Day 30. I made it. A poem everyday, composed from the Toledo Blade guided by an Oulipo prompt each day. When I started out, I had no idea what was going to happen. I keep so busy with teaching and all sorts of other writing and art commitments, that I was afraid I wouldn’t have time and this would go by the wayside. But I found that doing this became something I needed to do. It was not a burden – not any of the days this month, no matter if I was visiting family and friends in Indiana, participating in poetry readings for National Poetry Month, grading, socializing with friends, and meeting someone new. There was room for it all. I gained a lot, and I will write about that on this blog soon. For today, I’m going to present you with my last poem as one of the National Poetry Month 2014 “Official Ouliposters,” – one of the 67 poets from around the world (sponsored by The Found Poetry Review) that got to participate this year and I was fortunate enough to come to know over this month. Today, in our final prompt, we were asked to do a Patchwork Quilt. A poem that compiles lines and words from every poem we’ve written this month. What I did was just go through each day and select one, sometimes two lines, from each poem and on the “Snowball” days at least two to three words from those – to compose my poem. It was interesting to see how even though I felt I was working on “Toledo” poems, several other themes came shining through more than I thought!
Without further ado, here is my Patchwork Quilt poem, a nod to the Toledo Blade, the final Oulipost prompt, and a link to read my fellow Ouliposter’s Patchwork Quilt poems:
Fairy Godmothers Are Still Making Their Magic
People are getting excited about new things.
If us, spring 2014:
To express in words, to hold within.
Spring games draw crowds
out; same-sex sure strong – human hardcore –
beyond the bold haiku of the twerk.
“Give me everything you got.”
Come on casino, chime.
Something always needs attention on the farm.
I do.
Volunteer.
Better sex, tell her never rest.
Fortunately, fairy godmothers are still making their magic tone,
to mate another year –
circus cynic’s competition, fire-eating crisis intervention.
Same-sex crisis over, same-sex save,
and a surprising season of fresh adoptions.
Celebrate good times, expect crowds, “group hug.”
Released.
A no na = doom: pi pun,
I wish for a better world, but I also did the meaningless arithmetic.
We need inspirational storytelling to reward character’s snooping.
Host and play the next volunteers.
Developed a little reputation?
Those are passions I’d like to take with me,
solutions to the straight unwise:
declining species, vanished.
A French exhibit flavored art grateful
at a ‘show cause’ hearing – a happy day.
That’s the future.
It makes it easier, especially when love is in the air
fostering a creative rehabilitation.
Everything and anything can grow here.
Sometimes you can taste something and
just fall in love.
Sources:
All lines/words in this poem came from various authors listed elsewhere on my blog the Toledo Blade. April 1-29, 2014.
Oulipost prompt:
Patchwork Quilt
Conclude the project by writing a poem that incorporates words and lines from all of your past 29 poems.
A link to my fellow Ouliposter’s poems from today:
http://www.foundpoetryreview.com/blog/oulipost-30-patchwork-quilt/
See you soon….