April is celebrated as NPM by the Academy of American Poets, among other groups. Use #npm15 to connect w/like-minded folks.
Well, cruelly or not, here it is April already. Happy National Poetry Month (more details on this in a later post)!
As for a poetics of the personal, I was asked almost a fortnight ago by fellow writer and friend Sarah Potter to wax poetic on the subject of love, following certain parameters and with strictures that I still managed to both tangle and mangle, for the “Love in Ten Lines Challenge.” You’ll have to forgive me on several fronts. I’m steadily pedaling back up to speed on blogging—both writing and reading/commenting—after a bout with spring sinusitis that decided to invite my eye in for the party. I’ll spare you further allergological details (in any case, they happened after I’d written these two poems anyway).
Briefly, here are the rules of the 10-line love challenge:
- 10 lines only, on love.
- “Love” must appear in each line.
- Each line must be exactly 4 words.
- Include a quote about love (it can be your own quote).
- Use any language you choose.
As grateful as I was to be invited, no obligations attached, by Sarah to take part in this challenge, I’m a little rowdy with the rules, I guess. I’m supposed to formally invite other bloggers to take part, but I feel as if I’d be imposing on y’all if I call out specific people, even though I do have several of you in mind. But everyone is so busy. That said, if you’d like to take part in this challenging premise, I informally welcome you. Then we can probably just call it a free-verse free-for-all.
Finally, who doesn’t like a good word brawl with one’s language every now and again? (Even if you get a bit of a black eye, as I feel I have here . . .)
—
A Museum of Moments
Love, my heart’s Braille,
written for unseen loves,
suitors untailored for love,
in love with veils,
of ragged things unloved.
gagged love, silken bonds
fixed fast. Everyone loves.
We covet coursing love-
blood. Strange museum, love:
where we all sight-see.
—
Beloved Dust
My little loves, fay
folk, loved beyond mortal
measure. Love carves us
out of softwood. Love
chips love away, shapes
each love in fashion.
Shavings, sharp edges; love
leaves behind even love
itself sometimes. Love sears
into each beloved grain.
Oh, a final finally. The quotes!
“Love is not love/
which alters when it alteration finds.” (Shakespeare, Sonnet 116)
and, for more on fissile or weathered love, we have the Peter Gabriel lyric:
“. . . In lovetown,
I can’t settle down.
And do those teeth still match the wound?
Take a good look around
In lovetown.” (from “Lovetown,” available on the 2-CD release “Hit” [disc two of which is called “Miss”])
Leigh's Wordsmithery 
You’re lovely on love.
What can I say, Leigh, other than I love your two poems, which are both lyrical and astute. My favourite phrase of all is “love leaves behind even love itself sometimes”.
I’ve been nominated for another poetry challenge on the subject of love, which I greatly appreciated, but I think that this time I’ll just write a poem and give my blogging friends a rest from nominations. We all need to find time for writing, as well as our families. That being said, I’m very pleased that you took up the poetry part of this challenge, Leigh, as it gave me great pleasure to read your words — as usual.
Tricky task. I think you made a really good fist of it, with some intriguing lines.
I love the idea of love and grain combined in the same thought. Somehow, I’ve always believed love begins as a seed and grows to encapsulate everything. Your poem does a great job capturing that idea! Great job, Leigh!
You’ve done a wonderful job Leigh of describing love in a way that isn’t sentimental and still shows off your brilliant way at putting words together.
Those rules make this is a difficult challenge but you rose to the occasion well! It’s late on a Friday night, and I’m tired, but I doubt I could pull this off even on a well-rested morning 🙂
I think describing love without the use of cliches is the most difficult one, and using love on each line would easily make it sticky with honey.. I think you did great on this challenge.