pensieve.me

Under normal conditions, tiramisu and water bottles have nothing in common

{PPL participants, please be sure and read my note
at the bottom of this post, right above Mr. Linky.}

It's the one time of the month world's collide, at least in the Universe of Pensieve:

Poetic License and Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge

Rather than repeating what has already been explained, I encourage you to click the above links if you have no idea what I'm talking about:). 

I have to interject, though, THANK YOU for legitimizing the "pensieve"; when I crafted the poetic form, I had reason to shake in my shoes--the few who posted early have jazzed my poetic soul!  Y'all amaze me :).

For your convenience (and mine), I'm including both entries in one post, and for goodness sakes, while you're busy clicking your co-conspirator's links, be sure to let me know what you think of mine--good, bad or ugly!  If you've ever hosted a Mr. Linky, you already know it's not uncommon for readers to "forget" the host :).  Be sure to identify your permalinks with "PPL" or "F40" or "Both" depending on your posting.

My offering for Poetic License ~ A pensieve complete with a photo for my muse this morning:

Tiramisu
Mountains of whipped cream and chocolate and cake
Celestial layers silently awaiting their fate
Slight hint of coffee, aromatic surprise
Squishy delight on my tongue, it just smiled!
Meal's punctuation--a taste of perfection.

Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challege:

Pure and clear,
Quenches and satisfies,
Refreshing and life-giving--
No wonder Jesus compared Himself to it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A note of sympathy ~ I have no idea what "blog protocol" is on things like this, but I thought participants of Pensieve's Poetic License would want to know that Inheritor's wife suffered a fatal heart attack week before last (he wrote to let me know because a post of his is scheduled for publication on Blog Nosh Magazine, and he asked for that to be postponed).  Inheritor has been a regular contributer to PPL since its beginning, and my heart and prayers go out to him and his family.  I was touched by the poetic tribute he pays to his wife this month, a pensieve that will surely reach you as well.

Making literary history, literallyJuly's Pensieve's Poetic License: a PENSIEVE?!

Rarely am I one to point a finger of accusation at anyone else--I'm well aware three fingers are pointing back at me in return.  This time, however, I'm more than happy to assign blame. 

For months now, Brandon (Words of Redemption) has suggested I'm making up poetic forms for Pensieve's Poetic License (documented here and here).  Hmph!  My goal for PPL has always been to encourage non-poets (un-poets?  poet-impaireds?) to step out of their writing-comfort zone and try their hand at something new.  Along the way, I've stumbled across poetry forms I've never even heard of, so this is a stretch for me as well.

I love exercising my creative gene...and it's no exaggeration to say it's a THRILL when "you" join me!  I KNOW many PPL participants have never written poetry before, they shake in their shoes when they click "publish", and they feel naked and exposed to share their attempts with the interwebs.  Every month--every submission--touches and inspires me in some way...but mostly leaves me feeling like a proud mama, realizing that my babies courageously stepped onto the ice and found solid footing beneath.

Which brings us to this month's poetic form:  a Pensieve

Yes, Brandon, I'm f i n a l l y making one up...and it's all.your.fault!

Thank you.

While we were on vacation, Brandon's friendly teasing prompted a "why not?" in my mind and a poetic form began to take shape .  Poetry at its best invites the reader into the author's thoughts; you feel what they felt when writing it even if you don't completely understand it or know the back-story.  Words brushstroke masterpieces; not with paint on canvas, but with imagery that speaks to and evolves from our need to create. 

Our need to create.   (Hmmm, because we're created in the image of God whose creativity knows no bounds, it's small wonder this is inherent "need" in our lives...whoa, Nellie, now THAT is seed for later thought...Heather & Erin--why am I thinking of y'all right now, lol?)

What is a Pensieve?  A titled, five-line poem; each line correlates to one of the five senses--sight, sound, scent, taste, touch--and describes the subject (title).  The goal is for the reader to take on the poem as his own, being able to "experience" your subject through your words, by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling what you described.  (If you're looking for an alternate definition of "pensieve" and found this post via a search engine, please click here.)

The style is reflective and should leave the reader with lingering thoughts. The name for this poetic form is somewhat of a play on words:  the subject is word-drawn from a memory (from the writer's "pensieve" :) ) and reflected upon by both writer and reader, pensively.

Will you join me for this month's Poetic License?  Will you help launch this new poetic form?  Will I be the only one tip-toeing on the ice this time around?  Even if you've never tried PPL before...I would love the company.  Inventing poetic forms is kind of scary, and it sure would be nice to do so among friends.

Here's one to get you started; if you'd like to write a Pensieve, post it, then check back here on Friday to link your submission (leave a comment here to let me know your plans, and I'll send you a reminder email when the link is active).

Beach Perpetual motion, waves of blue blanket carpets of white.
Never-ending curtain-call of thunderous applause,
insisting "the show must go on".
Tightly closed lips and defiant clenched teeth--
no match for the salty drink she imposes
Briny scent inhabits each breath,
aroma familiar and certain and welcome
Feet burrow in sugared grains,
skin tingles as sun dries, then bakes, to golden.

Emoting diamonds

Indifference

impassive, detached

unfeeling, uncaring, unmoving

cold, aloof, engaged, warm

doting, empathizing, guarding

attentive, engaged

love

Please click here for the "what's, whys & how-to's" for this month's Poetic License. 

June's Poetic License ~ Diamante

This month's poetic form, Diamante, is Italian in origin, it's a simple, seven-line formula, and when it's complete, it will have the shape of a diamond (if centered).  It's an easy exercise in writing poetry, and if you're a fan of haiku or cinquain, diamante is reminiscent of those forms. 

Begin with a subject, in line four you'll transition using two words to describe its opposite, and the last line will be a single word for the subject's opposite.

As for this month's theme, once again, you have two choices:  the great outdoors or emotions.  If you're feeling particularly diamante-prolific, write two!

subject
two adjectives describing the subject
three words ending in "ing" telling about the subject
four words, first two describe subject, last two describe its opposite
three words ending in "ing" telling about the opposite
two adjectives describing the opposite
opposite

     If you haven't written a poem since school, come on...dive in!  If you're a non-blogger who'd like to participate, feel free to leave your poem in comments here (or email them to me), and I'll post them ON FRIDAY with my Diamante post.  Bloggers should check back on Friday as well, when I'll have Mr. Linky posted for you to register your permalink.  New to Pensieve's Poetic License or still have questions?  Check out the FAQs page.

Poetic License goes American Idol

When you read my poems for this month's Poetic License, there will be little doubt what I was doing just prior to writing them.

There's plenty of time for you to write yours and link it--CLICK HERE for everything you need to know about this month's form and theme.  Non-bloggers are welcome to leave their clerihews in comments; I'll post them below if you do :).

Get this...AFTER I wrote mine, I remembered there WAS a theme!  I forgot to follow it!  Geezaroni--guess I'm adhering to the "No rules.  Just write" mantra of Pensieve's Poetic License.

The judge Miss Paula Abdul
Bless her heart, sometimes looks like a fool.
She's nice but she doesn't make sense
Is she drunk or really that dense?

Jason Castro sang like Bob Marley
His dreads were even more gnarly.
Simon became homicidal--
When he forgot words on American Idol.

My favorites are two boys named Dave
When they sing, I rant, yes, I rave.
I can't decide who I like best
With 'em both, I'm a little obsessed.

Okay, okay....here's one in honor of National Hamburger Month:

Do you remember J. Wellington Wimpy?
His girth was hardly skimpy!
"I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
Is the only line I ever heard him say.

Photocredit:  The Dessert Years

If Poetic License isn't your style, how 'bout trying Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge? Last week's inaugural challenge was delightful--I was honestly impressed with how much can be said in less than 40 words!  Join us?
 

First things first: May Poetic License

Just in case you were wondering after the debut of Friday's 40 Photo Challenge last week, Pensieve's Poetic License is alive and well.  F40PC is a weekly carnival designed to inspire you to write "40 words or less"--prose, poetry, whatevah--in response to a photo prompt; PPL is a monthly poetry challenge where you're instructed to follow a form and theme directive. 

This month's poetic form is something I've never written before but it sounds simple and fun:  clerihew.  My friend Peculiar introduced this form, and since it was new to me, I thought it might be to you as well.  In a nutshell, it's a short, humorous biographical verse; four lines with an AABB  rhyme scheme.

Poetry4kids.com explains the how-to's in four easy steps:

       

1. They are four lines long.
       
2. The first and second lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.
       
3. The first line names a person, and the second line ends with something that rhymes with the name of the person.
       
4. A clerihew should be funny.
      

As far as theme, let's go with May celebrations--OF COURSE you know about Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and Memorial Day, but did you also know May celebrates Asparagus Month, National Bar-B-Que Month, National Hamburger Month and National Mental Health Month? 

I can hardly wait to see how you write a poem that weaves together a "person" and one of those!

Write them any time this week, and THURSDAY be sure to link your poem to Mr. Linky where you can find all the Poetic License participants.

 

Spring Haiku ~ April's Pensieve Poetic License

Author note:  I've noticed an increased number of search engine hits to this post from people looking for Spring haikus; while I appreciate your visit to PENSIEVE, please do not copy these original works as your own! 

 

As we near The Perfect Date--

"...April 25th. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket." (know the reference?)

what better time for inspiration to write poetry?  Here are my submissions for this month's Poetic License along with the images that inspired them.  If you're inspired to write your own, after it's posted, be sure to come back here and link it (your poem, not your main page)--I can't wait to read 'em!  Be sure to visit as many others as you're able to, too (and let 'em know you did!).

Delicate beauty
Metamorphosis unfolds
Masterpiece in flight.

The world awakens
Artist palette emerges
Brush strokes of nature.

Pensieve's Poetic License ~ April Challenge

{This is a featured post--please scroll down for
Fun Monday, Wordless Wednesday, Project Yellow & more!}

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Prompted by one of my favorite friends in the b-sphere, this month's poetic challenge is simple.  My hope is to rope a few more of you into trying out your poetic license.

Haiku.

Three lines, 17 syllables, often related to nature--what could be easier than that?  Write one (or more) and check back here on Friday to link your permalink (your post not your front page) to Mr. Linky.

Haikus are simple to write; good haiku takes a bit more intention.  That sentence isn't meant to intimidate--after researching beyond what I already knew (see first sentence of the previous paragraph), I realized their Japanese originators saw these as substantive art.  Listen to what Maria Claudia Faverio has to say about them: 

"The haiku is a miniature masterpiece of immediate perception, a snapshot of life (what Shiki calls shasei). The haiku must be perceived through intuition and enjoyed, not understood or explained. It conveys its meaning through concrete images that speak for   themselves. There is an enormous power hidden behind apparently insignificant particulars, no word is superfluous in the haiku."

See what I mean?  A miniature masterpiece is waiting to be penned by YOU! 

Please try your hand at Pensieve's Poetic License this week--the theme is "Spring", deliberately chosen to give you a wide berth for expression.  Please comment here to let me know you're in (and I'll send you a reminder on Thursday), then check back to link your poem(s) on Friday.

Bonus Limericks

Pensieve's Poetic License has been tons o' fun this month with all things "limerick", and it's been a delight to see new voices mingled with the familiar.  Please be sure and visit the participants if this poetic form tickles your fancy--they're ALL delightful!  I hope to throw a little attention to those who posted "later"; you might have missed them and they're fantastic submissions.

Several people posted "last lines" to the limericks I started--I provided the first four lines, readers were asked to provide the last line.  Got a favorite??

Limerick #1 ~

Fred, a green leprechaun
In Spring, flew a kite until dawn.
On Easter, so windy,
His shamrock kite got all bendy.
_____________________________________

(Karmyn) So Fred threw a fit on the lawn.
(Min) And it burned when he went to the john.
(Marsha) So he went out and bought a new one!
(Marsha) So he went to the pub and tied one on!
(Lissa)  He huffed and puffed and turned into a fawn.
(The Pear Lady)  Made him drink Irish beer with Sean
(E-mom) Till the sun rose high on his lawn.
(Jeanie) And you've not seen an irish so forlorn.
(Purple Worms) it looked like a little green prawn

Limerick #2 ~

"Fly a kite!" you might want to shout.
When Poetic License I've asked you to tout.
Or perhaps, you'll agree
And you'll write two or three--
______________________________________

(Marsha) Or maybe you'll choose just to pout!
(The Pear Lady)  Leaving sanity along the way, no doubt.
(E-mom)  So your blog will have fabulous clout.
(Jeanie)  Then to find its the weekend - you've missed out!
(Purple Worms)  Or write none and sit home and pout

Readers also had opportunity to post limericks in comments or email their submissions; here are those:

Brand new to blogging and a friend IRL, Peculiar (How Do We Get There From Here), went CRAZY with this--over-achiever that she is--determined to use ALL my word prompts...and then some--

Irish leprechauns hold green shamrocks
On Easter, in Spring, while we turn back clocks.
They trade shamrocks for kites
Near the windy dikes.
Then we all gather to eat ham hocks!!

Okay leaping leprechaun, jump lightly!
For your Irish moves seem spritely!
You fly high as a kite
On a windy flight
While the green Spring’s sun shines brightly!

Easter lilies in the windy Spring
Wave back and forth on shamrock green
Grass, where kites are stuck
In the dreaded dirt and muck
And where the Irish and leprechauns do cling.

Kids fly their homemade kites in windy Spring.
Birds, bugs, and even green grass start to sing
Of lazy leprechaun days of the Irish
And Easter bunnies and a shamrock wish,
And of dressed up moms in all their bling!

Kelly, Pass the Torch ~

Green is a beautiful thing.
Like leaves when the birds start to sing.
Or clover so sweet,
A leprochaun's feet,
And all that St. Patty's Day brings.

And although she doesn't blog and this isn't exactly a limerick, I was thrilled my Aunt Estelle revealed her lurker-ness by emailing a poem to me!  Of course, that just makes me wonder who else I know reads PENSIEVE...!

IT WAS A FRIDAY BEFORE EASTER AND EARLY IN THE SPRING

THE DAY WAS SO WINDY AND THE GRASS THERE WAS GREEN

WITH THE LUCK OF THE IRISH AND A SHAMROCK IN HIS HAND

THE KITE WAS FLYING HIGH FOR MY LITTLE LEPRECHAUN.


Again, a thousand thanks to everyone who joined in this month...the pleasure was mine!

License to Limerick

This month's Poetic License is a fun challenge to write a limerick...or two...or three.  The only "rules" were to use one or more of the following key words:  green, irish, leprechaun, shamrock, Easter, Spring, kite, windy. 

Hmmmm, lemme give it a try:

In March, fly a kite, 'cause it's windy.
I hear that's even quite trendy.
If the wind knocks you down
Be not hero nor clown
Or for you, it might be the end-y.

(Ok...so that was just silly and not exactly real words.  How 'bout another?)

Shamrocks "speak" Irish to me.
But lucky, they're not, you'll agree.
My black thumb, (not green)
Kills 'em dead, it's just mean!
Certain death, a sad guarantee.

(Plant murderer!  S u r e l y I can do better.  Hat trick, anyone?)

Easter comes early this year
We'll celebrate with those we hold dear
Christ's resurrection
Redemptive perfection
Now, in spirit, He always is near.

Enough from me--YOUR TURN!  Write a few of your own (or simply complete the last lines of my "starter limericks"), then link your Poetic License post below.  Non-bloggers are welcome; just drop your poem off in comments! 

Chopchop, what are you waiting on?  I can't wait to read YOURS!!