v e r l i e b u r r o u g h s

                                     for r A humid summer day  beating the heat water in the pool optical illusion creaky air conditioning waiting on a hurricane writing like Hemingway a devoted companion in bare feet serving you a drink  ~ fanning your chair           with a Palm leaf For Rick Richardson 1957 - 2025    rest in peace dear Poet Day 29 April poetry 2025 write a poem that takes its inspiration from the life of a musician, poet, or other artist.

Song  ~  after Leonard Cohen A sad voice is softly singing humming an ancient tune just in back of your mind where the flowers of poetry bloom. You hear it when you are not listening and later wonder where does it reside now that the garden has died. note: written previously to the tune of Leonard Cohen’s song               One of us Cannot be Wrong               https://youtu.be/tHwcyGQ58fg?si=kqiBeCNrHrTXNKd9   Prompt:    Day 28 April 2025 ~ write a poem that involves music at a ceremony or event of some kind

A painting poem ~    After reading Musee des Beaux Arts by W.H. Auden https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159364/musee-des-beaux-arts-63a1efde036cd I’m walking dully along while Icarus sinks slowly in the pond I hardly notice ~ life goes on. ~ for Day  27  April poetry  2025 

  She’s a wild Turkey off to see the world ‘Cause there’s such a lot of world to see She’s looking dreamy, got her feathers furled Sweet drifter, where she’s from is a mystery Everyone loves her, she’s the new bird in town Some call her Rosie, Some call her a turkey Waldorf Astoria is where she was found Reading the menu for breakfast at Tiffany’s Up between the moon and New York City She sleeps in trees, has everything she needs Cops keep trying to capture her, a pity She won’t be caught she flies away with ease And kind folks follow to see she has cover May she live long and find her true lover. Challenge: Write a sonnet – or at least something “sonnet-shaped.” Think about the concept of the sonnet as a song, and let the format of a song inform your attempt. Be as strict or not strict as you want. To refresh you on the “rules” of the traditional sonnet: 14 lines 10 syllables per line Those syllables are divided into five iambic feet. (An iamb is an unstressed syllable follow...

  She was lovely when she appeared on stage like a beautiful butterfly in her gorgeous tie dyed dress, took my breath away I felt like I had died and gone to heaven when she started to play To say I was a fan is an understatement And it was my first concert ever anyway at the Queen Elizabeth theatre   in Vancouver in my student days Perfect venue for the occasion and not too far from the downtown bus station She sang accompanied by her guitar all her wonderful songs that I loved The audience was in awe and respectful we were thrilled that she was home again She had a place on the Sunshine Coast where she could paint and make her pottery Just another hippie freak when she wasn’t touring. The concert was lovely in every way I was transported and delighted to be there As she giggled and laughed (in her breezy way) I had just come back from travelling to Spain myself And felt like I was there again. Challenge: write a poem that recounts an experience of hearing live music, and tel...

This poem isn’t going well It pains me to tell you I cannot sing,  I was banned from Karaoki (true story) And I’m ashamed to say I only learned to play rudimentary piano, and guitar and sing off key my Bob Dylan repertoire Some were kind She’s got a character voice But others cruel   Sing solo my friends would say So low we can’t hear you And maybe (I can only guess) That is why I write poetry today.   Challenge: write a poem that involves people making music together, and that references – with a lyric or line – a song or poem that is important to you.