Happy 2016 - time to break out the structured poems again?

The New Year is always time for resolutions, even when they're resolutions not to have any New Year resolutions.
 
I'm keen to keep up the blogging, but write fewer poems, while reintroducing a few more structured poems, especially poems around special events. 

Maybe I'll even manage a New Year sonnet, or even maybe a Christmas one. There's something about the constraints on old fashioned poetry that, as a poet, I think are worthwhile pursuing. In the meantime, This Year of Fire, is as good a New Year poem as any, it's a near-traditional sonnet, although it's very dark. I admit, I really wasn't sure about it at first, but it's grown on me. And I think that's always a good sign with poetry - since it's considered a good sign for music and other art forms!!!


Anyway, Happy New Year everybody, best wishes to everyone who follows this blog, and a sad final farewell to 2015, and of course the Tuesday Poem, which was the impetus to me blogging most Tuesdays, although I do hope to keep that up in 2016 and beyond.

cheers to you, my readers, and to the New Year, may it be a good one.

A.J. 
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files

Find my stories and support my writing on ko-fi   And tell me which poems you'd like to see in my upcoming poetry book—2024

 

 

 

 

 

What I'm Up To: White Cloud Worlds

ok, normally this is my job, advertising events, but fortunately Paul Tobin from White Cloud Worlds did most of the heavy work including this part of the flier - so instead I've been running around in circles and accomplishing...who knows...

At least the launch for Baby Teeth went off without a hitch (well done to Dan Rabbarts, Eileen Mueller, and a whole tonne of other people)  Now it's wait and see how this all pans out, looking forward to the Opening, expecting lots of the artists, and quite afew Weta people - so if you want an invite now's the time to ask (Rona Gallery 562 8062) and of course the life drawing demonstration will be fun.  Gino's also threatened to break out the movie makeup on the 10th during the signing which will be seriously cool!!!!

I'd like to thank...

Did you think this would be a poem?
I lied
What I meant to say was
come to my book launch

have you submitted a piece of art?
Of course it was due today -
everything always is -
unless it was due last week
and you just plain forgot
because the world passed by
not unlike a freight train in a
sanitised Valentine's commercial

Love is cheap and
fired with coal apparently
But before your glasses steam up-

Of course I'd like to thank you

for turning up
for making my day
(reading this counts)
for mixing with the artists
& joining in the fun
(dress up optional)

So
Seriously
Love to see you
6.30 Thurs 14 Feb
151 Muritai Rd
Eastbourne
Be my Valentine - I promise there will only be platonic magic and a complete lack of soot.
Thanks everyone :)


http://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/come-one-come-all-to-my-book-launch-630.html

 PS - want to enjoy more fine poetry - check out the Tuesday Poem Blog for the featured poem "The Gift" by C K Stead and hosted by the lovely, talented and insightful, Mary McCallum.
A quick and somewhat cursory look through the poems this week but Keith's "Resilience" caught my eye
 Kathleen Ferber has chosen "Blue Disremembered Hills" by Tim Jones - and my first thought was why? And then I read it again.  Ah that's why.  Some poems just need a little more effort - but they are well worth it. 
I also enjoyed The Awakening River, by Katherine Mansfield posted by Robert Sullivan.  

Or for the latest in Tuesday Poetry click on the feather...

A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.

Memorial

Mind the present that

I give you

The bow is tied askew

Just for you

A rainbow

Of love

The cupboards

And the kitchen wall

Brushed bright in every hue

Just for you

Confound it

All the words

Shall fall

Forgotten paintings

Blank and white

Against the wall

Against the page

And always you shall see

The note that never set you free

Just for you

#

A certain warhorse

Teeth kicked askew

Hearts beating

Bites all its tongues in laughter;

Half without

and half  -

Forever After

A..J. Ponder 

There is a certain saying, never look a gift-horse in the mouth.  And yet some gifts come with their own sadness.  This poem refers rather obscurely to a gift from my colour-blind grandfather to my grandmother.  The bright colours intended to cheer her had a somewhat opposite effect, serving only to remind them both of their thwarted passion for art.







For more poetry please go to the Tuesday Poem blog by clicking on the link.