For those interested, I recently started an 8-part series on better blogging for writers at the There Are No Rules blog. Click to continue.
For today’s prompt, think of something you might shout out loud (or hear others shout), make it the title of your poem, and then, write the poem. Possible titles include: “Way to Go,” “Run for It,” and “Fire” (though it’s usually not good practice to scream, “fire,” without an actual fire).
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Here’s my attempt at a Something I Might Shout Out Loud Poem:
“Quit it!”
Quit it; just quit it.
There’s no reason
to keep doing it,
because you know it
is a little gross.
So seriously,
quit it; or if that
fails, just cut it out.
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Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he maintains this blog, edits a couple Market Books (Poet’s Market and Writer’s Market), writes a poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine, leads online education, speaks around the country on publishing and poetry, and a lot of other fun writing-related stuff.
Sometimes, he quits it; other times, he cuts it out; but usually, he’s knee-deep in it. And he’s the author of Solving the World’s Problems.
Follow him on Twitter @RobertLeeBrewer.
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Finally!
Finally
I shouted aloud
a triumphant cheer
or dismayed exclamation
as we emerge
from the room
stronger now but still shaken
by what we’ve found
we never knew
just why we feared
but it’s done we’re gone
a page has turned
Finally
T.S.Gray
In light of what’s been going on these past few weeks in New York, this feels especially apropos.
Live and Let Live….
Please…….
Leave them alone, let them live and live.
Everyone has the right to live in their way,
Right?
Happy Birthday
I tried to keep it quiet
Hush, hush was my motto
I didn’t let anyone know my secret
It was for me and me alone
I was looking forward
To a nice quiet dinner
As delightful plans for the weekend
Occupied my thoughts
So lost in my daydreams
I didn’t realize the door was open
Until –
“Happy Birthday” filled the air
Fun. =-)
Aye
better than good
G bazillion Os D
the way i feel for you
exploring understanding
often
haven’t got a clue
still and all i feel it spritzing
spiritual achoo
rush of rushes G only one O D
you it’s true
the thou of i and thou although
the feeling firmer grew
right down to earth through bedrock burst
GOOD
GOD
Y’ALL
YOU it’s YOU
by gpr crane
What a great piece, especially the first line.
RACIST
Judge
me,
judge me
because you are right.
Since I was able to hold a stone in my hand,
I have walked along riverbeds, barefoot,
waiting to find the perfect spot
where the water does not ripple,
does not rush,
because stones do not skip on violent waters,
stones do not reach the furthest shore on violent waters.
Since I have been able to write my name,
I have tried to spell it out without the letters my forefathers used,
though my forefathers spelled eloquently well,
and still my pen against the hardening ink.
But these letters had not been read as I had had them written,
and I learned to keep my hands in my pockets,
learned to keep my mouth in my pockets.
I walk a condemned man, though my neighbor slights me.
So judge me.
May the punishment be fitting
of a man trying to understand
where it was that he went wrong.
-JR Simmang
For me, this is a deeply moving piece, especially the image of stones not reaching the farthest shore.
Thanks, Bill. I yearn for the moment when we realize that the sun will still set despite us.
stunning
I appreciate that, Clae!
Beautiful and powerful. This is exactly why I love this blog. Our words create the space for greater understanding and connection. Change in the world begins in a ripple rather than a wave.
Stay, cause and effects
General Custer leading his troops west
accompanied by settlers wishing to homestead,
was met by his advance scout with a message,
the mighty Sioux are camped only a day’s ride ahead.
Custer had a dilemma on his hands,
he didn’t know quite what he should do,
his orders said to locate the tribes,
but look after the well-being of the settlers too.
He decided to take his troops
to spy on the Indian location,
he told the settlers “stay here until I return”,
thus the onset of the North Dakota settler population.
Yes, after the Army did its work.
Bye
And the door shuts, slams
on my drum
beat heart, for a moment
your words shimmer, dance
And I send up a prayer
that you’ll waltz
right back in with your
smile, not a care
Keys to the car
when you’re twenty
one, riding shotgun
on my drum beat heart
Don’t let her ever see
wave good bye, bury how
my drum beat heart stalls
every time she leaves
Lovely. I enjoyed this as well!
This is powerful, especially the last two lines. The “drum beat heart” resonates.
Yes, that grabbed me too.
Wonderful. Love “my drum beat heart”.
Thanks so much for your comments!
Ditto, love “durm beat of my heart”!
Hello, Friends!
I’m not a Quaker though I favor
peaceful starts
and every class of students fills with
wary hearts
just waiting for a teacher they will
love to hate
someone who uses knowledge just to
aggravate.
And so, my first words every day—
salute and plea—
appeal to what shared knowledge has
become to me,
a conduit to sacred worlds we
feed within
until some future day when learning
proves us friend.
I admire the depth of humility and understanding in this. The use of :”friend” at beginning and end is inspired, in my opinion.
I love the insights into what teachers struggle with esp the line ‘someone who uses knowledge just to aggravate’
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! What would we do without them??
Love this! I am a teacher as well and can so relate to this! Thank you!!
excellent
Listen Up!
Southern gentility suggests
it’s never nice to say
shut up!
Far better to use “Cease this noise!”
“Pipe down!” or “Please, that’s
quite enough.”
But since the senses work in pairs,
hearing recedes as voices
soar,
and so, she tells them, “Listen up!”
for that quells much unseemly
roar
and what is more, she trains their ears
not just to hear the things
they sought,
but clears a path to wondrous
springs that lead
to thought.
Wonderful. I especially like the allusion to hearing receding as voices soar. This sounds like a teacher piece, too.
this and the one above- so nicely done and I’m sure you want to holler shut up many times
Watch This!
Usually preceded by,
“Here, hold my beer.”
Then followed by something stupid
Like a backwards dive off the Schroeder bridge
Or driving a GMC through Mr. Henke’s corn field
Southern boys with their
Oversized toys
And indestructible egos
Small towns breed
Fearless men.
The kind who grow up
To be cops and firemen
And soldiers who eat sand
To save our asses.
“Mom, watch this!”
And he scales to the
Tallest limb
Of the fallen tree
In our back pasture.
It runs through him.
As thick and wide
as the Colorado.
As strong as the
Schroeder bridge.
by Stephanie H.
Find me on Twitter Anna Machova@Anna_Machova_
Cool!
Thanks, Sarah!
This left me smiling.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I’m such a fan of your work as well!!
this was fun to read – you got me in your first stanza and had me going throughout – how many times do we shake our heads and say boys will be boys
I stopped to reflect on “Small towns breed/Fearless men.” The evolution of this piece reflects so well the sentiment: the childish antics to the wise remembrance. Nicely penned.
Softer Louder Shooby Shout
(an erasure of song lyrics by the Isley Brothers (written by O’Kelly, Ronald, and Rudolf Isley)
You know you make me wanna Shout!
Kick my heels up and Shout!
Throw my hands up and Shout!
Throw my head back and Shout!
Come on now Shout!
Don’t forget to say you will
Say that you love me
Say that you need me
Say that you want me
Say you wanna please me
I still remember when you used to be nine years old
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
I was a fool for you, from the bottom of my soul
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
Now that you’ve grown up enough to know
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
You wanna leave me, you wanna let me go
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop)
I want you to know
You been good to me baby better than I been to myself
An if you ever leave me I don’t want nobody else
I said I want you to know
You make me wanna
Shout
Shout a little bit softer now
Shout a little bit softer
Shout a little bit louder
Shout a little bit louder now
Jump up and shout now
Everybody shout now
Shout, shout, shout, shout
Shout! oh yeah
erasure by gpr crane
I never could figure out what an “erasure” is, but I like the sheer energy of this.
I’ve always loved this song
USA USA USA
“shout shout let it all out these are the things I can do without”
from “Shout” by Tears For Fears, songwriters Roland Orzabal & Ian Stanley
used to be america was tough
back before we tried to do too much
helping every single stupid cause
behaving like some global santa claus
then these little-brainers crapped on us
in God’s name decider made it rough
bankrupted our good will savings banks
spending sons & daughters guns & tanks
bombing innocents along with foes
spattered blood despite what voters chose
you might want to howl at the injustice
we might want to growl but they’d just bust us
still in world class soccer “U” “S” “A”
shouting we may win a cup someday
better to fight with foot than with a bullet
why grow wisdom tooth only to pull it
cook cuisine of peace cake while we can
animal & plant woman & man
by gpr crane
I love the energy and tension in this, but mainly love ‘why grow wisdom tooth only to pull it.”
yes — the tension – loved it
Duck!
It flew through the air like a dagger.
With the sheer force of a two-ton truck,
the blow nearly caused me to stagger.
I recoiled as though I had been struck.
Never before had I felt a word
with the sheer force of a two-ton truck.
I was astonished by what I heard
roll right off your tongue with practiced ease.
Never before had I felt a word
like a vice giving my heart a squeeze.
It was then I wondered what else could
roll right off your tongue with practiced ease.
It had the effect you thought it would.
Tears filled my eyes and threatened to fall.
It was then I wondered what else could
make me feel unimportant and small.
It flew through the air like a dagger;
tears filled my eyes and threatened to fall.
The blow nearly caused me to stagger.
Masterful!
this was gripping
Thank you!
WHAT?!
Ears too tired to press into the earth
Straining at the secrets of what.
Legs stomp the ground seeking
A reverberation, a reassurance
They still have the strength to stand.
I punch at the open sky
Grasping and scraping after
A whiff of fresh air.
Fallen in and all mired in the mud
I lay exhausted, all energy extinguished.
As a light breeze picks up
Blows about my ears,
Tickles the little hairs along my arms,
At the base of my neck,
Gently hums a soothing lullaby
Into ears too tired to ball themselves up tight.
-Krina Ulmer
Interesting
This fascinates me and leaves me a bit breathless.
yup – I want to know what happens next!