Second Chance Sunday: May 23

May 23, 2021 / Leon Stevens / Leave a comment

I have been going over my NaPoWriMo poems with the intent of putting them into a single volume. During the challenge, I tried to stick to a timeline that gave me two to three hours each morning to read the prompt, write the poem, then post it to my blog. Most days, I was able to complete the task in about an hour, on a few days, it took a little longer.

I am pleased with all the poems that I created, so I will share a few with you—without the prompts.

Looking Back

My childhood home disappears
Behind the climbing tree
My first college dorm fades
Into the brownstone facades
My apartment with the narrow stairs
Slowly hidden by its neighbor
The rented house seems smaller
Even though I’m not the last to leave
The waving line dwindles
While the music plays
I must have missed the point
When the mountains yielded to the prairie
I looked away for a moment
The ocean gone when I return my gaze
I am sometimes filled with envy that
The rear window has seen the last
Of all my firsts

Where will we be in a year?
Ask me then.
Where will we be in a decade?
Ask me then.
Where will we be in a century?
Ask someone else.
Where will we be in a millennium?
Ask someone then.
If you can find someone.
If there is anyone.
If we made it.
If.

Not ready to purchase yet?

Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free eBook of your choice.

Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
www.linesbyleon.com

Purchase paperback directly for the author!

Weekend Wrap-up: May 15

May 15, 2021 / Leon Stevens / Leave a comment

I received my first shot of AstraZeneca several weeks ago. Two weeks ago I had a sore throat and a runny nose. Cold? Seasonal reactions? It went away in about a day. A week later I tested positive for Covid-19. Boo. I have been limiting my contacts over the past year as best I could, but there you go. As per health regulations, I was required to isolate for 10 days from when my symptoms started, so it was actually only 4 days. Unfortunately, one of my contacts has to isolate for 14 days from last contact.

You try to do everything right, and it still gets ya. Would it have been worse without the first shot? Can’t say, can you? You have nothing to compare it to, but more than likely it may have been.

It got me to thinking. How many people skirt or bend the rules for self-isolation. I could have gone for a run or a bike ride, popped out to the store, etc. I wasn’t going to because it’s the right thing to do for the health of the community.

I was able to put a dent in my freezer food, and made some interesting – and not so interesting – meals from my pantry. I missed my exercising routine, and I now dislike burpees even more…

I wrote and read more, so not a total write-off.

From my blog this week:

Thursday Thoughts: Blogging Questions? – I’m sure other bloggers have the same.

Open Book Blog Hop: May 11 – What we can do with 26 letters. I had fun with this and then realized that I missed an opportunity to talk about who music is created with just 12 notes. Might be a future Music Monday.

Tuesday Tune-up: Writing Tools / Programs – I am still displeased with Shaxpir (Confused? Cuz ya didn’t read it.)

Music Monday: Nobody’s Perfect – After this I finally got around to recording “Riviera Galliard”, the first piece I wrote. Tune in to Music Monday for the result.

I didn’t read many posts this week but here are a few you should visit:

New bloggers: Following Back – Good post from beetleypete

Monday Funnies… – Chris likes “The Far Side”. Me too.

Which brings me to this cartoon that I posted on Wednesday:

Stay tuned for more “The day before”.

Still looking for some readers to go over my NaPoWriMo book:

Send me an email!

Weekend Wrap-up: May 8

May 8, 2021 / Leon Stevens / 2 Comments

What was I up to this week? Well, I finished putting all my NaPoWrMo poems into an Ebook, got back to writing my novel, and writing non-poetry related posts.

Free Book Friday: May 7 – A few offerings of sample books and review copies.

The Purge: Redux – My way of dealing with my mailing list

Weird Wednesday: Cartoons – Just cartoons this week – I think.

Decisions, decisions – Shampoo shopping

Monday Musings: To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme – OK, I lied. there was a poetry post. My analysis of my poetry style.

I didn’t read many posts this week but here are a few you should visit:

Addressing 9 Myths and Facts About Sleep For Better Insight

A Blog Milestone – I had a guest post there last week, so I’m going to take some of the credit.

Two bloggers sharing their platforms:

Friday Click & Run – 7/5/21 – Stevie Turner

Promote Your Blog! – Phoebe Chi

Hey look! A book ‘o poetry!

Want a copy to hone your editing skills?

Monday Musings: To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme

May 3, 2021 / Leon Stevens / 1 Comment

Reading over the thirty poems that I wrote in April allowed me to assess my writing style. Verdict: Haphazard.

Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of poetry—more now than before—for various reasons. I have more preferred genre preferences, and I suppose I don’t want to be influenced by the style of others. When I began to write poems, I didn’t set out to write a particular form or have a rhyme scheme in mind. It was all about getting my thoughts down in a way that I thought accurately represented the concept. I let the process dictate the final outcome.

As children, we learn rhyme from nursery rhymes, primer reading books, and word families. It becomes second nature to rhyme, and sometimes it is hard not to.

From the very start, I found that rhyme placement was a way to grab the reader’s mind, and too many often detracted from the imagery or idea that I was trying to convey. So, some of my poems have very few, but when they occur, it’s effective. I guess you could call it fluid form poetry or floating rhyme.

I try not to use an unfamiliar word or words that can’t be immediately understood by the context unless, of course, that important rhyme gives exigence to incorporate the word “reticent” (or taciturn, for that matter).*

Learn the rules so that you can break them or make up the rules as you go along. If they don’t work—change them.

I’m not saying that my writing is unique, but it is mine from my heart and mind. I chose to share these words with the world because they help me put things into perspective, and I hope that they can do the same for others along with providing entertainment in this world we all share.

– Leon

^{*exigence (n.) – demand, requirement}

^{*reticent (adj.) – discreet, restrained, taciturn}

Month/Weekend Wrap-up: May 1

May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 / Leon Stevens / 4 Comments

I did it. Thirty poems in thirty days. I don’t think I will change to much when I go back to revise them. Even though some were rushed (I tried to write them before a certain time in the morning to keep my posts consistent), they did benefit from the time constraint.

I’m not happy with how I set up my poem page, so my next task is to put them all into a book. Looking back, I should have done that as I went along. let me know if you would like a copy.

What’s that? Do I have a favorite? I can’t say that I do.

I didn’t read as many posts this month but here are a few you should visit:

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2021 – #Pot Luck – #Music Monday: So Many Genres by Leon Stevens – Sally has a great following of engaged readers. Thanks again, Sally.

Guest Post: Leon Stevens – Thanks to beetleypete for the opportunity to share my thoughts with his readers.

To embark on my next challenge:

Poetry Prompt from NaNoPoWriMo: Don’t write a poem today.

Done.

Wait. I have one more:

Mom

Sometimes we didn’t see eye to eye
Except for the year I was as tall as you
It was long ago in years
And since then I’ve grown
It’s true
Your experience I oft ignored
Thinking I knew better
Not true I realized
You will always see and do
More than me
Without your love
I wouldn’t be…here
I apologize for any grief
As a no-it-all teen 
Or caused by my stupidity
Looking back on all that time
The trips we took
The glasses of wine
Some of the best time spent
Oddly when it didn’t seem
The next room they can hear us bitchin’
Sharing what we think is best
You and I fighting in the kitchen

Happy Birthday, Mom.

NaPoWriMo: Day 30 (Destinations)

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 / Leon Stevens / Leave a comment

Poetry Prompt from NaPoWriMo: Write a poem in the form of a series of directions describing how a person should get to a particular place.

Here it is. The last day of the challenge. I want to thank you for stopping by and reading my daily creations. I hadn’t poetry for a while, since I shifted my focus to my science fiction writing. It was a good incentive to get back to what started my writing journey, and looking back on the last 29 days, I’m happy with what I wrote.

Here From There

No two people
Will arrive at the same place
Given directions and a numbered pace
We line them up
And teach the skills
Then release them with free wills
Learn the basics
So you can make the choice
Everybody has a voice
Start at Reading Road
Make sure you don’t miss Comprehension Boulevard
Turn at Writing Avenue
Left or right it’s yours to choose
You will see Math Street coming up
Spend time at the Basics block
If you miss it
You may get lost
Don’t hesitate to ask for directions
Everybody there 
Is extremely helpful
And each has a different perspective
You can try to climb the hill 
Of  You Can Be Anything You Want To Be
For some it’s better to go around, you’ll see
There is no shame to turn around
And start again a second time round
Sometimes it will be best 
To ignore the GPS
You will find your destination 
Changes as you travel the nation
But when you arrive
Take a look around
This will be the place you’ve found

Read it again on Medium.com (yes, I do get paid/read): Day 30

NaPoWriMo: Day 29 (Windows)

April 29, 2021September 6, 2021 / Leon Stevens / 2 Comments

Poetry Prompt from NaPoWriMo: This one is called “in the window.” Imagine a window looking into a place or onto a particular scene.

One more day to come. I think I’m going to miss the routine.

Looking Back

My childhood home disappears 
Behind the climbing tree
My first college dorm fades
Into the brownstone facades
My apartment with the narrow stairs
Slowly hidden by its neighbor  
The rented house seems smaller
Even though I’m not the last to leave
The waving line dwindles
While the music plays 
I must have missed the point
When the mountains yielded to the prairie
I looked away for a moment 
The ocean gone when I return my gaze
I am sometimes filled with envy that
The rear window has seen the last 
Of all my firsts

-Leon

Read the story that was later inspired by this poem: https://linesbyleon.com/2021/06/10/thursday-thoughts-poem-to-story/

Not ready to purchase yet?

Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free eBook of your choice.

NaPoWriMo: Day 28 (Questions)

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 / Leon Stevens / 2 Comments

Poetry Prompt from NaPoWriMo: Write a poem that poses a series of questions.

Up early this morning. Again. To. Much. Pressure.

Purpose

What will I write about today?
The poet pondered
Lying in the meadow away
From distraction
Will it be poignant?
Do I try to shed a little light?
Does it need to give a fright?
How can the words I write
Make a difference in someone’s life?
Will rhyme present itself
At the proper time?
Where will inspiration come?
Or do I sit here deaf and dumb
Until the words…until the words…
Begin to surge
Why do I write anyway?
The poet sat and questioned 
There are not enough words
To answer that
Then
Then as the sun set
And the moon rose
And the sky exploded
In a tumult of emotion
The answer was revealed
Because I can
And the poet’s fate was sealed

Read it again on Medium.com (yes, I do get paid/read): Day 28

NaPoWriMo: Day 27 (Up early and waiting)

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 / Leon Stevens / Leave a comment

Poetry Prompt from NaPoWriMo: To be announced

Up early this morning. Was able to pick up some work for the week. It’s been a while so I couldn’t say no. Since the prompt isn’t posted yet, I’ll offer this:

Control

Like clockwork
Until it isn’t
Routines repeat 
Until they don’t
Stay in the groove
Until you jump out

(What’s that? No, it’s not a rut. OK, it’s kinda a rut.)
Don’t change
Until you need to
Expecting the expected
Until the unexpected jars you into accepting that no matter how hard you try
You’re not in complete…

Control

Read it again on Medium.com (yes, I do get paid/read): Day 27

NaPoWriMo: Day 26 (Parody)

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 / Leon Stevens / Leave a comment

Poetry Prompt from NaPoWriMo: Write a parody. Besides being fun, writing parodies can be a great way to hone your poetic skills – particularly your sense of rhyme and sound, as you try to mimic the form of an existing poem while changing the content.

Oh, Do a Parody

The parody
Should be easy
Something to make fun of

From lots to choose
How could I lose
Just change around the words

The Rime was way to long
Maybe do a nursery song 
I tried to write about the fog

Switched direction
Asked the question
Where does the sidewalk end

Tried some Poe
But do not know
Enough of this old master

I admit defeat
I can’t compete
With King Weird Al Yankovic 

I misread
I thought it said
Write an ode to a parody

Read it again on Medium.com (yes, I do get paid/read): Day 26