2023 NaPoWriMo #11 (Hello)

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 and if I can keep on track I’ll achieve the 30 poems in 30 days goal. So enough chatter…let’s go! It’s time for NaPoWriMo!

Write a poem that takes as its starting point something overheard that made you laugh, or something someone told you once that struck you as funny.
napowrimo.net

It’s late after a long workday and I’ve got very little to go on for this prompt. This is going to be a little bit of a winger.

Scratch that. It’s now morning after a reasonable night’s sleep. I gave myself permission to sleep on it. I’m still running on empty in terms of ideas, but at least I’m doing it with a fresher mind and a coffee in hand.

Visiting Nanjing, 1996

“Hellos” rose in an untuned chorus around me;
Lines and lines of uniformed school children
With their red bandanas were there to see the sights;
The most interesting of which, was me.

As the kids filed past, the chorus rose
A “Hi” popped out every once in a while
I tried to catch the brave soul,
Who dared to be different?

We were there to visit a temple;
Which one I can’t recall;
But I’ll never forget all those smiling faces
They were the most interesting of all.

I’m glad I gave myself the space to rest and take this on. It’s a beautiful day and a enjoyable memory of the early day’s living in China when I was quite the spectacle.

Be well,

Monty