My Poem

In the July 2010 Of Good Report newsletter (the monthly newsletter of the American Night Writers Association), Patti Hulet issued us all a writing challenge. She challenged us to write a POEM! Now, I'm about as far away from a poet as any writer can possibly get, but for some reason, I decided to sit down today and fiddle with her suggestion.

Patti challenged us to use or adapt the following form to create a poem:

A_____________

            My poem.

When ____________ you'll find ___________

           ___________

           ___________

           ___________

           ___________

That __________________ to make

           _______________.

Patti gave us an example, borrowed from Word After Word After Word, by Patricia MacLachlan (p 36):

A nut.

           My poem.

When cracked you'll find inside

           Words

           Whispers

           People

           Place

That tuck in snugly to make

           Story.

Now, leave it to me to be unable to entirely "color within the lines". Patti gave us the option to vary the format, and I jumped at the invitation. Here's the poem that I came up with, "inspired" by Patti's pattern:

A cat

             My poem.

When we share our lives you’ll find

            Mad energy

            Mystic calm

            Bedtime snuggles

            A lapful of purrs

Wrapped in a silken ball of fur.

I will entertain, love and soothe you

            On my terms.

My cat, Glinka, all worn out after a mad burst of energy