30 Poems in 30 Days 2009: Day Twenty
September 20, 2009 by John Hewitt
I noticed today that the number of poems being posted in response to the project has started to slow. We are two-thirds of the way through the thirty days. When they hold marathons, this is where most people who will drop out, do drop out. The runners are tired and the finish line still seems a long way away. It’s time for a pep talk and a reality check. It’s time to get back in the race. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we enter the home stretch.
- This isn’t a poem-a-day project. The goal is thirty poems in thirty days. Getting behind isn’t fatal. You simply need to write two or three poems a day to catch up. You can do it.
- Perfection is not an option. Not every poem you write is going to be great. A few may be downright awful. The goal is thirty poems, not thirty perfect poems. You can do it.
- Thirty is great, but twenty-five is still pretty good. If you don’t write thirty poems, or if it takes you thirty-five days to write thirty poems, that isn’t something to feel bad about. The goal may be thirty poems in thirty days, but the purpose is to get you writing poetry and keep you writing poetry. You can do it.
- You don’t have to follow the prompts. The prompts are there to help you, not to hinder you. If a prompt doesn’t work for you, either write whatever you want, or go back to a prompt that you did like and write another poem using that prompt. You can do it.
- If you have stopped, for whatever reason, write at least one more poem. Sometimes it takes just one to get you back on track. Don’t miss another day just because you missed the ones before. Now is the time to get back in motion. You can do it.
- You can do it.
Today’s Poetry Prompt
Write a poem that begins with a line of advice or instruction, such as don’t give up or take a left at the willow tree.
Do not Donut
Do not touch my hair
Do not make fun of me behind my back
Do not leave your tissues on the bathroom counter
Do not tell me we agreed on this a long time ago
Do not close your eyes when I talk to you
Do not bring donuts home when I’m on a diet
Do not keep telling me you are going to clean your office
Do not quote movies you know I haven’t seen
Do not chew gum in the car
Do not mention how much money we spent today
Do not tell me it doesn’t matter
Do not sigh
Do not wander
Do not leave
Related links
- 30 Poems in 30 Days (1.000)
- 30 Poems in 30 Days: Why you should write poetry (1.000)
- 30 Poems in 30 Days: Writing About Yourself (1.000)
- 30 Poems in 30 Days: Writing About Issues (1.000)
- 30 Poems in 30 Days: Poetry of Place (1.000)
Contact John Hewitt
Writing Content and Web Consulting
Email: hewitt@poewar.comPhone: (520) 261-6104
LinkedIn: poewar
Twitter: @poewar
Facebook: pwar2
Do not start with that
you’re fat, you’re stupid, you’re dense, you’re slack
a crab wonders not why those are claws
a squirrel doesn’t question the tail
you don’t ask about your lovers nipple
a chair asks nothing but invites a sit
a bed lies
and lies and lies
the mirror doesn’t
can a comet lengthen a tail by glowing brighter or does it just happen?
when a light goes out is it aware of the loss
does the darkness know about velvet?
can we find a beach without water
and if we did would we know where we were
does a trout count the spots on it’s side
or do dappled things just know about the leaves falling
do we know our last breath
would we keep it or let it go
a lying friend seems very thin
like notes of an almost known song
but those notes can haunt like a rat in an old farmhouse
you can still hear the scrabbling feet and wonder if those fleas bite will itch
@Mike
I enjoyed where you went with this one!
Giving Up
Do not give up
Even when the going looks tough
Do not even think about giving up
Even when the going looks impossible
Remember when the going gets tough
The tough gets going
Do not give up on yourself
Even when the world looks out to get you
Do not even consider giving up
Remember that giving up is the end
Hanging on and there is always
A new beginning
Do not give up because you are tired
Even when the road seems long and dreary
Hang on because you have tried
Remember that being tired is a momentary state
But giving up is an eternal one
So do not give up for a transient moment of relief
However
If you have tried
If you know that it is impossible
If you know that by giving up
You can move on
You can go on to something else
Something better
Something greater
Something more satisfying
Then for goodness’ sake – do it
Instead of trying to hang in
And not giving up
There is no virtue in flogging a dead horse
Truly, there isn’t.
I should know.
I’m not very familiar with english language but this kind of poem is funny and i like the mike moon one.
.-= depannage informatique´s last blog ..Le RAID et les différents niveaux (RAID 0, RAID 1 et RAID 5) =-.
John et al,
I have been busy this weekend, what with International Talk Like a Pirate day, and all. I will respond to each of the prompts, just keep checking.
In the meantime, a little advice…
It comes freely, and is probably worth what you paid for it.
You Can Do it!
You can do it! Really!
You can be anything you want.
Just dream it and do it.
Anyone can do anything they want!
What utter bullshit!
Not everyone can be a virtuoso.
We each have strengths and weaknesses,
and these really limit our possibilities.
Then in the mad mad scramble
to the top of the garbage pile,
the other rats will grab your tail
and pull you down if you get ahead.
Does this mean you should not try?
Hell no! If you do not try,
and try you harderst, the rats
will bury you allive and smother you.
But despite the othre rats and
personal flaws and weaknesses,
you’d be amazed at what you can do
if you simply gave it your all.
So despite my misgivings,
I’ll join the mad chorus:
You can do it! Really!
Just dream it and do it.
(and they wonder why I am NOT a motivational speaker!)
Don’t cry
But I need my tears
for the hurt –
to speak my hurt,
to show you and
to take my pain away.
I’ll cry it out
until I’ve used up
all my breath,
until I’m worn out
from crying.
Then I’ll fall into
a deep sleep
and when I wake up,
I’ll be calm.
I’ll feel new.
Don’t try to take away
my fierce tears,
my needful tears,
my gentle tears.
They’re mine.