Missing Mother Nature (POEM) by Daniel Taverne

I want to go outside

Where the natural wind blows
To sit beneath a shading maple to
Talk to mother nature.

I’m afraid she won’t be listening
As I haven’t done in so long,
She may not recognize my voice,
And I probably won’t remember hers.

I Love the Breeze (POEM)

By Daniel Taverne

I Love the Breeze

Storms of passionate embraces
Lead through misty mornings
And open windows revealed
By billowing curtains
Invite the sweetness of mothers breath
And a kiss from God himself.

Half Crazy Smile **POEM**

By Daniel Taverne

Half Crazy Smile

The encasement of my chassis
is about to explode
as my appendages force me on.

Faster, faster or possibly still
ceasing in an instant.

Untill then, my rage will rage on
as I grit my teeth
in a half crazy smile.

"If" by Rudyard Kipling (poetry reading) Video

Great Poem here:  Amazing.  Enjoy.

Word Work: Usage of Words in Poetry

The word I want to discuss today is 'bell'.

This is a word used a lot:

1.  Death is implied, as in "the bell tolls for thee"
2.  Youth, beauty, social admiration, as in  a "southern Bell".

Why these meanings?  How can a single word imply such opposing images?


Well, a bell is made for the purpose of making a noise.  They come in differing sizes, shapes, colors, the sounds of which may have different meanings.

In the military, in special schools, if a soldier rigs out it means he "Drops on Request" (Quits). 

Ringing bells can indicate happy situations, weddings, dinner, the start of a horse race, as well as the beginning and the end of a boxing match.

What if we wrote the line, "the bells voices drifted  across the misty courtyard like phantoms'
Are we talking about bells that ring, or bells that talk?   Think about the voices of the bells.  Are they constant?  Are they weak, stearn,  happy, concerned or what?

What are we trying to say with the line?

My poem, "Half Crazy Smile"  There are no "Bells" in it, but the words have connotations:

The encasement of my Chassis
Is about to explode
As my appendages force me on.

I'm trying to use a voice of "Rage".  I used the word "explode" and "Force"  Also, listen to the rythem of the syllables.

The words mean things by themselves, but assembled in particular ways the meanings take on differant tones.

In the "Bell" line above,  we cant know what is meant by the word "bell" till we consider the other words surrounding it.

As used, we might think of ''soft', 'meek' voices of women talking.


This is a quickly written post that I did  not spell check.  I know It isn't totally coharent, but that's okay.. I don't think you mind a whole lot.
Well, I'm glad to get your comments.  If you can make additions to this subject, please feel free in the comments and I'll post your thoughts here.

What Makes a Poem Good?

By A Ouachita Parish Poet, Daniel Taverne

Well, as you might already know, all good poems rhyme.  That's right, rhyme.  No, not in the sense  most people think of when considering the word, but in a more abstract way.

 Maybe I'm full of it, but I think good poems should honestly mirror or react to the writer's observations, situations, feelings, thoughts, events, relationships.  That's why I named this blog "Snapshots..."  When I write, I attempt to put forth my own observations of life.

I realize some of my work is juvenile in the sense that the subject matter is simple and pointless, but those are some of my own observations.  To me those poems are the ones that matter to me the most.

For instance, I wrote a poem that talkes about "Leaf Shadow's Dancing".  I was comparing my reality with that of the leaves of a tree swaying in the breeze on a sunny day.  I likened the tree as being a stethoscope to the earth, that the leaves were dancing to subterrainian music that I couldn't hear.

Another simple poem addressed my understanding that I have to do many things I don't want to do.  I used the act of cutting a tree down as a metaphore for this reality.

So you see, although good poems don't always have rhyimg words, they do seem to have the commonality of showing us our lives do rhyme with each other's.

It is a shame that many of us, myself included, guage our poems' "goodness" on whether or not others like them.  That said, we writers should get away from that measure, and be confident with our insight; concerned with impressing only ourselves. 

Tell me what you think about this subject.  Leave a comment.  Your thoughts are valued, and I'll post all relevant comments with your name.

Lets Co-write a Poem

Let's write a poem together.  You use the comment section to write your portion.  I'll then post your part along with my part here on the main page post.  It'll be fun, and hopefully a learning experience.

Leave me some subject suggestions and I'll choose from them which one we will use.

Cheers!

Dan Taverne

School Girl's Heartbreak Poem

Girl reads her poem about her feelinss of abandonment. Note the quiet, rapid reading. Is this indicating her repressed desire to avoid those feelings?

We can barely hear some of the words. Maybe she's avoiding exposing her true feelings? What do you think?