‘I Want To Write’ Rewrite

‘I Want To Write’ Rewrite

27 October 2017

Original by Margaret Walker

I want to write, not just anything.

I wanna write the songs of my folks.

I want to hear them singing melodies in the evening.

I wanna record the strains rising from their throats

As they form their dreams into words; their souls into notes.

I wanna catch their sunshine laughter in a bowl

As they fling dark hands to a darker sky and some

Reach to fill their hands full of stars.

Then they crush and mix such lights until they become

A mirrored pool of brilliance in Mason jars.

I Want To Write

by Margaret Walker

I want to write

I want to write the songs of my people.

I want to hear them singing melodies in the dark.

I want to catch the last floating strains from their sob-torn throats.

I want to frame their dreams in to words; their souls into notes.

I want to catch their sunshine laughter in a bowl;

fling dark hands to a darker sky

and fill them full of stars

then crush and mix such lights till they become

a mirrored pool of brilliance in the dawn.

Healed Yield

Healed Yield

26 June 2017

“You never want a drink until the well runs dry.”

You don’t miss something that’s always there.

Suddenly, one day it’s gone and there’s an outcry.

For me, symptoms came the same as wear and tear.

One, then another affliction came to my attention.

None, by itself, was important enough to mention.

After a road trip, my hearing was diminished.

One ear was partially, then fully blocked;

Making words and music on that side hushed.

It was hard to gauge my volume as I talked.

Also, a sore spot under my tongue

Made it hard to vocalize and chew.

My personal song of life went unsung.

I discussed with my doctor each issue.

My physician prescribed a medication

Because of the results of my lab test.

I took the drug for my edification

And it’s benefits quickly manifest.

Now my mouth’s better, so I can talk.

My hearing’s cleared up, so both ears function.

I move, so there’s no problem with my walk.

I’m grateful to be at a healthy junction.

There’s a feeling of well-being where I dwell.

It’s like there’s fresh water in my well.

Internet Post as a Toast

Internet Post as a Toast
13 July 2015

Here’s to words that feed the soul
From whatever source they may be found.
Here’s to bliss and feeling whole;
Now, today and all year round.
Here are wings to help you fly,
Support for the life of your dreams.
Go, leaving behind pain and sigh.
There’s more to life than it seems.
May kisses meet your puckered lips.
Let fears and sorrows find release,
Dance crazy and sashay your hips.
Make living your way a masterpiece.

Rhyming Dictionary

I haven't posted any poems lately because I've been concentrating on compiling a rhyming dictionary. Here're some words I worked on today. Do they rhyme for you?

Al

owl

foul

fowl

Hal

howl

Cal

cowl

corral

chorale

Val

vowel

This is a glaring example of English words that sound the same, but aren't spelled the same. Maybe English spelling needs to be revised or reformed.

You're a Poet And You Know It

You're a Poet And You Know It
15 February 2013

You're a poet
And you know it,
When you read a creation
That you wrote but forgot about
And think, "I like the ideation.
It touches me without a doubt."

When someone else reads your writing
And comments on how it made them feel
Or sees the world in different lighting,
Then your transmuted words are real.
You've become a poet
And you know it.

Possibilities and Limitations

English is a wonderful language full of possibilities. Wiktionary has over two and a half million English entries. Although many words are science and industry specific. Sometimes I think English never met a word it didn't like. Many foreign words have been imported whole. That means many rhyming possibilities.

However, in composing poems, periodically I've come across a word that's hard to rhyme. The Complete Rhyming Dictionary edited by Clement Wood on pages 117 & 118 gives a short list of words that don't rhyme. I've spent the last few months going thru my rhyming dictionaries culling words that don't rhyme or that rhyme with only one or two other words. In other words, these are words to avoid. They can still be used in poetry, just not at the end of the line to rhyme. My hope, dear reader, is that you will help me add words to or delete them from my list. Here's a sample of common English words that don't rhyme: agent, also, ancient, bogus, bozo, budget, bulb, citrus, country, damage, delta, eighth, else, film, fortress, gospel, govern, helmet, hungry, icon, iron, joyful, junior, kiln, kingdom, liquid, limit, market, memo, naked, ninety, object, office, poem, polka, questioned, quotient, refuge, riot, sahib, sculpt, temple, topaz, ulcer, unit, velvet, visit, width, and wolf.  For the complete list, you can contact me by leaving your email address in the comments or use Facebook or whatever works.