Young Writers Society

Adna and Jack, you know what you have done.

Anyway, I'm a little late, but let's get started.


#1: Safari

This is suddenly standing
in front of an opened fridge
in my own safari that wasn't
supposed to be trespassed.
But you did, oh, you did, and
will I ever welcome you with
open arms again?

A lightning struck the baobab tree
that had been given to and
named after me
and I run to the river
just in time to see that
my flower charm bracelet
turns into a crocodile and
swims away

The rushes keep slashing
one's bare feet and
the warm glow freedom
stops being an option
Never offer yourself to a lion
for it will only equal thunder
and bite the hand feeding it.

I'm glad you're in, dear. Looking forward to more poetry! (Also: you seem to have a thing for Africa. I remember a poem with a rather nice image of the Kilimanjaro and now lions and safari? Go, Demi!)

All the best,
~Kalli

Haha, Kalli, I don't know where they're coming.

I'm still a little behind... I must get writing!


#2: The Limerick

Once there was a girl called Sue
She feared people – talking, too
But to her it occurred
That she couldn't be heard
So out she spat the sticky glue.



#3: The Mirror

She looks at her hands –
so soft and tender.
She looks at her legs,
how graceful they are!
She looks at her body
so smooth, so slender.
She looks at her face
and is ever so pleased.

She steps closer and
narrows her eyes
You're vain, they say,
before she can stop them
Vain, they shout, vain
Stop, she shouts,
I will listen to this no more!

Vain, vain, vain
Just stop, I am not
Yes, you are, vain and cold
Stop! Stop, I'm better than you
See what we mean, you know the truth

With shrieking rage,
she rises
raises a fist and aims well
The glass cries, attacks
The pieces fly, fly, fall

With no reflection around
she could be her own master
But not completely
because she finally admits
the picture told more than
a thousand words.

Dem, I've never read any of your poems before! But I absolutely love the mirror. Almost seems like it could be turned into a song.

#4: For Sagittarius

What will her week be like?
Where will she be led?
She saw the truth in Sunday News
And this is what it said:

Late again, but will get a smile
that makes your whole today
A friend of yours will let you down
Think twice of what you say

Avoid Libras around the 7th
And save that money you find
A certain Leo will ask a favour
but he has something in mind

Friend drama on April 12,
be first to apologize
Much to do will get you through
sooner you realize

Better forget that Scorpio
He won't be worth your time
The only thing you'll need him for:
to give another rhyme.

And finally, the Cancer boy
you fell for months ago
Wear something red on Friday
and he just won't say no

Afterwards she's wondering
if this could really come true
But who is it that makes your future?
Oh yes, that would be you.



#5: Narrow your eyes

A lamppost looks smaller
if you narrow your eyes
One rose appears as two
if you narrow your eyes
Everything seems foggier
if you narrow your eyes
But you look somewhat stupid
if you narrow your eyes.

haha, #5 is clever. And from way back when, "Safari" has some great imagery in it

Demi! I love the limerick. Also, the one about horoscopes was really quite clever, especially how you managed to keep up your rhythm and rhyming the schemes throughout the whole thing. Also, the Safari one seemed like it could also be turned into a song. Have you ever tries writing lyrics?

I'm not too sure about that last one, though. Either the ending is supposed to be funny, or there's some deep profound meaning to the whole thing, but I'm not getting either impression.

Isn't NaPo so wonderfully insane?

Thanks, [s]guys[/s] girls! I appreciate that

Yep, I've tried, Evi Not very much, though. Heh. Number 5 is just... I'm-doing-NaPo-and-I-needed-a-break. This is so wonderfully insane.

I actually really liked #5.
And The Mirror is just brilliant!

Darling, I'm SO glad you're doing this. These are all wonderful. I especially like the 1st one, and For Sagittarius.

I'm ashamed that I'm behind and I started on time =( Bug me to hurry up and get writing!!

I really, really like The Mirror and also Narrow Your Eyes. Teehee. <3

I love the rhythm and meter in #3: The Mirror and the imagery in #1: Safari is gorgeous.

Ta,
Cal.

Thanks guys! Well, I still have lots to do, but I'm not going to give up. Here we go.

#6:

The music is loud,
the lights are out,
and her door is closed.
As usual on Fridays,
she just sits there
and pulls her hair
with her eyes shut.

Again, she's wanting
for him to call
on this lonely night.
But he doesn't know
that she is there
nothing to wear
waiting for the next day.

But he will not call
before she admits
there's nothing to it, really.
What's the point
of longing for
one who doesn't know?



#7: Pancake

Your face
like a row of pearls
and a bag of dew
on a hot golden pancake.

Comparing your face
to a pancake
is a compliment,
since I always get
happy to see both.

The only difference is
that I don't want to
eat your face.
How could I be happy knowing
your smile is in my stomach?

In fact, you are
overall edible
(and yummy without a doubt).
I just don't want to eat you.
I only want to see you.



#8: Steal away

Steal away,
just steal away
So sings the voice
Must I obey?

Thank the life
for all you have
So says the voice
Must I obey?

I sit here
and just observe
So says my voice
please let it be.


#9: Soldiers

Soldiers lie on the board
Tiny green, white, yellow
In the middle of it all
to fill in the blanks
They just don't have a clue
They only lie
and can't even stand on their own.

If looked at close enough
They're strong and fearless
but insignificant all the same.
So they seem from further away
only now, the vanity grows.

Meanwhile, all the time
They're being handled
used for scheming -
May the one with the best tactics
win.

For a while
the figures rejoice
until shut in the dark
Light has time to come and go
and then, they're out again.

Thanks to Holly, who got me writing with the word prompts she gave me.


#10: Wilted

On the first day of spring
A certain me is equal to life
Untrapping the whirlwind
some would call a soul
and a little nourishment
is all I have or will ever need
A scarf may be covering my hair
But it never prevents me
from setting it free
And I will tell myself
this is the closest thing to magic.

Still, any spell won't last forever
if there's anything wilted around
Like the finger-shaped branches
that are reaching onto me
and used to be green
Why don't they realize
it's their turn to shine,
not mine -
though I wouldn't mind
being in the background
For I refuse to give up
this feeling of freedom
Let them have one of their own
But don't take mine away.

Ask yourself
whether it's compulsory
to feel guilt about
an unlocked miracle
If it is,
it shouldn't be
so I turn my back to the
wilted ones
And carry on alone.


#11: Violet

A ship of promise is there
sailing on the whitecaps
People see it, people wave
They're longing for the 'all aboard'

They've waited since forever
Some excited and some scared
I used to be the former one
until I started thinking

Do I have to go along?
Why would I not choose?
I could do fine the other way
And stay here, on the land

I always knew there was something
in me they didn't have
But now I know what and why
I finally figured it out

Just because they see sky as sky blue
For them, there is no wind
The ship will sail serene and calm
And they will reach their dreams

But to me, the sky is violet
And storms like seducing my hair
I won't even touch the deck
And all my dreams are here

Now the boarding is over
I step back and look above
To me, it's no surprising
the sky's no longer blue.

#12: The Oak

See that tree, that oak right there
up there we used to climb
and sing our time away
I remember that tree
especially because
every spring it was
the last one to get leaves

It was our tree,
yours and mine
But I made a mistake
and climbed it with
another friend
I think you didn't mind
Still, it was thoughtless of me
Wasn't it?

And now our oak is gone
It was cut down some time ago
Last week you asked me
whether I had noticed
Your tone was very casual –
I don't know about you,
but at least I was reminded of
my mistake years ago.


#13: Sweet Slash Sour

Sweet and sour
That's all you need
for a good match –
the perfect recipe
Don't you think?
I know I do

There are people
who seem to only have got
the sweet side
And still their teeth are
pure white
I know mine aren't

Then there's the group
who don't have anything
but sour
And still they manage
to keep smiling
I know I don't

But you and me,
we have both
sweet and sour
sugar and spice
And we're fine with it
Well – I know I am.