Ingeborg's Blog

NAPOWRIMO .... it's on again. The April Challenge

2011-03-31T19:47:00.000+11:00

Tomorrow starts the new April challenge for 2011 and although I will be travelling all of April I will try to do the odd poem when I can log in to read the prompt!

Found this link in Youtube : Valentines Day Ball at POZ

2010-09-11T16:55:00.002+10:00

this was taken by a friend in 2008 and I only just saw it :)
The POZ (Poets of Zarahemla dance is in the last part of the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quyj76vt_ZQ

Music hour by the Gypsy Camp with Moses Rae

2010-09-11T16:46:00.001+10:00

Here is a machima Movie by Sophia Yates made at our Gypsy Camp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_0o8vkvc9k

napowrimo-30 Free Day

2010-04-30T17:33:00.000+10:00

As last poem for this series we were given a free poem day ... so anything goes. As Mothers'day is approaching I decided to end this month with a poem about....

The woman you call mother.

She is there when you feel blue
Loves you unconditionally too
Overlooks when you are mad
Forgives when you make her sad
Brags about your every deed
Tries to help when you're in need.
Her door is always open wide
Welcomes you to come inside.
In the world there'll be no other
Than the woman you call mother.
When arrives her eventide
Be there for her by her side,
Let regret not spoil your day
After she has passed away.

© Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-29- Front Page

2010-04-29T16:47:00.000+10:00

News Today.

Have you seen the News today oh boy
Wish the paper we could just destroy
Wipe the bloodshed wash away all tears
Seems that things get sicker by the years.
Troops go wild consuming too much drink
BinLaden puts the world onto the brink
Nuclear weapons not beyond his reach
Hope it's all a lot of empty speach.
In Texas man goes crazy with a saw
Deadlier guns so police enforce the law.
Toddler found unconscious in a dam
Smokers going on a cigarette slam.
Tobacco taxes raised to pay for pills
Other taxes cut to help with bills.
Children can't play safely on the net
Aussies rush more mobile phones to get.
Will Germany rescue flailing Greece?
Or will Euro trading one day cease?
Have you seen the News today oh boy?
Can't find any story bringing joy!
Think I'll close my eyes and go to sleep
Reading any more will make me weep!

©Ingeborg. April 2010.

napowrimo-28 - Intuition

2010-04-28T16:12:00.000+10:00

Finally the penny dropped.

So many people have told me before
Calories consumed, the body will store.
Anything that it cannot burn
Once consumed to fat will turn.
This fact I know so very well
That lots of sermons I could tell.
Yet still I eat and wonder why
Each year widen, waist and thigh.
One day I read straight from a book
An idea was formed at very first look
Mathematically it's quite easy to see
Calories in minus out remained in me.
Yet still when I wrote my weekly report
To the coach who was fast with his retort
I found many a piece of cheesy pie
Consumed as soon as it caught my eye.
All sorts of reasons I could find
Fooled myself and dulled my mind.
My teacher though I didn't trick
He casually replied real quick.
You can eat your tart and still stay slim
Don't even need to head to the gym
If for each slice that you consume
You grab your boots and leave your room,
Two hours you march for a portion small
Should be long enough to burn it all!
That's all it took for the aha light
To finally understand this right
Now each time I see my favourite food
I ask myself, am I in the mood
To walk the time that it will take
To burn the calories in that cake!
Most of the time I'm too horrified
Against this transgression I decide!

© Ingelborg. April 2010

napowrimo-27-let someone else take the lead

2010-04-27T15:43:00.000+10:00

The Sunset.

In the far horizon
Near the edge of the ocean
Glows the sky a brilliant red
Evening's glorious gift
Before the dark of night
Overshadows the land once more.
Relaxing on the warm sand
Glad to be alive!

© Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-26-get scrappy

2010-04-26T20:06:00.000+10:00

Today's prompt asked us to rehash a poem we didn't complete or abandoned. I don't have a lot of those so took a while to find one. I followed instructions and rewrote lines, scrapped some, added some and here is my poem.

Fragrance we call time.

Today is a day just like any other
With rarest treasures to discover.
Dispensed is a fragrance we call time
Free to use, doesn't cost a dime.

As it runs out from your treasure store
Replace it with timeless jewels galore.
These are the things that you give away
Yet in your treasure chest they stay.

Tears that you shed for that hurting soul
Have turned into purest drops of gold.
Each time you rescued someone poor
Rubies were added to your store.

Pearls are precious moments you spend
Being there, lending a hand.
The greatest jewel that you can earn,
Love given, will into diamonds turn.

So use that fragrance of time with care
It is precious and it is rare.
Something you cannot buy or contain,
Once spent can't ever be bottled again.

Yesterday's portion won't help today
Tomorrow may not come my way
Today this hour this minute this now
I am in charge of what and how!

©Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-25-first things

2010-04-25T16:24:00.000+10:00

Well the first words spoken by my husband were: Are you ok Love? The next words spoken by my son were How are you today Mum? Did you sleep ok? I had already decided to try my hand at a villanelle as I have never written one before so... here goes.

My love are you ok?

My love are you ok?
The eventide comes close.
I saw you not today.

So hard it is to stay
When life these sorrows throws
My love are you ok?

I'll seek a better way
To keep you somewhere close
I saw you not today.

Daily these words I pray
This shadow past us blows.
My love are you ok?

To help your burden sway
Am sending you this rose
I saw you not today.

Though evening clouds are grey
Somewhere the sun still glows.
My love are you ok?
I saw you not today.

©Ingeborg. April 2010

I guess I need to explain the concern. These are words I hear often as I am recovering from a long drawn out illness and have days where I am not so ok. But today I am ok :)

Here is a Tanka.

How are you today?

How are you today?
Thank you my son for sharing.
The pain fades away
Knowing that you are caring.
Love makes naught of desparing!

©Ingeborg. April 2010.

napowrimo - 24 find a phrase

2010-04-24T18:31:00.000+10:00

Sayings.

The things that we as children learn

Into our heads return return
Whenever there's a tricky spot
Or when I can't connect the dot
Into my mind quite forcefully strays
Some proverb or some ancient phrase.
So much in life I can't recall
Mum's pet sayings, I know them all!
Translating them won't be that quick
In german they oft do the trick!
Whenever you think that all is lost
From somewhere a light shines forth.
Tomorrow tomorrow just not today
Is what all the lazy people say.
Other countries other ways
Gold in the mouth at break of days.
Lies may have short legs indeed.
Time brings the advice you need.
Dig a trap for others and you'll fall in
Don't wait for tomorrow but today begin.
Pound foolish and penny wise
Man thinks, but let God advise.
Eavesdropping could make you blush
You'll trip over if too fast you rush
If you let the devil drive
You'll for sure be trapped alive.
What's not imprinted in your head
Wears out your legs instead.
With patience and a lot of spit
Each mozzie you'll send to the pit.
Drink beer then wine
And you'll be fine
Drink wine then beer
Makes you sick I fear.
Where there is a will there's a way for sure
An apple a day brings a certain cure.
But the most disturbing saying I can't forget
Must have heard it oft as it's in my head.
Hens that crow and girls that whistle
Best break their necks their tune to fizzle.
LOL

©Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-april-2rd-unlikely couple

2010-04-23T21:49:00.000+10:00

The Unlikely Artist.

He wants to be a tough kind of bloke
Going by the tattoos all over him
Hasn't had an easy time of it
Beat some nasty addictions
At one stage we wondered if he'd pull through
Scary stuff ... standing by powerless waiting
Waiting .. waiting for him to come to his senses
Yes he sure did it hard
But always jovial on the outside
The perfect party boy
Liven up any old occasion
His soft side showed through though
He cared. Always ready to listen to help to protect
He wanted to be their hero
His girls. Their prince. Their protector
He set his goals too high and fell down hard
But he did beat it all
The addictions .. the depression .. the hurting
He surprised us all with his job
Nothing easy looking after the mentally ill
Their every needs. Wiping up messes.
We still don't know how he does it.
He loves his sports too.
One day he picked up a paint brush
Never showed any inkling that he had it in him
Never took any lessons
He painted a picture for his daughter
We were all stunned.
He kept on painting.
His paintings show his perceptions
He reveals how well he knows
Knows those he cares about
Those years of listening
He really heard them
I love my painting
It's nice to know
How much he cares.
I am so proud.
He is my son.

© Ingeborg. April 2010

Old Poem : One at a time

2010-04-22T16:36:00.000+10:00

One at a time.

One day a man walking along a beach,
Saw millions of starfish out of the reach
Of lifesaving water, in the ocean beyond,
Just lying there dying gasping from want.

A lonely boy he saw, down in the sand,
Bend over and held one in his hand,
Then tossing with all his might and strength
That the starfish in the water might land.

Though saddened by so much despair and dying
He, old and grey, thought it a waste of trying;
And youth's naiveté quick to dispel,
The old man heard himself boldly yell:

Son...you are just wasting precious care
Hardly a dint will you make in all this despair!
You can't make a difference when there are millions dying.
But I know you mean well with all your trying.

The bright young eyes in the youths' fresh face
Engaged with the older man's tired gaze.
He boldly states those now famous words,
As he picks up another starfish from the earth.
Tosses it with all his might
Into the water to end it's plight.
You're right old man , no help to millions there,
But a whole lot of difference to this one here!.
So never be put off by the size of the task
One at a time is all that is asked!

©July 2007. Ingeborg

napowrimo 22 : Wordle

2010-04-22T16:34:00.000+10:00

A Day in Thailand.

The saffron coloured Thai delight
With pepper well endowed
The dizzy ride on Samlo fine
The squall that scattered crowd
The rusty squeaking ancient wheels
That make the tourist flinch
Reverberate with eerie sound
Progress is by the inch!
Emporiums in Eastern Style
Sell goods of various kind.
Crow, meat and tendrils long
Everything you find!
A typhoon fierce is hovering
Tomorrow it will land
I dump the cylce, catch a cab
Home to a safer land!
Phew..I think I got them all.

©Ingeborg. April 2010.

napowrimo-april-21st-perfectly flawed

2010-04-22T03:32:00.000+10:00

The Potter

The Potter he worked
All night and all day
Creating a beautiful vase
Out of clay.

She bought the Vase
Showed it to
All who called
Me and you.

He picked it up and saw
Beneath it was a little flaw.
Now every time she looks at it
She notices the blemishes.

When with critical eye we see
Those with whom we disagree
It's easy just to harp upon
Their minute imperfections.

Should what my mind preoccupies
Be others sins and others lies
It's time I close my narrowed eyes
To see what crack within me lies!

©Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-april-20th-my hero

2010-04-20T15:31:00.000+10:00

My Hero.

My hero was amazing
He knew everything
Nothing ever phased him
He was my constant teacher
I was his guinea pig
His sounding board
A sponge absorbing his ideas
Maybe even an echo
For many years.
But he fell off his perch early
Guess I learnt he was flesh and blood
Making mine boil for a while
He knew he'd gone too far
We never discussed it
But he knew.
For a time I rebelled
Later I realised
We are all weak.
I love him still.
Put him back on his perch.
But it was lower to the ground.
So if he fell it wouldn't hurt.
I do miss him.
Admire him.
My Dad.

© Ingeborg. April 2010.

napowrimo-april-19th-lightbulb-moment two

2010-04-19T20:59:00.001+10:00

The shirt off my back?

Twas in the middle of the wet
We had just arrived in the outback
Way up North West of Australia
On an Aboriginal mission.
We were such greenhorns.
Nearest town six hours by car.
Sons and I were invited
To jump aboard a truck
With two dozen Aborigenese
For an outing up the road
Oh well maybe three hours up the road
Didn't even give it a thought
We jumped aboard.
Arrived. Met some interesting folk
But that's a another story.
Late afternoon we headed home.
Most of us standing
Hanging on to the sides
Of the tray in the back.
There was laughter and talk.
Swerving a few times
To miss creeks and puddles
Then crunch...and it stopped.
We all jumped off.
Some of the blokes lay in the mud
Inspecting the underbelly.
Broken axle.
Nobody seemed to care.
They lit a campfire.
Went looking for lizards to cook.
Others swam in the creek laughing.
I guess I panicked.
Didn't listen.
Said I would walk back.
After all was only one road.
Couldn't get lost.
Grabbing my sons we took off.
In the tropics is no twighlight.
Ten minutes later: total darkness.
Not much of a moon.
Spooky silence.
Eerie for a city girl.
What was that noise?
Cattle mooing. Big cattle. Wild cattle.
No fences up there.
We increased speed. Huddled close.
Creeks and potholes were hard to spot.
Round about then I had my "aha" moment.
The foolishness of not staying put.
I think we walked for hours.
Then we saw it.
Way way back.
A small light.
Phew...relief...help at hand?
Took forever to arrive.
Amazing how far the horizon actually is.
Creeping along slowly towards us
Truck full of Aboriginese.
Thankfully we jump aboard.
Five minutes.
Truck stops.
Couple of blokes take off their shirts.
Others cut down a small tree.
They tie it to the axle.
That was the fix.
On we go.
For the next five minutes.
Same procedure.
Soon the men were all half naked.
Eyeing off my shirt.
I hang on with both hands.
Surely a search party was on it's way?
I was lucky.
We were much closer than I realised.
The mission suddenly appeared before us.
Husband relaxed watching a movie.
After all it was the big wet.
Everyone had said... they can't get back.
Relax. They'll be in a comfy bed.
I grew up that day.
Learnt to listen
To what the locals had to say!

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010.

napowrimo-april-19th-lightbulb moment

2010-04-19T20:01:00.000+10:00

A Moment of Insight.

One day when I was burdened
By sorrow and with care
I felt so lost and lonely
With no-one there to share
Standing in the kitchen
Reflecting on my life
A thought suddenly hit me
I'm mother and am wife
How fortunate how blessed
How loved I was by those
That God my loving Father
For my companions chose.
As I knelt down to thank Him
My heart was filled with light
All the worries left me
In place was pure delight.
When troubles overcome you
When you feel dark and blue
Counting all your blessings
Your spirit will renew!

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010.

napowrimo-april-16th - smell

2010-04-18T20:06:00.000+10:00

Salty Air.

Memories abound
Of smell and sight and sound
The salty ocean spray
Transports me any day!
Back to a migrant ship
Where mighty currents rip
Where waves as high as towers
With salty water showers
Wash over us on deck
Amazingly don't wreck
The ship that bops like cork
With blinding speed and torque
The wind rips through our hair
The salt scent fills the air
We hang on to the railing
With lurching stomach ailing
Yet standing at the bow
Feels kind of safe somehow
With thoughts of fear unsaid
We see up far ahead
Another boat as big
Dance a lively jig.
No time to be afraid
I'm sure each person prayed
Somehow all survived
Destinations arrived.
Though years have gone
The memory lingers on
I love the salty air
The feel of wind tossed hair
Toes digging in the sand
Glad to be on land!

© Ingeborg. April 2010

In 1961 our family migrated from Germany to Australia. We left November 30th arriving January 5th in Melbourne. Travelling through some of the worst seasons. Winter in Europe then when we hit the Indian Ocean our ship travelled through 3 cyclones. I only learnt this many years later from the chaplain on board ship who I happened to meet up with. At the time of the journey I was 11 years old and had no idea what a cylone was. The captain not to frighten the passengers did not tell us that the shocking weather was due to cyclones. Standing at the bow on top deck was one way of avoiding throwing up. We had to cling to the railing and spent hours like that with wave upon wave washing over the deck and us. But somehow I fell in love with the ocean and love nothing better than spending time on a beach. Safer of course lol.

napowrimo-april-18th-meow

2010-04-18T18:07:00.000+10:00

Fearless Alfie.

Proud and independant
Unable to be tamed
The entire garden
For himself he claimed.
Nothing dared to stray
Where Alfie was the king
He arched his back
He bared his fangs
He growled and hissed
He clawed the air
He never missed
They dared not come our way!
He fooled even the neighbours dog
A massive great big Dane
Who stayed a healthy distance
Respecting Alfie's reign.
For fifteen years he ruled
A princely feline knight
Sometimes he'd come home bleeding
Or wounded from a fight.
Age must have made him careless
Across the road he strayed.
A new dog joined the neighbourhood
Who was not yet afraid.
When Alfie tried to menace him
Put him in his place
The dog refused to listen
Boldy he gave chase.
Poor Alfie didn't stand a chance
Arthritis slowed him down
That night we had to bury him
With sceptre and with crown.
We miss that rascal Alfie
Could never him replace
We think his ghost at night
Still roams and guards the place!

© Ingeborg, April 2010

napowrimo-april-17th-elemental

2010-04-18T13:18:00.000+10:00

I am a few days behind. Not feeling great but I want to do them all so will fit in those missed out as I get a chance :).

Fire.

Mesmerized by it's beauty
Comforted by it's warmth
Drawn by its flickering
I can spend hours
In quiet meditation
Whilst brewing my tea
Cooking my stew
Doing nothing at all!
All it asks for is
Oxygen to breathe
Fuel for food.
Mankind since time immemorial
Has found in it a pal.
One that can suddenly turn
With fury and speed
Devour and destroy
Maim and disable
Like no other
Force of nature.
Ash covered ground
Black barren trees
Piles of rubble
Burnt out cars
Incinerated bodies
Desolation.
Memorials instead of Funerals
Grief indescribable
Dejection, despair.
Ominous silence
Once helicopters depart,
Their quenching water
No threat to this raging foe.
It will run it's course
All hoping the wind
Will turn it on itself.
But even this destructive force
Is the agent for new life
For thousands of years
Trees have survived
Their spores releasing seed
Only in the scorching heat
Of the terrible fire storm.
Enemy and friend
Burning to the end!

© Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-april-14th - The Cleave

2010-04-15T15:46:00.002+10:00

Back to Nature.

The smell of the forest                                Crunching sound
Filtered sunlight                                          Plants bathed in golden glow
Warbling birds                                           Chirping crickets
Branches dripping with dew                       Rocks covered in moss
A sparkling brook                                      Decaying leaves
Butterflies gliding                                        Koalas dozing
Tree ferns unfurling                                     Mushrooms beckoning
Water cascading down vertical walls    Rainbow colours in falling stream
Trout jumping joyfully                                 Peace and harmony
A day in nature's bosom                             Time spent out of doors
Heals the soul                                             Restores peace
Alleviates Stress.                                        Pure bliss!

© Ingeborg. April 2010

napowrimo-april-13th-smoke a dubie

2010-04-14T09:53:00.000+10:00

Poem Starting with a Line from Norman Dubie

Worlds are being told like beads
From the beginning was the word
Spoken into being as it was so
Creating exanding contracting organising
Evolving revolving attracting repelling
In splendid harmony, chaotic order
Microscopic macrocosm harmonious melodious
Awsome unfathomable worlds without end.

©Ingeborg, April 2010

napowrimo-april-12th-SECRET CODES

2010-04-14T09:15:00.001+10:00

The Secret

The brook mumbled, she's crook she's crook
You fiend, on this secret, hands we shook!
Now it's out for all to see
I thought with you, safe I'd be!
Ruth my friend she let me down
Looked at me with somber frown
You'r sick so off to bed with you
Nothing here for you to do!
Alas alone I had no chance
Words refused with me to dance
The prompt seemed harder too that day
So I just had to stay away.

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010

Note: Apparently the word "crook" meaning ill /sick is Australian slang. So I thought I better add an explanation. Also the name Ruth above links into an earlier napowrimo poem where we had to give a name to the poet within us, the thing that makes us write poetry. I chose Ruth meaning friend. This poem was submitted a day late because I was ill :)

napowrimo-april-11th-didn't choose

2010-04-11T16:55:00.000+10:00

What if!

I chose to get on that plane
I didn't choose to stay
Discover what would happen
Had you returned.
Much later I found out
You did not mean to leave
Just scare me a little
When you took off.
Teach me a lesson
Of how much I would miss you.
Make me reconsider
Moving on.
Guess it backfired
Your driving off
Leaving me stranded...
Did it lead to your early grave?
Had you found me on your return
Would we have patched things up?
At least have stayed friends?
Would you have stayed close?
Not moved overseas?
Not slipped in that bath?
Not broke your neck?
Had I answered your letter
Not chickened out
Would I have been strong enough
To be on my own
Yet have you part of our lives?
My life turned out ok
Apart from this one thing
That I regret to this day
Your sons would have loved
To have you in theirs.
Would you still have died
So young
If harder we had tried?

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010

RWP member Angie Werren invites us to write about the choice we didn’t make:
Everyday we make choices. Some are small: English breakfast or Lipton? the highway or back roads? Some are more significant: convertible or mini-van? farmhouse or condo?
Some choices lead us straight into the life we’re living, but for this poem, think about one of the things in your life you didn’t choose.
Be concrete. Pick an object — something tangible* — and write your poem directly to it, as if you were writing it a personal letter. Explain why you didn’t choose it. What could things have been like if you had? Talk about what your life has become without it. See where the “confession” takes you.
*As an alternative, dig a little deeper and write your poem to a person you left behind

napowrimo-april-10th-celebrate

2010-04-11T09:33:00.000+10:00

Mum's Birthday.

Eighty is a milestone
Quite a feat to reach
A major celebration
Of life.
The family all gathered
Each wanted to partake
Congratulate the oldest
Eat a piece of cake.
She is a wife and mother
Grandmother and Aunt with
Greatgrandchildren old enough
Their families to start!
Balloons were up and photos
All wore a happy smile.
We chatted and we feasted
We stayed with her a while!
Mum proudly sat there smiling
Enjoyed her special day
She even got a phonecall
From those who're far away!
To think that only five of us
Forty years or more
Embarked on an adventure
That brought us to this shore!

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010

napowrimo-april-9th - Your Mission

2010-04-10T01:16:00.001+10:00

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to:

Use at least twelve words from this list: flap, winter, torch, pail, jug, strum, lever, massage, octopus, marionette, stow, pumice, rug, jam, limp, campfire, startle, wattle, bruise, chimney, tome, talon, fringe, walker;
Include something that tastes terrible;
Include some part (from a few words to several lines) of a previous poem that didn’t quite pan out; and
Include a sound that makes you happy.
Write a poem

Bush encounter.

The snow covered winter roof of the wagon
The chimney belching it's grey smoke
The campfire with it's warmth and glow
All invite the walker to boldy approach.
Startled, the Gypsy looks up
Beckons the stranger to sit down
Stow his pack on the fringed rug
Inside the wagon near the pail.
He pours water into the billy from an old jug,
Sits down and leans against the Wattle tree.
Waiting for the tea to bubble and boil
The visitor talks of trouble and toil.
Politely he swallows the hedghog stew,
Washing it down with the offered brew.
Wanting to please he tries not to gag
But secretly spits most into a rag.
The fire lulls with warmth and sound
The travelor makes his bed on the ground.
When life throws boomerangs that hit you hard,
A night in the bush under a sky that's starred,
A friendly chat and a guitar strum,
The eucalypt scent of an aging gum,
Work their enchantment, bringinging release.
Soon all is quiet, a calming peace.

© Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010.

Well... that was a mouthful. Had no idea what line of a previous poem I could use until I found one that I had started ages ago and only completed 3 lines. The line I used was: When life throws boomerangs that hit you hard :)
Bush - is the Australian forest. Gum is a Eucalyptus tree. Hedgehog stew is a popular gypsy meal so I am borrowing from 2 cultures as there are no native hedgehogs in Australia :). A bit of poetic license.

napowrimo-april-8th-Unusual Love connections

2010-04-08T16:57:00.000+10:00

Today, think of your current love, your current obsession or the one who got away. Now come up with five or more unusual metaphors for the object of your affection/obsession: wool scarf, cough drop, puddle, half-empty bottle of red wine… Choose your favorite of the bunch and write a poem celebrating (or trashing) your love.

Love or disease?

I still don't know what trigged it!
Was it the teatowel he held?
His cheeky smile?
Those clear blue eyes?
His tousled hair?
His manly stance?
Something said?
A joke shared?
Or simply looking into my soul?
I can still conjure up the image
The knot in my stomach
The knees turning soft
That very first time our eyes locked!
No other disease can attack that fast.
Can incapacitate and transform
Can maim the intellect
Wipe out all common sense!
Were he alive would it still be fatal?
The effect he had .....
Those forty odd years ago!

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010.

napowrimo-april-7th- Love - Funny Side Up

2010-04-07T23:09:00.001+10:00

Write and capture humorous incidents related to love in a 5-line love poem called a tanka.

The Proposal.

he proposed to her

whilst she was driving the car

her heart raced with fear

smiling he asked for first kiss

then came thirty years of bliss

napowrimo-april-6th- converse with images

2010-04-07T23:05:00.000+10:00

Many people collect favourite images, whether as memories or posters, sketches or computer files. Pick one such collection of yours – a stamp collection, a postcard book, a file of photos – and rifle through it until something catches your eye. (If you don’t have such a collection, try putting a word – any word – into Google image search or flick through the website of an art gallery.)

Once you have an image, begin to interrogate it for poems. Ask: Who or what in this picture could speak? What would they say? Why is this image meaningful to me? When I look at it, what am I remembering? How does this image make me feel? Which of my moods is easiest to find in it? Where would I want to display picture? Who do I want to see it?

Collect the answers to your questions as a hoard of words or phrases. Scatter them across a blank sheet of paper, then check for patterns. What rhymes? Where is there alliteration? Is any rhythm apparent? Patterns might suggest a form for the poem.

If there aren’t enough patterns, you have two choices: either write your poem as free verse or go back to the images and generate more words. Have fun!

My Father.

It's how I remember him best.
Sitting in his favorite chair.
Half smile half cheeky grin.
Eyes wide open.
Worn out red dressing gown.
Fully with it. Fully alert.
Open book. Forever studying.
Computer screen and keyboard.
Cup of coffee dangerously close.
Mostly silent but always listening.
Aware of everyone and everything.
Much later came the wheelchair.
The trembling hands.
Constantly dozing off.
Coffe in a cup with straw.
Vacant stare.
Laboured breathing.
Sadly (or is it thankfully? )
Those days did not last long.
All too soon he was called away.
I see him now
Painting heavenly sights.
But it's this photograph
Keeps the memories fresh.
Puts a lump in my throat.
I brush the tear from my eye.
How quickly time slips by!

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010.

one of our Builds featured on a blog by Bernard Broono

2010-04-07T04:42:00.000+10:00

Thank you Bernard for mentioning us in your blog :)
POZ Hearse

Remembering Chernobyl - Poets of the Ethereal Blog

2010-04-07T00:38:00.004+10:00

Big thank you to Rowan Eberdene in SL for featuring our Chernobyl Exhibition on her blog :)
Remembering Chernobyl through words and images

NaPoWRiMo April 5th: Poetry Personal

2010-04-06T21:09:00.000+10:00

Today, let’s make poetry really personal. Give poetry, as you write it, a name. Possibly a gender. And a personality.

So it’s your turn. Give poetry — how you view poetry, what poetry means to you, your poetry — a name. Now write a poem suits your view or vision.

To Ruth,

A Confidant and
Friend indeed
You know me
Through and through.
You know, when
Words just seem to fail,
Exactly what to do.
Often when I am perplexed
Answers you will find.
Where do you get them?
When so empty
Seems my mind?
You tell me things
I sometimes wish
You were not quite so bold,
But out they come
Through keyboard or
Pencil that I hold!
Often, unbidden,
You whisper in my ear
Then I must stop
Write down what you say
No matter if I'm busy
Or what the time of day!
You are my inspiration
My teacher and
My judge!
You help me to
Help others
But mostly me
You nudge!

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010.

NaPoWRiMo April 4th: Inside Out

2010-04-05T21:57:00.000+10:00

In our case, writing inside out (or outside in) means setting your physical or metaphorical inner bits out of doors, to be walked around and looked at from odd angles, as if they were monuments or mailboxes (as an example). Or it could be transforming your internal organs into flowers or letting a pack of four-year-old’s (human or otherwise) loose in your attic.

Write a poem today that illustrates your idea of what is inside-out.

What's inside?

What the heck is this?
Hm horse neighing
... Vacant stare
Now that I want to capture
The thoughts
Where are they?
Shirt waving in the wind
Pink and weather worn
Struggling to think
Hard disk churning in the background
I jump at a sound.
Friend logging in
Place is deserted.
Where is everyone?
They are sleeping.
'Tis night after all
Eyelids heavy
Eyes glazed
All is black
Empty
What's inside?
Nothing.
Now it's out.

LOL.

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum, April 2010

NaPoWRiMo April 3rd: scared yet?

2010-04-05T00:59:00.000+10:00

Write about something that scares you. It could be tarantulas or your significant other cheating on you or an existential fear of the unknown so long as it unsettles you. Describe it in the most vivid language possible!
Sometimes by articulating our fears, we strip them of their power. (But don’t go too far! A little fear is good to have.)

To my significant other:

You complete me
Challenge me
Nurture me
Console me
Lift me
Uphold me
Cheer me
Amuse me
Enlighten me
Make me whole
Heal my soul
Keep me safe
Secure
Nourished
Protected
Loved
Respected.
I cannot fathom
Ever being without you!
The mere thought of ever losing you.....
Is enough to scare me half to death!

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010

NaPoWRiMo April 2nd: Clean as a whistle

2010-04-05T00:35:00.002+10:00

The Acronym: RWP

Today’s writing prompt is to type the letters RWP into the abbreviation search field at Acronym Attic and write a poem inspired in any way by one or more of the resulting phrases. You don’t have to use the words from the phrase in your poem, but you can if they fit. GLWI (Good Luck With It)!

Phrase: Radioactive Waste Pile.
I chose this particular phrase as we are about to finish our Chernobyl Exhibition and hence Radioactive waste struck a chord with me.

Clean as a Whistle
Clean as a wind or a breeeze
Clean as the air that we breathe
Clean as a mountain top brooke
Clean as the water we cook
Clean as the sun's healing ray
Clean as a bright summer day
Cleaner than petrol or coal
Cleaner than gas from a hole
Clean is what we have been told
When Nuclear Power is sold!
Come take my hand take a walk
Allow these images to talk!
No, we are not on the moon
Gravity shows you too soon
This devastation you see
Our cleanest energy!
But should all reactors be safe
Send noone else to their grave
What of the stockpile of waste?
Will new generations still taste
Food grown in earth that's not spoiled
By toxic radiation soiled?
Or will the geiger counter's beep
Be heard whilst awake and asleep
Visit Chernobyl to see
How the future may be!

(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum April 2010

NaPoWRiMo April 1st: Leaving, on a jet plane

2010-04-04T23:35:00.001+10:00

April 1st challenge was to draw at random 5 song titles and use each one in a poem. I wrote down about a dozen song titles, folded them up and drew 5 at random. The 5 titles for me are:

You've got a friend.
Lord of the dance.
Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Just the way you are
Always a woman to me

Leaving on a jet plane.

You're leaving, on a jet plane

Not sure if you'll be back again!
Although we shared no romance
You were my Lord of the dance.
Crying won't change a thing
Who knows what winter will bring.
These words you said tenderly:
You're always a woman to me.
Know then that love has no end,
Forever: you've got a friend.
With you goes part of my heart
Saddened that you must depart.
Richer because we have met
With memories I won't forget!
For a season you were my star
Always stay just the way you are
Go then with blessings galore,
Knowing I'll open my door
Should you be lonely or blue
My friend, I will be there for you!
(c) Ingeborg Apfelbaum. April 2010

NaPoWRiMo Challenge

2010-04-04T23:13:00.003+10:00

Well I decided to give this NaPoWRiMo Challenge a go. Means I will be writing a poem for each day of April. I will document the poems here :)

Profile Magazine article on POZ Chernobyl Exhibition

2009-07-09T03:39:00.000+10:00

Ingeborgs SL Profile

2009-07-09T03:13:00.001+10:00

Open This End Youtube movies about SL6B

2009-06-30T09:08:00.002+10:00

Our Exhbition on Wizard is featured in 2 Youtube movies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYhg31f0eYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIGVFIUV4uI&feature=channel_page

Guestbook feedback for Chernobyl Exhibition

2009-06-30T09:07:00.001+10:00

My pdf storage page

2009-06-30T09:04:00.001+10:00

Interview re Poets of Zarahemla with Janey Bracken July 2008

2009-06-30T08:56:00.001+10:00

Here is the link to our CNN interview with Janey Bracken:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-43415

Poetry Competition Winner May 2009

2009-06-30T08:50:00.001+10:00

My Poem "The Australian Bush" won 1st prize in Clare Abbey's May 2009 Contest. Click on Link to view:
http://clareabbey.com/site/?p=310

Ingeborgs Chernobyl Interview on Tonight Live SL TV

2009-06-30T08:44:00.002+10:00

Click on this link to view the recorded TV Interview from June 28th with Paisley Bebe on SL TV Tonight Live.
http://archive.treet.tv/tonight-live-paisley-beebe-28jun09

Poets of Zarahemla Calendar of Events

2009-06-30T08:35:00.001+10:00

Youtube movie about our Chernobyl Exhibition

2009-06-30T08:32:00.002+10:00

Click on this link to watch a Youtube movie about our Chernobyl Exhibtion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DvuiF-uIA8

Our Flickr Album

2009-06-30T08:28:00.002+10:00

This post is just to document the flickr site for the Poets of Zarahemla

Welcome to my blog

2007-11-18T00:39:00.000+11:00

This is the first entry to get my blog started. This blog belongs to my SL Avatar: Ingeborg Apfelbaum. Feel free to visit me in SL especially my poetry shop which is on Zarahemla. As I am still new to SL and still setting up things it will take a while before this blog will get regular updates.

On Zarahemla we are also creating a Poets Retreat. Opening shortly. Will post an update here.
My next project will be to set up a site for the Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies project.

Lots happening but lots to learn to make it happen!

Ingeborg.