APRIL 1, 2024
Hello, everyone. It’s the first day of NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo 2024, and we hope you’re eager to get writing. As usual, we’ll be featuring a participant each day, giving you a poetry resource, and – of course – an optional prompt to help you in case you’re having trouble with inspiration.
Today’s featured participant is Glenn Mitchell, whose response to our early-bird prompt brings us rhyme, wordplay, and a heartfelt theme.
This year, our poetry resources will focus on social media accounts (though we’ll have a few other things, too) that regularly post poems from books, magazines, and elsewhere, letting you discover new-to-you poets, and just get a quick fix of poetry from time to time. Today’s resource is the twitter account of the poet Tom Snarsky, where you will find a plethora of poems to peruse!
And now for our daily (and totally optional) prompt.
Today, we’d like to challenge you to write – without consulting the book – a poem that recounts the plot,
or some portion of the plot, of a novel that you remember having liked but that you haven’t read in a
long time.
Happy writing!
Florentino Ariza ails
from lovesickness to no avail
for Fermina Daza he wails
something likened to cholera
he endures emotional strains
accepts too the physical pains
proud of the thug of the chains
the fool lumbers with agony
fifty-one years, nine months, and four days
unrequited his love remains
martyred and tormented he stays
sacrificing himself for love
what kind of love did this man desire
half a life stifling the love aspired
if love is tacit the spark expires:
oft preached, lest you give love a way.
© selma
Love isn’t love until it’s given away.
Love is not love until it’s given a way.
“Love is of all passions
the strongest,
for it attacks simultaneously
the head,
the heart, and the senses.”
~ Leo Tsu
“This is your time, this is your dance.
Live every moment, leave nothing to chance.
Swim in the Sea, drink of the deep,
Embrace the mystery of all you could be.
What if tomorrow? And what if today?
Faced with the question,
Oh, what would you say?”
~ Michael W. Smith
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING.
HAPPY EASTER.
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo
- 44 words Quadrille: The Fields of Flanders - May 17, 2024
- Poetics: Left in the Lurch - May 16, 2024
- Wea’ve Written Weekly: There Is Another Sky—It’s Called Hope - May 16, 2024
Very interesting plot Selma.
Do you know the book, Sadje? Love in the Time of Cholera by Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez. It’s one of my faves. Glad you found it interesting. It is THAT exactly!
Thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings.
No unfortunately I haven’t read this book. But could infer much from your poem.
Love this Selma 🤗
Love in the Time of Cholera, Maggie. Spectacular read. Xoxo
Selma it is such a long time since I have read anything 🙄
I must make the time xox
Thank you 🙏
Yeah. Intentionally
<3
🤗
Lovely words written in. Selma!
Thanks, Raj.
Most welcome Selma 😊
Hi Selma! I like the rhyme scheme of your plot poem and the powerful phrase ‘proud of the thug of the chains’.
The rhythm—my very first Ovi/Ovee. So happy you liked it, dear Kim. Thanks for commenting. Blessings. Happy NaPo-ing
You have encouraged me to read this book Selma as so your poem resonates with me. I love your
fifty-one years, nine months, and four days
unrequited his love remains
As that particular age is creeping up on me this year!
The rhythm of this is lovely
The best comment. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. It’s such a great read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did/do. Happy writing. Xoxo
Love in the Time of Cholera, Maggie. Spectacular read. Xoxo
The wrong love chosen, expressed in a beautiful poem.
Hi Selma, I watched the move, ‘Love in the time of Cholera’ but I can’t remember it very clearly. I’m sure the book must be better though. I’ve added it to my TBR (Gosh! So many books to read). Your poem brings the story alive.
These lines have the touch of Shakespeare
‘what kind of love did this man desire
half a life stifling the love aspired
if love is tacit the spark expires:
oft preached, lest you give love a way.’
As if. As if… I’m a wannabe thazall but thanks for the comparison. Blessings.
Lol…let’s say he would be happy with this 🙂 . Hugs
Oh, one of my all time favorite books… your poem version gave me chills Selma…bravo👏👏👏
Ovilicious retelling of a tale with which I was unfamiliar. Fine work, this. Thanks!
Beautiful, Selma! Love how you tell it. I have this book in my to-read pile and I still haven’t got round to it! Well, now I simply must! 💕
I like the way you’ve used the ambiguity of the last line to illuminate the rest of your words. (K)
Wonderful plot summation, Selma. I loved the rhythm, the rhyme, the flow and the know.
Good work Selma ✨✨✨