Are there some topics that are not for family discussions? Perhaps, they belong in a debate forum or are kept for like-minded individuals. In my house, there is one topic that becomes a heated conversation every time the news or a political event is viewed. It rises like storms. Needless to say, as far as I am concerned, some conversations are part of a great divide.
While planning to join Taylor Mali's Golden Die Contest + Anthology challenge, I searched all over my house for my Metaphor Dice kit that I purchased from Taylor Mali at an NCTE Convention several years ago. It was hard to believe that I have been in the new build for a year and I still cannot find some items. (Cluttered boxes are still scattered around.) In order to play along with Taylor Mali and my poetry friends, I needed to find a substitute for my dice. I uploaded the app and then found the official list of words for the contest. In case you are not familiar with Taylor's writing tool, he states that his metaphor dice "randomly group CONCEPTS, ADJECTIVES, and OBJECTS together to form metaphors and similies worthy of consideration and exploration." My choices for a metaphor poem were politics (concept), looming (adjective), and tsunami (object). I stretched my thoughts about politics within my house to deal with the world.
Each month, I follow and join the Poetry Sisters' challenge under the hashtag, #PoetryPals. This month's challenge was to write poems in imitation of Taylor Mali. Since my mind was thinking in terms of shorter poems, not longer ones like Taylor writes, I created an image poem. The skinny poem was not one that I submitted to the contest.
Thank you to Janet Fagal, for chairing a Zoom workshop with Taylor Mali and emailing me about the Metaphor Dice poetry contest.
**********
Carol, I was hoping you’d tell us the topic you don’t discuss in your home. I hear so many people say they avoid politics, they don’t like politics. I always tell them they ignore politics at their peril because their hiding from politics does not preclude politics from influencing their lives. Certainly, women are awakening to this.
ReplyDeleteYour skinny poem is fabulous. Good form for metaphor five.
—Glenda
I have to remind my husband and son to keep their political beliefs on the quiet side since I am usually on the opposite side as they are. Most conversations gets heated if I do not remind them. I am much more liberal than they are so there is a divide among us. This doesn't mean that we don't talk about political issues that come up. Many of my close friends are also conservative so it is best that I discuss politics with friends that believe in the same ideas as I do. Thanks for commenting on my poem.
DeleteI am not sure why I could not comment at your blog.
DeleteFirst off, I'm not at all surprised that you cannot find those dice. Give yourself grace. Moving is so challenging. I am packing up for a major remodel and I know it will be ages before I reconnect with things, hahaha. Love what you created here, your skinny poem. I am sure that day to day living with family can be very stressful with such political tsunamis right there in the midst. Poetry is a fantastic release!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's hard to write a poem when words are given. You marvellously used all three words given and the idea makes complete sense.
ReplyDeleteCarol, politics is a hot topic in most gatherings these days. Although it may sometimes be difficult to write a poem incorporating three given words, I think it is a great way to stretch one's imagination and creativity. Your skinny poem does justice to the topic and the words.
ReplyDeleteYou drew me in with your hot topics off limits hook. We talk about most everything in our home. Our boys, especially my middle son now 22, likes to have philosophical conversations and play devils advocate. We've had many great after dinner discussions this way. However, when I recently visited my parents we stayed far away from politics - even though it seemed at times they were goading up into an argument! So, I guess the answer to you question is, "it depends." I, too, entered the metaphor dice contest. I do not have dice so I used the app - it through me a curve - not realizing the words on the app are not all on the approved list. I had to make last minute revisions but ended up submitted four poems. I'm not too hopeful! :)
ReplyDeleteFinally, after numerous attempts, I can comment. What is going on with comments?
ReplyDeleteYour skinny image poem captured the looming tsunami that our world faces. I fear we cannot remain silent since silence often makes others think we agree. But in your home, they know your stance, so I understand doing what you can to avoid conflict there. I loved your use of the words swelling and sea-hurling.