Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
This month, we wrote poems inspired by the very cool pinata art of Roberto Benevidez. If you go here and scroll down, you’ll see the horse art that I wrote to. Oh, or here’s his IG post with it!
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Although I found many of his sculptures really amazing, this “painting” is what really resonated with me. It made me think of the Icelandic ponies Randy and I saw in Iceland back in…2017? They were so gorgeous–and friendly too. Oh, it was 2017. Here’s little video I took!
When we started writing, I began by saying I was going to write in different poetic forms, which often helps me figure out what I want to say about a topic. When I write free verse, I feel like I kind of need to know what it is I want to say. But it ended up that even though I wrote drafts in a few forms, the only one I halfway liked was this free verse one–ha!
And be sure to see what the other Poetry Sisters did. I look forward to their poems–and yours too! If you’d like to write with us in February, we’ll be writing epistolary (letter form) poems. Perhaps a love letter/Valentine? We’ll share on Feb. 23.
Liz
Sara
Tanita
Tricia
Mary Lee
Kelly
Click here to see all our previous Poetry Princesses collaborations.
Our Poetry Friday host this week is Susan Thomsen at Chicken Spaghetti. She always has such fun ideas around poetry, and she’s written a wonderful pinata poem! Be sure to check out the Poetry Friday Roundup!
22 Responses
Laura, I enjoyed watching the Icelandic ponies, and then getting to that last stanza–the pony frozen in Benavidez’s art is so sad. I want his want to run all over Iceland. Very poignant.
Beautiful ponies, in the video, on the paper, and in the poem!
Those ‘paintings’ are amazing, aren’t they, and truly your video is too, & then your picture with your poem, Laura. I adore the connections. I’ve been to see the wild ponies in the Outer Banks and your words remind me of them, too. Using first person makes it so poignant, especially the “Then I remember” turning.
Like Linda B. said, that shift in the last stanza is powerful. You captured the flesh-and-blood ponies so vividly that the art pony’s longing is palpable.
Lots of goodness in this post, Laura. I love the use of the word “flow” in “I long to flow across the field.” Thanks so much for sharing and for the nudge to try different forms.
Thank you for sharing the video, Laura! I love that you found freedom in free verse — it matches the spirit of those beautiful, uncontained ponies. Even more, I love that you pulled this image for a pinata prompt! I hope to see them someday.
Laura, I love your new blog format. It has the fresh look of whimsy settings and poetry fun. Well done! I really enjoyed Roberto Benevidez’s pinata art and can’t imagine the time spent in creating each one. Your persona poem created a wonderful accompaniment to the horse pinata that had such spirit. The last line of the poem made a strong final statement.
Free verse suits free ponies! I loved this persona poem — that last line does me in.
I don’t know why I’m anonymous!! It’s Liz!
I love how happy the ponies look! Also, the picture of you with the pony (of the same hair color) is adorable!
Whoa — a vapor of want. That is a striking turn of phrase. I also love the diamond-shaped puff of breath — somehow that encapsulates blowing out a breath in that icy cold.
Sheesh, was it THAT long ago you were in Iceland!? 2017 seems an age back, and yet it seems like you were just there…
So interesting to see the art, the video that you connected with. “My dreams are only a vapor of want” feels profound and universal. I often think I’d like to see Iceland and those landscapes.
So glad you share the video — the ponies made me smile. So joyful! And your poem is just lovely, with ‘vapor of want’ so poignant I truly felt sad for the paper pony.
Oh, that third stanza is the best!
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Wow, I love “my legs are delicate paper / to be shredded by winter’s daggers.” His art is amazing!
Laura, you with that pony is so sweet…and then we get winter’s daggers! Love. xo
Wow! This poem is filled with so much –layers of emotion, fantastic active verbs, and creative imagery (“diamond puff”, a “vapor of want”). What a beautiful response to the piñata challenge. Thanks for sharing those Icelandic ponies and your process as well.
This is a lovely poem! Beautiful and such a poignant ending. Anyone who has dreamed of doing something they couldn’t can identify with the emotion in this poem.
“my hooves splashing up snow clouds”—oh, I want to do that, too! My memories of the Icelandic ponies rushed back with this poem, Laura. Nicely done!
Fabulous images…that dripping sun, hot lava in the veins, diamond puff. All wows!
The movement in that “painting” and the movement in the poem are both so lovely. I love your use of verbs here, along with the descriptive words. You’ve painted your own picture here with your words.
Oh my, Laura I love the photo of you and the pony! Thank you for the darling pony video and the beautiful paper sculpture pony, too. His sculptures are amazing and look very time consuming. I love the voice in your fantastic poem. Great imagery, use of sensory details, and verbs. Love the emotion in your poem, too. I feel the pony’s longing and how he’s not free to flow across the field. I love the rest of the 3rd stanza, too “pounding over the roof of the world, my hooves splashing up snow clouds.” You hooked me with your 1st line “Sunlight drips on the icy meadow.” I can feel the warmth of hot lava pressing through the pony’s veins. I hear the pony’s “snort” and I see it’s “diamond puff.” Your last stanza is another wow full of emotion: “my legs are made of delicate paper, to be shredded by winter’s daggers” and that last line is heartfelt “my dreams are only a vapor of want.” I just want to keep rereading your poem. Thank you for all of your treats in your post. I have longed to see both the wild Chincoteague ponies and the Icelandic ponies.