Word of the Month for July and last broadcast of POETRY PALS

Hi everyone,

My thanks to all you poets who posted the poetic results of considering the stories tucked away in our first ever combined word(s) of the month: bust/burst. I’ve loved them all and know from your comments that you enjoyed the month too.

For July let’s go with a word suggested last month by Su Hutchens: FORWARD. I bet we get some dandies. Please remember, this blog does its best to stay out of politics and religion. It’s strictly a “can’t we all just get along” sort of spot in space where we can meet, practice our craft, and share our results to an appreciative audience, so let’s have fun and keep moving forward.

I hope you’ve been listening to the KSMU Radio broadcasts of POETRY PALS each Wednesday morning at 9:45 Central Standard Time in the United States. This morning is the final reading so don’t miss it. Here again is information about how you can listen in.

If you live in the area, here are your dial locations.
91.1 FM in Springfield
90.5 FM in Point Lookout/Branson;
90.3 FM in West Plains;
88.7 FM in Mountain Grove;
98.9 FM in Joplin;
103.7 FM in Neosho

If you live anywhere else in the United States or in another country, you can hear POETRY PALS at KSMU-Ozarks Public Radio live-streaming on its website: http://www.ksmu.org. POETRY PALS has been a collaboration of KSMU, Springfield-Greene County Library District, and me. Please consider providing support by sending your positive comments about what they are doing to News Director Jennifer Moore (jennifermoore@missouristate.edu )

My Word of the Month poem for June

Hi everyone,

Here’s my Word of the Month Poetry Challenge poem for June.

A Bust of a Burst

My tale began
with a red balloon –
to burst of course –
without remorse,
and very soon.
I had a plan.

I heated a nail,
squeezed and jerked,
jabbed with a wire,
set it on fire –
Nothing worked.
I vowed to prevail.

To my surprise
it still didn’t burst
with an ice pick poke.
Was this a joke?
I’d wanted the worst –
a popping demise!

I stomped and cussed.
My plan was cursed.
It was over and done.
The balloon won.
My dream of a burst
turned into a bust.

(c) 2020 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved

The new Poetry Challenge word for June is…

Hi everyone,

Here’s the Poetry Challenge Word of the Month for June. Really it’s two words: BUST and BURST. If you use them as verbs, they have very different meanings. As nouns they are closer in meaning but each still has it’s own definition. I’ve never suggested a 2-word month but Don Barrett contributed the word BUST and, well, one word led to the other.

This should be an entertaining month. Thank you, Don. Thank you in advance, all you creative geniuses who will post your poems this month.

Since we’re in new territory here, I might as well open the invitation for individual poets to write two poems if you please.

Running out of time for May Word of the Month poems

Hi everyone,

I’ve enjoyed your poems this month inspired by The word, MASK. My thanks to Jeanne Poland, Linda (libearyn), Bryn Strudwick, Linda Boyden, Jane Yolen, Susan Hutchens, Don Barrett, William Joe Pyles, Susan Bickel, Hollie D’Agata, Karen Eastlund, Janet Gallagher, and Robin Harrison Williams. Have I left anyone out? If you’ve been putting off writing something for this month, you have today and three more days left. Grab that pen and get busy!

I’m open to suggestions for a word for June. Anyone want to offer an idea?

My Word of the Month poem, Part 3

Hi everyone,

Here is the conclusion of my poem for May.

They

She, “Must have been a good book.”
Busted. She’s spotted him
across the room in E.R.
He, “Uh, yeah, I liked it.”
Finds a chair closer.
She, “You weren’t really reading.”
He, “Hard to.”
She, fakes disgust.
He, breathes out.
They, later, fortified with prescriptions,
leave together.
He, finds his feet feel fine walking with her.
She, grimaces at their lookalike faces.
He, “Want to meet?”
She, “Sure.”
Nothing masks pain like
the sudden discovery
of summer love.

(c) 2020 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved