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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Opposites Inside

Thanks to Diane Mayr at Random Noodling for being our host today for Poetry Friday.  The round-up is there if you want to join us.  Diane says "Yee ha!"  So come on over.

          And also thanks to Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect for her Monday poetry lessons, suggesting a new challenge for writing each Monday.  On this day, she wrote about the structure of a trimeric, which I tried.  I have written about our drought here in Colorado and across the US several times this summer, so again I did, using Tricia's idea.  Then, two nights ago, it rained, starting in the middle of the night, lasting until about lunch time. Heaven in a raindrop!  For today's sharing, I offer my wet and dry trimerics.



              Dry


Clouds crowd the sun
out of the picture.
They leak into the evening
I wouldn’t call it rain.

Out of the picture,
this saving of crops by farmers.
Corn droops in sorrow.

They leak into the evening
drop by drop by drop,
offending my ears.

I wouldn’t call it rain
but only teasing tears.
Prayers ignored again.





                          Wet

Waking, not sure what to blame,
Tapping, tapping at windowpane.
Not just sprinkles, real downpour;
I simply pray for more and more.

Tapping, tapping at windowpane,
I feel grateful for all the rain.
The wind blows, heaven knows

not just sprinkles, real downpour.
Trees are dancing, flowers soar,
umbrellas jiggle and raincoats wiggle,

I simply pray for more and more.
Then rush to peek out windows four
Celebrate streams, not just dreams.





drought - photo credit: jaxxon via photo pin cc

rain - photo credit: Kerekes János Csongor via photo pin cc


32 comments:

  1. Well done, Linda! The wet one is delightfully exuberant! This stanza is my favorite:
    not just sprinkles, real downpour.
    Trees are dancing, flowers soar,
    umbrellas jiggle and raincoats wiggle,

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    1. Thank you, Diane. It is certainly fun to write about our 'heavenly' occurrence.

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  2. Ooh, I want to try one of these. So rhyming is optional? Very clever how "Dry" is unrhymed, sparse, a little word-drought of its own, then you pour on the rhythm and rhyme for "Wet." I think these are my favorites so far of your delightful poems! Really well done! For some reason, the simple line "I wouldn't call it rain" is sticking with me, making images in my head. I like! :)

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    1. Yes, you are right, Renee, rhyme is optional. Somehow, the rhymes just came in for the second one, wet. Thanks!

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  3. I hadn't heard of "trimerics," and now you and Mary Lee are sharing them the same day! Writing about opposites was a great idea, Linda. Very poignant.

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    1. Thank you, Tabatha. I am really intrigued by this form. Might work on it some more.

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  4. Heaven in a raindrop, indeed! Yay for your poems and for the arrival of rain where it's most needed. You've done a wonderful job with these. More!

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    1. It was just the best to hear those sounds, Irene. The trees must have felt so good. Thanks.

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  5. "Corn droops in sorrow"
    "Celebrate streams, not just dreams"
    These are lovely, Linda! I am wondering if you have a collection of opposites on the mind?
    Like others, I too am hankering to try this form...
    a.

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I believe you've just given me a very good idea! Perhaps different forms, but opposites?

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  6. "I wouldn't call it rain" says it all -- so much longing in that line.

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  7. Alliteration and Repetition. I love it. I love that it does sound like a prayer the way you say 'more and more'. And I love how you 'teasing tears' as its not rain. That phrase sort of capture it all...how it hurts to not have rain yet.

    thanks linda for sharing this. I'm glad to be able to visit other blogs and especially yours when i can. Myra is the more active one in the comment department, but glad to be able to do this once in a blue moon.

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    1. Thanks, Iphigene. I appreciate your comments when they come!

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  8. What a fabulous pair of poems, Linda. The longing in the first, the gratitude in the second are beautifully expressed. Happy to hear you finally got some rain . . . BTW, does Gene Kelly know about you? :)

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    1. I wish Gene Kelly did! I used to watch & dream... 'singin' in the rain'! Thanks for the reminder, Jama.

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  9. "I wouldn't call it rain" really stands out for me too. This is a wonderful pair of poems. I will have to try that form one day soon. You've done it so well!

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    1. Thank you Andi. I hope you do try it; it is a fun challenge.

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  10. Great trimerics. Like the juxtaposition of DRY and WET. Well done. Thank you for sharing these.

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    1. You are welcome, Joy. Thanks for the compliment.

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  11. That's a fascinating form and I really love the contrast in tone between the two.

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    1. I thought the change in tone really fit my feelings about both. Thanks for noticing, Katya.

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  12. I love how your first poem has that 'pinch me because this can't be happening' feeling. I must read up on the timeric form, but I'm hearing repeating lines, that work almost like incantations. Magical. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Violet. If you click on the link to Tricia's blog, she gives the exact structure.

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  13. Bravo, trimeric pal!! Love the pairing! And, having lived through that driest of dry (even more severe out east of where the clouds come over the mountains and MIGHT drop their moisture), I well remember the joy when rain FINALLY comes. As a kid, we played in the gutters in the street during rainstorms -- those were the only rivers of my childhood.

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    1. Thank you Mary Lee. I hear you! We missed those afternoon thunderstorms this summer very, very much.

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  14. I love them too. I love the form and how well you used it and the contrast between the two poems. You have so many good lines here.

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    1. Thank you Liz. I shared your acorn poem with several teachers yesterday, so they can share with their students.

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  15. This is a new form for me, and bravo to you for giving it a try! I love the juxtaposition of the two - the sorrow of drought and the gratitude for rain. Clouds leaking into the evening....that line just sticks with me....what an inventive poet you are, my friend!

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    1. Thank you Tara. Perhaps you'll try it sometime? Have a good weekend.

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  16. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing these.

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    1. You're welcome, Ruth. I hope the year is going well so far.

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