What Poetry Means to Me
Poetic Day 17 of National Poetry Month: April 17, 2019
In an e-mail this morning, poet Abbie Johnson Taylor, president of the writers’ group Behind Our Eyes, asked all the members/writers the following question, one which was posed to her by another blogger: “What does poetry mean to you?” In a creative manner, I try to give a partial answer to this question in my poem-of-the-day. Past the midway point of National Poetry Month, how nice to receive a prompt which I can use to meet my goals for NPM! This post will again conclude with five writing prompts, as well as the link for Abbie’s blog and the link for the website of Behind Our Eyes.
What Does Poetry Mean to Me?
poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
When I want to play with words,
poetry is the only sport at which I excel.
When I have no time for a novel or long tome,
poetry, with its short lines and few stanzas, beckons.
When creative time is ticking,
poetry jumps onto my petite plume.
When I have lost my way,
poetry becomes my compass.
When the world seems overwhelming,
poetry tranquilizes and translates.
When my soul is discouraged,
poetry is optimistic whispers.
When the day is punctuated with unkindness,
poetry plants a more gentle garden.
When overly harsh words hit me hard,
poetry is a soothing balm.
When my literary house is cluttered,
poetry meters and cleans a corner.
When my heart and home are empty,
poetry fills me with sweet memories.
When an idea springs within me,
poetry is the teeter totter and the swing.
When we are in the midst of trees or beside the lake,
poetry reflects and saves our beloved Mother-Nature experiences.
When someone steals and breaks my Garden Angel,
poetry is my rhyming revenge and placid hope.
When something wonderful happens,
poetry catches the butterfly moments with brevity.
When, on a Wordwalk, Willow amazingly guides me,
I rejoice and give thanks through poetry.
* * *
WRITING PROMPTS FOR DAY 17 OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
- Write a poem about what poetry or writing, in general, means to you.
- Write a poem focusing on your first realization of the degree to which you enjoy writing.
- Write a poem to offer comfort to someone.
- Write a poem which explains and/or describes your life’s compass.
- Write a poem in which you personify poetry.
You may want to check out the following websites (mentioned in the introduction of this post):
https://abbiescorner.wordpress.com
* * *
This post and all of my WORDWALK posts of National Poetry Month are dedicated
in memory of poet/novelist/blogger Deon Lyons.
Poetically yours,
Alice and Leader Dog Willow
April 17, 2019, Wednesday
alice13wordwalk 
So beautiful and insightful, Alice! Thank you for sharing your special thoughts and feelings about poetry.
Love to you and Willow,
Mary
Mary–Many thanks! I hope your little students will have time to write one more poem before the end of April.
Enjoy the Easter weekend!
Alice and Willow
Reblogged this on SCAN-a-BLOG and commented:
In honor of April – National Month – I Re-blog this beautiful post on to SCAN-A-ALOG today.
What does Poetry Mean To YOU?