed away in the midst of a month dedicated to poetry.  In addition to publishing a collection of his poetry in the book entitled Ready, Set, Poetry–Deon Patrick (D.P.) Lyons authored the novel Sully Street.

 

For decades to come, Deon’s gentle, caring, thoughtful, understanding, kind, and creative ways will continue to inspire poets and writers throughout the United States–and most assuredly this poet.  (Special thanks again and always to Deon for his clever and wonderful comments posted almost weekly in the comment section of this blog from 2013 to 2018.)

 

When I was in the process of putting together my holiday book, two of my favorite parts were writing the acknowledgements section and crafting the dedication.  If I had not been inspired by Deon’s blog, I would not have initiated WORDWALK; if I had not accumulated so many pieces through my weekly blog, I would not have published a book in December of 2016.  Most importantly, if I had not met Deon through the writers’ group Behind Our Eyes, I would never have come to know this extraordinary person who has touched the lives of so many people in so many positive ways.  Thus, at this midpoint of National Poetry Month, I, in this small way, give tribute and thanks to Deon by dedicating my twenty-two WORDWALK blog posts of National Poetry Month to him.

 

 

Acrostic Dedication

 

poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

Dedication–

engraved onto a preliminary page,

displayed in a permanent book,

impressed into my heart–

crystalizes comments,

arranges words, feelings,

tributes

into flags flying

outstretched over a readership

never to forget the honored and inspiring name of Deon Lyons.

 

* * *

 

WRITING PROMPTS FOR DAY 15 OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

 

1. Write a dedication in the poetic form of an acrostic.
2. Write a poem which is dedicated to someone you know, have known, would like to know, or would have liked to have known.
3. Write a poem about loss–the loss of a person, pet, place, or object.
4. Write a poem about something which you unexpectedly found.
5. Write at least two quatrains expressing a dedication to poetry.

 

With thoughts of sharing peace and comfort through poetry

and with heartfelt sympathy for all whose lives have been touched by Deon,

 

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

April 15, 2019, Monday

 

 

Advertisement