1) Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect admits to disliking romantic poetry and has issued her Monday Poetry challenge:
As unromantic as I am, I thought it would be interesting to write a love poem. There is a catch, however. The love poem you write cannot include any terms of endearment or words of adoration. How's that for you? A Love poem without explicit words of love. Also, you don't necessarily need to write about a person, as surely there are those who love things as much as people (or pets).
I'll think on it, Tricia. It all depends on what you define as "terms of endearment." If I call my nine-year old van "Old Goldie," is that too affectionate for you? How about if I channel Pablo Neruda and admit that my favorite running socks are sturdy and wooly? No? Too explicit? In that case, I may need to invent some completely neutral action verbs like "to Depp" or "Fiennes with" to stand in for passionate interest. (And "Lovett!" Got to able to use that one.)
And on a slightly related note...
(Everyman's Library Pocket Poets)
In paging through it, I'd say that it's very, very tricky to write a poem about a dog that is better than the dog is. But perhaps I'll read a few to the intended recipient and see what she thinks.
