This is a prompting Blog

My intent here is to write a poem from the prompt I give to you , the reader, in hopes that it will inspire something and get others to write with me.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Multi-Prompt Monday

Today is Multi-Prompt Monday here at Dodge Writes, which means the blogs we follow are going to be crammed into one or two poems. If you are joining us today on this adventure please note it is not necessary for you to do these prompts this way, but we do hope you stop in at each of these wonderful sites. You will enjoy each of them, make sure you link yours in and read as many as you can, they are really worth the time !


Today's prompts ...
Here at Dodge Writes we prompt you with another finish this line... The rules are it must be the first line of your write with no changes, you may write yours in prose or any form of poetry.. Today's line is ... TWO DOLLAR PISTOLS BLAZING AWAY


Monday's Child #46 @ http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/  gives us this wonderful picture prompt...

Illustration by: Carmen L. Browne - 1917


Monday Memories - #17 @ http://memories-on-mondays.blogspot.com/  Josie is writing hers about 'Grandma's green thumb',  and adds ' Maybe you can share a story of one of your grandparents or any relative that holds a special place in your heart.'  We'll do just that !!
 
 OSP @ http://onestoppoetry.com/ Has a new form by Luke Prater, An Octain ...
Structure:
eight lines as two tercets (three-line stanzas) and a couplet, eight syllables per line with the first line repeated (as much as possible) as the last. Meter is iambic or trochaic tetrameter, but fine to just count eight syllables per line for those who prefer that.
Rhyme scheme:
A-b-b
a-c/c-a
b-A
(A = repeated refrain line. ‘c/c’ refers to line five having midline (internal) rhyme, which is different to the a- and b-rhymes)

Please go to One Stop for more on Luke and his form, well worth it !!

SO OFF WE GO... OURS ARE...

Grandma's thumb was an evergreen
made of hours toiled in the sun
her guidance made growing stuff fun

Her strawberry and tangerine
were a juicy treat, oh so sweet
better than the finest cuisine

Her knowledge passed down to this one
now my thumb is an evergreen




AND...
 
Two dollar pistols blazing away
popping off caps, his usual play,
Cowboys and Indians with his friends
back yard play the fun never ends
 
But today he is playing with something new
Pail by his side and shovel too
the waters flow in pools dug by him 
he looks for shells that might flow in
 
Squealing delight he curiously grabs
the new found joy in the small sand crabs
bubbles of air pop through the sand
he starts digging for them with his hands
 
Collecting them up in his colorful pail
with enthusiasm he can not curtail
hours of play in the warm sunshine
a lasting memory snapshots of time
 
 
Four in Two, how 'bout you ?
Our Mr Linky awaits, Hook up your link too please...
 
YOUR TURN
ENJOY
JL&B
 






17 comments:

  1. Hey, now I found your Octaine too! Nice one. I had a grandma with a green thumb too. Like the evergreen play on words. Your second poem is good too. Really nice flow to it. Cheers!

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  2. I love the nostalgia of the octain... and funny that I was thinking of my grandmother for this write too... Pity my brain is like jelly today - no words.

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  3. I can relate to both, the first reminds me of my grandma and the second of my son. Well done!

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  4. Yes I think this is a good octain. Your rhyme scheme is spot on. And while you made no attempt at iamb/anapest feet - your count was an exact eight in each line which I believe Luke said was fine. Certainly the lines gave a lovely image of a certain time and evoked a good deal of nostalgia. Well done. Gay

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  5. Clever as even JL.
    How do you do it?
    My well of inspiration is dry.

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  6. Your grandma reminds me of my dad, and my thumb has just started to turn green. Second stanza was my favorite. Great poem! :D

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  7. Hi JL -

    You nailed the form, other than line two has only 7 syllables rather than the full 8. Perhaps you counted 'hours' as two? It's one of those tricky diphthong words where the vowel sound in the middle changes as you speak it so it appears have that extra syllable but in fact it doesn't (like 'beer'). I like your theme it made me feel a little nostalgic as I read the poem; effective variation of the refrain line to bring a sense of progression and closure also.

    My favourite lines are your refrain and line two; the image of a thumb metaphorically made green from hours in the sun (toiling or not) is a wonderful one, as if almost it was a part of the garden itself. We say 'greenfingers' here in the UK.

    Thanks for trying the Octain!

    Cheers, Luke

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  8. I love them both, especially the first one. It reminds me of my grandma. Now I know where you got the green thumb. My mother had a green thumb but unfortunly I didn't inherit it..

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  9. Smiling! You definitely got your gardening skills from her. Love them both...

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  10. I love that last piece. So playful!

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  11. A lovely whimsy and so delightfully lyrical. Much enjoyed! ~ Rose

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  12. The first one is so sweet and the second one so playful! Well done, you've had a busy day!

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  13. IT was wonderful. Glad I read.

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  14. octain was great !! and so much full of nostalgia :)

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  15. Finally I am getting around to read and comment, and I loved these poems. My Grandma had the same gift of growing things - veggies and flowers, and I remember her gardens and window pots still. I loved your second poem just as much, it brought back memories of the rare beach visits in my life, one just last year, where I played in the sand and collected shells is a bright yellow pail! :-) Thank you for being such a loyal supporter of Monday Memories!
    ~Josie Two Shoes~
    Two Shoes In Texas 
    Monday Memories
    Write A Letter Wednesday
    Words In Motion

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