We’ve discovered that people do thing in specific places; the Who and the Where. But WHAT are they doing. In a story or bit of prose, this would be considered the plot. So why not in a poem? It expresses a vision to us. What is happening; what’s going on?
Poems describe an unchanging scene; a single thought, feeling, setting, experience or image. But they can also be a record of events that take place over a period of time. They can demonstrate change giving two points of view, offering the reader a chance to draw their conclusion. But the PLOT becomes a purpose-driven action by a character or an interaction between several, allowing you to imagine a certain outcome.
Characters at the center of the plot (protagonists) rarely head out on a set course without some conflict, making us question whether they’d be successful in their endeavor. It could be an internal quandary – the characters own personality or short-comings that holds them back. The desire to attain a goal can lead one to change or grow from the experience to face the reality of their dilemma or weakness.
But also, external conflicts; struggles with someone or something else out of our control can cause this road block to success. This foe (antagonist) can provide conflict, and could be a person, the environment, natural forces or societal pressures.
The dissection of this plot provides these basic aspects:
A beginning when the goal is set…
A middle when the characters struggles to achieve their goal…
An ending, the resolution of the character’s quest – successful or unsuccessful or even, undetermined (unresolved).
This week’s prompting has you consider a plot for your poem. Write a poem of any kind in which an attitude of someone (even yourself) becomes the thing that presents a dispute or conflict. Work towards defining the what, the attempt to resolve it and any outcome to the situation.
As always, the purpose to these exercises is to get you writing serious drafts which could be polished into finished works. Prompts are merely suggestions, meaning as long as you are writing poetry it is a good thing! But equally,the fact of you attempting to stick to the prompt could enhance your poetic prowess! Rise up!
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Thanks to all who continue to explore these weekly promptings. Hopefully you will gain some expertise to aid you in your poetic travels. If so, you make doing these presentations wholly worthwhile.
Phoenix Rising Poetry Guild 
A little bit of adult theme – I don’t think anyone would be offended but just a heads-up.
https://swimspoems.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/im-telling-you-now/
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Excellent
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I love the honesty and the tone of the speaker in this poem, Debi. Powerful and wise write!
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I agree, on all counts.
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Partnership
You wonder why
I stack things on my plate
Ceiling high
And don’t leave things to fate
I wonder why
You lazily sit there
Until you die
Playing solitaire
I get so busy
Driven by all my goals
Feeling dizzy
The projects taking tolls
Then you step in
And make up for my lack
With you, I win
Thanks for having my back
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I like this… great to have someone like that!
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For me, the rhyming accentuates the partnering here. Lovely,.
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[…] https://phoenixrisingpg.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/phoenix-rising-destination-poetry-whats-going-on/ […]
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Solution – Retribution?
(a haibun)
I can not help but wonder why –
and don’t think that eventually I won’t tell…
so you had better be nice to me Mz fancy no pants.
You don’t get your way because of
your poetic rhetoric –
Even your entourage gossip is razor sharp
from those harpie hang alongs
(sneak-a-peek speak in the gym showers’ rain,
complaints on your reign…)
But you are always chosen first – anyway,
for the moment.
Before the storm so enjoy your life while you can
(you squiggly jiggly twirly girly)
Captain of the cheer squad
(sour power powdered faking quaking
two red lips – ready to kiss even some frogs.
You’d stomp if you got bronze instead of gold).
So thirsty for attention all the time bathed
in the limelights’ focused spot, you’re so hot
(touting outing all of of your latest greatest
accomplishments so alarmingly charming,
but I know you were behind the bleachers
with some of those young gentlemen
substitute teachers…
guaranteeing your A’s every few days
for you to pass each and every class)
You have no misandry or androphobia!
hear that drum beating
your time is not limitless
on the tower clock
©JP/dh
Also here if you want to go to the post to see how I played with all the prompts I used (4).
Solution – Retribution?
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I enjoyed all of the sound/word play in this…told well, Jules!
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Despite a tongue-in-cheek quality (as I sense it anyway), this poem quivers with emotion, in my opinion. The pieces of the form fit so well.
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We all knew that one in school, but, boy, what a few decades can do to that schemer
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Unexpected Decision
Wear a suit, friends urge,
after all, it is Wall Street.
The suit does not suit me.
I tug at the jacket, attempting
to straighten my blouse
which has popped out
of the skirt, forming a ‘V’
in my lap. I do not want
this job, but my state
of unemployment warrants it.
Here I sit, squirming, glancing
around at employees with
the certainty that I am nothing
like them.
My potential boss enters,
sits, and I instantly
dislike his weaselly face.
I babble, he doodles,
stopping every so often
to glance out the window
at something I fail
to see. I leave
the interview to strains
of, we will let you know,
blah, blah, blah.
Yay, I’m free. No possible
job offer from Mr. Weasel.
With nothing else on the fire,
the marshmallow calls.
I have the job. Oh no!
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I was happy about the marshmallow then the ending. lol
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Thanks, Debi!
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You brought the “what”vividly, Sara…well done!
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I enjoyed this thoroughly, and could see the reactions all the way through.
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Thanks, William!
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MAKING IT THROUGH A MONDAY
(a piku)
I’m sleepy.
Nap
at lunchtime? Yes!
2015-06-15
P. Wanken
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I never met a nap I didn’t like : )
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Debi – I’m actually not a napper. I was just trying to challenge myself to write a “beginning, middle, end” in an 8-syllable PiKu.
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Fraid I am… around 4:00 I’m dragging.
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This sort of topic fits the form perfectly, in my view.
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[…] PHOENIX RISING – DESTINATION: POETRY – WHAT’S GOING ON? […]
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PASSINGS
When I was young and old folks scolded
and muttered to and fro,
I thought them mere annoyances
and wished that they would go.
Eventually I had some kids,
and when they all were small
I often found them in my arms;
their laughter was my all.
They all grew up, had families,
and their children, as did mine,
brought joy to me and I to them.
All was good then; life was fine
but now the grandkids look aside
when I approach, and so,
I know I am annoying them.
It’s time for me to go.
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This breathes of the beauty that family closeness brings – and those grand-kids will sing a different tune when they realize just how much they can learn. Excellent poem, William!
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I agree with Hannah, William. Even their parents annoy them at that certain age… later they do realize.
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There are those phases where our parents are our heroes, then our enemies with rule galore, and then when some sense returns we can actually see – that our parents may in fact have some intelligence.
Your last stanza is both telling and heartbreaking. I’m still at the stage where my grands for the most part are small enough to enjoy most of the time we can spend together. And I am even close enough to my children.
Yes, thank you I tend to with fiction do well with Tongue-in-cheek. I was a wall flower way back when. And perhaps because of never being in with cliques could imagine some fault with the ‘all stars’.
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The Opening
In the beginning
there was a question
it wasn’t a direct one
it was for all to look within
but there was one –
one who felt the query
gnawing – gnawing
as grasshopper – gnawing.
She looked to nature
for signs – for an answer –
an answer that only she could give.
Perhaps that sudden butterfly
at the edge of her field of vision
(then nowhere to be found)
is she an omen?
Is opportunity wholly there
and then quickly gone?
Do black and white wings
suggest balance – yin and yang?
If she hesitates will she miss the window
or is it okay to wait and listen
open to wild and wilderness wisdom?
In the end
there’s only one word
there’s only yes
or only no –
so in this uncertain in-between
she’ll stall on mountaintop
on neither the sunny or the shady side
from peak she’ll over-ponder and pray.
She’ll look to trembling aspen
isn’t she strangely still?
Good advice – thank you.
Copyright © Hannah Gosselin 2015
This caught my attention when I was researching yin and yang…Chinese yin and yang correspond to English geography terms ubac, “shady side of a mountain”, and adret, “sunny side of a mountain”, respectively.
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This poem fairly breathes yin and yang, or ubac and adret, if you will, consistent with the images of the quaking aspens. Wonderfully done, again.
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She’ll look to trembling aspen
isn’t she strangely still?
I love your poem! and your extra info. This has a lovely mood to it.
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Excess Baggage
Bags stuffed with
Necessities everything
They needed for a comfortable
Trip across the pond
Shoes and more shoes
Jackets, shorts, raincoats
Toiletries, must have toiletries,
Undies and jewelry
Black bag and red bag
One for him, one for her
Opened out on the tile floor
Where everyone could see
Their necessities and more
Red bag, black bag too
Heavy, heavy necessities
Transferred to carry-ons,
black for him purple paisley
for her frustration and
Embarrassment repacked
No longer neatly folded
Rolled into a ball stuffed into
A corner ready to spill over
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