Last Saturday I posted the fourth (and final, for now) “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 week’s challenge a try:
@gigglingfattie (No Love For Fatties)
Eric Drury (The Thoughtful Beggar)
Golden Shovel No. 04
“The sky is blue, or the rain falls with its spills of pearl”
from “Spring” by Mary Oliver
A Mid-Winter’s New Moon
By Monty Vern
Soft pillows stained wet by the
Anger streaming down her setting-sun sky
Flushed cheeks; She is,
No was, the warmth in my black and blue
Existence; I abandoned her or
No, I banished myself from the
Cool rain
That falls
On a stifling hot mid-August night with
Its
Splashing spills
Of
Encouragement that coaxes me open to see the beauty of a pearl.
The blue-blood hue around
exhausted eyes and their
Mourning wreath
Of
Darkness,
And the
Salt-soaked pillows, Her light leaves
And I shiver naked in the bitter cold of
A mid-winter’s new moon; Let the
End of my time on this world
Unfurl.
As you can see I extended the poem by using the next line in Mary Oliver’s original poem: “Around their wreath of darkness the leaves of the world unfurl.”
Guests’ Poems:
As I lay looking up, scanning across the
vastness that is the upward sky,
I can’t help but wonder, what is?
by gigglingfattie (No Love For Fatties)
by Eric Drury
There’s a whole world out there in the
midst of my chaos. But all I can see is the sky
for it’s all I can comprehend. It is
by The Dreamgirl Writes
What’s next for The Golden Shovel? Stay tuned for a relaunch in April during Poetry Month. I’ll be making a couple of adjustments to give folks a bit more flexibility on prompts and timing.
Meanwhile, I’ve got a slight twist I’d like to try in March. Check out The Silver Lining. Hope to see you there.
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”
Monty’s Blahg 
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