A Wilted Poppy - Six Micropoems
optional prompt: Go micro!
Micropoetry. I found there are quite a few opinions as to the definition of micropoetry. Some include short poetry forms, haiku for instance. Others refer to Tweetku or Twitter poetry, which are limited to a 140 character count. 140 characters to me is quite long if we are looking for "micro" works. Some are written in text abbreviations, something I generally find too hard to make out. So... I give you a six, a selection of what I would consider "micro" poems. Some known short forms, others free-verse, and even (shudder) using text!
Essence - two
lines, six syllables each, with internal and end rhymes, any number of couplets
snow fall began at dawn
a bird call, twice then gone
drifts pile, the east winds moan
all the wild geese have flown
❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄
Dodoistu - 7/7/7/5
Lights are on at eight a. m.
Knowing it’s always darkest
the days before the solstice,
you still curse the day.
⛅ ⛅ ⛅ ⛅ ⛅ ⛅ ⛅ ⛅⛅ ⛅ ⛅
I broke another bowl today. My aching aging hands so like my mother's.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
Frost last night
The only bright spot remaining
A wilted poppy
🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀
Grey skies again this morning
The holiday lights fade into fog
I go back to bed
🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁 🌁
Translator, Please!
AIR
My </3
And Q_Q
YNK
I was 1NAM
FWIW
ISLY
(As I remember
My broken heart
And crying eyes
You never knew
I was one in a million
For what it’s worth
I still love you)
©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
I like the first one and the last one best. The first one because it does tell a little story, so it is sort of self-contained. The last one because it is clever, although I would never have got it without the translation.
ReplyDeleteI never could have written it without a list of messaging abbreviations!
DeleteOh, thank you so much for this vibrant collection!
ReplyDeleteI am always delighted to be introduced to new forms. I had not known of Essence or Dodoistu before and will happily add them to my repertoire.
Ha ha, I certainly needed that translation for the text poem. Very well done, good on you.
That text one just gives me a headache. I don't bother reading things like that. Fortunately, my children (adults) all use correct spelling and grammar for the most part when texting.
DeleteThe bowl. Broken. Mother's hands. I ache for my own mother. (The power of a handful of words. Thank you.)
ReplyDeleteThank you. I share that ache.
DeleteAny applause I offer up for these works will not be micro. Well done. I resisted using the translation & did pretty well, though "AIR" had me stumped. Great stuff. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you! Great your could work most of it out. I couldn't have!
DeleteI used to call them "mutant haiku." It's my kind of poetry. I find the lines almost interchangeable. I like the first one best.
ReplyDeleteI like that first form. It's new to me.
DeleteFun reading, most. I wasn't reading for favorites but I'll vote for dealing with the environment three. Narrow it down to going "back to bed."
ReplyDeleteI do that sometimes.
..
Back to bed is pretty routine here, it's been so grey for weeks.
DeleteThe first two were marvelous, broken bowl one was lovely ---in fact all were lovely EXCEPT the whatchamacallit which I passed by with great speed! You're amazingly talented. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I DO know that one! If I was posting on my phone I'd include a laughing emoji! Ha! No, I skip that kind of thing too. My kids use regular spelling and grammar texting. Which is how they mostly communicate with me (other than the one at home of course, he talks!). Thank you so much for your kind words. :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful collection of poetry. I have not heard of Essence or Dodoistu. Essence is an elegant form.
ReplyDeleteI like the 'poppy' poem, amazing imagery. The text poem gets me scratching my head, but the 'translation' is awesome. :)
I like the Essence form, and wanted at least one more couplet, but it just didn't come to me. The poppies did wilt a few nights ago, but they recovered.
DeleteImpossible to pick a favorite but if pressed, I'm partial to wild geese flown, as I can relate to that, my hands turning into my mother's and the darkest days which are upon us now.
ReplyDeleteThe broken bowl one left me wondering about the relationship between mother and child. I wonder if the later has been always anxious about growing up to be like the mother. The text one is impressive--thank you for the translation!
ReplyDeleteYour "Essence" brings on the winter chill. Is it okay to feel sad for the wilted poppy?
ReplyDelete