verlie burroughs

  The Sweater She wears his old sweater darned at the elbow  frayed on the sleeve When she’s feeling low  how are you doing? I ask (I want to understand) how are you doing? I ask   (It’s been thirty years) I wait for her reply You can go now, she says  Come back tomorrow  I’m sorry    I’m not myself today. Prompt: write a meditation on grief in the form of Geoffrey Brock’s poem Goodbye.  https://poets.org/poem/goodbye-0

Haven Don’t be alarmed I will not harm you I’m just here raising my family in your little yard An oasis! Daily bird seed and water (we love the peanuts)  The pupspups are content in the cherry orchard shade running tunnels under the garden shed out to sun  on the lawn on the long summer days aren’t they sweet tiny pink feet adorable little chubbies  thanks for your kind hospitality   Prompt: try writing your poem in the voice of an animal or plant, or a poem that describes a specific animal or plant with references to historical events or scientific facts. Reference: Marianne Moore’s animal poetry Note:     Real rats in my real garden so idyllic and charming though it didn’t end well I will spare you the back story.  

After listening to a Ruth Stone House podcast What is poetry I know only superficially  What is poetry really I am not a scholar (I read every sonnet in a British anthology  Until the sound of it  literally bored me)  What is poetry I didn’t study seriously I was lazy  And the poetry department  wouldn’t take me  What is poetry I’m good at rhyme My rhymes are cheap I could easily write them in my sleep What is poetry? I only know I don’t know Prompt: use a simple phrase repeatedly, and then make statements that invert  or contradict that phrase.       I think this is way off prompt.  

  No Mow May No Mow May No Mow May But May is still a month away! And my neighbours cut their lawns today No Mow May No Mow May Now my weeds are on display (I like to call it a brocade) No Mow May No Mow May The usual suspects dandelion and english daisy Going a little crazy    (I leave them for the bees) No Mow April needs a jingle  No Mow May Prompt: write a poem that emulates jumping rope and skipping rhymes

  Aubade Chirps start at eight-thirty   sweet little song A starling hatchling in the nest What happiness! What happens next? I will keep you posted as we go along. Prompt: write about something that wouldn’t happen in real life   (I’m off prompt today)                   Note: I have starlings nesting in the roof soffit of my a humble abode   I can hear them  from inside as they come and go. We share a space. They’ve been here entertaining me and serenading me for years.

Self Doubt          ~ journal entry from 2019 What about poetry Where is that going with me? I can’t see it Takes so much energy Feeling defeated, depleted deleted Up and down Big day ahead Just before daylight Writing in bed Feeling grouchy  and mean Loss of interest in everything Cloudy night No stars tonight Clutching my healing  Tourmaline* *Tourmaline is a powerful spiritual stone celebrated for grounding, protection, and energy balancing . It acts as a shield against negativity, clears energy blockages, and aligns the chakras, making it popular for emotional healing and fostering compassion. It also enhances creativity. Prompt: “And now, here’s our prompt for the day — totally optional, as usual. The Roman poet Catullus wrote a famous two-line poem: Odi et amo: quare id faciam fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior. Here’s an English translation.              ...