Five Answers to a Question (2022 NaPoWriMo #18)

For those of you that have been following me, you know that I’ve been doing a couple of challenges this month in celebration of April being national/global poetry month.

First, I’ve been doing the #AtoZChallenge with a theme of “Seriously Silly Poetry” — this series will continue on till the end of the month. I do hope your enjoying some laughs as I’ve had a lot of fun writing these. I’ve actually already completed writing (and illustrating) them and I already miss the daily injection of silly thoughts from the writing process.

I’ve also been doing (and just completed) 13 poetic form prompts that were provided by A Different Perspective. I learned a lot from this exercise and very much enjoyed “stretching my mind” with all the new (to me) forms. I highly encourage you to check out A Different Perspective’s post to read and/or participate in the challenge which is open all month.

Needless to say, I’ve been a very productive poet this month and I’m not in the mood to slow down now. So with a little digging I found another series of poetry prompts being provided by NaPoWriMo.net – 30 Poems in 30 Days. The latest prompt is for 18 April, so I’m going to start with this one and then see how it goes as to whether I work to catch-up with the prior prompts or just carry on forward.

Prompt 18

Write a poem that provides five answers to the same question – without ever specifically identifying the question that is being answered.

NaPoWriMo.net

This sounds pretty interesting. Now I have to think of a (secret) question then wax poetic – hmm. Let’s see. Ok, I’m ready. Let’s go!

Five Answers to a Question

First, to understand.
Myself. You. Us.

Second, to accept.
The good. The bad. The everything.

Third. to forgive.
Myself. You. Us.

Fourth, to appreciate.
The hidden blessings, silver linings, and hard lessons.

Fifth, to love.
Myself. You. Us.

And when I stumble and fall, I find my footing, I stand and seek once again to understand. To accept. To forgive. To appreciate. To love. Myself. You. Us.

And when you stumble and fall, I lift you up, and while holding you steady I seek to understand. To accept. To forgive. To appreciate. To love. Myself. You. Us.

And if we both stumble and fall. We begin again at the beginning. Seeking to understand. Finding acceptance and forgiveness. Learning to appreciate. Learning to love. Myself. You. Us.

Well that felt good to express. What do you think? Can you guess what question I was answering? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Be well,

Monty

• Salting the Earth
  Salting 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 Blue
  Be well, Monty
• Under the Earth’s Shadow
  I 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 Heron
  Be well, Monty
• Endure Me
  Endure 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”
• Departing
  Be well, Monty
• Scenes from Today
  These are untouched photographs from today’s walk on Bainbridge Island, Washington (just applied a simple frame). Be well, Monty
• Perched in the Moonlight
  Be well, Monty
• Playing with Time
  Be well, Monty
• How Did I Get to This Beautiful Place?
  Be well, Monty
• Birds in Flight
  Be well, Monty
• Rising Sun
  Be well, Monty
• Forest Moon
  Be well, Monty
• Blessed
  Be well, Monty
• Snowy Scene
  Happy snow day! Be well, Monty
• Peek-a-Boo
  Poking my head up after a spontaneous hiatus. I hope you are all well – happy and healthy. I’m on holiday visiting my mom inContinue reading “Peek-a-Boo”
• A Return to Patterns
  Be well, Monty
• Quiet
  He’s been quiet lately. The voice in my head. The voice that is, quite frankly, a bit nuts. Often compelling me toward darkness. Vacillating betweenContinue reading “Quiet”
• Today
  Today’s a gorgeous weather day. Cool with a light breeze. Bright and sunny aside from my spot in the shade of the tree above me.Continue reading “Today”
• Shine On
  Shine on, shine on, shine on meShine your light on meLight me up, cast away my doubtsLift me out of these shadowsI’m ready, I’m ready,Continue reading “Shine On”
• Here I Go Again
  Here I go again. Interrupting this negative space with some generic typeface. No particular intentions. Just wanna release built-up tensions. It’s coming out in dripsContinue reading “Here I Go Again”
• A Test of the Heart
  I’m wearing a Holter heart monitor today and I can’t help but wonder if it can see past the irregular beats and witness how whollyContinue reading “A Test of the Heart”
• An Observation and a Query
  A fly walks by. S t r e t c h i n g Its legs, I guess? Be well, Monty
• A Gentle Drizzle Sets the Scene
  A gentle drizzle sets the scene;The last of the season’s persimmons hang-on,Half-concealed behind leaves shimmering underA quiet concert of pitter-patter percussion. In quick succession aContinue reading “A Gentle Drizzle Sets the Scene”
• The Birds
  The birds are watching me from the wire above. What are they thinking? Do they see my sadness?Or are they too busy balancing in theContinue reading “The Birds”
• Mired in Mud
  Mired in mud.I don’t like this feeling, but I appreciate the alliteration. Mired in mud, mud, mud.Stuck in repetition. Mired,So tired — In mudOf sinsContinue reading “Mired in Mud”
• Let Me Be (Note to Self)
  Let me be angry. Without good reason.Let me be lonelyEven if not alone.Let me be sadJust because I am.Please, Let me be. Be well, Monty
• Morning Cocktail
  Morning Cocktail 3 parts Zoloft 1 part AbilifyMix meditatively and pray for help with my unbeliefDilute to taste and swallow (along with my pride)Assume PeacefulContinue reading “Morning Cocktail”
• Rhyming Inventories
  A Rhyming Inventory of Things I’ve Not Been Doing Because They Would Make Me Feel Better (and I Don’t Deserve To)1. Prayer or meditation2. TakeContinue reading “Rhyming Inventories”
• Poetic License
  I applied for my poetic license today;It was rejected due to a grammatical error.Oh, The irony. Be well, Monty
• REDACTED
  ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ Be well, Monty