Author Archives: Lainie Levin

Poetry Month Day 8: Honey, I (should) Love*

There was that podcast the other dayabout tacky stuff.Not the tape or the glueor the stick-em-up putty,but the stuff that doesn’tdeservelove or fandom,but somehowgets us. Things I love more than a person should: boxed macaroni and cheese, singing in front of my children,plain marshmallows, new school supplies, the feeling of flossed teeth Things I loveContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 8: Honey, I (should) Love*”

Poetry Month Day 7: How I’m Doing

Eachday Imove myselfstart to finish,not quite knowing how Ihave theenergyto keep goingbut somehow I do… Ido thinkprobablyI could use sometime to just relax. Sometimes, when I’m looking for a way to post a poem for the day, I’ll look around for a poetic form I’ve been waiting to try. Today, it’s the Arun, a poemContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 7: How I’m Doing”

Poetry Month Day 6: What it’s Like

Hey kids! In honorof National Poetry Monthlet’s try a little FUN with SIMILES Ever wonderwhat it’s like to teacha group ofeleven-year-oldsa new thingin technology? Forget herding catsor nailing Jell-o to the wall. It’s like putting puppies in a boxcleaning raw egg with your bare handsriding a bike on top of a skateboardplaying checkers with sixContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 6: What it’s Like”

Poetry Month Day 5: Life as a Poet

It’s a blessingcursetolive in metaphor:to seesun pushing through clouds,a shoelace refusing to relinquish its knots,extra-long stoplights, a stubbed toe,wondering if these things carry meaning or just are what they are and wondering ifthat’s yet another metaphor Today’s quadrille was inspired by Raivenne, one of the folks who challenge me to try something new here andContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 5: Life as a Poet”

Poetry Month Day 3: Birthday Tribute

Today my niece would have been twenty-one. Birthdays. They’re weird when the person we wish to celebrate is instead memorialized, made tribute-to. Grief is weird. Today, I’m sharing the poem I wrote last year because I don’t think I can do much better – but I’m adding an encouraging post-script for those of you whoContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 3: Birthday Tribute”

Poetry Month Day 2: Nothing Gold

I just needed one thing,but in my driveto the store Italliedthe things I could alsogather, untilI saw I couldn’t which reminded me of thebarbecue sauce I’ve soughtacross five stores andjustcan’t findto save my life, or that one frozen dinnerthat was always my favorite, never to be found againin the freezer section, or those dried applesorContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 2: Nothing Gold”

Poetry Month, Day 1: Why Poetry

Of course, she thoughtOf course I can write emailsAnd articlesAnd storiesAnd reflectionsAnd journal entries Of course, she thought,There’s something to be saidFor prosaic expression:Tamed thoughtsHerded wordsIn nice neat linesIn nice neat columnsOf nice neat paragraphs And of course, she thoughtThere comes a pointWhen words need to spillInto whatever shapeOr formOr styleThey demand And it isContinue reading “Poetry Month, Day 1: Why Poetry”

Story Challenge Day 31: Finding the Words

A while back, I was looking for a word to describe the relationships that I have with the writers I’ve gotten to know online through the March story challenge. I wanted a word that accurately captured the synergy I feel with so many of you. And when I’m looking for a word that fits exactlyContinue reading “Story Challenge Day 31: Finding the Words”

Story Challenge Day 30: List Poem

Today, I have decided, I will write a list poem. About all of the things that made me happy And maybe some other stuff Depending on where the words lead me. Right now my house is empty But full Of delicious cooking-smells: Sundubu jjigae for later this week Breakfast for dinner tonight Banana bars forContinue reading “Story Challenge Day 30: List Poem”