#creativewritingchallenge

(verse 1) my unbridled optimism was an ever-flowing river as i watched you walk through the crowd meet me near Mercury with no expectations, tell me were we destined to burn out?

(verse 2) my hands are calloused and bloody refusing to let go kiss me like a fire escape in a burning building give me something to call home

(chorus) what a shame what a shame give us time to remember what we’ve given up let’s watch a year’s worth of walls come down and see what’s left standing when it stops

(verse 3) i broke down clutching my handful of moments, sayin’, “you’ve got growing up to do” but this is ephemeral a tidal wave of you and me and we’ve got nothing left to lose

(verse 4) what will we look like in 50 years? i hope you wonder, too maybe one day you and i will hike the Grand Canyon and i will whisper “..I still love you”

(potential bridge?) our genuine heart of sadness is to love and be loved but i’m just a raw nerve rediscovering your body was discovering the world i am so afraid, but i trust the universe

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i used to wonder what it’d be like to be able to see wondered what beauty i am missing what vistas exist above the fault line of visual privilege i will never know, because i am blinded by the darkness to which i have adapted. but no matter, love welcome to my midnight paradise step into the blackness there is nothing left to see there is everything left to feel i promise i am here with you and while i cannot see you i sense your vibrations and i can say with certainty the greatest love has nothing to do with sight

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i look up at the skyscrapers here steel testaments to capitalism, in theory i peer up at their windows, glistening in the midday sun in aggregate, they are a postcard photo of modernization, of possibility the quintessential picture of urban beauty but taken one at a time they reveal the people held there by will, but in chains melting, day by day, into the walls of the companies that write their paychecks never thinking that their dreams might be worth saving never thinking that there might be traces of life beyond the path of imitation beyond the american dream never thinking that perhaps to chisel one’s own path out is more remarkable than climbing to the top.

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November 2:  write a poem using all of the following words:

he stopped speaking to the villagers, for he believed they muttered things behind his back his wrinkles, ashen and deep betray what he has endured he wishes, for once he could be just another stranger with no scarlet letter, no brand etched in the color of his skin

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November 1: 7x7x7 Find the 7th book from your bookshelf. Open it up to page 7. Look at the 7th sentence on the page. Begin a poem that begins with that sentence and limit the length to  7 lines.

There was a time when people felt oppressed, stuck in marriages they entered as it was the 'right thing to do.' Society evolved. Men and women can experiment before getting married -- or not marry at all.  Sexual partners are something to tick off a list, the more the better, like collecting beanie babies or stamps on a passport. 

But now we see headlines like the one above.  And we're supposed to go, "Awww, shucks.  Poor gal." What a horrible dilemma. 

I'm not one for buttoned-up morality and clucking one's tongue for not following the straight and narrow.  But...can we speak honestly?  Can we bring back some sort of standards of behavior? 

This is a completely avoidable situation. Don't sleep with another man when you're in love with another! You've now damaged 3, maybe 4 lives: yours, the father, possibly the man you love, and most importantly -- that baby! This is a tragedy, a horror, an absolute preventable path of misery.  And it shouldn't be ok. It shouldn't be on the cover of a tabloid to garner sympathy for the young mother. 

Woman: If you're another one of Carl's friends I'll rip your head off! I don't care how sorry he is!

Man: Excuse me?

Woman: I said I don't care how sorry he is! Is his own fault to your information!

Man: Depends on the situation, but I really think...

Woman: Oh shut it! What'd you know? You're on his side, of course. Best mates and all... Not giving a damn about my feelings! I'm not harsh at all!

Man:Could I possibly get a wor...

Woman: You know, just because you're friends doesn't mean I trust you! You're just protecting him, that coward!

Man: I don't even know what's wrong?

Woman: Oh, don't be smart with me. Of course you do! I wouldn't be surprised if you were part of setting the two of them up!

Man: I'm sorry but I really don't see why you're blowing up on me. I have no idea what you're talking about, but it sounds like your husband was unfaithful to you, and I'm sorry to hear, but that's not what I'm calling for.

Woman: What?

Man: Wrong number.

Woman: Oh, I'm sorry... I thought...

Man: It's fine. Obviously you're upset so I don't blame you. I was just trying to get a hold of a client, but she must have given me wrong number.

Woman: Oh, I'm so embarrassed. I didn't mean to... oh god, I'm so sorry. It's just I've been getting strange calls all morning from his friends. I assumed that...

Man: We all make mistakes. Just look at me calling you.

Woman: I feel so foolish.

Man: No need to, dear. You're upset. Maybe you should get away for the weekend. Give yourself some space.

Woman: Excuse me?

Man: Go to a friend's where you can't be reached. We wouldn't want you to accidentally insulting someone who would take it personally.