Yesterday’s poem just sort of came to me. Today’s was more difficult. However, I had so much fun with the concrete poetry form, I decided to try it again. It’s sort of an Earth Day poem (two days late), and it started out a little more lighthearted than it ended up. I’m not super happy with it, but that’s kind of what this month is all about, right? Writing a poem from a fortune cookie prompt in a short amount of time. It may end up as a masterpiece…it may not.
So, take it as it is. I hope you enjoy it a little, anyway.
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
Okay, confession time. Today, for the first time, drew a fortune I just couldn’t work. I tried. I even took the picture. But it wasn’t in the least poetic and it wasn’t even something I could relate to. It was, “Tension in a partnership? It might be time for you to delegate.”
I mean, yes, I’m a business owner, but who am I going to delegate to in my sole proprietorship? My cat? My erstwhile marriage was what really caused me tension, and that’s done. My daughter and I get along. I do delegate to her when I need to, and she always does what I ask. My sons are grown.
So, not being a corporate tycoon and not feeling tension in my other partnerships, I decided to, for the first time, draw another fortune. (I ate both cookies, btw. They were delicious.)
I’m so glad I did. I listened to a podcast just this morning about an Oregon City using its camping ban to fine and jail the homeless population in its parks. I listened to the story of a woman about my age who raised her children in this city who, because of the death of her husband and health problems, had become homeless. She was camping in a park near her old neighborhood.
I often think of the true meaning of “there but for the grace of god” and I know there’s truly a hairs’ breadth that saves us from ill fate. Or maybe it’s an angels’ breath?
God bless and I hope you enjoy this one, my first concrete poem in quite a while.
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
Today I decided to try a different kind of sonnet. I’ve always been fond of Shakespearean sonnets, but today I opted for a Petrarchan sonnet. I’m not certain I’ve mastered it, although I do have two to share. The rhyme scheme is easy enough to follow (I used ABBA ABBA CDE CDE in the first one, ABBA ABBA CDC CDC in the second.) It’s the theme that somewhat escapes me.
The first was inspired by the teachers of the field trip I just got back from. Petrarchan sonnets are supposed to express admiration for someone or something. I can think of no one more worthy of admiration than three teachers who are brave enough to take 170-some kids on a three-day field trip in which they bring back three trophies and all the kids they left with. That’s well-planned success!
The second is a little more amorphous thematically. I just went for the “I’m in love and I’ll do anything for you” theme. Still, as is the case most of the time, the second one seems a little better. A little tighter, maybe?
I plan to play with this form more.
Photo and poems copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
Success is a planned event.
To the Teachers By Michelle Garren-Flye
I watch with admiration and joy as you lay out the problem before us in a manner that makes me curious about the method you will employ, the way you will destroy what would otherwise cause a fuss but you dispense with it and thus success becomes our ploy.
To you I must confess my admiration grows as I watch you at work; I know you’ll make a success for your inspiration only grows and duties you do not shirk.
Star Hunting By Michelle Garren-Flye
I’m out to catch a star for you to place in your eye. I’ll be back by and by though I may travel far. Does this sound bizarre and do you wonder why I can’t just leave things as they are? It’s all because I love deep and hold my passion within. It’s worth a loss of sleep even if on the way I weep. If I plan I know I’ll win and your heart safe I will keep.
Posting a poem at 3 p.m. today because I crawled into bed at 5 a.m. this morning after a long trip back from the school trip. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a chaperone, but I’m relieved to turn all those fantastic teenagers back over to their parents.
This fortune seemed to lend itself to rhyming couplets, so that’s what I went with. However, I am uncertain if there is a true rhyme for “failure” so the end, I felt, fell a little flat. Thus the title lol. Not to mention it somewhat describes my brain today.
Anyway, enjoy, and please let me know what you think!
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
Success walks hand in hand with failure.
It Hits a Little Flat By Michelle Garren-Flye
Let’s take a walk, come be my guest. When you get tired, we’ll take a rest.
Trust me, my intentions are pure! Deceits and cons could not be fewer.
One thing only I must confess I want your life to be a success.
Does my promise have no allure? Then you may be doomed to failure.
This one is appropriate enough considering it’s my last day of my trip. I will soon take off my chaperone hat and put it on the shelf to collect dust. It’s been an interesting ride.
Hats off to teachers for all they do.
So I hope you enjoy my second (and hopefully last) bus poem.
Screen capture from Daily Fortune app
Don’t be sad because it’s over. Be happy because it happened.
Ode to the Chorus Trip By Michelle Garren-Flye
I have enjoyed your joyful noise; the journey was even fun: time spent with the girls and boys playing and singing in the sun.
And now it is time for home, It’s hard to say goodbye but we’ll be there before long so please don’t scream and cry.
You’ll sleep in your bed tonight! Remember the friends you’ve made, discoveries that came to light, and this brief time will not fade.
Not gonna lie. This isn’t my best effort. I’m on the road and have been up since six, will be up until 11 or so tonight. It’s one of those days. But I did manage to come up with a haibun inspired by this fortune.
Also, because I’m on the road and traveling with fortune cookies didn’t seem terribly convenient, I’m using an app called Daily Fortune. Here’s a screenshot of today’s fortune from the app:
screenshot from “Daily Fortune” app
Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.
About an Oak By Michelle Garren-Flye
Did you know the oak tree roots spread out as much as 90 feet around? Imagine them pushing soil, slicing slow motion through earth’s surface, past the reach of the canopy of the huge tree rising above. All to anchor and support the oak’s magnificence in one place all the days of its life. Standing still and racing along all at once.
Oak tree emerges Seasons’ passage grows your roots Anchors you in place
Before I talk about the poem I wrote, I will say that I am on the road for the next three days and so my blog may look a little different. I considered taking those three days off, but decided not to. I’ll still be writing my fortune cookie poems. I may be writing them on my phone, and I’ve made a different arrangement for fortunes than the literal cookies.
I was thinking this morning how very difficult this is. More difficult, I think, than any writing exercise I’ve ever given myself. I don’t know what fortune is going to come out of the cookie. I don’t know if it’s something I’ll be able to write a poem about.
I eat most of my fortune cookies in fear. But then I find peace when I post about it.
Enjoy my “Recipe for Happy”, inspired by today’s fortune.
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
It is better to have beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.
Recipe for Happy By Michelle Garren-Flye
Happy has three ingredients, a simple recipe: someone to love so you don’t feel lonely when the nights are dark and long and you need help feeling strong.
But that’s not all, no don’t think that! You need enough to eat but not make you fat. Pass on the fancy, the cakes and ale; bread, beans and bacon will not fail.
Finally, you just need a little bit of time: time to live and not be on an uphill climb. It’s not hard to find, if you look hard enough; get rid of the waste, the refuse, the fluff.
Of all these, love might be hard to find, but a cat will do, so never mind. Cutting calories is nothing new, and how you spend time is up to you.
This one reminded me of an Irish blessing, which got me thinking how many different ways there are to grow rich. And that led me to the actual thought of growing something, which led me to my little sonnet below. It’s practically a jingle, isn’t it?
Enjoy!
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
May you grow rich.
An Ad for a Money Tree By Michelle Garren-Flye
But why don’t you have a money tree yet? They’re growing on every corner street and they couldn’t be easier to get. It’s an investment whose price can’t be beat!
Perhaps you worry your tree will not yield enough harvest—true, there’s no guarantee… But just plant it and see if you can’t build trust enough for a great, prosperous tree.
Soil, water, and dreams are all it will require to grow tall and strong with many green leaves. In its shade you’ll soon find rest when you tire; all of your worry and care it relieves.
With a money tree, there’s never a hitch It is simply the best way to grow rich.
Haha! Finally a fortune I can work with! I both believe in this fortune…and don’t. Because while I try not to be a know-it-all and really don’t like those who are, I also think it’s possible someone may have something to say on something that they aren’t necessarily an expert on. Provided it’s a well-thought out opinion (and is regarded as opinion, not fact).
So, I took the viewpoint of an expert trying to hush up someone who’d like to have an opinion for this villanelle. And the villanelle form leant itself very well to this subject matter!
I hope you enjoy.
Photo and poem copyright 2024 Michelle Garren-Flye
It is better not to speak of things you do not understand.
Greek to You By Michelle Garren-Flye
Quiet now please, it is best not to speak about these things you cannot understand; I know you know to you this is all Greek,
so don’t talk about it, just remain meek, and let those who do know get it in hand. Quiet now please, it is best not to speak!
Nope, don’t even utter a single squeak! Vital knowledge is too much to demand. I know you know to you this is all Greek.
Okay, okay, come on and take a peek… you might just as well know what we have planned, but quiet please, it is best not to speak.
You know we will not stand for your critique. Our plan, as you can see, is much too grand. I know you know to you this is all Greek.
Like a little hen, don’t open your beak; much better brains than yours are in command. Quiet now, please, it is best not to speak. You know I know to you this is all Greek.
BREATHE: Michelle Garren-Flye 