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October 30, 2009

Poetry Friday--"To Make a Prairie..."

Photo by Guerito


To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,--
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do
If bees are few.

~ Emily Dickinson ~

Don't you love the utter simplicity of this poem? Dickinson wrote dozens of poems about bees, but the above one is my favorite.

Here's a fun exercise. Write your own "to make a _____ it takes a _____" poem.

I tried to do justice to Dickinson's form. I hope it works!

With Apologies to Emily

To make a cat it takes a purr and a bit of fur...
A purr and fur.
Neurosis? Sure!
Within the angel's paw
Must hide a devil's claw.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

If you write one of your own, please share it with us in the comments!

Biblio File is the host for this week's Poetry Friday Round-Up.

9 comments:

  1. To make a poem it takes ideas and life,--
    One idea, and a life,
    And sometimes strife.
    The strife whines
    But your poem shines.

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  2. Thanks, Mary Lee! You're up early! Writing poems at 6:10 AM--amazing!

    "The strife whines" is a great line!

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  3. ooooo... I do love Emily and I love how you play with her forms!

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  4. I'll take a stab at it.

    To make a dance, it takes music and a beat.
    Simple music and a beat.
    And happy feet.
    Freedom to writhe without a care.
    Do you dare?

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  5. Nice one, Barbara! Do you dance?

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  6. Diane, love your poem. The angel/devil part is wonderful! And Barbara and Mary Lee's are terrific as well. I'm going to have to try this form this weekend.

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