
Author Archives: kd0602
Summer Rainless Song
I like the way the syllable count forces language, creates opportunity for new thinking. Today’s prompt from Ethical ELA asked writers to come up with a line of a poem and continue with poem using the same number of syllables in each line. As I walked the beach this morning, I kept thinking about the monsoonal moisture promised by the weather forecasters–and the fact that I know it won’t result in the rain we need so much. I found myself obsessed with rain as I walked, counting syllables in my head. Here’s the resulting draft and the beautiful sky last night that fueled today’s obsessive thinking.
Summer Rainless Song
A pitty pat pat
the sound I don’t hear
except in my dreams
water all around
but not on the ground
Monsoonal moisture
parched earth, cloud-filled skies
precipitation
promised rainfall – gone!
no pitty pat pat
Tinderbox of fear
drought-dried brush, fire fuel
inferno rages
in my brain, waiting
wishing for the sound
And the smell of rain
pitter patter pat
living in dryness
monsoonal moisture
waiting for rain

Fountain of Youth
Word association, make a list…it all seems too simple. But it’s not. It’s actually genius! Many thanks to the folks over at Ethical ELA and the Open Write for yet another day of inspiration. Today’s prompt took me to a favorite ice cream place in Ventura…and then back in time.

Fountain of Youth
My tongue tingles as we drive by
McConnells might just be
The best ice cream ever
Pick your treat
Creamy, cool
Flavors:
Santa Barbara strawberry
Eureka lemon and marionberry
Jostles memories
And I become a child again
Time stops
And I’m in the Thrifty
On tippy toes
Picking my scoop
5 cents for a single
Dare I splurge
Spending 15 cents for a triple?
Morning Treasure
A treasure hunt is the perfect way to start a day! That’s how I felt when I read the Open Write prompt today on Ethical ELA. I took a little different pathway on my treasure hunt and let my walk this morning uncover the treasure.
Morning Treasure
Morning light slanting
to warm my shoulder
making a mirror of wet sand
reflections in full color
Water pulls back
revealing rocky flower fields
anemones clustered
nature’s jewels
Blue upon blue upon blue
color like breath
oxygenating my blood
morning treasure
@kd0602

Things you can do with a wave
After my experience with #verselove in April, I have been looking forward to the Ethical ELA open write (5 days in June with writing invitations like those in April). I eagerly opened my email this morning and followed the link to the blog post where the invitation offered Things you can do with an orange as a mentor text provided by Allison Berryhill.
I spent my morning at the beach–first with a gorgeous low-tide walk and then staying to watch the Switchfoot Bro Am surf contest. As I watched the surfers play on nature’s waves, a poem began to form. While this is certainly still a first draft, it was fun to play around with the idea of things you can do with a wave.

Things you can do with a wave
Ride it like a pony
up white-topped salt water mountains
and down into
deep cerulean valleys
Swim like a dolphin
holding your breath
exploring the depths
noticing another world
under the water
until you rise into
the matching blue sky
and breathe deeply once again
Hear its music
whoosh and patter
with the thunder of pebbles
rolling with the bass
Tumble and turn
feelings earth’s energy
in the cool saltiness
Imitate the shore birds
as they stomp and splash
Let the pinks and oranges and red
crown you each evening
as day gives way to darkness
paint the world with hope
and start anew tomorrow
@kd0602