Spring and summer

Hello friends and hello Wednesday — happy Survivor day to those who celebrate.

Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt: In his poem, “Poet, No Thanks,” Jean D’Amérique repeats the phrase “I wasn’t a poet” multiple times, while describing other things that he instead claims to have been. In your poem for today, use a simple phrase repeatedly, and then make statements that invert or contradict that phrase.

I read the prompt this morning and have been trying to wrestle an inspiring, repeatable phrase into focus ever since. I’ve really been loving the “Spring Awakening” soundtrack after seeing a phenom local queer production of the show recently, and decided to use that as a source of inspiration so that I could get words on the page. Slow brain day for writing but I’m proud of myself for making something happen and I’m also proud of you! <3

After Spring Awakening

All will know the wonder —
A rainbow arcs from one
side of the neighborhood
to the other and we each
point a lens at the sky,
seeing it differently.

The Christmas cactus
finally blooms on April
Fool’s Day. All will know
the wonder of nature’s
late-bloomer, grandpa’s
pride and gift to you.

I can’t understand a word
you’re singing through the
thunder till an unrhymable
unmistakable promise of
purple summer — all will
know the wonder.