Happy Tuesday, everybody, and welcome back for Day 2 of Na/GloPoWriMo. Hopefully, Day 1 whetted your
appetite for verse, and now you’re ready for seconds.
Our featured participant for the day is A Rhyme a Day, where the response to Day 1’s prompt cleverly blends
the memory of reading a book with the memory of what was going on in the poet’s life while reading it.
Today’s poetry resource is Secret Chords, an Instagram account where you will find a new poem every day.
Finally, here’s today’s optional prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a platonic love poem. In
other words, a poem not about a romantic partner, but some other kind of love – your love for your sister,
or a friend, or even your love for a really good Chicago deep dish pizza. The poem should be written directly
to the object of your affections (like a letter is written to “you”), and should describe at least three memories
of you engaging with that person/thing.
Happy writing!
(first draft)
Letter to My Shadow
Newly returned from globetrotting this evening, I went to check the mailbox. And as I reached to retrieve the junk mail, under the light of the moon I saw you.
You lent me a hand, you gifted me your presence and it never occurred to me to thank you. So tonight in the darkness of the bedroom I’ll pen to you a letter.
Oh, yeah, last year I wrote a book of poetry about you and your many antics. The book faired well but it’s obviously, not fair, that I haven’t had the decency to thank you.
No one knows me better than you, dear anima: no one’s most familiar with my many moods and ways. And I also know you need no code or preamble and least of all, scat song to sway.
Still, I think, no one knows you better than I do: You’d soon slide off a full moon with me, if my legs ever dared to walk me there—you’d hold my hand, enraptured and land us back home fair and square.
Sometimes I see you steal over the horizon at daybreak or hide between the blinds, but when sunshine sluices me with her aura, you’re right there standing tall by my side.
That dawn long ago when I met the bright-eyed sun in the forest—the day she blasted me with her rays— You were there holding me from falling and anointing me with your otherworldly scent.
And through childhood, when I’d steal outside to count stars or to catch fireflies to hold in a jar for one night. You stayed by my side and taught me how to never ever be afraid of the dark.
Ah! Penumbra that outlines my very soul—you are by far the best. My appreciation is late but the sentiment is evergreen. Come near me, my loyal companion, I love you. Lay your head upon my chest tonight.
© selma
This is my fourth try at National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), and this go-
round I’ll try not to spend so much time ‘perfecting’ a task that needs more time
to reach a satisfactory closure. I’m a slow poke after all…
You, my friends, are the first to see me in this vulnerable state. If you think of a
better word to fit in the first draft presented here, please don’t hold back–let me
know. I will be forever grateful. Thanks for being here with me as I try to work on
these poems on my phone. Outdoors, weather permitting.
Thanks for reading my Day 2 poem to a platonic love. I bless you.
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Magnificent! Gorgeous words, Selma, and such a joy to read them. 😊
Mike, you’re lovely for encouraging me so. Thank you for sparing those words on me. Bless you.
<3
Thanks Beth. 🙇🏽♀️
Brilliant, our shadow as a loyal friend.
Diana. Thanks. 🙏
Hi Selma, a lovely poem for day 2 of the challenge 💕
Thanks Robbie
Friends, and because these will be composed on iPhone, I apologize for the formatting. (I prefer single spacing) thank you 🙏 😊
Good for you for doing the challenge. i did it once…phew. Shadow is a good choice for this prompt.
Thanks VJ. It’s fun but lots of work too. And for me—who need time for words to marinate to fill space and feels—it’s hard to write a complete poem in one day and socialize in that platform too. But with every try it gets a bit easier. I really enjoy it.
Thanks, VJ, for thinking my theme a good choice for this one. 😜
I do have a thing about shadows. Bless you. Xoxo
You’re welcome. I’m a shadow fan too 😊
😀 🤗
I love it Selma..it was a fun read ❤️👏
Thanks sincerely, Mich XO
Love it! Every word was sheer poetry and it did remind me of your beautiful book. It also made me fall in love with my shadow. Thank you. XXX
You’re a gem. Thanks
Love it! Each word was sheer poetry. It did remind me of your beautiful book, Selma and made me fall in love with my own shadow. Thank you. XXX
So sorry you were left stranded and unsure if the comments registered. I’ve no idea what’s happening.
The settings are how they’ve always been with comments.
Well, I got both your messages. Thanks dearly.
That’s okay, Selma. I enjoyed your poem.
I just saw so many comments from bloggers in my spam folder for some reason. I have no idea how it works.
Beautiful poetry!
Thanks, Heather.
You’re welcome.
So beautifully written Selma.
Thanks, Sadje, dear friend.
You’re welcome 😉
Love it Selma
Aww, Thanks Maggie.
My pleasure Selma🤗
You’re welcome 🙂
🤗 🤗 Diana. 💗
Beautiful, Selma. You have such a wholesome energy ❤️
Forever entwined. (K)
Joined at the waistline like thieves 😂
Such a beautiful poem, Selma! I’m not participating because I have too much other stuff going on. Yesterday, I had to stop and get our taxes done. But I love reading everybody’s poems. Thanks for sharing!
An enchanting poem, Selma. Our shadow is confirmation that we exist. 😊❤️