Today's prompts from Write Better Poetry and NaPoWriMo: (1) Write a poem with the title "Open _____", and (2) "write a poem in which a profession or vocation is described differently than it typically is considered to be. Perhaps your poem will feature a very relaxed brain surgeon, or a farmer that hates vegetables."
I went on a little bit of a tangent on this one. I was thinking about the "typewriter poets" I've heard about lately - folks who set up with a folding table and manual typewriter in a public place and create poems on the spot for passersby, sometimes for free, sometimes for a fee. Then I thought: What if such a poet was part of a carnival side show and had a barker to sing his praises? That would be an unusual subject for a barker, to be sure. My other inspiration was the "poetry tent", a fun venue at the annual Collingswood Book Festival near my home. (I have been a featured reader there a few times.) So here is the result of this mash-up:
to see some amazing feats of prosody and verse!
SEE the Tortured Poet, hammering away
on his old Smith-Corona, crumpled papers
and empty whiskey bottles strewn all around him!
SEE his amazing creations, the scintillating similes,
mesmerizing metaphors, alluring alliterations,
immersive iambics and powerful pentameters!
SEE the products of his labor come to life,
like Monsieur Villanelle,
who will not go gently into that good night!
SEE Dirty old Mr. Limerick, who once knew a man from Nantucket!
SEE Sister Sestina, who uses the same six words
to fascinating effect!
SEE Haiku-san, a man of few words which say oh so much!
And the piece de resistance, the resplendent Sonnet Sisters,
rumored to be of royal blood,
all fifteen of them, each wearing a crown!
I tell ya folks, you won’t regret this experience,
and it’s ONLY a dollah! So step right up
and experience the Poetry Tent! It’s right this way!
1 comment:
Only a dollah? Now THAT's. a bahgain!
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