Friday, March 30, 2012

Friday Poetry Blog Review Week 29 on Celebrating A Year (By Leo)

I’ve been a blogger for four years and eleven months now, and I’ve crossed milestones, celebrated most of them, but never actually celebrated each year in all its glory. Well, today I review a blog which has been going for two years and into its third. The title of this blog celebrates each year of its existence, and aptly termed “Celebrating a Year”, and it’s owned by Marilynn Mair, or mairmusic, as her penname tells.

Who’s the conductor of this orchestra?
Mandolinist of international acclaim, recording artist, professor of music, and author of “The Complete Mandolinist”, Marilynn Mair conducts the symphony of poetry at this orchestra. She is a performing artist since over three decades, representing the United States in music festivals across the world. She has over a dozen highly acclaimed CDs of solo and ensembles. She is also held in high regard as teacher and scholar, currently a professor of music at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

The Third Year Symphony:



Marilynn says that the blog was made to keep creativity in focus in daily life, and perhaps to create moments from her busy life to engrave in memories. The symphony, “Celebrating a Year” was started on 16th October 2008, also her birthday. Since then it has had posts regularly till this month, not missing out on a month in between. Starting with sonnets, the blog has branched out in its forms, including rondeau, villanelle, pantoum, and decima . The design of the blog is the simplest I think that Wordpress offers and I think it suits very well. The single sidebar has details of the years gone by and what additions she had planned/ is planning to add to her blog. It also has a small description about her, a link to her music website, details of the forms mentioned above, the tags of forms to search, the pull down menu of archives and a subscription button to get her post updates via mail (I’ll recommend this)

The Notes of the Symphony:

Anybody who has read Marilynn can probably vouch that the poetry in the blog is captivating. A blog started to capture memorable moments has given readers some memorable poetry as well. If the poetry is the cake, the sharing of the various forms in the blog, its details so the readers can have a go at it if they’re interested… well, that’s the icing on the cake. I think the most preferred form for her has been sonnet, which she began in the first year, and the most recent has been the pantoum; but for me, the best form she does is the pantoum. There are three poems only in that genre, but I find it a challenging form and am yet to get it right, having started to try it after reading “An Interesting Change” in September.

It is also very nice to see the poetess use her own photography in the posts, and the camerawork here is quite exquisite. Other than poetry, at times there is just a simple description of the photograph too, but in my opinion, there is a bit of poetry felt even in that. If she’s on a poetic break, the photographs are accompanied by a small paragraph so the photo’s essence is framed in words as well. For this coming year, she will be sharing some of her performance with us in “Musical Sunday” at the blog.

Suggestions:
Well, the template is fine… I’ve found it attractive every time I visit it. In addition to Musical Sunday, I hope we see some other forms of poetry from you as well. It’s a learning experience, that sidebar!

The Critic of the Symphony:
I’m Leo; author of I Rhyme Without Reason, co-host of Review Tuesdays here at Jingle Poetry along with Someone is Special. Hope you enjoy reading about the blogs, and do go read them too. Marilynn, it has been a pleasure and honor to review such a beautiful blog. Do let me know how you found it, or if I went wrong somewhere!




Thursday, March 29, 2012

Poetry Form Week 29

The Horatian ode 

The Horatian ode is a short lyric poem written in stanzas of two or four lines in the manner of the 1st-century-bc Latin poet Horace.   The structure of the Horatian ode is less complex than the more technically structured for that the poet Pindar used for his prose though in the emulation of Pindaric odes the focus is on the events or circumstances of a happening. Horace’s odes are considered to be intimate and reflective, dealing often with friendship, love and the practice with a sense that they were written to a friend. To emulate Horace’s ode style does not require the rigidity of the Pindaric ode, the poet can create their own stanzas, meters and rhyming patterns, with only stern stipulation being that the structure must be repeated in each succeeding stanza.

 The Ship of State (Odes I, 14)

Quintus Horatius Flaccus

On Ship! New billows sweep thee out
Seaward. What wilt thou? Hold the port, be stout
See'st not thy mast
How rent by stiff Southwestern blast?
Thy side, of rowers how forlorn?
Thine hull, with groaning yards, with rigging torn,
Can ill sustain
The fierce, and ever fiercer main;
Thy gods, no more than sails entire,
From whom yet once they need might aid require,
Oh Pontic Pine,
The first of woodland stocks is thine.
Yet race and name are but as dust,
Not painted sterns gave storm-tost seamen trust;
Unless thou dare
To be the sport of storms, beware.
O fold at best a weary weight,
A yearning care and constant strain of late,
O shun the seas
That girt those glittering Cyclades

Ode to the West Wind
Percy Bysshe Shelley
O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,
Thou from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,
Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,
Pestilence-striken multitudes! O thou
Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed
The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave, until
Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow
Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill
(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)
With living hues and odors plain and hill:
Wild Spirit which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh hear!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Poetry Picnic Week 28: These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (A Repost)



Woohoo... Monday's here... and here we are too, with POTLUCK!!



We (Olivia and Kavita) delightedly welcome you again to Poetry Potluck (Picnic)... This week, this is what we'll tell each other: "These are a few of my favorite things"!! What say?? Come on.. Join us...

Register yourself (with your name and the link to your potluck entry) using InLinkz below, and leave a comment with a pointer to your post! It would be great if you could link back to us on your blog!!! Once you are done with this, visit other participants (at least 6), read their entries, comment, AND ENJOY!!! Of course, you can always submit any poem of your choice as well...

Remember: Every week, InLinkz will be up on Sunday, at 2pm (CDT), and will stay open till Sunday, 2pm (CDT). So you will have one entire week to share your poem with us...COOL huh?!! Also, if you aren't new to Poetry Potluck, please note that we may not send you weekly reminders. So, it would be awesome if you could add us to your Blogroll or Favorites, so that you can stay updated with the happenings on our site!!

Flash Forward!! Favorite things done with, let us dive into the world of Art, Music and Poetry... Oooh!! Lovely! But that's next week! So you have one entire week to prepare your poem for this theme.. :) And if you are unable to submit a poem ON the theme, relax... Send in an older poem you would love to share with us...

And now, LET'S GET STARTED with this week's picnic!!!! Enjoy the time here and write on... Thanks for joining in and supporting your fellow poets here at OUR favorite Poetry Potluck!!!



The First Lights of the Day
------------------------
(by Seabell)

The first lights of the day
When I first think of you
With passion, certitude and fear…
Strong tea and decadent cake
Vivid materializations of my
Stubborn rages and meek essence…
The liquid quality of the words
Surfacing the density of the night
The stretches of river yet to walk
The predictable and the unknown
The aim, the boat and its fragility
Amazing colors, shapes and names
Paths to discover, stories to thrill…
Simple pieces of a simple mechanism:
Life intensely lived, words, you and me
(These are a few of my favorite things.)


© Isabel Paulo (seabell)

***
Thank you, Seabell, for sweet and lovely poem... it's a pleasure having you here...
Image Credit: Google.com on A Few of My Favorite Things...


Please click on the blue "Add Your link" button below to add your post. Have fun and enjoy, don't forget to check out other's writings as well, thank you very much!




Monday, March 19, 2012

Week 28 Theme: Boating, Water, Mountains, and Birthday Parties


 

Welcome to Jingle Poetry @ Olive Garden Poetry Picnic Week 28, 


The theme for this week is quite intriguing, let your muses drive you and fill your quill. I am standing in for Taylor this week, I am Chimnese.



Happy Birthday From Eeyore

Sigh.
So once again it’s your birthday,
You’ve lived another year.
Hooray.
These birthday things seem so contrived.
Are we celebrating you’ve survived?
Well,
I guess that’s something after all.
You could’ve tripped, and had a fall.
Come down hard, and smashed your head,
So no birthday, cuz you’d be dead.
But have a good one, since you’re here,
And if you survive,
Have an okay year.


Call of Mountans

by Akush Samant

Round your curls,
I hear the call.
Every turn of my life,
A call to be by your side....

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Poem of The Week 28: Kansas Isn't Flat!

  

Hello, This week, we p[resent poem of the week 28 as the following, enjoy! :) 

Kansas Isn’t Flat
 I fell into its ringing distances,
miles chimed by bell clapper heads
of wheat swaying back and forth
to the time of my shallow breath.

Wayside cornflower’s blue flame
scorched my body raw, a cheek flapping
howl hollowed out to the tin buzz
of cheap wind chimes outside the white
farmhouse flecks flying past. No human
caught my slight arc plummeting
past the amber waving walls
on which they walked like flies.

Tumbling through an endless tinnitus
I blacked out and awoke on the silence
of Table Mountain, rose and looked across
glass calm Lake Granby, Colorado.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Friday Blog Review ~ Week 28 ~ L (Untitled moments)

This week we are highlighting another fine artist/poet/writer to her wonderful blog called Untitled Moments.

Untitledmoments - it just came to me... I sat down to write and decided that I was going to title all the moments that have been left on titled.
About The Author

A little about the writer, ~L

I am 28. Young, but feel like I have grown up too fast. I started this blog to express the way I feel as I deal with remembering a past long ago. I am determined to rise above the odds. I have begun a courageous battle and yes, at times I wonder if I’ll make it through to see victory, but I have a hope that I will be free from this one day.

The Blog

Untitled Moments

In this blog you will find nothing but my heart. I may be indirect at times but that’s okay, I think. You will see my passion for music. I hope you take the time to watch the videos I posted. Music has always been a huge part of my life.
I give many thanks to those who are helping me now. I could not do this with out you! I thank God for those He has put in my life to guide me along this narrow road.

Her Poetry

L has amazing talent her poetry,prose reach within the readers soul, her fight with her personal battles have made her a warrior and her faith in God is what makes her writing reach through the web sphere.

As this quotes reads, " when you complete your life's book of challenges in the world we live, always remember that your next challenge awaits you to begin, where you will end up in the next plane is not for you to choose."

L's poetry is a guide to the hidden answers that lays within you.  She has a gift that was given by God.

Note to L~ never stop giving up in life keep on progressing to the end.

Her Inspiration in her own words on her interview with JP at Olive Garden

What are your writing inspirations?

Well... I think healing is my inspirations. Writing what truly lies with in... Releasing the pain... I also like to write about my passions and beautiful nature.


Poem of her that truly captures the reader was this newer ones I have read on her blog.

Broken Melody

 Daddy’s little girl. Brings a smile to his day
Daddy’s little girl. Twirls about in the summer’s breeze
Daddy’s little girl. Dances under the willow trees
and sings, oh she sings
the world away

And when we’re apart her love follows me
Opening my heart with her magic key
Growing life from sun to sea
And nothing can take away the smile
she has for me
And nothing can take away
the love I have for she
Nothing can take away…
Daddy’s little girl
Daddy’s little girl.
Brings new meaning to his life
Daddy’s little girl.
Holds the stars in her eyes
Daddy’s little girl.
Makes him proud to watch her under lights
as she sings, oh she sings
and she sings – oh- she sings
the world away
~
Daddy’s little girl. Now broken crown and heart affray
Daddy’s little girl. Swirls about in the darkened dreams
Daddy’s little girl. Advances in her memories
and cries, oh she cries
the night away
And when we’re apart his pain follows me
Breaking my heart – this cannot be
Growing fears spun from a drunken spree
And everything you did that night
stole my smile away from me
And everything you did to me
took the love I had for thee
All the loving memories
you stole them away from me
The night you forgot that I…
I was Daddy’s little girl.
Daddy’s little girl.
Brings a new meaning to her life
Daddy’s little girl.
Holds the scars in her eyes
Daddy’s little girl.
Takes memories that she once held tight
and cries, oh she cries
and she cries – oh-  she cries
The world away
Daddy’s little girl. Sees the world in a whole new way
Daddy’s little girl. Stuck in a disgusted dismay
Daddy’s little girl. Doesn’t know what to do with this today
So she cries, and she cries
Oh she cries, how she cries
the world away.


 Silent Secret Screams

 

I want to scream aloud
all the pain that lies within
dig at my rejecting flesh
no longer can I withstand to inhabit this skin
I desperately grieve
for this agonizing energy to leave
pleading for it to flee!
be gone
go away
I want ‘me’ back
PLEASE!!!!
My body is in great agony!
How long must this go on?
I am falling – I am weak
I am sick of being incomplete
This fear won’t let my mind speak
Too much pain to even gasp
these silent screams too much for one to grasp
there is nothing left but to collapse
as tears now trail
their threats never prevail
This is Hell on earth
I am extremely certain
behind this curtain stages Satan’s lingering flames
His relentless games
and fear has set a blaze to every single nerve!
All as I am drug across another day
where the shards of glass continue to rip open my flesh
as I bath in the salty sea as it floods
with the  forever-spilling of my blood…
waiting for sharks to attack –
because as long as I’m a bleeding beating drum
THEY WILL COME
I am burning in pain with excruciating silent screams
desperately trying to
break free from the silence
of unending sadness
and increasing madness

In desperation,
~L


This was a wonderful segment to do as L has been apart of  both communities as an official. It was a great honor to have become one of her poet friends through Jingle Poetry & Gooseberry Garden.

I am Chimnese, the author of My Poetry & Writing hosting Friday Blog Review along with Robin, Write It .  Till next time & wishing you all good week ahead.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Poetry Picnic Week 27: Spring Break, Vacations, Favorite Colors, First Kiss


YaoMing


Trips, Travel and Vacations by Kathe W.  

A lifetime gift for a child.......
When I was only seven I received a wonderful gift
A small blue trunk - it wasn't too hard to lift
I looked inside and what did I see?
A doll ? And all her clothing ? This is for me?
"The heck with the doll" I said as I pitched her out.
"I want to use this for traveling here and about."
And so I began my imaginary trips
Packing clothes and stuff for cruises on ships.
Or maybe I'd take it on my little red wagon
Hoping to find a most friendly green dragon.
My small blue trunk was my way of learning
What life I wanted and obviously was yearning.
And years later I am still packing for pleasure
Traveling with my best friend- our life is an adventure!

Paris Hilton

A Wandering Monk by Jaan Pehchaan


If I were to realign,
To rid all the absurdities
Of this world we live in
Filling it with my own oddities

I would root out the Fear
For fear is the root
Of all Evil, hate and smear
But for this no man is a brute

Without it the world would
Get more love from all quarters
No more bigot, monster, or a hood
No more bombs, missiles or mortars

Easily I’d walk up to Angels and talk
At loving attention who would not balk

Zach Wise
Image Credit: Google.com

The Bugle by Pat Cegan


The bugle sounds to start the day
and plays TAPS to begin the night.
We announce our intentions
on New Year-s Day to start anew.
Soon forgotten are these promises,
another year slips by,
wasted dreams, broken vows
of things we meant to do.

Intention is the key of creation.
Our thoughts become our realities.
Give careful design of your
intention, state it clearly with
firm resolve. Then throughout the day,
do what you can to more
that intention to your reality.

All creation begins with a thought,
followed by a clear intention;
a commitment that, when not broken,
becomes a reality.
We are creators with our Creator.
Sound the bugle of a new day
where all humanity knows
who they are and creates together
a world of unparalleled beauty and peace.


Emma Watson


A Song of Eternal Wait by Rajlakshmi  

Across the wild velvet moor, when delicate bluebells yawn
near crystal rill, a belle sings, on each bright summer morn.

humming songs of eternal wait,crouched on gravel brown
painting memories of yesters,long after sundown,

though several summers have passed ,since the day of his no-return,
still ‘neath flickering promises, lingers lullabies of nocturne.

Swept by time, one fateful day,a stony silence ensued
there fell the last solitary tear, of love, hurt, and an adieu.

but they say, across the moor,when delicate bluebells yawn,
still echoes a mellifluous song, on each bright summer morn.
Ziyi Zhang

The Journey by: JP Leddy

The road weaves into many and varied  landscapes…
Into parched and dry areas of skepticism and disbelief…
Into areas with stony barriers of  mistrust and suspicion…
Into  the swampy , damp tears of hurt and sadness…
Into the green and flowery meadows of hopes and fantasy …
Into the sun drenched beaches of  play and fun…
Into the lighted cities of abandonment and frolic…
Wherever the road takes , do not turn back  defeated…
The journey to my heart will be won soon….
You are closer than you think , maybe over the next bend…
Vicki Zhao

Explorers by Kat Fullerton  

We charted a new course to adventure,
And set sail to the end of the world,
With our eyes forever on the horizon,
And our magnificent sails unfurled.

We’re a gregarious gang of explorers,
A fearless and free wheeling bunch,
Off to discover the unknown.
And we’re not coming back until lunch.
Jessica Simpson


 Week 28 Theme: Boating, Water, Mountains, and Birthday Parties


 Joan Lin and Jackie Chan


Bush and Michelle

Sasha and Milia Obama


Image Credit: Google.com

Poetry Form Week 28: A Repost!

Welcome back to Jingle Poetry at Olive Garden! This is our 16th week, and I, CC Champagne, is once again here to start the week off with some musings on poetry forms. Pull up a picnic blanket and join in what passes for fun where poetry form is concerned!

Have you ever suffered from writer's block? Had those days when the words just aren't there? Well, I'm going through a phase of something like that right now. Writer's block-light, if there is such a thing, but we have been doing this for 16 weeks so instead of trying to find something witty and fun to say I thought it might be the right time to do a recap. It would also be a way to gather all the poetry forms (and related information) we've gone through so far, and maybe it will make it easier to find the gaps in the information (if there are any gaps, that is).

Please note that items in italics below are not poetry forms per se, but rather poetry tools or related information. For more extensive (and sometimes more confusing) information, follow the links provided back to the original post).

  • Uses repetition of a specific sound (alliteration) to bind a poem together.
  • Seven syllable lines
  • Subject matter: love and wine
  • Rarely used (the original text of 'The Star Spangled Banner' was written in anacreontic verse)
  • A sonnet (see below) with set end rhymes
  • You can basically decide on the - traditionally - eight end words of a stanza and work out the poem from that. Can be (and has been) used as a poetry constructing game.
  • A form of chant that does not adhere to any particular meter, though the number three has a special significance and phrases are often repeated three times.
  • Five lines (2-4-6-8-2 syllable count)
  • End rhymes
  • Uses the computer as a tool to decide the words of a poem.
  • No set meter pattern, rhyme or any other discernible pattern.
  • Must have poetic structure.
  • 17 syllables (traditionally, though not required. Must be an uneven number though). First line five syllables, second line seven syllables and third line five syllables.
  • No end rhymes
  • Subject matter should be nature.
  • One line only
  • Six to twelve syllables (always an even number)
  • Similes not allowed, but at least one poetic devise must be used.
  • No punctuation allowed, apart from the full stop at the end (and capital letter at the beginning).
  • Should be a complete thought (not a fractured sentence).
  • Should not be able to be broken up into several lines
  • Spoof form of Villanelle (please see below or link for more information)

  • Fourteen lines
  • Each line containing ten syllables
  • Iambic pentameter (five iambs (Ta-dums) to each line) is (traditionally) used
  • Modern sonnets are not adhering strictly to original rules
  • 31 syllables
  • Five lines (5-7-5-7-7 syllable count)
Villanelle:
  • 19 lines in all
  • Set rhyming pattern: A1bA2 abA1 abA2 abA1 abA2 abA1A2 (for more information follow the link)
  • 2 rhyming refrains
  • usually in pentameter (five feet to a line)
  • does not tell a story or work for narrative development
  • A metric foot (not a poetry form) dealing with the rhythm of the poem, dividing words and sentences into feet rather than syllables.
  • An iamb has the same rhythm as your heart beating, with the emphasis (or stress) on the first syllable of a word or line (ta-DUM)
  • Pentameter means that there are five feet (ta-DUM:s) to each line.
  • what provides rhythm to the words, how they are stressed when we say them (for a list, please follow the link).
  • Look for the vowels in the word.
  • Subtract any silent vowels (like the 'e' at the end of the 'Fore!' shouted by golfers).
  • If you have two vowels together, creating a diphthong, count only one of the vowels (for example the word 'you' is only one syllable).
  • Compound words, words that consist of two other words but is written together (likehouseboat), along with words using prefixes (like prefix) and suffixes (like farmer) should be divided into their component words to count syllables.
  • Divide words between the two middle consonants (like bas/ket) to count the syllables.
  • Usually divide words into syllables before a single consonant (like e/vil or re/port).
  • The '-le' at the end of a word usually forms its' own syllable (like a/ble, or indeed syl/la/ble.
more than 20 weeks of work in one post! Wow, you would have thought we would all know much more than we really do (or perhaps I should speak merely for myself in this case?). I have already spotted some rather large holes in the above information, but we will do our very best to fill those in the weeks, months and perhaps even years to come.

Remember that I'm trying to learn this along with the rest of you, so if you have any input on the above I would be happy to hear from you. This is supposed to be fun but instructive, but I think we all remember how that could be from back when we were in school... *smile* Don't give yourselves a head-ache trying to understand everything at once! There will be no tests on this (thankfully), but hopefully one of the more obscure forms may help inspire you to delve deeper into your creative selves!
  I have to say that being here, in the peacefulness of Olive Garden really helps me keep my spirits up, and I look forward to seeing you again next week for more Poetry for Dummies and weird and wonderful Thursday Poetry Forms!

*Cheers*


Sunday, March 11, 2012

Poetic Reflections Week 27: Robert LIoyd

 Meet The Poet and Mastermind of Poets United Here:




Robert’s Poetry Blog:

The Migration of Words

Robert’s Meme Blog:

Burdens And Smiles



Q:

Share with us a little about yourself...

Robert:

That’s a hard thing to do because I am always all over the place. I am like the energizer bunny and can't keep still. I am always on the go or coming up with some idea. It drives my fiancé crazy. I currently live in Texas and have a great job as a numbers cruncher. I've traveled the world and still have tons of places I need to go. I write poetry as my release and have always wanted to dabble in writing stories, poetry is shorter though and so its easier for me. I come from a small family and am I about to be married to the most beautiful woman in the world. She takes me as I am and that says a lot. I will try anything everything at least once, except sky diving and eating raw shouldn’t be eaten foods. I guess that’s me in a nut shell? Oh I am classic film buff. I love the silver screen and watch at least 2 new classic movies a week. Ok I will stop now lol. Like I said I am all over the place.

Q:

How did Poets United come about? Please tell us a little bit of your blog and what it means to you.

Robert:

Poets United came about because I was looking for place to share my poetry and read others. I constantly came across either jam packed sites that were very disorganized, Dead Sites or places where the folks in charge where snooty and clickish. I know I don’t write the best poems but I still felt there needed to be a place for me to go, a place to get better without being told I suck. So as I fiddled more and more with blogger the idea developed. At first I was only really thinking about an active blog roll hence the URL for Poets United but then it grew into something ten times better and purposeful. I realized there were a lot of other folks out there beginners, occasional poets, life long poets and everything in between. Its a amazing to see how many talented writers there are out there. I decided to create a corner for them and me. Since I started the site it has been amazing. I have met so many people from all over the globe. Its like I am traveling again. I get to experience there lives through their poetry and best of all we all get to meet new folks every day with the same dreams.


Q:

What does your work with Poets United involve?

Robert:

It’s a labor of love that’s for sure. Even when my own writing suffers because of a lack of creativity Poets United keeps me busy. It started out fairly easy but as my little mind spun I created more and more things to manage and participate in. At one point it was overwhelming and I though to myself what have I done? Lucky for me We have a great community and roughly 8 to 10 folks have stepped up to help make Poets United what it is today. I list them as contributors on the side bar on the site. They are all amazing people. Time wise it went form about an hour a day to sometimes 4 or more. Now I'd say I spend on average about 1.5 to 2 hours a day, roughly 16 to 20 hours a week doing stuff related to Poets United, I dont count the weekends but sometimes it can be all I do lol. Now with the planned anthology it may be more lol. Its a hobby. A cheap hobby that I absolutely love now.

Q:

Do you remember the time you write your first poem? Do you write more than just poetry? What is the favorite poem you have written so far?

Robert:

My own poetry I keep on my blog Burdens and Smile also my meme blog The Migration of Words. As to when I wrote my first poem. It was back in high school to far to remember. I actually have it somewhere and laugh when I read it. It’s something about chickadees jumping up and down and true love. Its a pondering poem. Ah to be so naive lol. I try to write more than poetry. I dabble in flash fiction have started numerous books that I never get past chapter one on and I also have penned a few...show we say R rated romance? It all sits on my computer waiting for my next move. As for my favorite poem I have written so far...I really don’t have one yet. I find them flawed after I read them and then cant stop tearing them apart so I don’t have one I am truly in love with Yet.

Q:

Do you have a favorite poet? Why?

Robert:

Dylan Thomas because he was the first poet I ever realized was a poet. Do not go Gentle was my springboard into the poetry world and his fault. I even posted a poem about with him and Rodney Dangerfield on my Meme site. Its called Rodney Dangerfield Taught me Poetry. Its his recital of Dylan's do not go gentle.

Q:

What are your inspirations? Where do you feel most comfortable to write?

Robert:

Life is my inspiration. Any ones life for that matter. One of my favorite thing is to step outside myself and write as if I where someone else. I enjoy when someone reads a poem of mine and they wow that’s how I felt in that situation. Although I never was truly in the situation myself I love the fact that my imagination got it right. I enjoy being able to step outside myself.

Q:

Great! Do you like music? Who is your favorite musician? Why?

Robert:

Do I like Music? I live for music. It seems to be what drives me day in and day out. I could talk about music for hours. I despise this Bubble gum crud that’s out today. Taylor Swift? That woman cant carry a tune to save her life. I read articles that try to justify how she cant sing but that’s not what music is about. What? Music is not about singing? it drives some mad. Music is suffering right now and the I-pod is killing it. Currently I like for the indie artist the groups that are obscure and talented. I have friends in bands and listen to them all the time. Let see mainstream music I like...Mumford and Son, Flogging Molly and so much more. My favorite Musician is a toss up but I’d have to say Jewel. She can sing in box with nothing else. Folky yes I know but her voice gives me chills. What i wouldn’t give for her to sing just to me.

Q:

What would you say uniquely sets Poets United apart from other poetry
communities?

Robert:

We aren't rude or critical. We are about the community first. We want to foster a place for people to feel comfortable. So what if your poetry is not the greatest. We are not to judge that. The only person who judges is the poet who wrote they are the only ones that truly know what’s being said. What makes Poets United unique is we are a family and so supportive of one another. We are all about what you want. If you want to stop in every so often great!! If you want to participate in every thing we do Great!! We just want to be active and we want our poets to feel comfortable and like they belong. Poets United is unique because of its members and the sense of community they bring with them, our members are always visiting, commenting and communicating .

Q:

Great to know, I always feel comfortable at poets united. Now: Tell me a little about Poets United Writing Prompts?

Robert:

They are now generated by our members. we take suggestions and use them on a weekly basis in our The Thursday Think Tank. Its always so fun to see what people come up with when prompted. We also have The Poetry Pantry on Sundays where its not so much a prompt but a free for all. We all write stuff we want to share and this creates a place for it. It doesn’t matter if it was written yesterday or 12 years ago if you want to share link it there. Again our members are always visiting, commenting and communicating it makes it a fun interaction.

Q:

I always enjoyed Thursday Thinking Tank prompt and Sunday Poetry Pantry…I appreciate the platform you provide for poets.

What advice would you give someone who is interested in hosting a blogging community?

Robert:

Make sure you have the time because it is demanding. Its like a snowball rolling downhill and if you don’t watch out you can get way more than you can handle. If it wasn’t for the folks in my community helping out Poets United could have failed really quick. If you don’t have at least 2 hours a day to dedicate just for maintenance, emails, and whatever else comes up don’t do it. Plan for 15 hours a week to work on stuff. But its even harder in the beginning because you have to figure out what works and set things up. That’s not including any other crazy ideas you come up with. I would recommend volunteering to help, become a co creator or something like that, it will get you in without being overwhelming. I actually may need someone like tah myself but the ocd in me doesn’t know if I can let the design portion go.

Q:

Wow, amazing!

Do you support any causes and if so, which ones and why are they important to you?

Robert:

I actually support quite a few. Me and Fiance do a lot of volunteer work. Our biggest ones are Food Banks, Habitat for Humanity and Children. Anything that helps a child is great we do a few different programs ourselves. The main one I do is Usk8 its a local church program for skaters...the kids who get a hard wrap that are not actually so bad. we set up a weekly skate park in the church for them to get them away form the violence found in most municipal skate parks. Its great way to show them folks care, maybe introduce them a little to god, and see that adults in the community are not all that bad. Its a wonderful program.

Q:

Wow, you and your Finance are quite a pair of blessings to many. Do you enjoy humor? what's your favorite joke?

Robert:

I love humor but don’t have a favorite joke. I know a bunch of dirty ones that cannot be repeated. Lets see how about this
Horse walks into a bar
Site down at the bar
The Barteneder looks over at him and asks
Why the long face bub

HA!! Get it Horse. Long Face? lol I know I’m a dork

Q:

Just for fun, fill in the blanks...


Robert:

Poetry is_LIFE_.
I love poetry because It is representation of me and how I live.
Without poetry, life really sucks for even those who claim to not like poetry_.


Q:

Perfect! Amazing job, Robert!...way to go...We are very honored to present you today!

I wish everyone a wonderful Mother's Day Ahead!

Until next time...

Have A Splendid Week!

Let ME know how you like Poets United If you are a current member there…

Feel free to Explore Poets United Here:

Poets United






Poets Untied Anthology: Thoughts That Breathe

Collected and Edited by Robert LIoyd.. Poets United is non-Profit, Please feel free to download a FREE copy of the book or purchase a print copy with a flat price via the link below...Thank You!

http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/poets-united-anthology/14955998

In his own words:

The Poetry Pantry, independent and unaffiliated, is an international poetry anthology published annually or biannually by Poets United, an online poetry blog community. It is run entirely by its community participants under the guidance of its founder Robert Lloyd. The Poetry Pantry features poetry, prose and art submitted and approved by the members of Poets United. Poets United is a community for poets who blog. Our purpose is to unite poets, from all walks of life, who are found in the blogosphere. As the internet expands and along with it the art of poetry, our goal is to provide an active and supportive community for those poets who wish to share and hone their craft. In this anthology you will see just a small sampling of the talent that can be found at Poets United.