Spectrum of Possibilities

image courtesy of psd vault

writing with light

contrasts bright/dark...

the nighttime tale

leaves a trail and

reveals the magic of mind and hand

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Notes:  This poem was written in the Southeast Asian form Ya Du.  It was inspired by the Theme Thursday prompt of 'spectrum.'

It all begins with 're'...

Image courtesy of beyondborders

the search continues

because it has to, and I

reinvent myself

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Notes: The form is 5/7/5 Haiku.  The words were inspired by Poets United Thursday Think Tank's prompt of 'rebirth' and Theme Thursday's prompt of 'reaction.'  I'm not sure whether I actually reinvent myself or merely adapt to my environment, but regardless, when change occurs, there is often a part of myself that emerges that is wholly unexpected.

Illuminated!

Image courtesy of Maisa Gonzalez's Portolio

Quidquid

“Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.” (Anything said in Latin sounds profound). ~Anon

If you speak Latin, you’ll sound smart,

like Einstein, Plato and Descartes.

But even more, most will not know

what you have said.  Just goes to show

that but a few words, known by heart,

proves you speak Latin.  You sound smart!

Thus when you postulate, ‘quidquid,”

just say it once.  Then say, ‘ibid.”

Or then say, “Bibo ergo sum,”

Some ‘Python’ fans will know, by gum,

your toasts to Latin are so smart!

So, “ergo,” now, here’s THE best part…

To “carpe diem” (seize the day)

use Latin.  You’ll be “illiant-bray”

and so profound,  You’ll stand apart:

if you speak Latin, you’ll sound smart.

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Notes:  Dang it!  My original notes just got wiped out!  Gotta start from scratch now.  Grrrrrrrr!

Breathe, breathe...

Okay here goes:  The form is called Quatern.  I know, I know, dear reader...you are mega-surprised because you were expecting another Kyrielle Sonnet, right?  Well, to be honest, the Quatern is similar in many ways to the Kyrielle and the Kyrielle Sonnet, which is why it was easy and fun to write.  The prompting for writing this form  comes from Walt and Marie, those nice folks over at Poetic Bloomings. Every week, they do something called In-Form Poet, which is all about poetic form - and this week, the form was Quaterm.

Now, believe it or not, I didn't originally set out to write a pun[ish] poem about Latin.  Instead, my thought was to write something on 'balance' since that was the prompt word over at Theme Thursday.  (Yeah, I know today is Friday.)  The goal was 'neco duos pennipotenti per unus calx'  which basically means (according to a couple of online translators) to kill two birds with one stone.  It's not exact, mind you, especially when you translate it back from Latin to English, but whatever.

Anyway, I started searching for humorous 'balance' quotes, which is actually more difficult than one might expect.  Most 'balance' quotes have a more inspirational kinda aura about them (as opposed to funny.)  But, one hyperlink (and subsequent website of quotes) led to another - and suddenly, there I was.  Latin.

So...did I strike any sort of balance with the above poem?  Hmmmm.  It's a stretch.  But if you put Pig-Latin, Monty Python and certain individuals of considerable intellectual weight (among other stuff) on the scales of life, then perhaps I did, on balance, complete the task.

Okay...okay...Gemitu!  (That's Latin for *groan!*)

The Ol' Family Tree

The Ol’ Family Tree

Your branch is the crazy side!

Your branch is  the ugly one.

                                                                        

Notes:  The form, which I've been having a lot of fun with lately, is Hay[Na]Ku.  (Actually, it's a double Hay[Na]Ku.)  I have to say, this crazy little form is highly addictive.  Try it and see for yourself.  Poetic Asides is currently running a forms challenge using this form.  Check it out.

Theme Thursday posted the above picture today with the word 'tree' as the prompt.  Under the circumstances, I had to use this form to write this poem.  ☼

                                                                                                                                

Tuscan Thursday (On Friday)

Old Postcard

The view at dusk

of the Tuscan

hills.  Musky notes

like dreams float by

and I think of summer wine...just you and I. 

***

Note:  The form is Ya Du.  The poem was inspired by the above artwork as the prompt from Theme Thursday.  

Full Drawn

Image courtesy of Theme Thursday

Empty

You see my face?

An empty space.

You would suppose

I’d have a nose.

 “Hey, artist guys!

Where are my eyes

and mouth and hair.

No ink to spare?!”

But wait.  A check…

Whew.  Got a neck.

My shoulders? Short.

(They’re down a quart.)

“Please – illustrate

each facial trait

and make my head

full-drawn instead.”

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(Theme Thursday provided the above picture as a prompt.  Interestingly, Poets United Think Tank Thursday's prompt is headlines.  Get it??!!)

It's the 'Final Let's-Tie-Up-Loose-Ends-'Cause-It's-The-Last-Day-Of-March' Post

♥♥♥ First, thanks to all the kind folks who stopped by here yesterday (and throughout the week) even 'though I hardly spent any time this week visiting you in return.  You rock.  (And I promise I will be around to see your stuff real soon!) Second, really thanks for all the nice words posted in response to my 'out-of-character' poem yesterday.  Downers do happen, and writing them out seems to be the best way (sometimes) to deal with them.  And third, I have a few more poems written to prompts which I need to get out before this merry month of March is history.  ♥♥♥

Okay then. On Monday, Monday's Child posted an illustration from the 1920s by Freddie Langler, and I paired it with an Ovillejo.  Three Word Wednesday provided the words 'loud, persuasive and riches' so I penned one 5/7/5 Haiku to cover all three of 'em.  Yesterday, The March Challenge provided a prompt about writing and erasing (for which I wrote another poem beside Erasure) and also, today, Theme Thursday wanted writers to write about 'silly' and the March Challenge posted the final March challenge word of 'new world.'  I wrote one 5/7/5 Haiku for those two, too.

Yeah, I know - it's a lot, but I'm tying up all the remaining March loose ends.

And with that in mind, here's the stuff...

Invitation to Tea

Come, sit and have some tea,

            if free.

We’re underneath the trees.

            We’ve cheese

and honey, fruit and spread

            for bread.

Please join us – go ahead.

There’s always room for more

Here – take a cup.  I’ll pour.

             “Gee, thanks!” the Bunny said.

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Image courtesy of Cartoon Showtime

Supporters and Devotees

O persuasive pitch,

that loud call to adherents…

he had riches soon.

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Image courtesy of Monster Movie Music

Movie Review of Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser – in case you thought optimism was dead. ~Robert Brault

Optimistic Elliptical (Erased) Review

…[M]ost film critics, reviewers, and fans

will invariably mention Plan 9 From Outer Space; .

..honor …movie of all time. …

There is no doubting that this is

[the] …word to describe it.

[T]his movie…was actually

quite entertaining, and therefore…

entertainment value. …

I think everyone

should see Plan 9 From Outer Space …

And…The Real Review, by Rinkworks

When asked to list the worst movies of all time, most film critics, reviewers, and fans will invariably mention Plan 9 From Outer Space; many will give it the dubious honor of being the worst movie of all time. I feel this is slightly unfair. 

There is no doubting that this is a bad movie. "Bad" isn't even a strong enough word to describe it. Some of the lowlights of this movie include: tombstones that teeter when the actors run into them; a hubcap-on-a-wire flying saucer that mysteriously turns into a toolshed upon landing; a single shot of a car pulling to the side of the road that is used every single time someone arrives on scene, regardless of what car they are driving or what time of day or night it is; actors who are visibly reading from cue cards; at least one scene where an actress completely blows a line and nobody calls for the cameras to stop rolling. 

However, this movie is not the worst movie I have ever seen. I say this because this movie was so bad, it was actually quite entertaining, and therefore I cannot in good conscience label it "the worst movie of all time." I'll reserve that label for a movie that was not only bad but was also completely devoid of entertainment value. So far, for me, Showgirls garners that label. I think everyone should see Plan 9 From Outer Space at least once. Anyone with a camcorder could make a better movie, but the chances of getting it on the big screen and into every Blockbuster store in the country so the rest of us can laugh at it are minimal. 

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Image courtesy Freaking News

Silly World

Duct tape is like the force.  It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.  ~Carl Zwanzig

Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.  ~Author Unknown

It’s a silly world…

old or new, we’re stuck with it

as it’s stuck with us.

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Thaumaturgy...

...is Magic!

"A Thaum is the basic unit of magical strength. It has been universally established as the amount of magic needed to create one small white pigeon or three normal sized billiard balls. The thaum, hitherto believed to be the smallest possible particle of magic, was successfully demonstrated to be made up of /resons/ (Lit.: 'Thing-ies') or reality fragments. Currently research indicates that each reson is itself made up of a combination of at least five 'flavours', known as 'up', 'down', 'sideways', 'sex appeal' and 'peppermint'." ~Terry Prachett

For today, The March Challenge (in honor of Houdini's birthday) wants writers to reflect on 'magic.'  Theme Thursday's prompt is 'paper.'  

As writers and poets, we are true thaumaturges because we can make magic happen: with a bit of mental legerdemain, along with some pen and paper (or keyboard) prestidigitation, we create pigeons and billiard balls out of whole cloth, and somehow manage to pull word-rabbits out of hats, too.  (And smell like peppermint in the process!)

'Magic Wand' (a collage on paper) - image courtesy of Randel Plowman/a collage a day

poemagic

“I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.” ~Steve Martin

“There is something magical in seeing what you can do, what texture and tone and colour you can produce merely with a pen point and a bottle of ink.” ~Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

I can do magic.

From a blank piece of paper

I made a poem.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

'Tis!

So...have you gotten your Irish on?

My kids were spraying green coloring stuff into their hair this morning before leaving for school today.  They looked - well, greenish.  I guess I should be grateful that they didn't spray the dog, too.

Anyway...the theme today is about all things related to the Irish festival which celebrates the fellow who sent the snakes packing from the Ould Sod.  The March Challenge said to write about courage.  Theme Thursday presented writers with a photo of a very green plant.

So...have a great day full of luck, courage and fun!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Shamrock

What’s this?  Ah yes, a four-leaf clover.

Shamrock (plus one leaf.)  Moreover,

 the former is for luck that’s fair.

The latter stands for all that’s Eire.

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Irish Kiss

“To me, there is no greater act of courage than being the one who kisses first. ~Janeane Garafalo

‘Tis St. Patrick’s Day.

Snakes go all hiss.  Me?

      I say raise a glass…      

c’mon and kiss me.

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Shamrock Shakes

I love to drink those Shamrock Shakes.

It’s one cool thing McDonald’s makes.

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John Courage Ale

When bravery's what needs manurage,

I say, “Barkeep – a pint of Courage.”

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(Note: 'manurage' is an obsolete term meaning cultivation.)

More Randomness

The prompt sites I visited today had some terrific words and ideas for writing inspiration, but - at least for a few of them - kind of reined me in from writing silly or funny stuff, which is a sweet spot for me.  Nevertheless, that's a good thing, because it forces me to stretch my creative muscle and focus in a different way.  So, that's what I did (although I still managed to get in a few silly and funny things, too.)

Cloaked Monk's March Challenge put forth 'slavery' in honor of Harriet Tubman Day. Theme Thursday gave a word and picture prompt of 'space.' Poets United Thursday Think Tank provided the theme of 'ghosts' and finally (from yesterday, actually) Poetic Asides wanted to see a 'turn around poem.'

Image courtesy of HarrietTubmanBiography

Slavery

“If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” ~Abraham Lincoln, letter to A. G. Hodges, Apr. 4, 1864

The wrongness of it

is compounded only by

the act of silence.

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Philosopher Insult

“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.” ~Democritus, Greek philosopher, 460-370 BC

You are but atoms

(in my humble opinion)

plus some empty space.

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What Haunts You

“Eat, drink and be scary”.  ~Author Unknown

Overindulgence

is a ghost that’s been known to

come back and haunt you.

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Image courtesy of QuoteSnack

Turned ‘Round Words

Fighting a liar,
a blushing crow
are just a few
Spoonerisms I know.

A half-warmed fish,
nicking your pose -
these things are fun
in poem or prose.

Soul of ballad,
a lack of pies...
Turned ‘round words

cannot disguise

those belly jeans.
Go help me sod.
The list goes on,
despite how odd

it beams to sea,
that’s the pun fart
‘cause Spoonerisms
are linguistic art.

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