Poetry Restores My Hope This Year
NFSPS Poetry - 2023
First Published in ENCORE: Prize Poetry 2023 by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. 3rd in the Robbie Award.
Now available on Amazon.
For a second year in a row, I placed in the top three for the theme of “The loss of a child.”
The Robbie Award theme inspired me to wrangle with the emotions of loss and grief, and this year, although I can’t publish the poem for 6 months, I’ll post a couple other poems for your enjoyment.
And perhaps a bit of healing and restoration will take place as the words refresh our soul, and as God lifts us to a place of thriving as we seek to honor Him.
Theme of the “loss of a child”:
the last time we spoke
the last time i yelled
i swore I’d never raise my voice again
stinging words tasted bitter
i choked them down with fresh apologies
the first time i yelled
i cried and wept at my horrid ugly words
it wasn’t my intent to fight you
i swallowed hard and carried home the pain
the next time you yelled
and we both flinched and turned away at once
i recognized the familiar charge and
fought to pull the arrows from your heart and mine
i don’t remember all the times
we never trusted that our kindness heals
wounds grew and festered deep
like a bullet’s striking battering plain
the last time we spoke
there were no words at all only silence
fighting tears of guilt and sad regrets
hauntingly keeping us apart
the next time we meet
we must promise to be kind
to wash the past clean and mend each part
we’ll learn to forgive the hurt
A Children’s Poem - Breaking the Rules:
Another children’s poem, also first published in the 2023 Prize Poems by NFSPS, placed in the Alabama State Poetry Society Award Contest.
This entry challenged poets to choose a form and then break the rules of that form to make the poem unique. What a fabulous way to learn the various forms of poetry.
I chose the following:
Rhyming Couplets and internal rhyme.
The final line uses a single end rhyme and internal rhyming line instead of a couplet ending stanza.
and with a question for children.
The Bird Who Hatched a Plan
Now hiding in his nest, poor Max, he couldn’t fly.
He fought the urge to cry. He worried he might die.
And calling Max to play, his friends would laugh and stare.
They bullied from the air. They proved they didn’t care.
When daring Max to fly, Jud teased and took a swing.
Max hopped and held his wing, the other in a sling.
Then showing off their wings, the unkind birds did more.
They said he was a bore. They left him like before.
He’d tried and tried to glide, his mom right by his side.
But wounded was his pride. Sad Max began to hide.
So weary and alone, Max sadly hung his head.
He climbed up into bed. No sleep, he cried instead.
And helping Max be brave, his mom began to pray.
Max pushed the dark away and dragons fell that day.
Now healing from the hurt, Max stood and stopped the hate.
He smiled at all that’s great, determined not to wait.
Max leapt up from his bed. A plan formed in his mind.
He’d ride a plane behind the pilot oh, so kind.
Max hatched his brilliant plan. The bird who now could fly.
He grinned down from the sky and waved one wing goodbye.
Can you be just like Max and teach bullies to relax?
One additional bit of inspiration:
If you find thinking of what topic to write about, try finding an object or item in your home or garden.
Or create a piece of art like the creator of Willow Tree figurines.
I love the expressive figurines in the Willow Tree collection and they form an emotional connection to family. Nature stirs the same vibes and light reaches into the cobwebs to dispel the darkness so we can write hope out of any despair.
What inspires you to write poetry or prose?
To read more, and support poetry in the United States with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, please click on the Amazon affiliate link to purchase a copy of ENCORE: Prize Poems 2023.
Prize winning poetry selected from over 3500 entries in the annual NFSPS Contest.
The links above are affiliate links. If you click on them, I will receive a small portion of the proceeds, but it will not affect your price.