Compass Rose Volume XI

I've been mentioned as a contributor for Compass Rose's Volume XI!
http://compassroseonline.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/contributors-for-volume-xi/

Please check out my poem "His Secret Garden" when available.

left-handed lipogram - Deer Treats!

Lately I've been looking into Oulipo and discovered the left-handed lipogram, which is a poem that is written with only the left side of the keyboard. It was a fun exercise that I would encourage trying. Here is the piece that I produced, enjoy!:

deer treats!

average cedar
seed swag
sacred ragweed
grass axes
grafted trees
severed dredges
safer darts
averted gazes
gagged dastards
arrested traders
fat rears
fear extracted
regretted tadas
car swerves
severe vexes
garage access
rare feed
red tea
rafter vests
free faxes
wax cards
tattered rags
café tarts
dragged saxes
excess feasts
rewarded greed
water stars
westward sex
wet ewes
revered eves
dew graves
a weft~wave

a new hope...

Currently I'm in a course called by poetry machines, in which we have focused on Oulipo poetry and are inventing our own machines to drive our poetry. One of the poets in the class has created a form that is based off of blog entries, and this previous week she mentioned that referring to blogs can sometimes be repetitive because a good number of blog posts begin with "sorry for not posting in a while, but this finally warranted an excuse to put something down in here" more or less. So to circumvent that scenario I have waited until the 1,2,3rd sentence to say, wow there's a big gap between the last time I wrote and now (sort of like how there's a gaping hole (time, plot, moral standards, etc.) between the stars wars prequels and originals (I don't frequently reference star wars, it just seemed to fit with the entry title...also I just finished watching the reviews put out by RedLetterMedia check it out). Sorry for the tangent...but unlike the Star Wars epic, the newer posts in here will be an improvement from previous works of art (hopefully, or else I'm in more trouble than I know).

I'm also going to start posting in here things like events that I perform at, as well as publications of mine, in case anyone is interested in looking them up. So I'll take a moment here to post the past few I've been in just to catch you up. Unfortunately Seele Literary and Produce Magazines don't have websites, because they have merged and have found new management since publications with them. But check out Nameless Magazine which is an awesome student-run magazine at UCDavis:

http://www.namelessmagazine.com/cherry-and-trish/

I also have my poem "C[ase] 88" printed in Zyzzyva, but it seems their website is currently under construction, so I'll link you to it later.

Stay tuned, poetry and essays are on their way!

Poem 30 - a narrative contemplation

I have come to the harsh realization that no matter how bad my poetry is, attempting to write a poem every day is going to make it even worse. Putting a time constraint makes me feel forced to abandon any methods that I may have previously encountered or attempted. Rushing definitely makes quantitative work as opposed to qualitative work, at least for me, at least at this time in my life. Either way, it has been noted, I kept the goal (relatively) and responded to it. And now I know better than to put a timer on my creative work. I'll probably delete most of these poems and I don't want to delete any substantial amount of work in the future, especially if it is for my fiction writing. I hope you may have enjoyed some of them. I think there were two that I am proud of. Which did you like? And I'll not send it immediately to the trash.

Poem 29 - the crane

The crane dismisses the tornado
So long has it been
Since before their paths crossed

But the swirling gray beast follows
Leaving class behind at the threshold
Rumbling instead of requesting for a dance

A whiteness spread past its normal span
Bones forced beyond double-joints
And feathers trembling against the beat of wind

Outstretch neck twisting like a ribbon
Wings fluttering like traditional fans
To perform a duet it takes two, justifies the storm

Poem 28 - Mosley

You've probably figured out by now that I didn't finish the thirty poems in time for poetry month, but I'm getting the last few in now. The reason why you would figure it out at this point is because here's one about Mosley in the fight which only happened last night. Break my heart...

Fights are lost for just
But humbled shall be Mosley
With reward in life

Keep your money May-
weather and see not true gold
Swear on then grow old

Poem 27 - Windowsill Items

Items sitting on my windowsill:

A blow-up doll batman with a power punch bracelet that says "BANG!"
A miniature Radio Flyer red wagon
An ostrich size Dinosaur egg wrapped in foil (in the red wagon)
A dog in a sombrero in a hat under clown red cotton balls in a cardboard picture frame
A giant bullet with a French named masked man who specializes in barrel rolling imprinted on it
An adjustable lamp and pair of speakers which are always buzzing

Poem 26 Summer reasoning

The sun has taken custody of my reasoning
I faintly remember the word "work"
but cannot pinpoint the exact definition
I'm sure it must have to do with strawberries
for I am currently eating a bucket full
each one in two bites
and I recall that work is something to do regularly
Snacking on red shapely sweets is also
definitely something to do regularly
And so I shall all day
under the sun under the shade
occasionally beneath a blanket
But was work always this delightful?
I shall not remember for as long as the sun
steals my reasons

Poem 25 tumbling

Tumbling

You tumble down naturally

Like flowers I’ve given you

Not the cut ones from stores

Or wrapped by street vendors

Like flowers I’ve given you

The ones that fall from trees

Taking you to the gardens

With black and white tulips

Cherry blossom trees draw you

A silhouette in a blush

Sanctuary for secrets

I give you flowers

I give you flowers

This way where they keep thriving

I want to give you everything

While compromising nothing

I want to give you everything

Blossoms, bases, roots

Poem 24 Ode to Martha Jaques and Pink

Ode to Martha's Bakery

Thank you Martha
whoever you are
for I now know
the true meaning
of red velvet

I have an excuse
to throw hazelnut
ice cream on
my chocolate chip cookie
from Jacques Torres

Ode to Jacques Torres

Thank you Jacques
whoever you are
for I now know
the true meaning
of chocolate chips

I have an excuse
to throw painted
truffles on
my frozen yogurt
from Pinkberry

Ode to Pinkberry

Thank you pink berries
wherever you are
for I now know
the true meaning
of fresh toppings

I have an excuse
to throw glistening
fruits on
mochi and cereal crumbs
all reminding me

desserts are healthy
in more way than one