Official DUP NaPo/GloPoWrimo 2020 Competition
8/30
Warrior Heart
She has this energy, that is all her own,
When it manifests; I know my soul is home,
You chasing cookies and cream, this Queen, is stars and light,
Never been of the scene, she moves in ways I like..
Never knew a women who moved with such grace!
Lifted up my soul, from the darkest place.
Just her aura was enough to make me feel safe.
A Warrior heart, with an Angel’s face.
Warrior Heart
She has this energy, that is all her own,
When it manifests; I know my soul is home,
You chasing cookies and cream, this Queen, is stars and light,
Never been of the scene, she moves in ways I like..
Never knew a women who moved with such grace!
Lifted up my soul, from the darkest place.
Just her aura was enough to make me feel safe.
A Warrior heart, with an Angel’s face.
Anonymous
#8 of 30
Volcano repair
Left the eye fallow,
sky-light instincts harrowing;
gull-white boy-blue under the foil moon.
Within its spell and upon its teeth lies
the everafter over-touched,
underquoted response.
Please give back my surroundings
against all these odds.
heartening and extra embellished
for the hard of reckoning.
For if it is different
it will be left alone
like the liseron binding
the morning glass to the garden,
like saliva golden in the inkwell,
like the light footed assurity
on which every particle supports
the phantasm gaze,
like water jars in sunlight morning moonlight ways.
like when the current exploded every nerve cell
Like these things would ever become problematic.
73 unique words of 110 total
Volcano repair
Left the eye fallow,
sky-light instincts harrowing;
gull-white boy-blue under the foil moon.
Within its spell and upon its teeth lies
the everafter over-touched,
underquoted response.
Please give back my surroundings
against all these odds.
heartening and extra embellished
for the hard of reckoning.
For if it is different
it will be left alone
like the liseron binding
the morning glass to the garden,
like saliva golden in the inkwell,
like the light footed assurity
on which every particle supports
the phantasm gaze,
like water jars in sunlight morning moonlight ways.
like when the current exploded every nerve cell
Like these things would ever become problematic.
73 unique words of 110 total
8 of 30.
Day 8: 08/04/2020, 21:49 GMT
Burial at Sea
Down we go
beneath the still waters
and below the current's flow
a slow parting wave
to where only demons will show,
to lie with the krakens
and the bones
of all that they know,
down to where no light can glow
no happiness nor laughter
where only the bitter and twisted
can grow,
for all family and friends, are left behind
there is nothing of comfort here
only weeds and tides of woe.
Unique words: 54
Day 8: 08/04/2020, 21:49 GMT
Burial at Sea
Down we go
beneath the still waters
and below the current's flow
a slow parting wave
to where only demons will show,
to lie with the krakens
and the bones
of all that they know,
down to where no light can glow
no happiness nor laughter
where only the bitter and twisted
can grow,
for all family and friends, are left behind
there is nothing of comfort here
only weeds and tides of woe.
Unique words: 54
#08 of 30
Reduced to Zeroes
Invalidation cuts both ways
from the sinner to the saint
or back again if truth be told
to be right is just that bold
the other end may have a name
still there’s room to shove the blame
without regard for middle ground
the place where truth can be found
this matters not for each side
it’s so much easier to glibly lie
even as the words assume
the vernier of studied truth
that surface all shine to luster
backed up with words of bluster
in the end there are no heroes
saints and sinners reduced to zeroes.
Reduced to Zeroes
Invalidation cuts both ways
from the sinner to the saint
or back again if truth be told
to be right is just that bold
the other end may have a name
still there’s room to shove the blame
without regard for middle ground
the place where truth can be found
this matters not for each side
it’s so much easier to glibly lie
even as the words assume
the vernier of studied truth
that surface all shine to luster
backed up with words of bluster
in the end there are no heroes
saints and sinners reduced to zeroes.
NaPo 2020, April 8th
8/20
NATURAL HABITAT
Thick soft carpet of leaves
from the Australian Silver-Oak trees
graces the composting-zone homely —
nine fixed pods, two large biomass collectors,
customised long-term humanure slowly decomposing …
all shaded by the Grevilleas and the big mimosa
creating conditions for miracle microbes and wiggling worms:
an amazing transformation by Nature’s wisdom,
producing humus-rich soil
for growing high nutritional-value food —
my own mini-version of the world’s humus belt
which once stretched from the ancient ‘bread-baskets’ of North Africa,
Eastern Europe, Asia and the Americas …
sadly now almost disappeared, killed off
by deforestation and Big-Ag.
To stay sane in a world gone crazy
I stand in my own little humus-belt and listen;
listen to the wonders of regeneration.
Trees don’t reach the sky
and nothing dies for ever.
8/20
NATURAL HABITAT
Thick soft carpet of leaves
from the Australian Silver-Oak trees
graces the composting-zone homely —
nine fixed pods, two large biomass collectors,
customised long-term humanure slowly decomposing …
all shaded by the Grevilleas and the big mimosa
creating conditions for miracle microbes and wiggling worms:
an amazing transformation by Nature’s wisdom,
producing humus-rich soil
for growing high nutritional-value food —
my own mini-version of the world’s humus belt
which once stretched from the ancient ‘bread-baskets’ of North Africa,
Eastern Europe, Asia and the Americas …
sadly now almost disappeared, killed off
by deforestation and Big-Ag.
To stay sane in a world gone crazy
I stand in my own little humus-belt and listen;
listen to the wonders of regeneration.
Trees don’t reach the sky
and nothing dies for ever.
8/30
[ NapoWriMo 2020 Collection ] Survival
Qinghai,Tibetan Plateau
Guliya Ice Cap, 12,979 BC
Part I - Existence
[ . . . ]
vii
Crannied mountains, shimmering
in the watery sediment
of morning eyes—sunrise
smoldering fire; bedraggled
bodies coming to life
Days of taxing terrain were charted
toward Baishiya Karst Cave—
its northeastern edge of plateau
home to tribal clans;
families awaited their return
along with nutrient-rich
meat, pelts, and assorted bone
to last them through winter
Griffon descended, foraged
on scattered scraps—
gimlet eyes on three figures
diminishing into the sun
. . .
Words:69
Unique: 62
[ NapoWriMo 2020 Collection ] Survival
Qinghai,Tibetan Plateau
Guliya Ice Cap, 12,979 BC
Part I - Existence
[ . . . ]
vii
Crannied mountains, shimmering
in the watery sediment
of morning eyes—sunrise
smoldering fire; bedraggled
bodies coming to life
Days of taxing terrain were charted
toward Baishiya Karst Cave—
its northeastern edge of plateau
home to tribal clans;
families awaited their return
along with nutrient-rich
meat, pelts, and assorted bone
to last them through winter
Griffon descended, foraged
on scattered scraps—
gimlet eyes on three figures
diminishing into the sun
. . .
Words:69
Unique: 62
8 of 30
Wrapped in flesh
Within the cradle of our bodies
I feel the presence of your inflection
The un-dashed dreams that stream of hope
That dress the fruits yielded from our roots
Of those waged wars we’ve undertook
To tend our spirits wrapped in flesh
As we explore those anointed scars
Brought from earths’ laboured songs
And listen to the stories borne of ceaseless winds
And their echo of a forlorn call of longing
That whispers in renditions of virtues calling
To the rhythms of our beating chests
That holds our hearts and where their blessings beat
I feel your iridescent smile
As it rises upon my shoulders rest
Within the cradle of our bodies
We hold all of this and more
From then, till now and on again
As we ease upon the solace of our shore
And rise at last, the last of our breaths airs
To share in the tide of our eyes a future
That no longer hides..
Wrapped in flesh
Within the cradle of our bodies
I feel the presence of your inflection
The un-dashed dreams that stream of hope
That dress the fruits yielded from our roots
Of those waged wars we’ve undertook
To tend our spirits wrapped in flesh
As we explore those anointed scars
Brought from earths’ laboured songs
And listen to the stories borne of ceaseless winds
And their echo of a forlorn call of longing
That whispers in renditions of virtues calling
To the rhythms of our beating chests
That holds our hearts and where their blessings beat
I feel your iridescent smile
As it rises upon my shoulders rest
Within the cradle of our bodies
We hold all of this and more
From then, till now and on again
As we ease upon the solace of our shore
And rise at last, the last of our breaths airs
To share in the tide of our eyes a future
That no longer hides..
8/30
[ NaPo 2020 ] In So Many Words
VIII.
For years I had confused
an infinite amount of patience
with despair born of its contrast
I don't give up
and wallowed in the afterbirth
I Don't Give Up
But I did
I DON'T GIVE UP
surrendering to feelings
speaking louder than words-
discharges from friction
between opposing beliefs
It begins with accepting defeat
evolves into managing, maintaining
then becomes handling, coping, dealing
going numb, tuning out, muddling through
and if you aren't already drinking
you probably should consider it-
given you're already as good as wasted
Every day inconspicuously hangs
over into the next as a bat
blind as yourself realizing that
after decades gone by
because you just wanted
Today over with-
you quit looking forward
to a better Tomorrows
In so many words
When you weave your own cocoon
you have to lie in it
[ NaPo 2020 ] In So Many Words
VIII.
For years I had confused
an infinite amount of patience
with despair born of its contrast
I don't give up
and wallowed in the afterbirth
I Don't Give Up
But I did
I DON'T GIVE UP
surrendering to feelings
speaking louder than words-
discharges from friction
between opposing beliefs
It begins with accepting defeat
evolves into managing, maintaining
then becomes handling, coping, dealing
going numb, tuning out, muddling through
and if you aren't already drinking
you probably should consider it-
given you're already as good as wasted
Every day inconspicuously hangs
over into the next as a bat
blind as yourself realizing that
after decades gone by
because you just wanted
Today over with-
you quit looking forward
to a better Tomorrows
In so many words
When you weave your own cocoon
you have to lie in it
8/30
religiously unreligious
years upon years
nailed to the cross
rebirthed, oiled, and led to shine
it's time, it's destiny
trailed
where the good book sews
your sins to your cheek
none lesser, none weak
soapbox'd again and again
remembering only then
high priestess and his court
the showers a favourite sport
it's noon and he's high
strung up by the beads
and apostolic creed
I won't go back, despite
learning the wrongs of the right
left to simmer
in hell's kitchen
there'll be nun
of the usual pretense and precipice
I'll fall
from grace
Indulge in the human race
lust more than one god
the prick, the prod
the prude, the mighty
how rude and righteous
religiously unreligious
stripped bare, torn
the covers off
the bleeding books
run away
from the money,
damn crooks
and cooks
love me for who I am
for what I do
not some tit, sans wit
nor mind to word no more than
rehearsed verse
~
come seek,
we'll find
religiously unreligious
years upon years
nailed to the cross
rebirthed, oiled, and led to shine
it's time, it's destiny
trailed
where the good book sews
your sins to your cheek
none lesser, none weak
soapbox'd again and again
remembering only then
high priestess and his court
the showers a favourite sport
it's noon and he's high
strung up by the beads
and apostolic creed
I won't go back, despite
learning the wrongs of the right
left to simmer
in hell's kitchen
there'll be nun
of the usual pretense and precipice
I'll fall
from grace
Indulge in the human race
lust more than one god
the prick, the prod
the prude, the mighty
how rude and righteous
religiously unreligious
stripped bare, torn
the covers off
the bleeding books
run away
from the money,
damn crooks
and cooks
love me for who I am
for what I do
not some tit, sans wit
nor mind to word no more than
rehearsed verse
~
come seek,
we'll find
viii of xxx
2020 TEST
1)
I am parent
2 kids @ home
Instead of school
2)
I am accountant, tax season
Herd cats = COVID-19 stimulus
Makeshift “desk,” side of bed
3)
I am university student
Graduation 1 month away
Due dates left: 17
4)
@ point where
# of layers of overwhelm
Overwhelms me
5)
Can make me cry
@ any point:
Anything
6)
Amount of release
Constituted “breakdown” previously
= Regular occurrence now
7)
(AND TRUMP)
8)
Goddamit
still lucky/blessed/privileged
AF
+ + +
53 unique words
(care taken wrt #s etc)
out of 65 total
NaPoWriMo 2020
2020 TEST
1)
I am parent
2 kids @ home
Instead of school
2)
I am accountant, tax season
Herd cats = COVID-19 stimulus
Makeshift “desk,” side of bed
3)
I am university student
Graduation 1 month away
Due dates left: 17
4)
@ point where
# of layers of overwhelm
Overwhelms me
5)
Can make me cry
@ any point:
Anything
6)
Amount of release
Constituted “breakdown” previously
= Regular occurrence now
7)
(AND TRUMP)
8)
Goddamit
still lucky/blessed/privileged
AF
+ + +
53 unique words
(care taken wrt #s etc)
out of 65 total
NaPoWriMo 2020
scribbles in a poet's diary #08
(08 of 30—Official DUP NaPo/GloPoWrimo2020)
08 of 30
scribble #08: odessa’s dance blooms in the night
april rites
birdiest day dance of spring’s
ornithologian wings
owl, duck, ostrich, finch, cardinal
uniquely ordinal
black on white
bright orange, green, dusk brown
some don red evening gown—
for relevé et grande plié
—whose plumes the wind gives sway-
appetite
odessa‘s dance blooms in the night
when wingéd birds cease fast their flight
© Copyright 2020 April 08
by Clyve A. Bowen♫
__________________________
NaPoWriMo2020—April 08
Total Words 54
Unique Words 52
(08 of 30—Official DUP NaPo/GloPoWrimo2020)
08 of 30
scribble #08: odessa’s dance blooms in the night
april rites
birdiest day dance of spring’s
ornithologian wings
owl, duck, ostrich, finch, cardinal
uniquely ordinal
black on white
bright orange, green, dusk brown
some don red evening gown—
for relevé et grande plié
—whose plumes the wind gives sway-
appetite
odessa‘s dance blooms in the night
when wingéd birds cease fast their flight
© Copyright 2020 April 08
by Clyve A. Bowen♫
__________________________
NaPoWriMo2020—April 08
Total Words 54
Unique Words 52
8/30
The Every Day: 80/20
I am twenty percent.
That’s fair. I accept it.
It has been an ongoing
anatomical breakdown
that even I can
not fully process.
Gnawing guilt is
a fevered pack of
lions sucking the
marrow from the bones
of a kill.
It lessens my core.
Sorrow is a steady
friend who
never leaves; though
I choke it with
bare hands.
These things
plague me, consume my
thoughts-
...devour me.
If we could walk it
back five hundred paces-
recalibrate...
the world would be right again.
*NaPoWriMo2020*
61 unique words
84 total words
The Every Day: 80/20
I am twenty percent.
That’s fair. I accept it.
It has been an ongoing
anatomical breakdown
that even I can
not fully process.
Gnawing guilt is
a fevered pack of
lions sucking the
marrow from the bones
of a kill.
It lessens my core.
Sorrow is a steady
friend who
never leaves; though
I choke it with
bare hands.
These things
plague me, consume my
thoughts-
...devour me.
If we could walk it
back five hundred paces-
recalibrate...
the world would be right again.
*NaPoWriMo2020*
61 unique words
84 total words
8/30
†Cross to †Cross
Sometimes when I have to carry them
I wear and bear them for my own sake
And the times when I lost my faith
I came to find it when my heart ached.
At times I have been a little faithless
Mad as hell and angry at the world
Upset with myself for the choices I made
As the consequences then fully unfurled
But I’ve learned and made my peace with it
My beliefs have varied from year to year
It’s been a beautiful bedlam and chaos
And then it saves me with it reappears
#NaPoWriMo2020
95 words
57 unique
†Cross to †Cross
Sometimes when I have to carry them
I wear and bear them for my own sake
And the times when I lost my faith
I came to find it when my heart ached.
At times I have been a little faithless
Mad as hell and angry at the world
Upset with myself for the choices I made
As the consequences then fully unfurled
But I’ve learned and made my peace with it
My beliefs have varied from year to year
It’s been a beautiful bedlam and chaos
And then it saves me with it reappears
#NaPoWriMo2020
95 words
57 unique
#9 Of 30
The Meltdowns Never Really Go Away
Irrational thoughts burst forth
Like a dam breaking
Emotions gushing beyond control
Destructive neurological meltdown
Switches inside my brain
Not operating properly
Distort and twisted signals
Blind me to everything
Normality quickly disappears
Fire and smoke from broken wires
Fog the reason that should prevail
Leaving a senseless wreck
All because my neural net
Has adapted differently
Taking time
For optional reception to resume
Total Words: 64
Unique Words: 60
The Meltdowns Never Really Go Away
Irrational thoughts burst forth
Like a dam breaking
Emotions gushing beyond control
Destructive neurological meltdown
Switches inside my brain
Not operating properly
Distort and twisted signals
Blind me to everything
Normality quickly disappears
Fire and smoke from broken wires
Fog the reason that should prevail
Leaving a senseless wreck
All because my neural net
Has adapted differently
Taking time
For optional reception to resume
Total Words: 64
Unique Words: 60
8 of 30
Green Beans and New Potatoes
“No one breaks beans
with Granny anymore.”
I see this sentence
over and over
as evidence that today’s youth
“Just ain’t right.”
Part of me nods my head,
agrees one hundred percent,
and recollects all those late spring
afternoons forced to
s l o w
down so I could sit,
newspaper in my lap and
wash basin at my feet,
to break beans with Granny.
I learned, real quick, to take my time.
One wayward string, left attached
to a bean, my papaw caught
betwixt his teeth
was enough to make sure I
N E V E R
left a string again.
She told stories and jokes,
we sang every song we knew,
and we prayed.
Prayed over the beans to bless the eaters.
Prayed for our sick neighbors.
Prayed for our lost family.
Prayed for our found family.
Then we’d cook that mess of beans
with handfuls and handfuls of salt pork
and whole new potatoes.
The whole house smelled like
clean garden green
and cornbread.
The other part of me sighs
and thinks
“Today’s granny’s ain’t got no beans
to break and that ain’t no fault
of their grandbabies.”
Green Beans and New Potatoes
“No one breaks beans
with Granny anymore.”
I see this sentence
over and over
as evidence that today’s youth
“Just ain’t right.”
Part of me nods my head,
agrees one hundred percent,
and recollects all those late spring
afternoons forced to
s l o w
down so I could sit,
newspaper in my lap and
wash basin at my feet,
to break beans with Granny.
I learned, real quick, to take my time.
One wayward string, left attached
to a bean, my papaw caught
betwixt his teeth
was enough to make sure I
N E V E R
left a string again.
She told stories and jokes,
we sang every song we knew,
and we prayed.
Prayed over the beans to bless the eaters.
Prayed for our sick neighbors.
Prayed for our lost family.
Prayed for our found family.
Then we’d cook that mess of beans
with handfuls and handfuls of salt pork
and whole new potatoes.
The whole house smelled like
clean garden green
and cornbread.
The other part of me sighs
and thinks
“Today’s granny’s ain’t got no beans
to break and that ain’t no fault
of their grandbabies.”
