W3 Prompt #46: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Intro

Dear friends,

Welcome to our W³ Poetry Prompt, which goes live on Wednesdays at The Skeptic’s Kaddish.

You may click here for a fuller explanation of W³; but here’s the ‘tldr’ version:

Part I

The main ingredient of W³ is a weekly poem written by a Poet of the Week (PoW), which participants read before participating in the prompt.

Part II

The second ingredient is a writing guideline (or two) provided by the PoW. Guidelines may include, but are not limited to: word counts, poetic forms, inclusion of specific words, and use of particular poetic devices.

Part III

After five days, when the prompt closes, the PoW shall select one participant’s poem as the W³ prompt for the following week, and its author becomes the next PoW.

Simple enough, right?

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Okie dokie ~ Let’s do this thing!

I. The prompt poem:

‘I Am Your Silent Solitude’, a poem by Michelle Ayon Navajas

i was with you when you first cried, of a broken heart you never understood why at seventeen you bled.

you stained me with your tears of a lover who went away in haste leaving you shattered and damaged.

i was with you when you first had a fight, with your sisters sending your mom at the peak of her fury.

you broke my limbs, ripped me in pieces, for what you call a pillow fight.

i was with you when you first learned, the pain of being unwell was nothing but a death sentence.

you embraced me hard, so hard you had me chocked, i almost died.

i was with you when you first heard the truth that DNA does not count as family.

you punched me and threw me over and over the wall, as if it was my fault that you were not born from the family you learned to love your own.

i was with you when you first thought of dying, when death in fact was not even the answer to your problems.

you spoke to me like i could change a thing or two, but even then you knew i was with you all through your rough days and all through your smooth ones.

i was with you and i will never leave you alone, no matter what life throws at you, i will be beside you even in the darkest of nights and the coldest of days.

i am your silent solitude waiting to give you a restful night.

II. Michelle’s prompt guidelines

1. Take out your handkerchief (yes, the one in your pocket right now- no cheating).
   • Remember that during the Renaissance period, a handkerchief was considered to be a powerful symbol of a woman. Giving this item to a woman meant true love, honesty, commitment, and righteousness.
2. If by chance you don’t have a handkerchief, explore your creative side and imagine you are holding one right now.
3. Write an ode to your handkerchief (or make-believe handkerchief). Make it sound like a love ode.

What is an ode?

• A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter;
• A poem meant to be sung.

III. Submit: Click on ‘Mr. Linky’ below

In order to participate and share a poem, open up this blog post, outside of the WordPress reader. At the bottom, just below these words, you will see a small rectangular graphic with the words ‘Mr Linky’. Click on that to submit.

Submissions are open for 5 days, until Monday, March 20, 10:00 AM (GMT+3)

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Last week’s W³ poem

This week’s W³ prompt poem (above), composed by Michelle, was written in response to last week’s W³ prompt poem, which I wrote:

‘Loving kindness, or: Amoride’, a ‘Prose Poem’ by David ben Alexander

BREAKING NEWS: Dearly beloved friends, this just in!

Though understandably distracted by hugs, kisses, and pats on the back; preoccupied by thoughts of concern for others; and absorbed in supremely relatable feelings of loving kindness for all living creatures on Earth… good-hearted scientists at the lovely, scenic Heart… err, sorry… Harvard University have ever so lovingly identified an exceptional, new compound in our miraculous world’s precious water supply, which they have fondly and with deep, loving tenderness called Amoride.

Across this wondrous world of ours, many other sweet, good-natured, and passionate researchers who once worked on designing chemical weapons are now appreciatively, admiringly, and affectionately committing to the study of this extraordinary and fascinating discovery. Their work will be fully funded by governments, businesses, and individuals, and this- in parallel to fully funded research laboratories dedicated to ending global hunger; reversing global warming; and curing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and all other deadly diseases.

This is Humanity’s News Network, wishing you a joyous, delightful evening! We love you!