Happy National Poetry Month! This April, I’m getting a bit of a late start with NaPoWriMo (though not as late a start as I did last year). I hope to write and post a new poem here every few days. In between, I plan to enjoy and comment on the poems posted by writer-friends who are also participating in this poem-a-day challenge.
My first poem is inspired by yesterday’s prompt from NaPoWriMo founder Maureen Thorson, to “write a poem that has the same first line as another poem,” and by David J. Bauman’s (a.k.a. The Dad Poet’s) lovely reading of Frank O’Hara’s poem “For Grace, After a Party.” (Instead of following the instructions, however, I borrowed O’Hara’s title, not his first line.) Here we go:
POEM BORROWING A TITLE FROM FRANK O’HARA
For Grace, after a party is the best time
for getting back into dancing.
For Grace, after a party is never as sweet
as that span of time just as the second drink
is kicking in and everyone is beginning
to feel hopeful.
For Grace, after a party means she can stop
apologizing about her hair.
For Grace, after a party is a time to uncorral her feelings
and watch them buck and snort across the pasture.
For Grace, after a party is an interlude
for considering which loved one to forgive.
For Grace, after a party is the perfect time
to practice scrambling eggs and holding
the weather, warm and calm, in her spoon.
I like this a lot! Grace is an intriguing persona. I especially like the parts about no longer apologizing for her hair, and deciding which loved one to forgive. The last stanza is a very strong, vivid ending.
Thank you so much, Marilyn! I think your poem borrowing e.e. cummings’ line “anyone lived in a pretty how town” and using the “anyone” character in such an interesting way must have inspired me.
Oh, Jennifer, you rock. I really enjoyed reading this. And I’m so tickled to have had some small part in its inspiration. Thank you for the kind props for my reading of O’Hara’s piece!
You’re so kind, David. Thank *you* for the fine inspiration! (And, as you can see, I borrowed the scrambled eggs and warm weather, too, from Mr. O’Hara.)
I love scrambled eggs, and it’s about time we had some warm weather here. I’ve been out buying some pretty pots to put new plants in for my courtyard. Perhaps a video will feature it this spring again. 🙂 Maybe I’ll even scramble some eggs out there.
You Pennsylvanians certainly deserve some warm weather by now! I’d love to see those new plants in a video.
My dirty little courtyard got a little air-play last April with the poem about my mother and Edna Saint Vincent Millay’s “Portrait of a Neighbor.” But I was never able to actually finish the work on it last year. I have plans for getting stones and I’m already getting some lovely pots. Next to plan the painting of the porch and balcony!
[…] job in finding a new direction for E. E. Cummings, “Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town.” Jennifer Bullis, who like me is apt to dis-remember the rules, borrowed the title of my reading from yesterday of […]
after the after party Grace does what?
Regards,
I’m pretty sure she wonders why the robins sound a little sad this morning.
After the party is where she gets to really relax and enjoy. This is well written.
Yes! Thank you very much, Silently.
Jennifer – funny- I found my way here thru Davids blog and then there you were leaving a kind comment for my froggy poem today. Loved this piece – the final stanza is just perfection! K
Thank you so much, Katherine! I look forward to exploring your gorgeous blog further.
I mean *Kathleen*. Sorry about that!
Glad you’re doing 30/30 this year, Jennifer! I’m doing it too! I’ve also taken on the task of creating a writing prompt every day for 30 days! Let me know if you use one! 🙂
My 30/30 poems are here: http://thirtythirty.org/ddmd
You have to register to see them, but I think it’s worth the three minutes! 😉
Best,
D
I saw that you’re posting prompts–fantastic! I look forward to using some, and I sure will let you know when I do. And I’m excited to see your poems, too!
LOVE!
Thank you, Arna!
xo