Happy National Poetry Month! I have been fortunate to attend a couple of poetry workshops this month as part of the Jax Poetry Fest (peruse here–you can still sign up for these free lunchtime workshops.) I especially enjoyed my friend Shutta Crum’s workshop on writing narrative poetry. Shutta offered some great examples of narrative poetry–poems that tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end, with a focus on plot and POV.
I love that these workshops include time to write. Since a lunchtime session doesn’t include much time to brainstorm a topic, I relied on a story taking place outside my window. We’ve had regular visits of trumpeter swans recently. Usually they are in pairs or in family groups from the previous season. But I’ve noticed a solo swan this past week, and thinking about that lone swan inspired this draft of a narrative poem:
Third Wheel
I dip my black beak. Drip, drip, drip.
Ripples course through my reflection
gilding my neck,
handsome, sleek.
Who could resist my strong white wings,
beating, splashing?
Not her.
She’s flying near.
Hear her sweet trumpet.
Feel the wind of her wings.
Smell the scent of pondweeds tangled on toes
as she splash-lands into the pond.
I rear up--
Wings spread,
body stretches skyward.
Water beads down my glorious neck.
Sunlight blazes,
turning feathers into gold.
And then he appears--
Adonis on powerful wings,
splashing,
striking.
My trumpet thunders.
Choose me! Choose me!
She turns away.
Follows him.
They bob their necks
up and down
up and down
lift off into the sky.
I dip my bleak beak. Drip, drip, drip.
Ripples course through my reflection
blurring my neck--
spindly, lean.
My wings beat--
sloppy, soggy,
alone on the pond.
--Buffy Silverman
Irene is our Poetry Friday host today. Hop on over to Live Your Poem for the roundup!
Hi Buffy,
Such a fan, I am, of Shutta Crum & her creative way of inspiring poets to write. And I’m always from a long time, a fan of You 🙂
Lucky you, to be near these uncommon [ to me anyhoo] regal pairs outside your window. your poem is a full story with a sad end – thank you for that. Plus, such eye-catching images of these giant birds!
I saw trumpeter swans only once in my life – at a Grand Teton Nat. Park. lake & sat mesmerized by their gliding & well, “swanning.”
I signed up for the JAX PF events with Shutta, but wasn’t able to attend… Hope to catch one of her Friday events which her newsletter folks from her website, luck into. One Friday she gave us prompts of traditional poetry forms from countries all over the Globe. She is quite the catalyst for poem-making.
Aw, I’m feeling so bad for this guy! You captured his sadness and angst.
What a great opportunity for you Buffy, for this month. I especially like this line: Smell the scent of pondweeds tangled on toes
as she splash-lands into the pond.
I love narrative poetry, and your poem is beautifully written with imagery and emotion. I’m going to check out the Jax workshops. Thank you for the link!
Buffy, your narative poem provides the swan with a voice with which to tell its unique story. You have written from the inside to create a vision for those of us on the outside looking in. Well done.
Thank you for sharing! Your swan poem is beautiful and wistful.
Awwww. That poor, glorious swan. Thanks for the recommendation. I did a couple of Jax things last year. Going to go check it out. Happy birthday, Buffy!
Who could resist, indeed! I have recently been on a swan kick, so this is going straight to my writing notebook. Thank you, Buffy! xo
Buffy, your story telling in verse is beautiful. I especially enjoyed reading the poem again, lifting the images into my thoughts. I wonder when the swans will be seen here in Virginia. Have a wonderful weekend.
So vivid! I love how you pull us into the scene, the experience with multisensorial finesse!
You have placed me there with you watching this solo swan. Such wonderful imagery and a sad story.