Day Twenty-Seven Prompt
Today, begin by reading Bernadette Mayer’s poem “The Lobelias of Fear.” Now write your own poem titled “The ________ of ________,” where the first blank is a very particular kind of plant or animal, and the second blank is an abstract noun. The poem should contain at least one simile that plays on double meanings or otherwise doesn’t quite make “sense,” and describe things or beings from very different times or places as co-existing in the same space.
THE WHALE OF THE WORTHY PURSUIT
(A WHALE OF A WORTHY PURSUIT)
Life is hard and unpredictable
Its ways, many and uncertain be
And the best course prevailing today
Is to hope to survive life unscathed
The gods are as temperamental
As we, humans, are surreptitious
And yet, we cannot desire it more
Nor can we desire it any less
Hard to count and harder to control
Is our quest for deep satisfaction
Our forefathers coined it happiness
But whose job is it to provide it?
Led astray by personal pleasures
Flouting the signs, verging on surfeit
Muscling through instead of enjoying
And with each win lacking contentment
Humans, for all our forward-thinking
Are blind like bats gazing at the sun
With shrinking brains on that old pursuit,
On edge in the midst of abundance
The meaning of happiness is subjective
But the recipe is the same all along
A sense of control over one's livelihood
Foremost guided by meaning and purpose
And embracing the follies of others.
© selma
Hi, dear friends. I hope you’ve been following along on the spectacular prompts by
Maureen Thorson every day. Wow, right? As for me, I’m still here. Not too strong,
but here nonetheless.
And I’ll have one more completed (personal achievement) badge for another
incredible April of challenging prompts. Phew, after this completion,
I’ll take a break from posting (but I’ll come see you).
Firstly, I need it, and secondly, in my country, we’ll celebrate the
golden week when Japan is basically closed for business until May 08th.
So before I go, or before you go, thank you sincerely for the support
you’ve given me again this year. You guys are the best, and it would have been
so lonely without you cheering me on. The best people are here in the WordPress
Reader. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks so much for reading, and happy national poetry writing month.
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This is a brilliantly written poem
Thanks so dearly, dear Sadje. I’ll try to make the rounds in the morning. I have so much to catch up on. Perhaps I’ll work on some WDYS prompt. Blessings on your Thursday, my friend. Now I lay me down to sleep. zzzzZs
Sweet dreams 😴
This prompt drew something amazing and beautiful out of you, Selma
~David
You know, David– I think you’re right. The poem wrote itself so fast. And it was one of my faves, really. Glad you caught this one. Bless you and good night. (lights out) xoxo
wow, this is so grand, Selma.
so very lovely, as always 🤍
Destiny, you are too kind. Bless you my dearest. xoxo
most welcome
Beautiful to read.. Thank you!
The pleasure is all mine, dear Athira. Thanks for the visit and comment. blessings.
My pleasure Selma, Have a great day ahead!
What a fabulous response to the prompt, Selma! This is so perfect! I didn’t even try to write to the prompt. Lol! Great poem!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading and commenting, dear sweet Yve. Blessings on your weekend. xo
I’ve been thinking a lot about form (traditional and contemporary) and free verse and “prose poetry” and (you know, you could drive yourself nuts going down this path of what is/is not poetry) and the only conclusion I can reach is that “poetry is in the eye of the beholder.” It’s all wordplay, but then isn’t all good, creative writing? Isn’t all good, creative writing “poetic”? So what is poetry but good, creative writing distilled to its bones – nothing to spare?
I enjoyed this, Selma. I always enjoy your poems. I am impressed not only that you have kept it up every day, but also that you tackled each of these prompts and different forms/challenges set before you. That’s not easy; they don’t always “speak to me” but I use them when nothing else does.
In that vein, I wrote one of my least favorite forms, today – in honor of the letter “V” (villainous villanelle vanquished!). Ugh. I much prefer the S’s of sonnets.
Holly, my sweet, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I am so running behind with comments and reading. I tried, really I tried. I will get there when I get there. V– I want to see that. Villanelle is one of the hard forms. I think I’ve published a total of two and that’s after tons of rewrites. Perhaps I should practice the form more. That and many others. But time… time runs away from me. I bet yours is stellar. I will come. give me time, my sweet.
You are so right,all creative writing is poetic. No doubt. Thanks, I enjoyed reading your thoughts. blessing you.
Congratulations on your commitment with your monthly responses to these inspiring prompts Selma. Bravo on your courage and tenacity. 👏🏼😍💖😘👏🏼
Kym Gordon Moore, sistah. Thanks for the encouraging comment. I bless you. xoxo
You are so very welcome Selma, and I receive that. Peace and blessings to you too my friend. 😊🙏🏼😘
This poem is amazing!!!! Selma Happy Poetry Month!
Belladonna, dear lady. Thanks. All those exclamation marks made me smile. hehe. thanks so much. Glad you like it. xoxo
Glad I mde youo smile! You’re so welcome
Selma, I wish you speed recovery, bounty of poems, success with completing your manuscript, and peaceful time off from online presence. Thank you for reading me. xoxo
Gloria, sweet Gloria, thanks. You are by far the best, my sweet. Thank YOU.
What a brilliant take on the prompt. I would not have knows what to write. You are very talented my friend.
You would have known what to write, Dearest. You are tops already. I am so happy with this comment. Thanks for gifting me such lovely words. Bless you…
You are very kind.
I like and support your recipe. Folly of others can be hard to embrace but the next time I’ll think of you and this poem and it will help. Happy holidays and hurrah for escaping any harm from the fall. See? That was your control of your livelihood. Be well, my friend.
Folly of others– the words fit into the form I aimed for, all it means is to be tolerant of others, and to mingle with the community. Hehe, I know you know and are already involved this way. Doing what brings you happiness. May we all know happiness. Thanks for the well wishes, my lovely. I am all better now (except today’s prompt, 29th, didn’t prompt my muse to act. Anyway… Thanks, loveliness. Love you. xoxo
Selma, this beautifully crafted poem is one to return to again and again. Deeply reflective and understanding of the human experience. Best wishes to you. 💖
Michelle Lee, so happy to know you enjoyed these words on happiness. May we all know happiness. Best wishes to you too. Stay sweet as you are. xoxo
Your replies and comments always feel genuinely personal and loving. Thanks for that, Selma. 💗
They are that. And I make every effort to reciprocate. If you found time to visit and comment I will do the same.
Um 😐 doesn’t always work, time wise you know, but I try. And then I visit you.
Forgive, this month hasn’t allowed time for much. Allow me to be a bit selfish with my time this April. I bless you. Xoxo
Thoughtful communication. Nothing to forgive. Best to take care of yourself. 🌸 Show yourself the love you show others. 💗
I think meeting the goal of writing a poem every day for a month would be very satisfying…kudos, Selma!
I scribble down poems every day, but don’t publish daily. It’s only when April comes around that I do it now: one poem a day to Maureen’s lovely prompts. My third year at it. It is satisfying indeed. Thanks for reading Lynn. Blessing you.
I enjoyed your ruminations as always. (K)
Thanks for reading my ruminations and enjoying too. Thanks, K. Blessings.
This is extra ordinary write a poem. You always nice prompt. Iam so glad. I enjoy your prompt.
I’m grateful for your support, dear Raj. Thanks and glad you enjoy my poems… xoxo
An amazing poem and love your steadfast commitment to the follow through Selma, Congrats!💞
Cindy, to publish a poem a day is no easy task for me. I tell you, this is hard work. But once a year will not kill me, right? Cindy, these prompts from Maureen Thorson are lovely. (I like prompts) And the new community I’ve found under this veil is just as special. Most poets, I only interact with in April. Every one is so busy. But still, I love it. Perhaps you’ll try it too? Hope so. Thanks for the comment. I bless you.
What a brilliant and profound poem, Selma! We all want to be happy, right? But the ways to achieve it can be confusing and vary from person to person.
I think your last verse sums it up very well.”A sense of control over one’s livelihood |Foremost guided by meaning and purpose|and embracing the follies of others.” <3 <3 <3
Cheryl, dear one. So happy you found this recipe on happiness to your liking and approval. There are many ways to cut a pie (maybe) but the ingredients are so simple, really. I wish happiness (and miracles) for evryone. Bless you . Thanks for commenting my sweet friend… xoxo
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Your recipe has made me realize I’m happier than I had realized. 😉 Your perseverance is inspiring!
Thanks so much for celebrating my efforts with your lovely support, my friend. You make it all worth it. xoxo
Well done, Selma.