Last Saturday I posted the third “Get Your Golden Shovel” prompt as a collaborative project for our writing community. In this round-up, I share my golden shovel poem as well as those that were contributed by the community.
What’s a golden shovel poem? It’s a poetic form originally created by Terrance Hayes. Check out the rules here.
I want to give a big thanks to each of you that were willing to give this experiment a try:
@gigglingfattie (No Love For Fatties)
Eric Drury (The Thoughtful Beggar)
Kathleen
Golden Shovel No. 03
“I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight”
After Apple Picking by Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Rediscovering Sight
By Monty Vern
I
Chase the cannot
From the rub
Of darkness, embrace the
Strangeness
Of yes, peeling my eyes out from
underneath my
lids, rediscovering sight.
Guests’ Poems:
by GigglingFattie (No Love for Fatties)
by T.B.C.
by Eric Drury (The Thoughtful Beggar)
This week Kathleen “took a poetic leap” with the form:
I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight.
Nor be the One
Who sees clearly.
Can see
Clearly.
But what will trouble
The days and the
Puddle of sleep
Of eternal mine,
Whatever
Sleep
It
Is.
For I cannot,
Cannot
Rub
The kindness
From
My sight.
by Kathleen
And Dream took on quite the challenge by combining last week’s prompt “cocoa in pods and alligator pears” with this week‘s prompt to come up with this creative piece:
There was this young boy, the shade of cocoa
who always preferred to travel in
Off we went to forests far and
came across the might alligator
we ran and ran till we reached the grove of pears
by Dream (DreamGirlWrites)
Be well,
Monty

- Salting the EarthSalting the Earth Torrents of tears flow down streaky cheeked hillsPuddling into overflowing pools under footSalting the earth barrenStripping soil of it’s soulHis body nowContinue reading “Salting the Earth”
- Portrait in BlueBe well, Monty
- Under the Earth’s ShadowI lay awake under the earth’s shadowGentle breathing curled at my feetA companion in this darknessHolding guard against The cold reality and coming lightFor I’mContinue reading “Under the Earth’s Shadow”
- Blue HeronBe well, Monty
- Endure MeEndure meEndure my cold feet under the sheetsEndure my rough breaths sawing through the night’s airMy tossing and turningMy hogging all the blanketsMy nightmare kicksMyContinue reading “Endure Me”
And February is over. Now what?
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Week 4 prompt is issued and I will announce the next steps in the round-up at the end of the week. Short answer is I will relaunch again in April with some adjustments that allow for greater flexibility.
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Very cool.
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