April's challenge was to write a poem to an image, any form, any topic. Such freedom! Too much, perhaps, so I sought refuge in a form I'd tried earlier: the clogyrnach. It's a traditional Welsh form, "rarely used by today's poets." Well. For special occasions, then? Like my birthday?
I love this photo (I'm on the right) but questions come to mind. Is my head really that rectangular...and who gave me that haircut? Why don't I always eat cake with a spoon? Why do I look like I've been caught stealing? I have no answers, but questions are always a great place to begin a poem.
On in years
Do you believe life boomerangs?
In old age, will Frankenstein bangs
feather my forehead?
Will I leap from bed
Arms outspread, greedy pangs
for crumbled cake to smash and spoon?
Close my eyes dark and warm as prunes
as the day’s end nears?
Sing through icing smears?
On in years... same sweet tune.
----Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)
If you're curious, the form is below. You can repeat, as I did, the form in more stanzas, to tell a longer story.
8 syllables - x x x x x x x a
8 syllables - x x x x x x x a
5 syllables - x x x x b
5 syllables - x x x x b
3 syllables - x x b
3 syllables - x x a
(you may combine last two lines into one line)
My poetry sisters poems, written to images of their choosing, can be found here:
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.
What an amazing photo and so many great questions! This form is perfect for this. Love it! Happy, happy birthday dear poetry sister. May you get to eat cake with a spoon.
ReplyDeleteI love these questions! I want a bumper sticker that says: Always eat cake with a spoon. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Me, too!
DeleteGreat fun. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteAdorable then, adorable now. When it comes to cake, who even needs a spoon? Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteIt is so funny to me that you thought you needed to point out which kid was you. Um... newsflash, you still look the same, I recognized you right away. And, no - your head is not that rectangular. I don't know why babies all have giant heads...
ReplyDeleteEyes 'dark and warm as prunes' has to be a weird line to love, but I do! I think that's the nicest description of what I consider (my) boring dark eyes that I've ever heard. And MOST THINGS taste better with a spoon, is my belief.
Happiest 🧁🎈Birthday!
Happy birthday, pal. I hope you've got a bow stuck on your head and that you're eating a spoonful of cake right now.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo and poem! Loved it! Celebrating you!
ReplyDeleteOh my god, Sara, thank you for starting my Saturday with a snort-laugh at your initial questions! And then for that heart-stopping opening line and ending line. Goodness! This poem has such a generous heart. <3
ReplyDeleteI love your opening questions, Sara. I laughed out loud. Your little baby face has that classic "what-is-this-stuff-and-why-have-you-been-keeping-it-from-me" expression. :D
ReplyDeleteAnd what a poem that resulted. I need to play with that form.
A question poem! Thank you for the form, too, Sara -- I may have to go hunt for a pic from childhood to do justice to your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSo charming and such good questions! Full circle with cake and spoon.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!
DeleteHappy Birthday! Wonderful questions and rhyme scheme. I like the thought of being a cake thief ;)
ReplyDeleteBelated birthday wishes! Like Tanita, I recognized you right away, even if you had "Frankenstein bangs!" (That still makes me snort!) Sing on, and continue leaping from bed with your arms wide open with spoon in hand for all the cake that life has to offer!
ReplyDeleteHow delightful your poem–fills you with smiles, and the pic too, Many belated happy returns of the day Sara.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Sara! Love, love your clogyrnach. What an interesting form. My favorite part is your connecting today with that precious little girl. "on in years...same sweet tune."
ReplyDelete