2023 NaPoWriMo #0 (Early Bird Special)

April is here again and that means its National Poetry Writing Month and for my second year I’ll be joining the 30 poems in 30 days challenge hosted by napowrimo.net. For this challenge, a poetry prompt will be provided daily during the month of April. I’m also participating in the the A to Z Challenge, so this could be a bit tricky in making the timing work, but I’m going to give it a try. Worst case I stretch into May a bit. That is what happened last year.

Anyway, napowrimo.net was nice enough to provide an early bird special for those of us spinning across the international dateline first. And since I’m sitting home sick today I thought I would take up the chance to give it a go rather then just wallow in my ‘mucous-sy’ existence. My first task was to create a graphic for the series. I’ve kept it simple. Hope you like it. Ok, here we go! Welcome to #NaPoWriMo 2023!

Did you know…

Did you know there are more “germ-cells” living in and upon our bodies than human cells? By a factor of 1.3 in fact. Our bodies host 10-100 trillion microbial cells. Without these microbes we couldn’t function. We’d die. Or more accurately, we would never have lived. We exist as a symbiotic living ecosystem comprised of trillions of life-forms.

That is a fact. Arguably a fun fact. Certainly interesting at the very least. But a fun fact doesn’t make a poem.

Fair enough. I could argue that what makes poetry poetry is in the eye of the beholder. But let’s not debate the point. I’ll give it a go.

Ode to Microbial Me

I write this ode to the many microbes
making me their permanent abode
From those of you living in my gut to those hanging out in my butt,
I owe you a big thank you;
For without you I couldn’t eat, let alone poo.
But I’d also like to thank the silent heroes,
More of you than I can count…way too many zeros,
Without you I’d be inflamed
Riddled with more diseases than I could name;
So thank you for making your home me
Thank you, thank you, Microbial Me.

Be well,

Monty

• Horizon
  Be well, Monty
• Wound Up
  Wound Up Amorphous thoughts twirling and whirling; rushing through widening gaps in my failing damn mind! Splashing forcefully against blade; Spinning my wheels and gearsContinue reading “Wound Up”
• Playful
  Be well, Monty
• Dragon in Flight
  Be well, Monty
• All of Me
  All of Me The beauty in God, as I am coming to understand Him, is that He is all knowing. That I don’t need toContinue reading “All of Me”
• Morning Concert
  It’s drizzling around me. I first noticed the patter upon the umbrella above. A little too heavy to be the mosquitos dancing. A little tooContinue reading “Morning Concert”
• The Day After Yesterday
  The Day After Yesterday The morning is cool. The air is a fresh floral green.The light is bright beyond the shade tree’s shadow. My mindContinue reading “The Day After Yesterday”
• Another Floral Pattern
  Be well, Monty
• Weave Too
  Be well, Monty
• Weave
  Be well, Monty
• Painted Flowers
  Painted Flowers I bought these flowers for my wife yesterday. An early nod to Mother’s Day. Since we are having guests over at the houseContinue reading “Painted Flowers”
• On Exhibit
  Be well, Monty
• A Little More Than a Drizzle
  The birds are insistent today. I don’t speak their language, but I get their point. It’s a brand new day and the wonder of thatContinue reading “A Little More Than a Drizzle”
• The Human
  The Human I saw the figure as I turned the corner —Cold, calloused, and oddly angled; Creepy. Nightmarish. A Human. It smelt something awful. MustContinue reading “The Human”
• Strangers
  Be well, Monty
• Another Garden Dawdler
  It’s time for Rory’s Garden Dawdler again — nine questions posed once a week for our answering pleasure. Back in my garden and impressed withContinue reading “Another Garden Dawdler”
• Figures
  Be well, Monty
• Willing and Able
  Willing and AbleHe is willing, am I?Am I willing to let go, let God?To plant my seeds of doubtAnd trust faith will flourish? He isContinue reading “Willing and Able”
• An Exercise III
  Be well, Monty
• An Exercise II
  Be well, Monty
• Under the Pi Pa Tree
  I’m sitting under the pi pa tree observing hundreds of yet to ripen fruits. I wonder what pi pa jam tastes like? It was justContinue reading “Under the Pi Pa Tree”
• An Exercise
  Be well, Monty
• Morning Ride
  Morning Ride Her arms wrapped around me,Wanting more, I sped up;She held on tighter;I smiled into the rushing wind,Wishing I could go faster. Mrs. MontyContinue reading “Morning Ride”
• An Old Sketch
  An Old Sketch What’s this?A tree yet to be.Or, If roasted,A fragrant snack. Be well, Monty
• This Morning
  This Morning Dancing greensDroplets of pinksSet against a canvasOf subtle blue shades Be well, Monty
• Upon Every Sunrise
  Upon Every Sunrise Sitting in the corner, quietly observingThe life of the party, I scroll throughMental images of those we’ve buried;Memories aged, blurred byTears, saltyContinue reading “Upon Every Sunrise”
• Sunlight Through Stained Glass
  Be well, Monty
• Selection of Florals
  Be well, Monty
• My 2nd A to Z Challenge Reflection (#AtoZ)
  This was my second year doing the A to Z challenge and I’m two for two in terms of completion rate. This year’s theme wasContinue reading “My 2nd A to Z Challenge Reflection (#AtoZ)”
• My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Now We’ve Gone From A to Z…
  On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Now We’ve Gone From A to Z…”
• Z is for Zoomorphism
  Zoomorphism is a literary technique in which animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects, humans, and events. literarydevices.net Well look at that. We’ve come allContinue reading “Z is for Zoomorphism”