Month: April 2014

Poem A Day Challenge: April 25-26

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We’re down to the last few days of the April Poem A Day Challenge! Here are two more of my entries along with what inspired them …

April 25, 2014
Prompt: Write a “last straw” poem.

Dripping wet hands,
no paper towels
The door is locked,
my key won’t work
Papers to grade,
every red pen is dry
Not a crisis at hand,
but my wits are shot

An empty gas tank,
out of order pump
Coffee spills twice,
dog poop in the hall
The internet crashes,
my poem is gone
Yes, this was my day,
I am so done.

Inspiration: This really was my day. This poem was a perfect way to vent.

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April 26, 2014
Prompt: Write a water poem.

It’s like the sky knew
today was a day to cry
a heart stopped beating

Raindrops hit my face,
replacing tears of sadness
with joy from above

Inspiration: The recent passing of a family member.

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c.b.w. 2014

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Poem A Day Challenge: April 23-24

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It’s the final week of the  April Poem A Day Challenge . Somehow, I managed to write a poem every single day without falling behind. By month’s end, I’ll be adding 34 poems to my journal (30 plus 4 Sunday Abroad additions). Not bad for a crazy busy teacher who can’t stop knitting or running.

I should have every poem from the challenge posted by Thursday of this week. Thanks so much for following along!

April 23, 2014
Prompt: Write a location poem.

The Kitchen At Midnight

The clock on the stove
runs two minutes slow

In one way it’s still today,
yet tomorrow all the same

The cat sits on the counter,
begging for a treat

Meow. Meow. Purr. Purr.
Where have you been?

Drip. Drip. Splat. Whap.
The faucet is still broken.

The fridge hums and
makes a weird click

Whirrrr. Whirrr. Plick. Plick.
Bandmate to the faucet?

Garlic rice hangs in the air,
the skillet was left in the sink

A glass of water, two Advil,
I should really be asleep

Late night wind hits the screen
Whack. Whack. Thwap. Smack.

I should have worn socks,
the tile is much too cold

Sniff. Sniff. Click. Clack.
The dog’s nails need a trim

He stares with a quizzical face,
Why are you up so late?

Inspiration: Being an insomniac, my kitchen at midnight is something I experience almost every night. The old adage, “write what you know” gave this slice of life a voice.

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April 24, 2014
Prompt: Tell it to the ____. Fill in the blank and make it the title. Then, write a poem.

Tell It To The Inner Critic

You do not own me,
or tell me what to think
That screaming voice,
once so deafening
Is now just a whisper,
I choose to ignore
The words, “I can’t”
have lost all meaning
No longer held back,
nothing is in my way
Those far away dreams,
so beautiful up close

Inspiration: My many bouts with that pesky inner critic!

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c.b.w. 2014

Poem A Day Challenge: April 21-22

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I can’t believe the  April Poem A Day Challenge  is almost over!! Here’s a couple poems from Week 3 of the challenge …

April 21, 2014

Prompt: Write a back to basics poems.

Laces untied,
dust gathered
I lost my way,
sold to slack

Excuses banned,
time to roll
Back to the path,
soul in reach

The trail ahead,
crunching sand
Just one more mile,
sole to dirt

Forget pavement,
clime each stone
Unplugged silence,
soul to earth

Inspiration: My return trail running continues to be a fantastic experience. It only seemed fitting to write about it!

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April 22, 2014
Prompt: Two for Tuesday – Write an optimistic and/or pessimistic poem

Water still flows with grime,
the air still smells of ash
Landfills filled to the brim,
while sludge oozes above

Our delicate planet,
wonders why no one cares
After giving so much,
we take it for granted

Apologies aside,
there’s time to make amends
The earth is still spinning,
but waiting for a change

We can do more than waste,
the key is in our hands
Let go of selfishness,
and consider the land

Somewhere beneath the grime
beneath years of blind eyes
Lies the chance to wake up
and see what’s been stolen

Inspiration: Earth Day!

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c.b.w. 2014

Favorite Thing Friday: Weird Socks

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Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when it comes to certain skeins of yarn in my stash basket. A while back I bought some sock yarn because I was fascinated by the weird combination of colors, (plus it was on sale). I’d never seen anything like it and I was tired of making socks in the same old shades of blue and purple.

The weird yarn sat untouched until I bought a shirt that actually matched one of the shades in the color way. Taking that as a sign, I picked up my needles (yes, needles and not the loom) and pulled a sock pattern I’ve been wanting to make for a while.

The great thing about Ravelry other than knitting camaraderie is the availability of free patterns. I found a pattern called Vanilla Latte socks and I loved it from the start. It combines two different rib patterns and includes three different heel variations so you can truly customize your sock.

Here are my Vanilla Latte socks in Patons Kroy Socks Stripes in Rusty Stripes (yup, that’s the weird color).

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Vanilla Latte Socks in a not-so-vanilla colorway!

I love how they turned out, but I’m still ambivalent about the color. Some days I love it and others I can’t figure out what made me buy it! Either way, I have a very cute top that matches the green stripe perfectly. At least I know they’ll be worn. And who knows, I might find these weird colors match other things in my wardrobe, too.

Aside from trying out a new color, I did realize something rather important with this project. While it’s nice to have more freedom with needle socks (there are so many more patterns available), my sock loom still makes the best sock. The fit is just better, especially when it comes to the heel and toe. I have yet to make a pair of needle socks that fit as snugly (without being too small) as sock loom socks. So, my next pair of socks will be loom socks!

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What’s your favorite thing this week?

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c.b.w. 2014