Day 6 of the 2012 November PAD Challenge
“Left. Right”
You stay there on the left
And I’ll stay right here
Keep your distance from me.
I hate this as much as you
But there’s just no way it seems
to meet at the middle.
Either I follow you on the left
Or you jump right next to me
Are the only options we’ve got.
Can we live this way?
I don’t know.
Left. Right.
Which way should we go?
It’s a text messaging world we live in nowadays. Admit it. We hardly call people anymore. We send text messages instead.
And we don’t like to answer phone calls as much either. We’d rather they send a message for us to read at a more convenient time.
I’m willing to bet, too, that probably close to 100% of us texters have sent a message in the car. No need to fess up, just as long as you’re aware now. And promise that before you touch that phone, you will pull over!
Day 5’s prompt comes from Amanda Laughtland.
Here’s Amanda’s prompt: Write a text message poem. Compose a poem in several short sections inspired by the compression of text messages. The poem might have one speaker or many speakers.
“Text Message”
stop
don’t do it
it’s not worth it
it can wait
your hands are busy
and so is your brain
stop
don’t do it
lives are at stake
you are important
so are they
control yourself
that text message
won’t go anywhere
you are driving
it will wait
DRIVE.
DON’T TEXT.
LIVE.
Distracted driving, including texting while driving, is the number one killer of American teens. Please share this infographic to educate the young adults in your life about this dangerous habit.
Day 4 of this challenge and I’d like to reminisce a little…
Marie’s prompt is: Take the phrase “Just Beneath (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then write the poem. Possible titles include “Just Beneath My Feet,” “Just Beneath This City,” or “Just Beneath the Surface.”
“Just Beneath”
Just beneath the sky
there’s a place I know
where dragonflies hover about
and kites soar high
above the fields of corn and wheat
In this place I hold dear
the neighbors’ houses are far
across the fields and bridge
while people’s hearts are near
and true friends are real
I miss this sanctuary
my home and my playground
my childhood palace of dreams
where the days are warm and breezy
and the nights are mysteriously cool
I long to hear the raindrops fall
gently on the leaves once more
and I want to breathe in
the fresh-wet earth and all
the sweet mountain air
I hope someday I will find
myself underneath that same sky
where my heart still lives
and longs for that kind
of simple life.
It’s scary trying to face one’s fears. That’s why the show “Fear Factor” was such a hit, right? Because we could never do what those contestants were doing – no matter how much money was involved! Seriously. No.
But then there are fears where you don’t really find out they scare you until after the first time.
And you would think that after the first time, I’d learn my lesson, yes? NO.
I’m talking about horror movies here, people. I like scary movies. But they scare me like heck! And after every horror flick, I vow never to see another one…until another good scary one comes along!
Oh well. That’s entertainment, right?
I’ll probaby have bad dreams tonight (and I apologize in advance for yours), but I AM going to face my fears – through writing. Even if I wasn’t getting any money for doing so, at least I’m safe. 🙂
Today’s Nov. PAD prompt comes from Joshua Gray.
Here’s Joshua’s prompt: Write a poem that scares you. It could be a scary movie or ghost story poem. It could be a poem about a secret in your past. It could be a poem about your worst fear. It just needs to bring up a scary/fearful/uncomfortable emotion as you write.
Incidentally, my friend Les is having a Coffee Chat all about lessons being learned. You might say, as for me, I haven’t learned my lesson yet. Bring on the scary movies!
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FEAR
I am not a very brave person
but I still like watching scary movies
that make me cover my eyes
and push the fast forward button
“Freddy Kruger” and his “Nightmare On Elm Street…”
I couldn’t sleep for days!
I’d keep my limbs inside the bed,
while I jumped roped in my head.
“One, two…Freddy’s coming for you…
Three, four…better shut the door…
Five, six…bring a crucifix…
Seven, eight…better lock the gate…
Nine, ten…never sleep again…”
Then there was “It.”
And I hated clowns since then.
I vowed I would never let my children
have parties with clowns for any reason.
“I am eternal, child. I am the eater of worlds, and of children. And you are next!
I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true.
Let go. Be afraid. You all taste so much better when you’re afraid.”
And my love for dolls almost ended
when I watched “Child’s Play” at the theater.
I stay away from orange-haired dolls
wearing red sneakers and blue overalls.
“Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna play?
Hi, I’m Chucky, and I’m your friend till the end.
Hidey-ho!”
And the scariest one…
the one that terrifies me completely…
because it’s based on a true story…
and makes me question my reality…
“The Exorcist”
Just saying the title makes me shiver!
I can’t get Regan out of my mind…
I say a little prayer now
and kiss every cross I can find.
“Demon: I’m not Regan.
Father Damien Karras: Well, then let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Damien Karras.
Demon: And I’m the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps.
Father Damien Karras: If you’re the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?
Demon: That’s much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.”
And now I’m going to crawl into bed
pull the covers over my head,
think of angels and daisies,
rainbows and pink ponies!
(I want my mommy!)
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Seriously folks, I want my mommy. I’m scared.
Poetic Ponderings 