another challenge poem

not about …(voiced)

this poem is not about painting glass,
a slide of ghostlines focus into silhouette
bird captured in bright colour swirl

“this is going nowhere,” she thinks
an echo of a someone else, transparent

maybe her

before another coughs and says
“you’re painting in fresh blood?”

maybe hers

so here they are, those shadow voices
at the door with starling confirmation
of a cut lawn, fuschia dripping

luscious pink on sunburst daisy chains
knowing that a link has burned, up and out;
this poem is not about how freedom works.

————

The Wild Challenge (in brief):
Write a poem using the techniques of reversal and denial. Begin your poem with the words β€œThis poem is not about . . . then go on to write the poem. Occasionally come back to the statement: β€œThis poem is not about . . .”

7 thoughts on “another challenge poem

  1. noxalio's avatar noxalio says:

    Shell,

    i simply love:
    “starling confirmation
    of a cut lawn, fuschia dripping
    luscious pink on sunburst daisy chains”

    actually, i simply love
    all of it,

    nicely done!

    noxy.

    (and as Paul says, “more please” πŸ™‚

    • forgetmenow's avatar Shell says:

      wow, noxy … if this got to you then maybe, just maybe i should stop wittering on about how i can’t write … damn, i sound like a broken record in this thread

      … but really …

      thank you …

      • noxalio's avatar noxalio says:

        yes, stop wittering πŸ™‚

        and …
        (you should) write
        more.

        btw, i’d love to hear
        you recite this one

        and also the other one
        (at noxalio.com)

        what do you say,
        are you up for it?

  2. punatik's avatar punatik says:

    Extremely evocative imagery. The paintings you create in my mind are astounding. Great Work

  3. Paul Squires's avatar Paul Squires says:

    Said it before and I’ll say it again, Shell. Your poetry has a unique beauty, especially in its phrasing. You should be submitting to some journals and thinking about it career-wise.

    • forgetmenow's avatar Shell says:

      oh my Paul … i don’t know what to say .. really i don’t … a couple of weeks after writing something i always think it’s rubbish … maybe i should offer some stuff to journals though, just to see what happens?

      thank you, you …

      er .. where to start? *eek

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