Merely Day By Day

  For April I will be taking a deep dive into  The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics ,  edited by Diane Lockward. This book is full of 30 craft tips, so it is the perfect way to shape this month's challenge and dig into the craft of poetry. Stop by my Substack page,   Merely in Progress , to follow this month's writing journey, where you will also find reflections, links, and inspiration across the challenge.  Of course, this month is really about writing poetry so I will have a new poem posted here each day utilizing a craft tip from the book. Here we go.

  Grandma Life a little each day I  move tiny objects to four feet, place protectors in outlets; set up beds with soft blankets, pile books for bedtime. ready the kitchen set, bought decades ago, pull the toy box out from behind the couch; the refrigerator drawer now has  more  fruit than vegetables, the not-so-secret-snack-stash filled. small chairs are placed on the patio, a swing blows in the breeze; a list of possible activities, a menu of favorite meals, all readied.  I've become her. © Cathy L. Mere, 2024 For April I will be taking a deep dive into  The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics ,  edited by Diane Lockward. This book is full of 30 craft tips, so it is the perfect way to shape this month's challenge and dig into the craft of poetry. Stop by my Substack page,   Merely in Progress , to follow this month's writing journey, where you will also find reflections, links, and inspiration across the challenge.  Of course, this month is really about writing poet

It's Poetry Friday...and National Poetry Month.  Today's Poetry Friday community roundup  is hosted by Heidi Mordhorst. Stop by for all the poetry joy you need today! (If you're interested in the madness I've jumped into this month, scroll to the bottom of this post. Today's craft tip: Achieving Tone .)          Photo by  Pietro Voso  on  Unsplash What the Oak Knows the oak stands firmly grounded between fields and fencing. it watches as cherry, redbud, and crabapple flower, before opening its green fingers to the sun. it knows the rhythm of the farmer who will plant beans this year instead of corn, it knows of rain, and the way the running creek returns every spring. it's watched houses rise and families settle. it's weathered snowstorms and tornadoes, its roots deeply planted. it knows joy and it knows sorrow, mostly it knows that the birds start singing before darkness recedes in morning.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2024  For April I've taken a deep dive into 

Crabapple Abuzz Soft blossoms abound, cascading across branches. Bees busily feast. © Cathy L. Mere, 2024 For April I will be taking a deep dive into  The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics ,  edited by Diane Lockward. This book is full of 30 craft tips, so it is the perfect way to shape this month's challenge and dig into the craft of poetry. Stop by my Substack page,   Merely in Progress , to follow this month's writing journey, where you will also find reflections, links, and inspiration across the challenge.  Of course, this month is really about writing poetry so I will have a new poem posted here each day utilizing a craft tip from the book. Here we go.

Thanks for stopping by Merely Day by Day.  It's National Poetry Month.  Crafting Surprise   In this section of The Practicing Poet, poets share tips for crafting surprise in our poetry (link to Substack summary in title above): Craft Tip #13:  Using the Line to Surprise  by  Meg Day Craft Tip #14:  Truth’s Surprise  by  Lawrence Raab Craft Tip #15:  Throwing the Reins upon the Horse’s Neck  by  Chris Forhan No Regrets To a poem a day  I did commit, but time for writing  I could not fit. What else can I say, it's time poems need. I cannot write them with lightning speed. At this point in life I'm no longer willing, to have rigid requirements  in my day filling.  I took a short pause, but today I am back. with a quick little rhyme to get me on track. You'll find no surprise, at this poem's end, just this terrible rhyme, I shouldn't have penned.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2024 For April I will be taking a deep dive into  The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics ,  edi

Thanks for stopping by Merely Day by Day.  It's National Poetry Month. Craft Tip #11: Syntax: The Life Form of Poems  This chapter of The Practicing Poet was all about way we put sentences together grammatically. Our personal synax often shows through in our poems and use of line. For this poem, I tried to push again the first order that came to me a bit. It was a game...just like this poem.  Games Toddlers Play before the sun our games begin. rise and shine,  let's see who wins. no to eggs. "yogurt, please." outside we go. "no, let's play in." open pantry, open fridge, a snack is needed yet again. lunchtime yet?, is on repeat. no to meat. no to fruit. picking books before nap time, let's read three - five it is.  smiles so sweet, hugs goodnight. after naps,  we'll play again. © Cathy L. Mere, 2024 For April I will be taking a deep dive into  The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics ,  edited by Diane Lockward. This book is full of 30 craf