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#NaPoWriMo: A Poem A Day – Day 23

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Hi everyone! Today is day Twenty-Three of the national poetry month competition. Only seven more days to go!

Here’s my offering >>>

DAY  TWENTY-THREE:

[Instructions:] From NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-Three …Write a poem in the style of Kay Ryan, whose poems tend to be short and snappy – with a lot of rhyme and soundplay. They also have a deceptive simplicity about them, like proverbs or aphorisms. Once you’ve read a few, you’ll see what I mean. Here’s her “Token Loss,” “Blue China Doorknob,” “Houdini,” and “Crustacean Island.”

 

keep your truth

shine your light

tell your stories

if people

wanted you

to be nice

complimentary 

they should have

reciprocated

such kind

generosity 

of spirit

let the waters

flow

from the 

stagnant pool

that marks 

the mind

of the

eternal

fool

 

Until today’s prompt, I remained in woeful ignorance of the wonderful poet, Kay Ryan. I will be taking a much closer look at her work from now on. Again, I went with free-style poetry as this prompt seemed to call for it.

My poem is inspired by a quote that Debby Kaye shared on one of her blog posts this week: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ~Anne Lamott. This resonated with me, and I’ve tried to pay homage to it today.

Have a wonderful day, everyone, and I’ll see you tomorrow with Day Twenty-Four on the NaPoWriMo 30 Day Poetry Challenge 🙂 

 

© Harmony Kent 2022

 

32 Comments on “#NaPoWriMo: A Poem A Day – Day 23”

  2. I was also not familiar with Kay Ryan, but as you say, I will be checking out her work. A fabulous response to the prompt, Harmony!

  6. I loved your poem Harmony. And so sweet of you to mention me and my post and one of the best quotes that will always resonate with me by Anne Lamott. Your poem was equally beautiful. Thank you.
    P.S. I think I’ve told you I subscribed to your blog 3 times. yet never get any post. Once again I just resigned up. <3

    • Thanks so much, Debby! 💕🙂
      WordPress is hilarious lately! 😂
      I’m finally getting your post notifications … or did I just jinx it?! Hugs 🤗

  12. Thanks for the introduction ot Kaye Ryan’s poetry, Harmony. I’m woefully uninformed, so you’ve been correcting that. Great job with the poem! And I enjoyed Lamott’s quote as your inspiration. Well done on all counts.

  14. The quote you based your poem on really hit me this morning. And your poem did, too. I’m so glad I read this today. Thank you, Harmony.

    • That’s good to know. It really hit me the other day when I read the quote. Sending hugs and wishes for a good weekend, Kymber 💕🙂

  15. Yes, well put. There’s far too much ‘niceness’ around, which isn’t at all the same as honest to goodness compassion.