#novpad

Happy November! Either I inadvertently hibernated after finishing Write 31 Days OR I had a strange first half of the week. There was definitely a moment last night where I was in the kitchen making a grown-up drink and my husband and I pretty much were like this:

While I get my bearings, I wanted to let you know about something fun we started over on Facebook. For the past five-ish years, I’ve done the November Poem a Day Challenge with varying levels of success. The basic idea is NaNoWriMo for poets: except instead of trying to bang out a novel you write a poem each day. The Writer’s Digest poetry blog has a daily prompt, or you can ignore them altogether and write what you want.

Normally, I’d post them on the blog, but this year, I’m NovPadding at a brand new Facebook group called The Poetry Pub! Because NovPadding is way more fun with friends.

unpack the blankets, whether you need them or not, 
put Bon Iver loud on the record player
 to fill the cold hard air, 
and let the sun go down 
(as if you could stop it.) 

They talk about changing time zones
 So we’ll get that last hour of daylight
 (as if we had the power to add hours
 to our shrinking days)

 How very like us humans
 To think we can make time bend
 our way. 

I feel winter’s gloom creeping in 
and my marrow revolting against
 encroaching cold. 

I drink coffee too late,
 light spice scented candles,
 half long for Christmas
 half pine for summer
 fully beg for some light.

Today’s NovPAD prompt is “triangle.” This is what happens when you write hungry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (Note: Lays didn’t pay me to write this, although they probably should.) ***

The prompt for Day 18’s Poem a Day Challenge hosted by The Poetry Pub, is “harmattan” which the dusty NE wind that blows through West Africa in the winter. The dryness and dustiness can provide a metaphor to a heart condition that I experience when I am especially tired after a day of ministry. Also, ever since I saw Larry Gatlin talk about Kris Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down”…

The Day 17 Prompt for The Poetry Pub’s November Poem a Day Challenge  is a Form Friday prompt. The poetic form is “terza rima” — a form invented by Dante Alighieri which he employs in his Divine Comedy. This poem I’ve actually been working on for four years since attending a summer class at Regent College. The class and the eight late July days in Vancouver were some of the most refreshing days…

Day 9’s prompt for Poetry Pub’s November Poem a Day Challenge is “solstice.” This sonnet is a tribute to all the Poetry Pub Poets who have been such an encouragement and blessing over many years. They have show me kindness and hospitality that has been life giving. And I am a grateful to the Lord for them. Write on, poets. Your words enchant and are being used in the work of Him Who Makes All…

Poetry Pub’s November Poem a Day Challenge’s prompt for Day for is: Bright/Dark. Here’s an attempt. Noon is noon. It resists our manipulation In spite of attempts at hour inflation It comes neither late or too soon. New is new. The moon wanes each month does not listen To songs, waxes full with drips glistens Just once is a moon very blue Let it go Time is relative, is bright and…