#wpad July challenge - A piece of my writing

A PIECE OF MY WRITING

I wrote this as part of The Poetry School online course in Villanelles.  The object of this exercise was to use enjambment.

I Cannot Play the Waiting Game

I cannot play the waiting game with you

while roads remain unchartered out of here,

for when the sun is shining cares are few.

I want excitement! Everything that’s new

is like a boat that’s meant for me to steer.

I cannot play the waiting game with you

when chances beckon, call and coax and woo.

I can’t hold back; my pulses race and cheer,

for when the sun is shining cares are few.

My heart begins to stir and that’s my cue;

then morning skies come creeping blue and clear.

I cannot play the waiting game with you.

Nor can I stay when all within my view

are rainbow wishes leading me from here,

for when the sun is shining cares are few.

I know that to myself I must be true

and wasted chances fill heart with fear.

I cannot play the waiting game with you,

for when the sun is shining cares are few.

Three in one publication

Just heard today that I will have three things published in Areopagus' Christmas edition (Christian Writers Magazine).  They are a combination of three types of poem (one free verse about Advent, one with rhyming stanzas and the other a Haiku).  Of course, I am thrilled!

My last Villianelle was well received and now that course is finished.  I will write more in this form but right now I'd quite like to give it a rest!

I had my two poems printed in the OU Poets workbook and now I wait to see if I get any votes.  I have just done my voting on the poems from the last two editions.  Poems with the highest votes will be published in their Anthology next year.

Keeping up with courses!

If you read my other blog you'll know I've had quite a busy week with various activities and writing has been pushed out a bit.  However, I did manage to write my last Villanelle for my Poetry School course which still keeps a structure yet breaks some rules.  I wonder what everyone will make of it tomorrow night for our last live chat.

I also finished my 'Lobster' poem for the Thursday class.  We excelled ourselves I think as there were some really good poems.  I have rewritten the last few lines of the last stanza as suggested by tutor and fellow class mates and feel this is a better ending.

I have written a couple of new poems too, one is a Haiku, the other in three stanzas, so actually I have done better than I first thought considering lack of time.  Even so, I still need to read all the other Villanelle's before tomorrow night and make some notes.  I have another busy week coming up...in fact all weeks until Christmas seem busy now, but at least I will have one course less to prepare for every week.

I've just received a copy of Christopher James The Manly Art of Knitting and enjoying his poetic humour.

Grappling with online chat

Last week's live chat with The Poetry School was weird.  I was very nervous and once things got going everything happened so fast!  I made a few comments in the beginning and then it all kind of overtook me and I found myself just watching messages come up one after the other - it was almost hypnotic.  I couldn't think fast enough to keep up with others but I managed a few feeble attempts.  We discussed Auden's 'Villanelle' and then went on to comment on each others attempts one by one.  We ran out of time (even after two hours!) and mine along with three others were left for discussion in the forums.  Actually, this gave me time to think so that I was able to make a decent contribution over the next few days.  My villanelle received good comments (why does it always surprised me when people like what I write?) and everyone seemed to enjoy it including the tutor.

Today is the last day for uploading poems for the second assignment which is a villanelle written using enjambent on lines and stanzas (lines running into the next line or stanza).  I have decided to write something more humorous this time (my first was traditional and lyrical) with a play on words. I hope it will be well received as it is so different from my previous poem. I have also written a more traditional villanelle again but have decided to take a chance! The next 'chat' is Monday week and I hope that I might be more prepared for it this time.  Well, I can hope.  At least I wasn't the only one who struggled with it so that made me feel better.

Outlets and another course!

Back in the summer I became a member of OU Poets - the poetry society of the Open University (being a past student).  They produce a workbook with members poems about four times a year on which we can send in  comments on others work and make a note of our favourite poems.  At the end of the year members vote for their 20 favourites for the year for inclusion in the Society's annual anthology. Anyway, I have contributed for the first time with my comments and have submitted two poems (you are guaranteed to at least have one poem in the workbook).  I will now have to wait a while before I hear anything but at least I will be in print, though until a poem is actually published in the anthology it is not considered 'published'.

I have also started a short course with The Poetry School on writing a Villanelle.  It is an online course and tutorials and 'chat' take place on a Monday evening every other week.  Our first 'chat' is Monday 24th October but already we have had our first assignment and have uploaded our first Villanelle.  This form of poetry I have described in a previous post.  It is a challenge I relish (it can be very time consuming!).  I have to say there are some good ones from my fellow students and this course is open to all levels of poets and I certainly feel that there are quite a few who are more advanced than me!

I am extremely nervous about the live chat as I am not great at it.  I still can't gel with Facebook and Messenger is also alien to me.  I have already had to enlist the help of my IT savvy son to sort out Java for me (which I need for 'chat').  I've told him he'll be on stand by for Monday evening!

And still on the subject of writing a Villanelle......

Here is a site - WiseBadger- that explains in more detail how to plan and write your wonderful poem.  I told you there was planning involved...this idea uses a spreadsheet!  Good luck and why not share your efforts - come on be brave.l

Have a go at a Villanelle




Dylan Thomas

  Something for you to work on over the next week! 

Write a Villanelle:

This is a poem of 19 lines

• It has 5 stanzas, each with three lines and a final one of four lines
• The first line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the second and fourth stanzas
• The third line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the third and fifth stanzas
• These two refrain lines follow each other to become the second to last and last line of the poem
• The rhyme scheme is aba. The rhymes are repeated according to the refrains.

Got that?  If it's as clear as mud check out Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas,
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop or Reading Scheme by Wendy Cope.  Click the links to read them. 

If you feel brave post your musings here.