#NaPoWriMo

Available 24/7

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 28 Comments

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Never preoccupied by screens screaming

unknown friends, nor business buzzing heads.

Mine sit in wait, pocket ready, stacked bedside,

cursive faded on the bathroom mirror. Ever-ready

to ask courageous questions, with reassuring palms

warmly press down on my shoulders. They lead

remind from behind, cocoon me from nightmare bombs

and disappearing green, when my inside raisins.

Trustworthy friends of ink, folded and unfolded

because the need is so great.
© Ali Grimshaw 2018

Poem in Your Pocket Day 2019 is on April 18 and is part of National Poetry Month. On this day, select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, street corners, and on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem.

“You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.”  – John Adams.

d’Verse Open Link Night #241

 

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The Listener

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 15 Comments

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Can you be

with your own silence?

Walking with yourself

wherever you go

naked

or clothed in words

that warm

or weigh you down.

Will you mirror

a friendly listener

hear your own voice

gently?

© Ali Grimshaw 2019

Shadows in Kauai, Hawaii 2018

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Today’s challenge is to write a poem that ends with a question. This poem was inspired by a fellow blogger, Pragalbha’s post. Thank you for the inspiration. I wrote this after reading her words today, “Being With Myself”

Beyond shore

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 9 Comments

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She never failed
to float him beyond
the current of his day.

He never resisted
slipping away with her
curved sides just right

perfect in their holding space
arcs to part waves
when he needed release

she took him far from shore
her motor always finely tuned
of that he made sure never to neglect.

© Ali Grimshaw 2019  (Rewrite from 2017)

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I’m so excited that it’s NaPoWriMo again. NaPoWriMo is an annual poetry challenge that takes place in April. The idea is to write a poem a day resulting in 30 poems in total. The NaPoWriMo site provides prompts if you want to use them. I have added to this challenge by reading poems every day of the month from several different sources. Click on the icon above to join in.

Safety Net

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 21 Comments

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I will embrace you

in this house of circumstance

walls cracked and cratered

plaster fallen failures.

Shelter you with my being

through the unavoidable crumbling

a steel umbrella in the storm.

I gave grown capable of being

the shelter, like the arch of

protection you once were

for me. I am solid

even as the erosion continues

with you under my wings.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

April 26: Poem in Your Pocket Day – celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with you and sharing it with others throughout the day and on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem. Share a poem that got you through a hard time or one that makes you laugh. Touch someone’s heart.

Morning Newsbreak

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

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The 5:00 am thud,

my front porch newspaper.

When will this sound disappear

from my listening landscape?

Like the comfort

of sounds, predictable life

before the robots were made.

When hands held headlines

faithful objects, a lifeline

of interpretation on paper thinness

read in gentle openness

played at morning speed of drowsy slow

accompanied by the aroma of coffee.

The illusion of a day with

news within my control.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

“It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men [and women] die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.”—William Carlos Williams

13 Ways to Support Poetry – guest blog post by Dick Allen  – A great article with specific ways to keep poetry alive in the world.

dVerse OpenLinkNight #218 – If you are looking for a community of poets you can find one here.

National Poetry Month – Fall in love with a poet.

 

Always Available 24/7

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 39 Comments

 

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Never preoccupied by screens screaming

unknown friends, nor business buzzing heads.

 

Mine sit in wait, pocket ready, stacked bedside,

cursive faded on the bathroom mirror. Ever-ready

 

to ask courageous questions, reassuring palms

warmly press down on my shoulders. They lead

 

remind from behind, cocoon me from nightmare bombs

and disappearing green, when my inside raisins.

 

Trustworthy friends of ink, folded and unfolded

because the need is so great.

 

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

This poem was inspired by the following quote from John Adams. “You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.” 

Ars Poetica – d’Verse

National Poetry Month – Fall in love with a poet.

Photo by Pixabay free images.