“Buckled Bricks” and Poetry Friday Roundup!

Happy Poetry Friday!

I’m making this post live Thursday evening for all you early-birds. Please put your links in Mr. Linky at the bottom of the post. And also click on Mr. Linky to see and visit all of the other Poetry Friday posts. I am away today presenting at the Minnesota Library Association annual conference (Whee! I’m’so excited!), which means it will probably be at least this weekend before I can visit everyone.

A couple of months ago, Liz Garton Scanlon rallied the Poetry 7 (aka Poetry Princesses) to another group challenge. We’ve done a few before, including a crown sonnet?(holy cow), villanelles, and rondeau redoubles. This time, it started with: “You guys. I miss you. I miss writing group poems. Do any of you have any interest in, say, a Crown Sonnet? I would love to try one again.…”

After a bunch of shuffling and vague murmurings, we decided we’d each write a pantoum (read Kelly’s explanation of a pantoum here) incorporating the line “I’ve got better things to do than survive,” from Ani DiFranco’s song “Swandive.” Which I have never heard but need to go listen to now!

So, we each retreated to our own lives again, gripping that one line, hanging on for dear life to the form of the pantoum and the promise we had made to each other. And we wrote. It was a challenge–7 women with 7 crazy lives, juggling situations full of joy and heartbreak. I was so proud that we each produced a poem! And today, we’re sharing them. It’s really fun to take the same form and the same line and see the 7 totally different directions we took it in.

My poem is below, and here are the links to the rest of the group’s pantoums. Some of these are the links to their main blogs–they will add their post-specific links inside Mr. Linky. Either way, you won’t want to miss their pantoums on topics ranging from an early morning run to our overextended lives, each one revealing something of the poet herself. Hooray for poetry and for small, tangled knots of people that don’t even get to chat very regularly but still create an atmosphere where we can all take a few risks :>)

Tanita S. Davis- The Mother Load
Kelly Fineman- On My List
Sara Holmes- A Pantoum
Tricia Stohr-Hunt- She Runs
Liz Garton Scanlon- And This, and This
Andromeda Jazmon Sibley- Moth Sisters

Jan Palach Memorial in Prague

My poem is called Buckled Bricks. When Randy and I were in Prague this summer, we saw the memorial to Jan Palach, and for some reason, that’s what came to mind when I decided to write about something from that trip. Yup–so much joy and laughter on that trip, and I wrote about self-immolation. Oi. I wrote this poem one night when I was at Starbucks with my daughter Maddie, weeks before the recent horrifying incident on the National Mall. (Just in case you’re wondering if this was inspired by more recent events.) It still needs work, and I hope to go back to it in the future for some revision.

Buckled Bricks

(a pantoum for Jan Palach, Czech protestor against Soviet invasion who committed suicide by self-immolation in 1969)

 

I never will get out of this alive.

And that’s the way it has to be.

I’ve got better things to do than survive.

What good is life if we cannot be free?

 

Is that the way it had to be?

Catch attention as a human torch?

What good is life if we cannot be free?

Does freedom come with cost of scar and scorch?

 

Catch attention as a human torch?

A son of Prague, a voice, a brother gone.

Does freedom come with cost of scar and scorch?

How long  til Soviet armies were withdrawn?

 

A son of Prague, a voice, a brother gone.

Just buckled bricks that mark the spot he burned.

How long  til Soviet armies were withdrawn?

Besides the grief, what lessons have we learned?

 

Just buckled bricks to mark the spot I burned.

I never would get out of there alive.

Besides the grief, the lesson that I learned:

I had better things to do than to survive.

–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved

 

128 Responses

  1. It’s funny how our inspiration takes us where it will! The reasons why may be unclear, but who cares if we can come up with something like this! So powerful, Laura. I’m looking forward to checking out the other 6 “princesses” tomorrow.

  2. It’s funny how our inspiration takes us where it will! The reasons why may be unclear, but who cares if we can come up with something like this! So powerful, Laura. I’m looking forward to checking out the other 6 “princesses” tomorrow.

  3. Wow, powerful and moving, Laura. Good to have the Poetry Princesses back!

    This week I’m sharing “How to Get Through a Day When All The Talk is of War” by new-to-me-poet Sharon Auberle (my link goes live at 6 EDT).

    Thanks for hosting — have a good time at the Conference!

  4. Wow, powerful and moving, Laura. Good to have the Poetry Princesses back!

    This week I’m sharing “How to Get Through a Day When All The Talk is of War” by new-to-me-poet Sharon Auberle (my link goes live at 6 EDT).

    Thanks for hosting — have a good time at the Conference!

  5. Hi, Laura. I love the concept of having better things to do than surviving. A poem in Jan Palach’s voice is a way of continuing the discussion — what does it mean when a person stages a protest with his or her own life?

    1. Exactly, Laura. I haven’t even figured out my own opinion–but it’s interesting to think about. From my reply to Betsy below: “Was he incredibly brave? Foolish? Short-sighted? Desperate? I never quite know what to make of these extreme acts of protest/sacrifice. Are they the ultimate sacrifice, or are they the almost easy way out for someone who feels things are not going to change. Sigh.”

  6. Hi, Laura. I love the concept of having better things to do than surviving. A poem in Jan Palach’s voice is a way of continuing the discussion — what does it mean when a person stages a protest with his or her own life?

    1. Exactly, Laura. I haven’t even figured out my own opinion–but it’s interesting to think about. From my reply to Betsy below: “Was he incredibly brave? Foolish? Short-sighted? Desperate? I never quite know what to make of these extreme acts of protest/sacrifice. Are they the ultimate sacrifice, or are they the almost easy way out for someone who feels things are not going to change. Sigh.”

  7. Whew. Form really packs some weight here, Laura. That last line…wow. Thank you for hosting today. At The Poem Farm, I have a small memory poem. Time, how it goes… xo

    1. Thank you, Amy. Loved your poem, too, as always! P.S. Can you remind me what program you use to do your audio recordings? I want to give that another try…

  8. Whew. Form really packs some weight here, Laura. That last line…wow. Thank you for hosting today. At The Poem Farm, I have a small memory poem. Time, how it goes… xo

    1. Thank you, Amy. Loved your poem, too, as always! P.S. Can you remind me what program you use to do your audio recordings? I want to give that another try…

  9. What a striking memorial–buckled bricks. You paid a worthy tribute to the man, too, with your poem. Brava. My posts will be up after midnight. Have fun at the conference.

  10. What a striking memorial–buckled bricks. You paid a worthy tribute to the man, too, with your poem. Brava. My posts will be up after midnight. Have fun at the conference.

  11. Beautifully written, I love the way pantoums emphasize the important parts, but engaging instead of constant repetition. It is interesting that your mind took you to that time on your vacation because of this line. I know I’ll enjoy all the others-great that you all did this!

  12. Beautifully written, I love the way pantoums emphasize the important parts, but engaging instead of constant repetition. It is interesting that your mind took you to that time on your vacation because of this line. I know I’ll enjoy all the others-great that you all did this!

  13. Here’s another WOW. I can’t wait to read all of the rest. Would you ladies ever consider self-publishing a collection of your Poetry Princess challenges? It would be lovely to have them all in one place.

    1. Thank you, Mary Lee. The rest are spectacular–such a varied group of people. I love the idea of collecting our little projects more cohesively, but time and intimidation work against us for that. Time to pull them together in a nice presentation, of course. And the intimidation–well, half of why we manage to do this (barely!) is that we don’t commit to sharing them publicly until we’re all done, and then we support each other so much. A couple of the poets are so sophisticated that it’s very intimidating to imagine sharing the work as one piece, implying that it’s all of equal level. YOu know what I mean? I find that intimidating, even though I’m fine with sharing it here on my blog and saying, “Well, this is what I came up with…” It’s kind of you to suggest it, though, and it would be fun to create some kind of online home, even, where each project lives with all the poems in their entirety. Hmmm…

  14. Here’s another WOW. I can’t wait to read all of the rest. Would you ladies ever consider self-publishing a collection of your Poetry Princess challenges? It would be lovely to have them all in one place.

    1. Thank you, Mary Lee. The rest are spectacular–such a varied group of people. I love the idea of collecting our little projects more cohesively, but time and intimidation work against us for that. Time to pull them together in a nice presentation, of course. And the intimidation–well, half of why we manage to do this (barely!) is that we don’t commit to sharing them publicly until we’re all done, and then we support each other so much. A couple of the poets are so sophisticated that it’s very intimidating to imagine sharing the work as one piece, implying that it’s all of equal level. YOu know what I mean? I find that intimidating, even though I’m fine with sharing it here on my blog and saying, “Well, this is what I came up with…” It’s kind of you to suggest it, though, and it would be fun to create some kind of online home, even, where each project lives with all the poems in their entirety. Hmmm…

  15. I am caught up in those last lines. It makes me pause a bit and wonder. Very powerful words shared here today.

    1. I wonder too, Betsy. Was he incredibly brave? Foolish? Short-sighted? Desperate? I never quite know what to make of these extreme acts of protest/sacrifice. Are they the ultimate sacrifice, or are they the almost easy way out for someone who feels things are not going to change. Sigh.

  16. I am caught up in those last lines. It makes me pause a bit and wonder. Very powerful words shared here today.

    1. I wonder too, Betsy. Was he incredibly brave? Foolish? Short-sighted? Desperate? I never quite know what to make of these extreme acts of protest/sacrifice. Are they the ultimate sacrifice, or are they the almost easy way out for someone who feels things are not going to change. Sigh.

  17. What a wonderful form the pantoum is — like waves on a seashore, coming in over and over. Thanks for posting it, Laura, and for hosting Poetry Friday. Over at The Drift Record I’m celebrating Alice Munro’s Nobel Prize by going 100% Canadian with the song “Hallelujah,” written by Leonard Cohen (Canadian!), and sung by k.d. lang (Canadian!)

  18. What a wonderful form the pantoum is — like waves on a seashore, coming in over and over. Thanks for posting it, Laura, and for hosting Poetry Friday. Over at The Drift Record I’m celebrating Alice Munro’s Nobel Prize by going 100% Canadian with the song “Hallelujah,” written by Leonard Cohen (Canadian!), and sung by k.d. lang (Canadian!)

  19. Pantoums are so good for death poems when understanding the death is difficult. Great use of form. Your execution is excellent. Thank you for writing this and for sharing it.

    1. Thanks, Joy–I appreciate the kind words. I agree about pantoums and grief. The form can be so meditative, so it’s good for pondering hard topics.

  20. Pantoums are so good for death poems when understanding the death is difficult. Great use of form. Your execution is excellent. Thank you for writing this and for sharing it.

    1. Thanks, Joy–I appreciate the kind words. I agree about pantoums and grief. The form can be so meditative, so it’s good for pondering hard topics.

    1. Thanks, Donna. Tricky to repeat and try to make it new. Some of the other Poetry 7 were definitely better at that, but I enjoyed working on it:>)

    1. Thanks, Donna. Tricky to repeat and try to make it new. Some of the other Poetry 7 were definitely better at that, but I enjoyed working on it:>)

  21. As always, I can’t figure out which of yours I like the best. I’m always drawn to the gloomy poetry, but I loved your otters, so much!

    The stark imagery of this poem — and of the photograph of the memorial — is going to stick with me forever.

    1. Thank you, Tanita. Me, too, on the sticking with me… The memorial is just there in the ground, with people unknowingly walking right over it. It’s not all that noticeable in person, if the area is crowded. That’s what really struck me, I think. I felt like an imposter writing this, because I did it with only the barest of research into Palach, so it’s really a work of complete fiction. But I enjoyed (in my own gloomy way) putting myself in his head.

  22. As always, I can’t figure out which of yours I like the best. I’m always drawn to the gloomy poetry, but I loved your otters, so much!

    The stark imagery of this poem — and of the photograph of the memorial — is going to stick with me forever.

    1. Thank you, Tanita. Me, too, on the sticking with me… The memorial is just there in the ground, with people unknowingly walking right over it. It’s not all that noticeable in person, if the area is crowded. That’s what really struck me, I think. I felt like an imposter writing this, because I did it with only the barest of research into Palach, so it’s really a work of complete fiction. But I enjoyed (in my own gloomy way) putting myself in his head.

  23. I’m with Tanita on loving the otter poem, but this one is heartbreakingly good. It packs quite a wallop when you read it. I think Palach’s voice is what makes this, and what does me in.

    Thank you for rounding us all up and for sharing!

    1. THanks, Tricia–I felt like my roundup should have been MUCH more insightful and personal. Oi. I’ll be sharing the otter poem next week, probably:>) It was kind of fun to write.

  24. I’m with Tanita on loving the otter poem, but this one is heartbreakingly good. It packs quite a wallop when you read it. I think Palach’s voice is what makes this, and what does me in.

    Thank you for rounding us all up and for sharing!

    1. THanks, Tricia–I felt like my roundup should have been MUCH more insightful and personal. Oi. I’ll be sharing the otter poem next week, probably:>) It was kind of fun to write.

  25. I hope I’m not too late! I have the Mortimer Minute today at my blog. Thank you for hosting! I’m rushing off to do a million more things before I can go home, and I’ll be back later this weekend to read everyone’s posts.

  26. I hope I’m not too late! I have the Mortimer Minute today at my blog. Thank you for hosting! I’m rushing off to do a million more things before I can go home, and I’ll be back later this weekend to read everyone’s posts.

  27. Laurie, your pantoum is amazing! “I’ve got better things to do than survive” is such a powerful line. I agree with Mary Lee, the “Poetry Princesses” should publish all your wonderful poems. Thanks for hosting the Round Up today!

    1. Thanks! It would be fun to gather our poems in a closer, more cohesive way. Time–if only there were more of it! Thanks for coming by!

  28. Laurie, your pantoum is amazing! “I’ve got better things to do than survive” is such a powerful line. I agree with Mary Lee, the “Poetry Princesses” should publish all your wonderful poems. Thanks for hosting the Round Up today!

    1. Thanks! It would be fun to gather our poems in a closer, more cohesive way. Time–if only there were more of it! Thanks for coming by!

  29. Hi, Laura. Thanks for hosting today, and I enjoyed your meaningful poem. I always love stopping by Poetry Friday because I learn so many new things — today it was what a pantoum is!

  30. Hi, Laura. Thanks for hosting today, and I enjoyed your meaningful poem. I always love stopping by Poetry Friday because I learn so many new things — today it was what a pantoum is!

  31. Started with Tanita’s take on motherhood, then went to Liz’s pair. Both thought provoking and excellent use of the form, but yours somehow resonates for me. Makes me wonder how long it WAS before the Soviets withdrew…
    Thank you

    1. Thanks, Elle. Twenty years later, in 1989, there were demonstrations in memory of Palach and his cause. It was called “Palach Week,” and was considered (as I understand it, anyway, given my limited research) a turning point and one of the things that led to the fall of Communism in Czechoslavakia within the year.

  32. Started with Tanita’s take on motherhood, then went to Liz’s pair. Both thought provoking and excellent use of the form, but yours somehow resonates for me. Makes me wonder how long it WAS before the Soviets withdrew…
    Thank you

    1. Thanks, Elle. Twenty years later, in 1989, there were demonstrations in memory of Palach and his cause. It was called “Palach Week,” and was considered (as I understand it, anyway, given my limited research) a turning point and one of the things that led to the fall of Communism in Czechoslavakia within the year.

  33. I’m finally finishing reading the PF posts from last week, just in time to start thinking about this week! Thanks for hosting, and for your haunting pantoum.

  34. I’m finally finishing reading the PF posts from last week, just in time to start thinking about this week! Thanks for hosting, and for your haunting pantoum.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,546 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."