Since it’s poetry month, I thought I would try out some new forms and I bumped into a great blog post from A Different Perspective listing out 13 poetic form prompts. A big thanks to them for the inspiration
Prompt 7
Write an Irregular Ode poem or
Write a poem using the words “spy” and “deep”
A Different Perspective by muisopsis
An Irregular Ode can really take any form or shape. The main principle is that it is a poem in appreciation of something.
For this time I’m going to share a poem that I wrote when I was just starting to write creatively in 2020 and has never found a home till now. I don’t know about its poetic value in representing the form, but its vulnerable and my story and I would like to share.
This time around I will pass on including the optional prompt words. I thought about modifying the original poem to accommodate them, but I decided against it. While I did make some modifications (mostly an extension of the poem), pulling in the prompts didn’t seem to fit naturally.
Ode to My Mind
A lover, once against me
Your pain overwhelmed
With savage intensity.
You took my sanity
Eagerly exhausting
Any sense of reality.
I tried to escape
Drugging, boozing, and sexing
To a slow death.
The bottom hit,
Brutally battered and bruised
I finally let go with a breath.
I arose from the depths
Step by slow step accepting
I was broken but worthy.
I came to learn your pain
Was a desperate cry for help,
A memory repressed, unhealthy.
An enemy, now partner
We’ve made our amends
Together we’ve found our way.
Our memories not forgotten
But they’re no longer hiding
Together we work them out each day.
A partner and a friend
I’m so grateful for your patience
Now, Together let us play.
So, what do you think about this poem or the Irregular Ode form? I find it a nice approach to expressing gratitude and appreciation poetically with freedoms and flexibility and use it not infrequently. How about you? Do you want to give it a try?
Be well,
Monty

- Patterns in the RoundBe well, Monty
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- The Heretic (an essay of sorts)For the most part, I don’t give a shit about results anymore. I know, I’m a heretic. Especially at work where the mantra is all’sContinue reading “The Heretic (an essay of sorts)”
- Sweet or Savory?I always thought I was sweet, but lately I’m wondering if I’m more savory. We are ultimately all complex in temperament and taste so notContinue reading “Sweet or Savory?”
- Playing with Tea TimeI’m playing. At times I may call myself an author, a poet, an illustrator, or other such titles, but at my essence I’m a childContinue reading “Playing with Tea Time”
- Running Free (a Paint Chip Poem)No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Running Free (a Paint Chip Poem)”
- 我爱你 (I Love You)This is a culmination of my recent work exploring the use of Chinese characters and exploring “found patterns”. 我爱你,meaning “I love you” and pronounced “woContinue reading “我爱你 (I Love You)”
- Abundance of Love (爱)These images were created by writing in script the Chinese character “爱” (pronounced “ai”, meaning love) and repeating/overlapping in various configurations. This is a follow-upContinue reading “Abundance of Love (爱)”
- 我 Found PatternThis image was created by writing in script the Chinese character “我” (meaning “I”) and rotating it in four directions, repeated four times. Those ofContinue reading “我 Found Pattern”
- Awaiting6:06 am MondayI’ve been up for sixty-six minutes. The air conditioning unit is already working hard. Downstairs the TV is blaring. I snuck down toContinue reading “Awaiting”
- Dancing with FansBe well, Monty
- Another Time10:57am Sunday morning. I was supposed to speak to my brother today but he was a no show. I wrote him a poem a weekContinue reading “Another Time”
- Winter’s ScenesBe well, Monty
- Turned On3:32amSitting in the broken darknessTyping by the glare of a screen that’s well past its bed time, turned onBy my restless mind and compliant touchUsuallyContinue reading “Turned On”
- More Found PatternsBe well, Monty
- Hand WorkBe well, Monty
- Slipping Out of My MindThis is not a poem. These are my words slipping out of my mind onto the page. Escaping the cage of needing to mean somethingContinue reading “Slipping Out of My Mind”
- Found PatternsBe well, Monty
- Found PatternsBe well, Monty
- Cherished (a Paint Chip Poem)No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Cherished (a Paint Chip Poem)”
- PerhapsPerhaps I am a yellowed and creased paper with a bold headline announcing a Monday from yesteryear’s breaking news. Perhaps I am a spider, crushedContinue reading “Perhaps”
- FigurativelyBe well, Monty
- “Re-Souled”He spoke of a soft heart;Of kindness and acceptance;Supple from hard use,Like a pair of well-worn boots;More than once “re-souled”. His face familiar,This man, aContinue reading ““Re-Souled””
- “Re-Souled”He spoke of a soft heart;Of kindness and acceptance;Supple from hard use,Like a pair of well-worn boots;More than once “re-souled”. His face familiar,This man, aContinue reading ““Re-Souled””
- Art at PlayBe well, Monty
- Within the WallsI slept within the wallsSqueezed between the heavy plasterSmothered by insulation andTangled in wires A kick of my healBreaks through into yellowed lightExposing studs fromContinue reading “Within the Walls”
- Working at ArtBe well, Monty
- Moody Waters (a Paint Chip Poem)No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Moody Waters (a Paint Chip Poem)”
- Warning LabelJust me pondering “what if?” What if I came with a warning label?Fine print of legalese oversharing about the unwanted side effects that you riskContinue reading “Warning Label”
- Sweets (a Paint Chip Poem)No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Sweets (a Paint Chip Poem)”
- Lady in WoodBe well, Monty
I’m hoping this wasn’t autobiographical. Still a wonderful poem that ends on a positive note. You are correct in that the ode has flexibility (which is why it was included in the Flex scavenger hunt)! We all have our demons – most of the time it is better to acknowledge them and call a truce… to achieve inner peace.
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This is autobiographical. Most of my writing is as life experience is my muse. Fully agree that we need to give ourselves permission of acceptance to find our peace.
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I loved the line most “A memory repressed, unhealthy.” Thank you
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Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate it.
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