ROSIE #AtoZChallenge

Today is Poetry Friday and it is a FULL post today, full to the brim!  When you have finished here, there are wonderful blogs full of poems to visit.  Visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference where there are links to lots!

Today is the 21st line in the Progressive Poem initiated by Irene Latham!  And it is here - 
along with my AtoZ below.  Scroll down to the license plate if you are here for AtoZ and/or if you want to skip this growing poem instigated by Irene Latham for National Poetry Month. 

But why would you?  
You are here because you like writing and writers and stuff they write, right?  
So you should read it before you go on to the AtoZ Maine vanity plate and poem.  
One poet a day adds a line to the poem.  In the side navigation you can see a list of line contributing poets. 

Today the poem was handed to me for the next line.  
But a couple of days before my line I was scribbling words and phrases thinking maybe, just maybe I could use some of what I'd thought about, and maybe by chance it would save me time and thinking when I would be under pressure.  It didn't really work, but it was a good warn-up.

When BJ supplied her line, "trip" was the connecting word I had used in some of my lines.  Nope.  Couldn't use "trip" for the "-ip" internal rhyme...but it did lead nicely into using "ship" which is definitely a good way to take a trip to escape the grip of Dragonworld!

The navigation on the sidebar has all the poets with links to their sites.
Here is the poem thus far (Don't you love the sound of "thus far"? I do, too!) and my new line is last in bold: 

Progressive Poem 2017

I’m fidget, friction, ragged edges--

I sprout stories that frazzle-dazzle,

stories of castles, of fires that crackle

with dragonwords that smoke and sizzle.
 


But edges sometimes need sandpaper,

like swords need stone and clouds need vapour.

So I shimmy out of my spurs and armour

facing the day as my fickle, freckled self.
 


I thread the crowd, wear freedom in my smile,

and warm to the coals of conversation.

Enticed to the stage by strands of story,

I skip up the stairs in anticipation.
 


Flip around, face the crowd, and freeze!

Shiver me. Look who’s here. Must I disappear?

By hook or by crook, I deserve a second look!

I cheer. Please, have no fear. Find the book.
 


But wait! I’ll share the lines I know by heart.

Mythicalhowls, fierytones slip from my lip

Blue scales flash, claws rip, the prophecy begins

Dragonworld weaves webs that grip. I take a trip…


"Anchors aweigh!" Steadfast at helm on clipper ship


Then take a look here - for interest's sake, I found the poem to be easily broken down into 9 lines in each stanza, making it quite "prettily poetic"!  See what you think of breaking it up thusly (not a good word, but fun).

I just found this today, hanging in a bookstore!  Isn't it gorgeous?

Progressive Poem 2017 (possible alternate layout?)

I’m fidget,
friction,
ragged edges;
I sprout stories
that frazzle-dazzle;
stories of castles,
of fires that crackle,
with dragonwords that smoke
and sizzle.

But edges sometimes 

need sandpaper,
like swords need stone
and clouds need vapour;
So I shimmy out 

of my spurs and armour,
facing the day
as my fickle,
freckled self.

I thread the crowd,
wear freedom
in my smile,
and warm to the coals
of conversation;
Enticed to the stage
by strands of story,
I skip up the stairs
in anticipation.

Flip around, face the crowd,
and freeze!
Shiver me. Look who’s here.
Must I disappear?
By hook or by crook,
I deserve a second look!
I cheer.
Please, have no fear.
Find the book.

But wait!
I’ll share the lines
I know by heart.
Mythicalhowls, fierytones
slip from my lips;
Blue scales flash, claws rip,
the prophecy begins;
Dragonworld weaves webs that grip.
I take a trip;

"Anchors aweigh!" 

Steadfast at helm 

on clipper ship

Take it away, sail on Jone at Jone Ruch MacCulloch, the next line is YOURS!  Oh, phew!  Let's get this puzzle solved.

 **************************

Now the A to Z Challenge -  

 
The A to Z Challenge is to write to the letters of the alphabet in order, one a day each day in April, except on Sundays.
To find more A to Z Challenge blog posts, click on any A to Z Challenge link I've made in this post. Read through the comment links on that page and see what interests you.  Read.  Comment. Spread the love of our alphabet around!
If you are commenting here, please include your post's link so that I can return the visit easily.  I'd like to visit your site, if you don't mind!
If you want to see where I've visited, click on A to Z Challenge in the tab at the top and it will take you to a padlet of links.  If you want to see yours there, visit me.  If you are doing the A to Z Challenge, I'll visit you and link you. 

My rose smells the pink skies,
Rock beaches and sands,
The salt of the sea,
Seaweed’s tangled strands.
My rose hears the roaring
And crashing of waves,
The chorus of laughing gulls
Devout fishing knaves.
My rose though as fragile
As tatted French lace,
Its petals surround
Giving bees an embrace.
My rose owns a sweetness -
The lightest bouquet,
Heavenly nectar
To carry away;
My rose with the softness
of breezes adorning,
Callously stings
Without any warning.
Too soon she is gone
Leaving hips for my tea
And promise of new blooms
To smile upon me.

by Donna JT Smith

Congratulations on making it to the bottom of this page!

Tomorrow is S in the A to Z Challenge... I have a few vanity plates to select from... let's see.

Z is for Zachary Nathaniel

I can't believe it is over.  I can't believe I did the whole thing.  I can't believe so many of us did the whole thing.  I would like to continue, but I think I have a writing project now to finish.  I will post Tuesdays and Fridays for almost sure.  And either Wednesday or Thursday, if I can swing it.  We will see.  I need just a little break, but not too much.  I at least have to see if I can get something in print.  I said I was going to, but haven't done it yet.  Write Club starts soon!   Aaargh!  Must be ready.  So I really do need to give my brain a change of pace here pretty quick.

The lobster boats are just waking up from their hibernation, and heading back to the water this week.  I got pictures while they were napping - just in time!  It's harder to get pictures when they are on the move.

So Z last lobster boat and poem is here.  First word - yare, a new word for me.  Thanks, rch over at Average Poet for the word yesterday.  I had my poem written, but rewrote and added some to get this word worked in!  I love learning new words!

Yare (yâr)adj.

1. Agile; lively.

2. Nautical Responding easily; maneuverable. Used of a vessel.

"Zachary Nathaniel"

yare little acrobat
a somersaulting clown

I’m a zipper
I’m a skipper

     I’m a zapper

     rather dapper

fast as a train on track
to trapping trips outbound

very snazzy

oh, so jazzy

     not too ritzy

     nor too glitzy

sleek as a denizen
in deepest azure seas

rarely lazy,
might be crazy

     zip and zappin'

     never nappin'

loud as a mighty roar
that causes prey to freeze

I will dazzle
sometimes frazzle

     just the best

     unnerving zest!

cool as an ocean breeze
a zephyr swirling round

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for all the kind words this month.  It has been a fun 26 days!  I hope you will keep in touch with continued visits.  I will try to get around to doing the same!  There are so many good blogs out there, and so little time!  But I'll do my best!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More of Zee info:

Zoe A. Zanidakis (ZAZ), Monhegan Island’s only woman sea captain and a contestant on Survivor.
Larry Mills  and his son Gary, in 1976, designed and built a steel lobster boat named "Zephyr."

And in case you are coming to Maine this summer:

Here is the schedule for the 2013 Lobster Boat Races in Maine this summer.  You may see some of the lobster boats I've written about this April.  If you get a chance, stop by Maine sometime...the bad part, is you can't easily get here on your way to somewhere else.  You have to come here on purpose. Next stop Canada or the Atlantic Ocean!

Y is for YYY

My theme for April, Poetry Month and the A to Z Challenge: Maine Lobster Boat Names A to Z with poems for each...
Now this next boat...YYY may just be a no name and the YYY is part of the registration number.  But since there were no other numbers there - I'm taking it!  I haven't found any other Y names yet, so this is what I'm going with!
I think it is a question...or three questons: Y? Y? Y?  (Why? Why? Why?)
Isn't she cute?  She reminds me of Sunrise, my S boat, only a little deeper yellow and a dark red bottom.  She looks more like a sunset to me.

YYY

It's Time to Go Home

All day out at sea
with little to show,
we've had a long day
    so,
       it's time to go home.
The gulls overhead
entreat us to stay                      
"Stay here in the bay",
       no,
           it's time to go home.
The shadows are long
the day is now short;
"Day's over" we sigh,
        then
            it's time to go home.
We head in before
a crimson sunset,
and gold on the hills,
        says
             it's time to go home.
Bow pointed to sun
dark creeps up our stern,
hot supper awaits,
        yes,
             it's time to go home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

And tomorrow, (drum roll) the letter Z for z end!  I cannot believe that I found it!  Well, I didn't find it.  A friend found it and sent me the url.  Thanks, Ree!

X it for Xtreme Measures

X has been found, really found!  It's the A to Z Challenge, and letter X is for today.  I have been searching for a lobster boat that begins with the letter X for quite some time.  and I found it a couple of days ago.
I have not yet met Xtreme Measures in person, but found its news article online.  It is a lobster boat that was lost off Spruce Head in a blizzard.  It had been lost for 10 days in February, but was located adrift about 150 miles away.
Story here: Bangor Daily News.

"Xtreme Measures"

The night was dark
And fearsome;
No stars to
Guide the way.
The sky was thick
With snowflakes;
No twinkle
Nor moon ray.
The waves were cold
And mighty;
No rest for
Boats this day.
With blust'ry winds
For weather,
The snow could
Hide a stray.

The boat was tossed
And tugging;
No hope to
Hold her tight.
The ropes were frayed
And loosened;
No crew to
Head her right.
The craft was sure
And worthy
As winds would
Give her flight.
The boat would go
Unnoticed
Until the
Next daylight.

For days no one
Could find her,
But still she
Tried to cope.
She wandered far
And yonder,
Until she
Felt taught rope;
A bit relieved
And tired
About to
Give up hope.
She gave in to
The guidance
No more to
Blindly grope.

At last this boat
Was rescued
From out the
White-cap foam.
The captain was
Excited,
His boat was
Guided home,
The miles of isles
and shoreland
He no more
Had to comb.
Still even keeled
And steady
She never
More would roam.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

N is for No Time

A to Z Challenge (see tab above or link to the right) and Slice of Life Tuesday today!

Three boats and three poems for today!
N is getting along in the alphabet.  I need a Q boat name for Friday!  And a U for next week, though I kind of found a U name... no picture, but a lobster boat name from years ago.
SO, if you have a boat you haven't named yet, I think you ought to name your boat Quick Quixote or Quilly Wonka...Ultra Sultry or Utterly Ugly...anything with a Q or a U!  Then paint the name on it, move to Maine, take a picture and send it to me.  That should be easy enough to do for next week.  And I think dedicated readers SHOULD be willing to do this, for the sake of blogging integrity.   Any Z name would be fine, also.   Suggestions:  Zed's Meds, Zealously Jealous. 

Don't make me resort to buying my own fleet!  

Oooh, a copy of PhotoShop would be cheaper!

No Time

"No Time"

There's no time to lose
The hours fly by
No time like the present
The wind and waves sigh.

At sea there's no time
It's stirred in the wake
Evening comes quickly
Soon after daybreak

Most of our lifetime
Our time is not free
But time spent at sea
Is just No Time and me
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Number 7

"Number 7"

I lead a blessed life,
I'm straight out of heaven
A guardian angel
The great Number 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Nadine Rae

"Nadine Rae"

Nadine Rae, what did you say?
"It's time for work and not for play."
Nadine Rae, why can't you wait?
"Get your boots and get your bait."
Nadine Rae, why do you nag?
"Grab that gaff and bait that bag."
It's time to go, I know, I know!
"Best be quick, or I'll make you row!"
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Educational Nook:

New-shell lobster = A lobster that has recently molted (see M), and whose shell is still very soft. These aren't usually for sale. They are softer than a "soft-shell" (see S next week), which is sold. These do not get bands put on their claws because they are so soft they can't damage other lobsters in the holding tank and the bands could crush the claws.

L is for Lil Dipper

Lobster Boat Names from A to Z - 

Click on the A-to-ZChallenge tab above to go links to more A to Z posts!

Today's post from me is brought to you by the letter L!   First up is "Lil Dipper" and below an original poem for her.  Then there is Lasca J, a slightly larger boat with her own original poem.

Lil Dipper

"Lil Dipper"

                                           I'm a bobber, dobber, lobster boat
                                           Who bounces atop the sea
                                           I may look small but I'm no joke
                                           There's no one catches me!

                                           I'm a whipper, dipper, lobster clipper
                                           Who works a steady pace
                                           I may look cute but watch your back
                                           I'll beat you in any race!

 

Lasca J

"Lasca J"

High water or low

I'll push on the same

Skimming by others

Who know me by name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Legal lobster (in Maine) =

• has a carapace between 3 1/4 and 5 inches long
• is not a berried female.
• has no V-notch, nicks, grooves, or indentations of any kind along its edge on the female tail flipper.

Live-tank or Live-well = A tank filled with seawater to hold live lobsters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be posting on Sunday, though it won't be a lobster boat poem.  Sunday is a day off from the A to Z Challenge, but it will be a poem, and there will be pictures related to lobstering and Maine, so come on back then!

J is for Jacob & Rachel

The day of J-ay.
And this first poem was a first poem, scheduled and ready to post.  Then I came back to it today (which is yesterday officially for you) to check and see what I had put together.  I wasn't satisfied with it.  So I started messing with it.  I was just going to add to it, but then before I knew it:
Cut.  Revise.  Cut.  Paste in a different spot.  Cut.  Add. Edit-Undo, Edit-Undo.  Rewrite.  Add.  Think. Think.  Admonition to self - "Stop thinking and just see, feel and write".  Cut a bit, move a bit.  Done.  Whoops!  One more word change.

So the first poem just under the picture is old, below ~~~~~~ is new and revised.

"Jacob & Rachel"

1.
The lobsterman's job

To pass on to kin:

The traps are hauled up

And then tossed back in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
With barnacled hands
Sand dollar skin
 Periwinkle eyes
And rocky hard chin
He’s  a part of the land
A part of the sea
 A heart for the deep and
For his family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
Barnacled hands,
Sand dollar skin,
 Periwinkle eyes,
Rocky ledge chin;
 Part of the land,
Portion of sea;
 Heart for the deep
And for family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now that I see both together, the second one is nothing at all like the original.  That's good.  Do you agree?  Or do you prefer the first?
"But I see three poems here," I hear you saying.  Okay, just came back to this, this morning, and did some cutting and resulted in #3.  That's my pick.  What a transition!  I think I'm finally happy with it.  Less is more here.  J is also for Just Do It.
I like revising.  Do you?  Have you ever started with a poem or piece and messed with it so much that it ended up totally different?

Educational Jargon:

Jumbo: A lobster that weighs over 2-1/2 pounds.

The House with the Straightened Wall

Today is Poetry Friday, and it's being hosted by Linda at TeacherDance.  Pop on over and read some great poetry and check out links to poetry related blogs by some pretty great teachers, poetry lovers and poets! 

The house with the straightened wall
Stands proudly
And tall
By the sea

The house with the straightened wall
Contentedly
Waits
For me

The house with the straightened wall
Sees its time
Is soon to
Come

The house with the straightened wall
Joins my whispery
Joyful
Hum

© Donna J.T. Smith, Feb.14, 2013

It's Poetry Friday and this is my poem about the house we are renovating, Gull Haven.  It sat quite sadly for a number of years, but is now getting new walls, floors, windows, plumbing, electrical, insulation and love.  It's been a long process, but it is getting close to the time when we'll be able to stay there at least for a few days at a time.  And we'll be there full time when we are both retired.
I posted the first poem here: The House with the Wrinkled Wall.  So this one is like a followup poem to the first poem that I wrote in October of 2011 when we first purchased the house.  By this October we should be finally finished with all the work there...maybe for this summer even.

Unwritten Thoughts

Sometimes when you are reading other people's material, and you make a connection . . .

like, "yeah, that's totally happened to me",

or  "hey, I'm with you on that one, dude". . .

but you never wrote it down . . .

Unwritten thoughts

Spilled and are lost

All for the want of my pen

Gone to the wind

Float to the sky

Never my musing again

Someday they will

Drift back to earth

Finding some other like soul

With pen in hand

They’ll scribe those thoughts

Claiming a notion they stole


Check out more poetry topics for Friday on Poetry Friday hosted by Julie at The Drift Record

The House with the Wrinkled Wall

Posted also on Poetry Friday RoundUp hosted by Random Noodling,
and on Gull Haven, where I put updates on this house.

The house with the wrinkled wall

Stands firmly

And squat

By the sea

The house with the wrinkled wall

Waits quietly

And longs

For me

The house with the wrinkled wall

Wants warmth

And life

To tend

The house with the wrinkled wall

Sleeps still

And gray

Till then

The house with the wrinkled wall

Knows the time

Is soon

To come

The house with the wrinkled wall

Starts a low

But joyful

Hum

Shushing

 

For Poetry Friday linked at Jama's Alphabet Soup:

Shush!

The wind outside

Is shushing

Listen to the autumn

Rolling in

Skip to greet the

Incoming waves

Splash

Ankle deep in

Leaves

Scoop and toss

Giggle

At leaf spray

Sprinkling down

On faces and necks

Dive into

The cool

Tidal pool
Of autumn.