Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
Hello, friends, and Happy 2024! I’m starting the year with lots of hopes and plans to share more kinds of poetry, to make more time for writing poetry, and to spend less time on business and promotion stuff. It’s just dragging me down.
Here’s a poem I wrote recently. I’ve been writing more poems for adults lately. I still love children’s writing best! But I’m going to give myself permission to share my poems, even the ones that aren’t for kids and that aren’t very happy. Please note: I often won’t be explaining the poems–you make half the meaning yourself, right? But I’ll just say here, this is NOT about my marriage or any personal relationship. It was inspired by a frustrating business situation. And then it morphed into a poem that sounds like a breakup poem. And that’s okay. My heart IS broken, but not in the way this poem will probably sound to a stranger who reads it. :>)
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with librarian-author Marcie Flinchum Atkins. I can’t wait to see what she’s kicking off the year with. Besides writing wonderful books, she also is amazing at sharing her goals and plans and systems. I love her approach to these things!
17 Responses
Oh, that situation sounds painful, Laura. So sorry you had to go through it. May 2024 bring you only happy business ventures.
Laura I love the connection between breaking making a person strong. You are resilient, this biz is tough, and yay for sharing your works for older readers! (This could totally be YA, yes?) xo
Such a powerfully strong poem, I feel the seething and heartache in there, and the movement forward, your graphic image adds to all. Thanks for sharing and here’s to more writing/creative time this year!
The powerful comment above is from me, Michelle Kogan
Laura, I feel your heartbreak, but I like your attitude! You are sweeping up and moving on and not letting it define you. Well done on so many levels!
Laura! Seven Years On sings like a country-music ballad! I’m excited to read your adult poems. Blessings for a calmer, healthier, happier new year!
Laura- your poem grabbed my heart. I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through this past year. I can relate to so much in this post. I’ve been dealing with something, and I’m not sure how it will play out. I’m pushing myself to be brave and look for the positives. On another note, I agree that your poem sounds like a song. When I was growing up, I dreamed of being a songwriter, but I can’t sing a lick. : ) I’ve been writing more poems for adults lately too.Sometimes I feel like I hold back in the poems I write for children. I don’t know why. Hang in there, my friend. You are a wonderful, kind, generous person who deserves all good things. Sending hugs for a better 2024!
I’ll say it again: Powerful. And this poem is so different from the ones you usually share publicly. Interesting to see this other side of your writing.
Laura, this poem is so powerful! I’m so sorry for the frustrating business situation.
Thank you for the kind words!
oooopf! That sounds cathartic…which is good. There are a lot of feelings in this poem that all of us can relate to. Moving on should be it’s own genre!
This poem is sharp and painful, as I can imagine the situation was. I hope you are moving on and that writing helps. In the form I like the way you set the chorus on the right margin. Were the constraints you made on yourself with form (rhyme, etc.) helpful in getting it out? I find form helps me when emotions are charged. Thanks for sharing.
I think that’s a good point, Margaret! Yes, the constraints were helpful. When I free wrote / pre wrote, it was a long rant. Having a bit of form and some constraints helped me wrangle it into something more cohesive and readable. Thank you for saying that. It seems obvious now, but I hadn’t had that conscious realization. :>)
Oh, you’ve got me feeling the pain in this situation! I agree, it does sound like a break-up poem (I’m picturing Taylor Swift singing it) and it’s so interesting to read something so different from you. You are so versatile! I’m sorry the tough business situation occurred. Hugs!
Oops, that Anonymous was me! (Karen Edmisten) Guess I didn’t log in! 🙂
Thank you, Karen!
Laura, I am sorry that you had this happen to you. I feel your pain and frustration. Powerful. Great refrain! Writing is therapeutic. Lines I love:
we were making
sparkling creation
is shattered and bleeding and broken
waited too long
maybe the breaking
is what makes me strong
pieces are scattered
all over the floor
I’m sweeping you out and closing the door (You go, Laura!) Great image and ending. I think this reads like a YA verse novel. I am rooting for your MC. Have you ever thought about writing a verse novel? (I love verse novels.) I’m glad you’re writing for older and adult readers. Thank you for sharing. I hope you’re feeling better. Cheers for a happy new year.
Thanks, Gail. Writing is indeed therapeutic! Even though the situations in many of my adult poems are morphed through metaphor or purposeful changes, the emotion runs true. I worked on a verse novel for many, many years. Finally abandoned it for my own sanity. I just don’t really enjoy wrapping my head around writing longer, more complex stories…