Author: Editor Karolyn H

Book Editor, author, and blog writer. Request a quote for editing services at my site, https://KarolynEditsBooks.com

The Great Escape – Poetry Challenge 6

On By Editor Karolyn HIn W.W. poetry, Wednesday's WafersLeave a comment

This poem is about one of my favorite activities. It’s expressed in the “concrete poetry” style.

In case you don’t feel like standing on your head to read all of the text in the image, I’ve also included the poem in standard (boring?) paragraph form below the image as well as a link to the full-size image since it looks strange on WordPress when viewed on a small screen.

If you succeed in creating your own concrete poem, please please share a link to it in the comments below. I’m amazed at some of the examples I’ve found online. So inspiring!

mountain camping scene shaped with words

Go here to view full-size image

The Great Escape

Check my list and gather supplies: 
flashlights, batteries, bug spray, 
camp stove, dishes, lighters, 
cooler full of ice and food.

Pack and repack the back of the car.
Gas up and check the oil and tires. 
Long drive to the mountains
up winding roads along the water.
Stop on the way to buy firewood.

Pick out a campsite surrounded by trees.
Walk back to the entrance to pay the fee. 
Lay out some tarps and put up the tent. 
Toss in pillows and sleeping bags.

Lock up the car and find a trail to explore. 
Enjoy nature but look out for bears. 
Head back to camp when your stomach rumbles. 
Light the tiki torches and get out the stove. 

Loaded hot dogs with chips and root beer.
Stack some kindling in the pit and start a fire.
Toss on a few logs and stoke it well. 
Pull up some chairs and prepare the s’mores. 
Roast marshmallows until they’re hot and gooey. 

Sit around the campfire and gaze at the stars.
Listen to the silence and enjoy the fresh air. 
Break out the flashlights for a trip to the facilities.
Once the fire dies, hunker down in the tent. 
Play cards and tell stories  until your eyelids feel heavy. 

Wake up early, pull on a thick sweater to fend off the chill.
Light the stove and make some camp coffee.
Fry bacon, eggs, and chocolate chip pancakes.
Take a pail to collect water from the well for washing dishes.

Walk down to the creek, 
dip your toes in the freezing water.
Skip rocks and climb over fallen trees.
Build a fort and collect pinecones. 
Wander back to camp to start the fire. 

Busy lives are temporarily forgotten, 
as the world slows down...
and spirits are renewed once again.

Gleaned – Poetry Challenge 5

On By Editor Karolyn HIn W.W. poetry, Wednesday's WafersLeave a comment

This one was challenging but really fun to create. Here’s my first attempt at blackout poetry. Source text is from the back cover of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (such an “editor” book to own). Let me know what you think 🙂 You might need to enlarge the image to see the text properly, depending on how WordPress decides to display it in your browser…

Gleaned - easy agreement allows you to become popular - Plain speech and valuable experience is better.

Shifting – Poetry Challenge 4

On By Editor Karolyn HIn W.W. poetry, Wednesday's WafersLeave a comment

Free verse is what I typically write, so the challenge this time was the topic. I’ve been formulating a particular conclusion about life for months and felt that now would be a great time to write about it for the poetry challenge.

Shifting

Every day we move things
From here to there
Carry eggs from the fridge to the skillet
Pour coffee from the pot to a mug
Nudge cat from doorway to porch
Bring letters from mailbox to desk
Gather flowers from garden to vase
Steer truck from driveway to parking lot
Lift bread from shelf to shopping cart
Deliver money from wallet to cashier
Push bicycle from lawn to garage
Withdraw keys from pocket to wall hook
Relocate Legos from stairs to toybox
Remove plates from table to sink
Serve popcorn from microwave to bowl
Pull game from closet to carpet
Transfer towel from floor to hamper
Retire book from pillow to nightstand
Shift thoughts from wakefulness to slumber.

(free verse)

Poetry Challenge: First 3 of 20

On By Editor Karolyn HIn W.W. poetry, Wednesday's Wafers3 Comments

After writing about different types of poems in my last post, I decided to challenge myself and write a new poem for each of the twenty types. Well, with the exception of an epic. I do not have the patience or desire to write a poem as long as a novel. 😄 I’ll leave that up to Homer and John Milton. For my twentieth poem, I’ll find another type that wasn’t included in my list. Most of my poems will have titles, but not all.

Three poems for today!

Y oga classes
O utrageous sports bloopers
U seful how-to videos
T op ten country music playlists
U ltimate funny cats compilations
B uilding survival shelters
E asy hairstyles

Yarn over, pull through
Single, double, count stitches
Turn work and repeat.

Ode to Hot Cocoa

As water warms then boils
A mug is placed in anticipation.

Sugar, cocoa, nutmeg, and ginger
Are gathered in preparation.

Morning ritual or evening indulgence
this satisfying beverage soothes the mind,
makes cold hands happy and tastes delightful.

Circles swirl as I stir the decadent substance.
Sipping slowly, time and worries are redefined.
Savor, savor every wondrous mouthful.

(acrostic, haiku, ode)