24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
I grew up in Southern Colorado's San Luis Valley, positioned between the beautiful San Juan Mountains to the west and the breath-taking Sangre De Christo Mountains to the east. I am currently living in Utah. I am a father of four amazing children. My wife and I have two of my children with granddaughters living at home with us. I am now, the proud grandpa of three beautiful granddaughters. The two oldest call me Papa. A name that is more endearing than any other. I enjoy late evening swims, reading books, gardening, painting with the assistance of computer technology (GIMP) and taking hikes in the Utah and Colorado mountains and foothills. And of course, I also enjoy writing poetry and sharing it with my friends and family. I have had my personal struggles in life and poetry has helped me come out victorious over them.
Ballon people need:
a lot of hot air to lift them up,
an aversion to gravity to pull them down,
the need to rise higher than the rest,
but,
there is never enough hot air to infinitely lift
and,
there is always gravity
to remind ballon people
they can’t always be higher than
everyone else.
And is inclusive
But is restrictive.
But is for ballon people.
And is for everyone else—
Realizing gravity is a good idea.
Norma Lee’s a square lady, a carpenter’s saint.
She’s never untrue, all things wrong in restraint.
If you’re wanting an icon of what’s rightful and true.
Pray Saint Norma will guide you in all that you do.
She’ll not accept angles or angels of a differing degree
greater or smaller than what right should be.
For conventional people, she’ll always be there.
To keep things in line and everything square.
But, if you, in a round world, you find yourself slip.
Don’t pray for Saint Norma, she’ll abandon your ship.
You might need to take courage in making new rules,
You’ll need— pray obtusely to less linear fools.
And you’ll find you’re all right with things lesser than straight.
You’ll learn that your world won’t always seem great.
You’ll be less inclined to seek Norma that often
Yes, right angles are “perfect,” but it’s round things that soften.
(Entry 1 of 2)
mal-
Definition of mal- (Entry 2 of 2)
Text Prompt
Write a poem exploring the word normal. It could be in the context of pre-pandemic life and the present, how normal needs to be better,or about how normal has always been different within your family. Any interpretation or interaction with the word normal, works as a response to this prompt.
Idea contributed by Shirley Durr.
Image Prompt
Feet talk.
They say where.
They say how—
far
high,
deep
slow
fast
—you go
Your brain says to your feet;
“I wonder”, and your feet takes the lead—
to wander.
To see new things.
to go—
beyond what you already know.
To the omnipresent.
Text Prompt
Write a poem about walking without ever using the world walking in it.
Oh, manly man afloat in your boat.
With your billy goat beard that you so rightly tout.
The oceans for virile, strong, striplings like you;
pirates and limeys, a seven seas crew.
Through thick and thin you hoist your proud sails,
A real chock a block as you knock seven bells.
Will you go down with the ship in your inverted boat?
No, “Land Ho!” comes a shout from your throat.
Remember, nature sings with a laconic tongue
She echos the truth where primal beauty has sprung.
that the strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.
Her music and dance will ensure you stay young.
If you plant your heart gladly where all beauty has sprung
So that the strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.
Text Prompt
Grab a book from your shelf. Read the last line in it. You have to use that line as the first or last line of your poem (with credit). If you don’t have any books near you load this page, and scan down till you find the right one.
I cut spring flowers;
poppies, iris, and peonies,
for the windowsill.
Next, I pick;
geraniums and summer roses,
Snowy memories:
bloom and dance,
outside my windowsill.
Text Prompt
Write a poem that repeats the same line three times, and then end on a variation of the repeated line. It could be a little different, or vary different, depending on what serves the poem best.
Image Prompt: Prompt for hour 2
The day,
the Night,
the rising—
setting
suns
Are merging—
now
and then.
I witness the,
synchronicity—
of us.
Are we all not
synchro-nauts,
warped in time?
thin paperback gift
sculptures made from living trees
bonsai in a book
Sitting down in our house can be—
Risky.
Kikuyu my mini pet triceratops likes nesting on—
Cushions.
You see, Kikuyu has superpowers, she is—
Invisible.
She is also magical and whoever she touches—
Shrinks.
She makes you small enough you can ride her to—
Everywhere.
She can take you anywhere because she can read—
minds.
All you have to do is think of a place and pow you’ve—
arrived.
If you are my friend I will ask Kukuyu to give you an—
imagination too.