Today’s poem is, once again, from Rachel McKibbens’s treasury of fantastic writing exercises, this time #67. Rachel, thank you–you are saving my life over here!
ALTERNATE ENDINGS
Finally there is room in one town
for two gunslingers.
The governess fends off her master
and marries the mad lady locked away.
The dislikable climber deranged by speed and testosterone
is brought to safety.
The dying mother confesses she annealed her son’s heart
to prevent him from probing the cracks in her own,
and she lives.
The warrior wins his battle and
both of his loves.
The ship docks with its crystal intact
and everyone disembarks ahead of the hurricane.
The silver cloud shaped like a fish
tears a piece off its back to feed to the wind.
* * * * * * * *
Thanks for reading, dear Readers. Please stay tuned for a recap of NaPoWriMo in a day or two!
Rachel is the queen of the prompt!
She is indeed! But I’m mighty pleased to see the new prompt up today at your site, too. Any exercise paying tribute to Harold and the Purple Crayon has got to be terrific. I look forward to working through that one soon!
wonderful i love the silver cloud fish sharing of itself!
yes! yes!
Thank you both, Arna and Judy!
Love, Love, Love this line – poetic magic captured for all eternity!
The silver cloud shaped like a fish
tears a piece off its back to feed to the wind.
Thank you so much, Reno. I actually saw this happen yesterday over Orcas Island (in the Puget Sound, Washington State) just before sunset. Amazing sight–I couldn’t not write about it!
I have also lived in Lacey and used to hitchhike to Pioneer Square and Pike Street Market to hangout and feel the culture back in 80. So funny, I would go bonkers on my kids if I heard them say they hitchhiked. I took the fairy to Victoria Can. once and sailed past Orcas Island. So beautiful up there.
Rachel may be the queen of the prompt but you are the queen of the verse.
And I nominate you for queen of the universe!
You amaze and delight me, and you make me jealous. In a good way.
It was a fun month marathon. You rock, sister.
Back atchya, Dave. It was indeed fun! You rock on and on.
Amazing creations! Glad to find you here, looking forward to reading more of your poems. I love the idea of poetry that captures hiking and mythology. Peace and Light
Thank you ever so much, Leroy. Reading your blog, I sort of wish I had a big green turtle to do the walking for me! Many kinds of feet, but one journey…