Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 9

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:02:51 GMT

Remember: If you want an easy way to communicate about the November PAD Chapbook Challenge, you can join the #novpad discussion on Twitter. (And if you're not already, you can follow me @robertleebrewer.)

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For today's prompt, I want you to write a slippery poem. The subject can be about something slippery (snake, soap, etc.), or the poem itself can deal with a slippery subject (I'm thinking big concepts like that have words ending in -ism might fit the definition of a slippery subject). If in doubt, just write.

Here's my attempt for the day:

"notveryreadableforhumans"

Do not use the words crash or burn
at the airport. If I could, I would
make every kiss her kiss. On the clouds
below, a golden halo forms around
the shadow of our airplane. Our shadows
slide across the pavement. Our brains
are targets for marketing departments.

I'm not sure if she thinks about me
when I'm a mile above the earth
or wondering how long until we land.

Now, when my heart skips a beat,
I'm not sure if it's love or a signal
to call the doctor. Maybe the doctor
can tell me if it's love or something else.

Over by the buckeye tree, I watch
them all crash and burn. The teens
who live here slide in together. They
just don't know any better. I made
the same mistakes they will. Somewhere
below, a door creaks open. Somewhere
above, I slide through the stratosphere
and think about the way she kisses.

The heavy silence of early morning
when the sun rises whether I'm ready
or not. Anything new is a fear; we
are number one for take off. We
hope we won't crash and burn.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 8

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:15:22 GMT

Quick note: There seems to be some confusion over writing to a theme for the chapbook challenge. You do NOT need to write to a theme. If you do (as I've been trying to do throughout this month), then great. But it's not mandatory. Because while a theme may help enhance the success of a chapbook, what really matters is that it contain spectacular poems.

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For today's prompt, I want you to take the phrase "Should (blank)," replace the blank with a word or phrase, make that the title of your poem, and write your poem. Examples could be "Should I Buy This Outfit," "Should You Leave Before I Buy This Outfit," or "Should This Outfit Be in the Title? You Don't Even Know What This Outfit Looks Like Anyway." The Clash even wrote a song to this prompt (okay, they didn't write a song to this prompt, but their song fits this prompt) called, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Should She Burn Across the Atmosphere"

Here is the hand she held. Hers closed over mine
as if it were a trap. We stared across the field
and started walking to the forest. The deep, dark
forest. She may have nudged my foot. She may
have suggested the plan. We may have devised
the plan together. On second thought, we may
not have had a plan. But soon, the field turned
to fire, and we were both running. And laughing.
Because there was no escape. Because this is
exactly what we wanted: to run and to burn.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 7

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:12:51 GMT

After finishing today's poem, we'll be a full week through the challenge! Can you feel what I feel? That's right, it's progress!

For today's prompt, I want you to pick a plant (any plant), make that the title of your poem, and write a poem. Pretty simple. (Or is it?) Most people, including myself, immediately think of plants as organic creatures, but, of course, "plants" can also be places of employment or spies or...as you can see, there's always room for breaking outside the lines.

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Dionaea Muscipula"

Or more commonly, Venus Flytrap,
named for the Roman goddess of love:

This small carnivorous plant catches
animal prey that trips the bulb-like

trap. Each plant has four to seven leaves;
if it appears to have more, this is

a colony formed by rosettes split
underground. Found in nitrogen-poor

environments, the Venus Flytrap
tolerates fire well. In fact, Venus

depends on periodic burning
for its very survival. And rest.

Without a period of winter
dormancy, Venus Flytraps weaken

and die. Plants that find favorable
living conditions will live twenty

to thirty years resting and burning.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 6

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:59:09 GMT

Wow! We're already 20% of the way through this here challenge. Those who are behind or just getting started still have plenty of time to catch up, and those who've been keeping up can feel pretty good about the progress they've already made. And it's Friday! Yay!

For today's prompt, I want you to write a poem with (or about) someone (or something) covered. A person could be covered with a blanket or blanketed with darkness. Something could be covered by water or earth or anything you can think, I guess. Or you could write a poem about how you "have it covered," I suppose.

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Running it into the ground"

Saying it doesn't mean you mean it,
but if you mean it, you should say it,
and say it like you mean it, even if
you're not sure what you should say
or how to say it so that she knows
you really mean it, because she will
either believe that you mean it when
you say it or she won't, or she won't
know how to let you know that she
believes you mean it when you say it
like you mean it, because she's not
used to having someone say it like
he means it and really means it, so do
not let intent (yours or hers) hold you
back from saying what you mean when
you really mean it, because you really
could be damned if you do and damned
if you don't, but you won't really know
where you stand unless you mean it.

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If you want to discuss this prompt or poem, or just want to communicate with other poets throughout the month of November, go to Twitter.com and search on the hashtag #novpad. (And be sure to follow my Tweets from my handle @robertleebrewer.)

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If you want a resource to help you publish your poems after the month of November is over, then you should check out the 2010 Poet's Market (also known as the best Poet's Market ever). Click here to learn more.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 5

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:13:01 GMT

Over on Twitter, @taunalen created a hashtag for everyone to communicate about the November PAD Chapbook Challenge easily. The hashtag is #novpad. Just use the search box on the right-hand side of the Twitter application and search for novpad and you can participate in an ongoing conversation that might even go into January (as everyone revises and organizes their actual chapbook manuscripts). Use the hashtag to share comments/critiques of posted poems, links to your November PAD Chapbook Challenge poems on your personal blogs, revision tips, and whatever else springs to mind.

Also, if you're on Twitter and not following me yet, you can do so by finding me @robertleebrewer.

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For today's prompt, I want you to write a growth poem. This could be psychological or emotional growth, physical growth, or however you'd like to take it. Maybe your poem is about growing hair or growing hungry or growing impatient or...

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Don't grow old on me"

I was frightened to think I could
ever die, that I would die. Would
you look for me if I were lost? I'm
at the place where you got your
bike. Push throw to catch. Go back.
Two, one. It's in a building. And it's
somebody's. But you have to teach
it to fly. Look what I got. That's what
I have. In the middle of battle, they
can evolve. They can all evolve. But
it takes awhile. At the town right
before, you finally held my hand.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 4

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:52:12 GMT

Everyone's doing a great job so far! I'm already getting excited to see what kind of manuscripts will be trickling in during December and January.

For today's prompt, I want you to take the phrase "Maybe (blank)," replace the (blank) with a word or phrase, and write a poem using that new phrase as your title. Some example titles: "Maybe we really did need a bigger boat," "Maybe next time you'll listen to me," "Maybe never," "Maybe baby," and so on.

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Maybe my pulse"

A plane passes low
so that I wonder if
it will clear the trees.

Seriously, an asteroid
could be headed
for me right now.

The very next car
that runs a red light
may find me walking

across the street,
my feet heavy
with wondering how

and when I will go.
But it doesn't matter
as long as she is there

to lean over me, breathe
into me, and coax me
out of the darkness.

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 3

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:16:41 GMT

Well, I finally have Internet access again today. What a rough start to the challenge! On a positive note, I'm glad Brian was helping out, because he's the WritersDigest.com editor and was able to get everything working faster on Day 1 as a result. Just some super duper bad timing. Ugh!

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Today is a Tuesday, which means it's a "Two for Tuesday" prompt day. You can choose your favorite prompt; you can write one poem for each prompt; and/or you can blend the two prompts together. Your choice.

Prompt #1: Write a positive poem. Like how great writing a poem a day through November is.

Prompt #2: Write a negative poem. Like how un-great technological hiccups in November are.

Here's my attempt for the day:

"Negative Option"

Beyond this stream is a tree
in which she hides, ringing her bell
softly and waiting for the man
who wears wings and who she
wishes to surrender herself, but

he wanders inside a cave, feeling
his way along the stone walls, praising
the echo of his own footsteps and
the scraping of his wings. Meanwhile,

she waits and waits and knows
that no one will ever die and stay
dead. Of this, she is positive.

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Want to talk poetry today? Every Tuesday, we have a poetic discussion on Twitter, using the hashtag #poettues. If you use Twitter, be sure to friend me @robertleebrewer and join the conversation (or follow along silently). See you there!

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 2

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:25:50 GMT

Please continue thanking WritersDigest.com editor Brian Klems for posting today’s prompt for me. Yesterday, my brother had his wedding in Ohio, which I’m sure I’ll post about on my personal blog later this week, and today I’m on the road with Tammy and Baby Will traveling down I-75 back to Georgia. But to get back to Brian, please send him one more very enthusiastic “Thanks!” and visit one (or both) of his blogs if you don’t already: The Life of Dad (http://thelifeofdad.com) and Questions & Quandaries (http://blog.writersdigest.com/qq/).

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For today’s prompt, I want you to write a poem in which you look at something from a different angle. For instance, a chef could go out to eat at a restaurant where he’s not the chef, or a short person can look at the world from the vantage point of a tall person (maybe with the help of stilts or a stool or something). The predator could become the prey. The photographer could become the photographed. And so on and so forth.

Here’s my attempt for the day:

“What new heartbeat is this?”

We find a bench. I sit as she
stands next to an apple tree, tilts
her head and reaches her fingers
toward the fruit. Her other arm
points to the earth. Her hair brushes
her left shoulder leaving the skin
between her shoulder blades exposed
to my naked eye wandering
down to the rectangle of her
dress, her legs and the very earth
burning madly beneath her feet.

Robert

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 1

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:52:45 GMT

[SORRY FOR THE DELAY: TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES HAVE KEPT THE BLOG DOWN ALL DAY. OF COURSE, IT HAPPENED ON DAY 1 OF THE CHALLENGE. OUR SINCEREST APOLOGIES]

First off, I would like to thank WritersDigest.com editor Brian Klems for posting today’s prompt for me. My brother is getting married today. So, I’m most likely running around, smiling broadly, shaking hands of friends and family, and other proud older brother type stuff. (And if you’re wondering, yes, I’m the best man.) But to get back to Brian, please send him a “Thanks!” and visit one of his blogs if you don’t already: The Life of Dad (http://thelifeofdad.com) and Questions & Quandaries (http://blog.writersdigest.com/qq/).

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For today’s prompt, I want you to write a poem in which you (or something) enters something new. Sound abstract? Some examples: Write a poem in which you travel somewhere new. Or try some new exercise. Or diet. Or hair stylist. Or, well, I think you get the idea. And remember: It doesn’t have to be about you. You could, I suppose, write a poem about an insect entering a new phase of development. Or a plant being introduced to a new environment. And so on.

Here’s my attempt for the day:

“Entering Autumn”

She wears her shorts and hair short
even as she runs in long

sleeves when the leaves burn all shades
of yellow and red before

falling to the earth dead. She
runs past pumpkins and corn stalks

thinking of the lake she is
circling and that she once swam

across this summer, thinking
not again until next year.

Robert

2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge Rules & Stuff

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:12:12 GMT

First off, the November PAD Chapbook Challenge is all about the fun and poeming! During the month of November, don't worry so much about finished drafts; just get the rough drafts cranked out each day. After all, you've got December (and the rest of your life, for that matter) to edit.

That said, let's bring on the bulleted list:

You do NOT have to register anywhere to participate in the challenge. (Though if you want updates from the blog each day, you can sign up for an e-mail update or via RSS in the upper left-hand corner over there.)
The Challenge will begin sometime on the morning of November 1 (Eastern Time U.S.). The time can vary, but don't worry if your day is ending as this blog's is beginning, because...
The Challenge will continue until noon (Eastern Time U.S.) on December 1.
Beginning December 1, all participants will have the month of December to revise and organize their November poems into manuscripts of 10-20 pages (no more than one poem per page, though it's okay to have one poem that runs for multiple pages).
By midnight January 5, 2010, poets will need to e-mail their manuscripts (saved as either .doc or .txt) to me at robert.brewer@fwmedia.com with the subject line: My 2009 November PAD Chapbook MS
Poets do not have to post their poems to the blog to participate, BUT it's a lot more fun for everyone if you do. (And remember: This is all about fun and poeming, yo!)
I'll go through the manuscripts with the assistance of my wife, Tammy Foster Brewer (who's actually had two chapbooks published now, so she's kinda like an expert), and we'll announce a winner on Groundhog Day 2010.

There may be other rules, details, etc., which I've somehow overlooked, added later, but this gives a pretty good idea of what to expect. Can't wait to see everyone on Sunday morning!