Thursday, March 27, 2014

TAKING THE CHALLENGE 4


The meaning of life
And it's purpose 
Cannot be explained
With mere words
Life is complicated
Made so much more
By those with
Inquiring minds who articulate
With mere words
Of rhetoric
Life is a mystery 
You must discover
For yourself
If not at the end
Of life
You will have nothing
But ashes
And mere words

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE?


April is NATIONAL POETRY MONTH. There are many ways to celebrate throughout the month. (for complete details see the posts "Celebrating National Poetry Month," and "(5) Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month," by clicking on the following link writedatbook.blogspot.com.

My favorite way to celebrate is the APRIL POEM A DAY CHALLENGE (April Pad Challenge), as sponsored by Robert Lee Brewer of Writer's Digest.

This is a challenge to poets on all levels to write 30 poems in 30 days. This once local event is now world-wide in scope and is joined by poets everywhere. This year Mr. Brewer has added new and exciting tweaks to the event to make it even more interesting.

Personally I get so involved in the mix that I eat, sleep, and drink the poetry prompts of this event, all day, every day, all month long.  But I won't totally disappear.  When I come up for air sometime during the day, I will share these prompts and my efforts with you in a special posting, on BLACK POETS CAFE.
  
 As a result of the high level of energy and creativity, in the blogosphere during this time, however, I will not post my regular Poetry Challenges again until May 1st.

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To get complete details and guidelines to the 2014 April Pad Challenge, click on the following link writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

Join in the COUNTDOWN TO THE CHALLENGE. 

There are only 5 days left until the challenge starts!  Get you pencils and notebooks ready...IT'S ON! 






Sunday, March 23, 2014

POET PROFILE


PHILLIS WHEATLEY
(1753-1784)

was born in Africa, and sold into slavery at the age of  7. Her master gave her an exceptional education for an enslaved female, where by the age of 12 she was reading the Bible, Greek and Latin classics, and starting to write poetry. She eventually became the first woman, Black or White to be published in America. She created the foundation for today's Black literature.


To read her extraordinary bio and her poetry collection, click on the following link poets.org and search her name. ** For additional details and info google-search her name.

Friday, March 21, 2014

WORLD POETRY DAY

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MARCH 21, 2014 is WORLD POETRY DAY.  It is a day for cultural organizations, libraries, and publishers worldwide to celebrate poetry as an art form.

It is a day for everyone to "support poetry, return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, promote teaching poetry, and restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts."

Take a moment to learn more about poetry organizations and festivals around the world.

For starters, click on the following link cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/poetry-africa-home

            CELEBRATE WHERE THE ORAL TRADITION BEGAN

TAKE NOTE


IF YOU ARE FROM THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA  TAKE NOTE:

///// On Wednesday, 3/26/14 @6:30 PM , U.S. Poet Laureate, Natasha Tretheway will introduce the 2014 WITTER BYNNER FELLOWS at the Library of Congress'  JAMES MADISON BUILDING./////

              THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For full details click on the following link loc.gov/poetry/events

Thursday, March 20, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 4


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CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

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WRITE A POEM TO EXPLAIN  THE MEANING/OR PURPOSE OF LIFE

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Will meet you back here Thursday, 3/27/14 on BLACK POETS CAFE  to share what I've been inspired to write.

TAKING THE CHALLENGE 3


As I gaze up
The full-moon beams
Follows every move
I make
It seems
Wherever I go
Yet I can never
Reach that spot
Just ahead
Always keeping a distance
Separating us by
Billions of miles
Millions of light years
But always there
Watching over
Keeping us close
And connected
With each other
With the world

Monday, March 17, 2014

THIS JUST IN ---

HOW SERIOUS ARE YOUR WRITING SKILLS?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL?

Well now you can put your skills to the ULTIMATE test!

WRITER'S DIGEST presents it's 83RD ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION starting soon...

Whatever your genre, here's your chance to "GET YOUR WORK NOTICED."

For full details click on the following link writersdigest.com then click on Competitions.

Personally, I got a few poems I'm about to enter to see how they do. There will be lots of prizes given out.  GOOD LUCK! 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 3

CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
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Write a poem to finish the following thought: I FEEL A CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD WHEN I                                         

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You can us the "thought" as a line in your finished poem, OR NOT!
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Will meet you back here, Thursday, 3/20/14, on BLACK POETS CAFE to share what I've been inspired to write.

TAKING THE CHALLENGE 2


Life would be better if
I didn't fall in love
So easily
So much better if
I didn't love
So hard
So freely give of myself
My time
When others often
Take it for weakness
Take it for granted
Always
That I
Should be there
Always
Should love them
Without love in return

POET PROFILE

LUCY TERRY (PRINCE)
(1730-1821)

Lucy Terry, like a lot of our ancestors, was stolen from Africa as an infant. She overcame her traumatic start in life to become the writer of a poem that was the earliest known work of literature (poetry) by a Black woman.



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TO READ HER BIO, AND HER FAMOUS POEM, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK, poemhunter.com , AND SEARCH HER NAME.  ** GOOGLE-SEARCH HER NAME FOR ADDITIONAL INFO ON HER LIFE AND TIMES.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 2

CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
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Write a poem using LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF                      as the first line.

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WILL MEET YOU BACK HERE ON BLACK POETS CAFE  THURSDAY, 3/13/14, TO SHARE WHAT I'VE BEEN INSPIRED TO WRITE.

TAKING THE CHALLENGE 1

THE WISH


I wish people would
Just step back
Let me be me
Let me soar
To heights
Not yet imagined
Let my fleeting thoughts
Leave all worldly things
Behind
And merge into
The peace
Of mindfulness

Monday, March 3, 2014

DOOR OF NO RETURN

Chained and shackled
Across the Atlantic they sailed
Livin' lives of transient bondage
Aboard putrid vessels en-route on
An arduous passage through the door of
No return from Alkebulan to America
Human seeds transplanted
From the shores
Of many nations ago
Livin' lives in permanent bondage
Slaves on swelterin' plantations
Devoid of culture and name
In darkness and shame
Livin' lies of freedom
And justice for all

DEM DRY BONES

Dem dry bones of
Our ancestors still lay
Buried downtown beneath
Skyscrapers in lower Manhattan
Valley of sacred burial grounds
Covered with granite
And cement and asphalt
Highways headed uptown
To God knows where

WOMAN OF A DARKER HUE

I CRY TO THINK
IT WAS 
YOU
WOMAN OF A DARKER HUE
WHO SUFFERED MOST
FROM MY LOSS
OF MANHOOD
YOU
WHOSE BODY BORE
THE PAIN OF RAPE
WHOSE SCARS
NEVER HEALED
WHOSE SCARS
REAPED THE HATRED
OF A RACE
I CRY TO THINK
IT WAS
YOU
WOMAN OF A DARKER HUE
WHO ENDURED
OUR LOSS OF MANHOOD
OUR MASCULINITY EMERGING
TOO LATE TO SPARE YOUR PAIN 
TO WIPE YOUR
TEAR-STAINED FACE






Saturday, March 1, 2014

POET PROFILE

JUPITER HAMMON  (1711-1806)

Born into slavery, Jupiter Hammon started writing poetry before the United States of America even came into existence. In spite of his beginnings, he became the first Black person to be published in the U.S. and the first, in a long line of PROTEST POETS, that continue until this very day.


To read a bio of Jupiter Hammon, and sample his poetry, click on the following link poemhunter.com and search his name.