Penelope Connor — ink girl poet
The road away from your door
will always sing a siren song.
There’s no use resisting.
So load your guitar and two
extra tires onto your bicycle.
You may miss your chance
to climb the distant tower,
but slip a stone into your pocket,
and you’ll find the right path–
one step and rock at a time.
Trees will no doubt invite you
to gaze into a magic mirror,
and renew some old promises.
Listen to the voice with the map —
it will nudge in the right direction.
Follow wings that swim circles,
and you may dance on the sand.
with an enchanting water-witch
–wet your bare toes in the scent
of rain on the summer wind.
When your bohemian feet grow tired,
gather up four corners of your heart.
Shake tangled doubt from your hair.
When you hear rhapsody on the road,
trust your voice to sing you home.
—–
AUDIO FILE:
I catch sight of her
in the passing mirror.
She is not the me
I remember being there.
In your eyes, I see
you too have glimpsed her–
subtle changes that surprise,
like a stranger, staring
across a crowded room.
There’s shift in the tenor
of my own rich voice.
I have a new way
of reaching for my glass,
or for your hand.
I feel as if I’m on a test drive
in someone else’s body–
in someone else’s mind.
My heart has always been
this strong and fearless,
but not the rest of me–
until you began to push.
Now I see her, growing
stronger and more true.
I believed you, when
you said I really could.
Now I catch myself
staring at a new me.
—–
AUDIO FILE:
The primal truth is what it is.
I am changed, ever-evolving — it
happens — and I’m sick
of apologizing for it, tired of
explaining why you are Wolf, to me.
This is why I choose — surrender to
your strength and love, why I feed
you. I see fierce strength in the
woman you awakened, this animal
in me — she shines, in your love — in
truth. Isn’t she better, next to you?
———-
POETIC FORM
golden shovel – Take a line (or lines) from a poem you like. Use each word as an end word in your poem. Keep the end words in order. Credit the original poet, ie. “-after (poet)”.
POEM A DAY NOVEMBER 2015 – PROMPT:
For today’s prompt, write an animal poem.
For more information, check out– http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-11.
I suppose
I’m mad.
I haven’t
been
yet.
You’ll see
me
vanish.
Queer
things happen
while
I just turn
and
vanish
again.
After
a minute
or two
before
will be much
the most
interesting
and raving
mad–
at least
it was
as again
I wish.
appearing
and vanishing
so suddenly
make one
quite
giddy.
Beginning
with the end
and ending
some time
after.
—–
POETIC FORM: An Erasure Poem
—–
PROMPT:
To earn the “Cut It Out” badge, start with an X ACTO knife, box cutter or other cutting device. Find a text you don’t mind cutting up — or make a photocopy of the text if necessary — and physically cut out the unused portions to create an erasure poem. Watch James W. Moore’s video, “Making Heaven,” which captures his process of creating poems using this approach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FAxSv1sZOs&list=UUMgTlLB9YpdkRZHiX3zOo3g&feature=share&index=2 Scan your completed work — or take a picture of it — and upload it to the site. Cite your source text at the bottom of your post.
—–
PoMoSco (Poetry Month Scouts)
Found Poetry Review’s 2015 National Poetry Month Project
– April 2015 – 213 poets joined together as a troop to earn digital merit badges for completing experimental and found poetry prompts.
– Prompts are divided into five categories – remixing, erasure, out and about, conceptual and chance operation.
– Each category offers six distinct badges to be earned.
– Poets choose their own source text.
– For more information, check out pomosco.com.
A dear friend and fabulous poet, Von Thompson, is a participant. When she told me about the challenge, I decided to play along at home.
—–
SOURCE TEXT: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
(after Sting)
I close my eyes, and see you in my head —
eyes and lips, fingers, shoulders, hips.
My mind spins and stutters, beyond my control
with these insistent questions and their answers.
Today, the knowing and the journey that is you
are the breaths between the ticking of my clock
— “a thousand times the mysteries
unfold themselves like galaxies in my head.”
Gazing inward, I wonder — unsettled and unsure.
Which words are meant for telling you
the things I long to say? Which of these
vast silences are filled with unexplored truth?
I gaze outward — watching, memorizing you:
your tells, sudden shifts, fluid movements.
I find more mystery, than understanding,
more turbulent galaxies, folding and unfolding.
You are like a great window flung open on
the universe, I stand staring out, peering in.
Just as I discover something to grasp —
spinning in your dazzling light — you close.
I slide downward, sit beside your wall
wondering — what have I seen? What part
of you can I take from this close encounter?
Silent and over-thinking — with galaxies in my hands.
POEM INFORMATION:
Poem inspired by A Thousand Years, written and performed by Gordon Sumner (Sting), on the album Brand New Day, released by A&M Records on 24 September 1999. (lyrics linked above)
ADDITIONAL CITATION INFORMATION:
There comes a time
we must stand
before the mirror
look into our tired eyes
creative, independent
our true selves
destined for greatness
human kindness
each of us consent
our desires unlimited
freedom enslaving us
to popular boredom
when will we be ready
to ask such questions
we race into mazes
do we live as mice?
-Pen Connor 2015
—–
candle flame beckons
on the window sill
to the full moon
perched in the tree
bathing bare
in the mirror of light
I whisper to her
my questions
she folds me
in wings of darkness
smiling silent answers
———-
@ConnorPenelope on Instagram
(for Tranessa)
POETIC FORM: PALINDROME
You must use the same words in the first half of the poem as the second half, but reverse the order for the second half, and use a word in the middle as a bridge from the first half to the second half of the poem – See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/personal-updates/poetic-form-palindrome-poetry-or-mirror-poem#sthash.O65KfoA2.dpuf
Ravens tell poets,
“Paper loves ink,”
(while ruffling feathers)
“like words whisper secrets.”
Stories unravel
thread by thread.
So spills ink, into
magic,
into ink spills.
“So, thread by thread,
unravel stories.”
Secrets whisper words,
like feathers
ruffling, while,
“Ink loves paper.”
Poets tell ravens.
POETIC FORM:
Palindrome – Use the same words in 1st half of the poem as the 2nd half, but reverse the order for 2nd half, and use a word in the middle as a bridge between 2 halves.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/personal-updates/poetic-form-palindrome-poetry-or-mirror-poem
Pen's Ink 