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You are here: Home / Poems for Teachers / Poetry Friday: Without (an original poem)

Poetry Friday: Without (an original poem)

September 25, 2009 By Laura

 

Today, I have a poem and a question to share with you. First, the question. I’m looking for recommendations of poetry journals for adults featuring accessible, mainstream poetry. I love Billy Collins, Kay Ryan, Jane Kenyon…so you can see I don’t really go too much for the experimental stuff. Anyway, I’d like to possibly start submitting my adult poems to a few journals, but I’m trying to find out which ones are a good match for me so that I can subscribe and possibly submit. Would you share your favorites that seem to fit this description? Thanks!

And now the poem. Like last week’s Without Rancor, this week’s poem was written during my terrific class at the Loft this past spring. We were asked to write a praise song, and I decided I wanted to praise the downside, the darker side, the sometimes unappreciated side of life.

Without

Without plunging, a waterfall is only a river
     Praise the falling, the walling, the surprise of water standing on end

Without sinking, a sunset is only blinding light
     Praise the creeping of night and its battle for sky control 

Without night falling, the moon just hangs, a pale, cold rock
     Praise the backdrop of black, the reflected white glow of sun
 
Without wintering, summer overstays like holiday houseguests 
     Praise the sharp freshness of ice, the clean slate before spring

Without dying, life is a treadmill
     Praise deadlines and pressure, and the shortness to make time matter

Without ending, the story is unfinished
     Praise the anticipation, the fear, the delight of The End

–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved

I also participated in The Miss Rumphius Effect’s Poetry Stretch, and you can see the results of this week’s challenge here. People shared lots of fun haiku riddles!

And the ever-honest and generous Susan Taylor Brown is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week! Head on over and check it out. And have a great weekend!

Tagged With: Laura's poems, Poetry Friday, teen/adult poems

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JANUARY NEWS

I loved the holidays! And I'm so glad they're over. A quiet, snowy January is just what I need. This month, I'm working on two board book manuscripts, and I'm making materials to go with my 3 spring 2023 books.

I'm also busy prepping for upcoming author visits and setting my goals and priorities for 2023. Wishing you a lovely start to your own new year!

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