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A Single (Terrible) Poem


 I did not buy the poetry book whose sample

Was page after page of essay and praise.

I'm not following the trumpets.

Today I follow the ringers--

Huzzah and call out the streets!

Lift your arm, swing the bell;

Call out the quiet, call out the neat

Call out the loud, call out the bold

Call out the wrong, call out the wise

We remember the bells

We shiver the skies.   

This isn't about...anything. It's not about nothing. It should go without saying that a poem shouldn't need an essay or a textbook to be what it is. And I'm not sure why, with a stack of poetry at hand to be read, one silly Kindle sample (and writer's block and anxiety and...) would push my buttons so badly. But seriously. Where is my parody book full of fake blurbs that runs for 50 pages and ends with a single (terrible) poem? 

-- Chrissa

Comments

  1. HelenAugust 14, 2021 at 2:05 PM

    Does it mean I'm off my rocker if I "GET" it? LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FireblossomAugust 14, 2021 at 2:52 PM

    I hate that when they go overboard with the huzzahs, especially if it's the author themselves doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Carrie Van HornAugust 14, 2021 at 3:55 PM

    Tooting one's own horn always sounds overly awful to others. You nailed this in my book my friend!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. indybevAugust 14, 2021 at 4:10 PM

    I love all the calling out.....sounds like they're all covered. Lift your arm, swing the bell, you got it, babe, give 'em hell!

    ReplyDelete
  5. robkistnerAugust 14, 2021 at 4:14 PM

    We remember the bells

    We shiver the skies.

    Exquisite Chrissa! 👍🙂

    ReplyDelete
  6. ✿August 14, 2021 at 5:34 PM

    “We remember the bells
    We shiver the skies. “

    Wow. I love that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gillena CoxAugust 15, 2021 at 3:36 AM

    You certainly calked out the right words for your mood. Bravo.
    Good Sunday

    Much❤love

    ReplyDelete
  8. hedgewitchAugust 15, 2021 at 6:47 AM

    At least you haven't added another terrible poem to the gigantic heap spewed out by the internet and all its tentacled aps. I enjoyed the language and cadence here, and the feeling of controlled impatience.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ms_liliAugust 15, 2021 at 11:24 AM

    Resonation is key. Ring the bells!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sherry Blue SkyAugust 15, 2021 at 11:51 AM

    I quite love this, especially "we shiver the skies".

    ReplyDelete
  11. JimAugust 15, 2021 at 8:01 PM

    I wouldn't buy it either. I have one Poetry writing book, I never finished it but it helped me a lot to get started. It was Ken Kooser's book, "The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets (2005)". He also has another, "Writing Brave and Free (2006)" which I did not buy. The first one cost me $5.00 on eBay postage paid.
    You line, "Lift your arm, swing the bell" reminded me when our College Provost was also on the board of directors on the Salvation Army. We were highly encouraged to take his recommendation of "ringing the bell at Christmas time, at least once. My favorite place to ring was the Pasadena (TX) Target Store.
    ..

    ReplyDelete

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