joanie

For the Flash Challenge 

I haven't been anywhere near the High Street yet! 

For the Flash Poetry Challenge - The passage of time 

I was unexpectedly moved while watching BBC's 'Trawlermen' this evening. I buy too many King-sized prawns! YET... it thrills me that fishing is the last remaining activity where Man still hunts! 

A haibun for the Flash poetry challenge 

Challenge of 'chocolate' in Flash Poetry - a swift response! 

Not sure why, really! 

Very much a 'spur-of-the-moment' reaction to the exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

.....just enjoying a G & T 

At last - I have posted my first sonnet. I THINK I have the technicalities right! 

It is very difficult! Bullying seems to be cut and dried - don't ever believe it! 

Started as a Found Poem on the front of today's Telegraph. "Crisis in Sudan - Look at the terrified women and children and you stare into the abyss of man's inhumanity to man." 

Harder work than working, but we had a great time! 

Just working, typing away, and couldn't resist a very swift response to the view out of my window...... 

A response to fevvers' exercise on Poetry Seminar 

A first draft as a result of the exercise in Poetry Seminar this week. 

A propos of nothing at all! Honestly! 

I seem to have done quite a few poems about the apple tree! 

In response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar 

For my challenge - week 36 in Flash Poetry. I never said that it had to be a recipe poem!! 

After Anna Akhmatova's 'Willow' - a first attempt! 

As requested by James... I wonder whether I have missed any 

...and it's almost May! 

My attempt! 

At the last minute - my contribution to my Flash Challenge! The truth about a special birthday treat at Marcus Wareing's at the Berkeley. 

This started as a reposnse to the exercise in Poetry Seminar but I think it has taken a different route! 

On gazing out while having a 'brew'! 

..........Surely, on holiday, we should be able to write beautiful poetry!!! I failed. 

It's quite pleasant at the moment, doing what has to be done, enjoying a lunch break - a 'Training Day'! All Hell will break loose tomorrow. 

Sometimes they just take over! 

My SECOND attempt to respond to Robert Frost's 'Acquaintance with the night' 

A continuation of an exercise in Poetry Seminar - I took 'Belief's hot mud' and tried to make it into something more.  

My response to Part 3 of fevver's exercise on Poetry Seminar 

For the Autumn challenge on Flash Poetry. I want to pick them but then I don't have the time to make blackberry jelly! 

Is it worth it? 

I was eating dinner, alone, thinking of the Jeremy Hooker... I can never resist the crusty roll .. it was poppy seeds... 

My response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar. I used a few pages from Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse' and Colette's 'le blé en herbe'. 

Second version of the exercise in Poetry Seminar. An attempt at a haibun-style piece. I have kept the original triplets and added prose. 

I'm not happy with the title but I'll wait for inspiration or suggestions!  

I live a mile from the sea and take it for granted! 

I'm not sure about this one. I just had to write something following a Friday the 13th visit to my lovely local castle! 

Very much a 'flash' - in between feeding the neighbour's cats and getting dinner! 

No comment!! 

An exercise in Poetry Seminar 

Well!! Four short lines and it's taken me all week! (I've been busy) 

What a lousy weekend - 50 hours of solid rain. A change of seasons today. 

Selfish gut reaction to something.... I might well delete in the light of day!  

An attempt in the style of Spike Milligan. 

We have been looking at 'Snow' by Louis MacNeice this week in Poetry Seminar. This is my reponse. 

Close to my heart right now! 

My excuse for not 'decorating' this year - (and having to take them all down again) - I'll look out of the window instead! 

I am definitely going to take stock soon!! Suggestions for a title, please! 

My first attempt at Haiku. Did I get it right? 

I thought that I had better make a contribution to 'European Day of Languages'! Not sure about the title. 

Don't you wish that you could just get on with it?! 

Temporary challenge in Flash Poetry! 

I wasn't totally sure how to deal with this so I have posted the original prose, taken from Sawday's 'Special Places to Stay: French Bed and Breakfast' plus the same text, lineated, and my own version. 

A response to Mary Oliver's 'Heron Rises From The Dark, Summer Pond', studied in Poetry Seminar this week. 

My attempt at Terza Rima, which we are looking at in Poetry Seminar this weeek. This took off in a totally unexpected direction!! I just let it go. 

A 'love' poem for Poetry Seminar 

When I was clearing out my parents' house after their deaths two years ago, I came across an envelope marked, 'Joan's poems (childhood)', which contained old sheets from an exercise book with various verses. This would have been written when I was about 8, I should think. I thought I would up-date it for a bit of fun! 

Typing as my hair is blown by a very welcome breeze from an oscillating fan! 

For the Flash Poetry Challenge. Take the first verse on its own, if you like, as it includes all the elements! 

Not sure about this one - just a few thoughts, really. 

For the Flash Poetry Challenge - 'Bank' 

I'm tempted by Flash Poetry's challenge this week! 

For the Challenge in 'Flash' 

memories! 

No apologies - if you don't understand it, you're lucky! 

I wasn't going to post this, as it was just a quick reponse to the Encyclopaedia Britannica's definition of a Found Poem, but in the absence of anything else, here goes... 

VERY experimental! An exercise in Poetry Seminar 

For findy's challenge in Flash Poetry - Turquoise 

A response to the exercise(s) in Poetry Seminar. Fix your teeth in before you try to read it aloud! 

I find it so much easier to write in rhyme, but, having read lots of poetry on WW, I think I ought to try something different. 

Because I have such admiration for those who can - both physically and metaphorically. 

I just want to curl up and go to sleep! 

...having seen Faye Dunaway on TV recently.... I wonder.. and I worry 

Busy day yesterday - I finally got it sorted! 

In response to Robert Frost's 'Fire and Ice', which we have been reading in the Poetry Seminar. 

It's just SO dark! .... and worse to come! 

My alphabet poem 

8.25pm - Just phenomenal! 

Following the recent postings re. Haiku, I am experimenting with 2-3-2! 

A gob-smacking response to "Hiya Miss!" 

For the 'item of clothing' challenge in Flash Poaetry. 

My response to the 'Virelay' exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

At last! Am I allowed to have the plural 'scales' as part of my rhyming 'thing' in the line with the radif? Nightmare = Poetry Seminar exercise! 

How many dance names can you spot? Corny, I know!! 

Just an observation - the cloud formations have been wonderful yet very strange these last few days. 

For the Flash Poetry challenge 

I have just been to the hairdresser's.... and ...I have just read this to my husband, whose response was "That's not a poem!" Oh, dear! 

My response 

I feel so awful - we have had jackdaws nesting in our chimney for the last three years and now we have decided to take action! They are sitting there, wondering why they can't get to their gorgeous nest, lined with down... but they have managed to remove the contraption which the builders put in place!! 

Just a thought as I enjoyed my starter! 

I [i]think[/i] that this is as a result of looking at Dorothy Molloy's poetry last week in Poetry Seminar.... but then, it might just be that I am entertaining my husband's elderly aunt for a week! 

I'm away for a couple of weeks now. Just cleaning before I set off! 

OK - I thought I'd come clean and post the sort of thing I write most often - written to be said aloud. 

For the Flash Poetry challenge 

My response to the Hone Tuwhare poem we have been looking at in Poetry Seminar this week. Not the same subject, but, I hope, the same sort of sentiments. 

My attempt at a tritina, which we have just started to look at in Poetry Seminar. 

For the Flash Poetry Challenge this week. 'Imprisonment' and 'Discovery' 

I hope I don't wake at 3am!! 

Flash Challenge 13 

Flash Poetry 2 

For the Flash Poetry Challnege 

Just how it is, right now......! 

..because I know that it's not right. 

A very late entry for the metre exercise in Poetry Seminar. I am just concerned that this metre will be common to too many poems, but I have tried to keep some of the 'feel' of it. See what you think! The rhyme scheme is the same. 

Another response to the 'Step outside' exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

Flash Poetry Week 37 Challenge 

A haiku for soulmates everywhere! 

First and Last exercise in Poetry Seminar 

A second attempt at magnetic poetry, which we are looking at in Poetry Seminar, using a different set of words. My first attempt is added at the end. 

Week 32 Challenge in Flash Poetry. My attempt at a 'Fib'! 

The sea was wild today! 

...although it is a mill-pond just now 

A response to a) the exercise in Poetry Seminar and b) my situation at the moment at work!! Two birds, one stone. 

An attempt ( I think!) at a response to Selima Hill's 'The World's Entire Wasp Population', which we have been studying in Poetry Seminar, 

a haiku 

Some time ago, I suggested doing something in the style of Ogden Nash then promptly lost my meagre offering!! It has recently turned up in My Documents at work! Here it is for what it's worth; perhaps I could add to it. 

My response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

Just a few thoughts........ 

The end of a LONG week! 

A very quick exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

What a miserable day to be out on a wind-swept playing field! 

a quickie 

Just a quickie 

Just me being cynical. 

...just looking out at the horizon this morning and thinking ... 

Just a series of observations... 

Nothing personal, just an observation. 

It would take an age to tell you the story, but this one is keeping me awake at night. 

A response to the exercise in Poetry seminar 

This is written as a response to Mark Doty's 'White Kimono', which we studied in Poetry Seminar. Apple tree again! 

I have started the ball rolling! Any takers? 

An exercise on Poetry Seminar. I couldn't resist keeping to the restriction of the number of letters. I have counted spaces as a letter. 

Flash Poetry 9 Challenge 

I wanted to try the repetition which Ticonderoga (Mike) used in 'calling the toad' 

I'm a bit barren at the moment so this is something I can't remember writing, found while tidying 'My Documents'. 

The exercise in Poetry Seminar - Frankenstein - revitalising an old poem 

What a nightmare, but I can't resist! I'm not happy with it but I have to stop tweaking sometime! 

Where have all the poets gone? I had to post something! 

I haven't done a haiku for ages! 

A response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar, based on Radio 4's "The Last Picture Show". 

Just thought I'd share one of my Christmas 'repertoire'! I have read this (well, almost acted it really) at a couple of Christmas concerts/Carol services recently. Like them or not, the rhyming ones do go down well! 

This is formed from my contributions to the Renga in Poetry Seminar. 

Another attempt at Haiku, as I find that I am really enjoying it. 

My response to the Gerard Manley Hopkins which we have been looking at in 'Poetry Seminar' this week. 

What a difference a bit of morning sunshine makes, even though it had clouded over by 11! 

A genuine question! 

Close to this mother's heart at the moment! 

It's ages since I've posted anything in this group. Apologies!! 

An attempt at L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E P=O=E=T=R=Y, being studied in Poetry Seminar. I have done exactly as suggested and produced something totally meaningless, I hope! ....or did I?? 

My response to the challenge in Flash Poetry 

I wasn't thinking of doing one of these, but as I looked out this evening through the window amd saw the full moon,.......... 

My attempt 

Not sure about this one really, but I didn't want to miss the RLG! 

I decided to write it in the form of a villanelle (I think!) 

My attempt! 

My first attempt at a short story, within the confines of the RLG. Oh dear! At least I tried. 

Come on! We've been working hard ALL week! Am I entitled to a bit of mindless TV?? 

My response to the challenge in Flash Poetry 

....because it was such a lovely morning as the day broke. 

A quick response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar 

Feeling rather devoid of ideas at the moment and clutching at anything. 

Today was just glorious; brilliant blue sky and a sea like you have never seen! (Cold, though!) 

A reflection on looking out today; I am not very productive just now! 

Just looking out of the window...... 

Say it as it is! 

Only a few weeks ago, everything was fresh and green; there was promise in the air.... 

A closed road meant a different route to work today. How things have changed! The development is called Strawberry Fields. 

Perhaps it's just because I'm back at work... (Version II) - Cain and Kyle are VERY real!! 

I just stood awhile in the garden, watching them! 

Flash Poetry Challenge 

Says it all, really! 

'News' excercise in Poetry Seminar. 

The cinquain exercise in Poetry Seminar. I have a feeling that this might change! (The 2-4-6-8-2 version) 

I just received a Christmas card from my uncle, well into his 80's, the last remaining brother of 13 children. He enclosed a photo of himself in Brisbane hospital, having been hit by a Kamikase bomber in the Philippines, during the war. It's funny how one is compelled to write something, whatever it is, at times! 

For the Flash Poetry challenge this week. I hope it's not too obscure! Tell me if it is. 

Just wishing that, if you stayed up forever, tomorrow would never come! "To bed, to bed", said Sleepy Head; "Tarry awhile", said Slow. 

Finally, my terzanelle. Traumatic but very satisfying! 

For the Flash Poetry challenge. Not really a poem but I nearly missed the deadline! 

Poor thing!! 

Observations last night. 

A response to the exercise in Poetry Seminar 

For the Flash Poetry challenge this week 

A VERY swift response to okkervil's comment on Roovacrag's 'Snow is Falling', when he said that the WW Gods act fast!! 

It's a while since I posted one of my 'Just a Minutes' which I do for local radio from time to time. It's very different from my usual WW stuff, but it's 'fit for purpose'! If you fancy hearing it read aloud, it's available on 'Listen again' on manxradio.com after next Thursday! 

So sorry.... yet another one which questions one's priorities. 

Flash poetry challenge 

A response to Fevvers' "Room exercise" in the Poetry Seminar 

Nothing specific 

Suddenly everywhere is green. 

My 'Teeth' challenge on Flash Poetry. Not sure about this! 

My attempt at the 20 point exercise in Poetry Seminar. 

It's been a long week.. 

I'm not quite sure what brought this one on! 

Scary weather this evening! 

A haibun - I hope! From the exercise in Poetry Seminar. A first attempt. I decided to intersperse haiku, with a 3-5-3 pattern..... not sure why! 

No - it isn't a spelling mistake! It was prompted by the question posed in Lounge Forum - 'Do your bookshelves reflect your life?' Each line is a title from my shelves - completely unaltered - nothing added, nothing taken away!  

a bit of fun really......because I love WW and what it has done for me. 

I mean, whatever will it look like when you're 70?! - Alliteration gone mad. 

The excitement is just unbelievable! I bet it's the first time Jeremy Clarkson's appeared in a haiku. 

A few days late, I'm afraid. Perhaps I'll save it for next year! 

I haven't done a haiku for a while 

I'm not sure about this one - I might disclose the 'story' behind it, but, at the moment, I am interested in any responses. 

I'm not sure how this came about - I have never been a smoker! Anyway, a terzanelle, finally. I have deliberately changed the repeated lines slightly. 

Our poor old telly died last week. Within a few hours, we miraculously got a 42 inch monster! Out of my hands..... 

....just 'watching' the Grand Prix. 

This set out as the 'Contradictions' exercise in Poetry Seminar, but I think it lost its way! 

Flash Poetry Challenge Week 30 

Like R-Poet, I just discovered that my limerick was read out on Christmas morning, Radio 4. Someone asked me this morning if it was me, and I didn't know! 

Oh dear! I'm not sure where this came from! 

Why bother spending ages getting the right flight times months in advance only to have BA cancel?! I have been trying to speak to someone for 30 minutes! Aaarggh! 

Feeling devoid of inspiration, looking out at the rain - it has just started. 

As ever, around about this time of year, I just wonder why! 

...because I love meeting someone at the airport! 

Enjoying a night in, blatantly ignoring the ironing basket. 

This is my first - NO! now my SECOND response to fevvers' exercise which we are doing in Poetry Seminar. I have changed the title.  

My SECOND attempt at the challenge in Flash Poetry 

....just occurred to me the other day... 

For the challenge in Flash Poetry 

The names remain unchanged in order to incriminate the guilty. 

This parent/child thing gets harder! I am so useless at titles - any ideas? 

Yet another result of gazing at the apple tree outside the window, looking for inspiration! 

I can't believe that I wasn't ecstatic when the sun shone this afternoon! 

Confessional - my attempt. 

A VERY strange journey! I am posting EVERYTHING - and I'm not finished yet! 

Nothing in particular... 

I make no apology for this! It was just a silly idea when I actually heard myself saying the first line during the course of conversation. 

Very self-indulgent.... I couldn't resist; we see her very rarely! Online photos are wonderful things. 

Family things!! 

How beautiful was the air this evening?