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2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 29~Do it again~ P0EM ~

30/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-29

Tomorrow is the final day of the challenge. So let’s make these last couple days count.

For today’s prompt, write a do it again poem. This could be a poem about taking a mulligan or re-doing a mistake. Or maybe re-doing a magical moment. Or a poem for all those folks who like to ride roller coasters and get right back in line.

PARADISE
by John Yeo

Do you remember our trip last year?
We must DO IT AGAIN.
A day on the beach by the seaside,
Sun sea and a sandy shore
Always very exciting.

A tent and the windbreak, a couple of chairs
With a packed lunch and a football.
Buckets and spades to build sand-castles,
Books to read and sun-tan lotion
A very well practised affair.

The trip, always full of surprises
Everything seemed to go wrong.
The weather went haywire for starters.
A sky of charcoal grey full of rain
With gusty winds to help us along.

Many families are on the beach
Keeping a stiff upper lip.
Making the most of the moment,
Shivering to show their enjoyment
Of a watery sun that suddenly shone.

Football, then lying on the beach
With sand in our toes that tickled.
Paddling and splashing in the sea.
Will Grandma go in for a swim?
Now the weather has changed for the better.

Sandy sandwiches, with crisps and fruit,
Will there be enough to eat?
Ice-cream, fish and chips and whelks,
To finish our five star affair.
Then the rain started with a trickle.

We packed up quickly and headed for home.
An enjoyable day except for the rain.
We all agreed, we could hardly wait to
Come back to the sandy seaside and
DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo, All rights reserved

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 28~"(blank) News" P0EM ~

29/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-28#comment-3509302

Four weeks in and only three days left. Boy, time flies!

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) News,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write the poem. Possible titles include: “Good News,” “Bad News,” “Daily News,” and “Old News.”

NO NEWS
by John Yeo

Fed up with the daily flood of horror that masquerades as news
I was determined to live a solitary life, a detox of the daily blues.
I locked myself in a cabin, deep in a remote pine forest
No electricity or communication to carry a negative process.

I closed the door, picked up my pen, then I began to write.
My mind drifted over many things in the silent evening light.
I put another log on the fire as I wrote by the flames of the firelight.
An owl hooted quite close by hunting in the depths of the night.

Silence closed in as the embers of the fire burned low
The moon was bright with a cold white shadowy glow.
A million beautiful twinkling stars filled the forest skies,
Adding magic to the moment of my solitary sleepy demise.

With my concentration on my imagination, the present faded into the past.
Realisation quickly dawned, the facts somehow hard to grasp,
Our ancestors had no instant news or a worldwide nosey net.
I am a child of today, my dependant withdrawal symptoms set.

The future is here, the bad news is clear, I could never live without it.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo All rights reserved

Image from the net

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 27~ Appreciative P0EM ~

28/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-27#comment-3509160

Happy Thanksgiving!
For today’s prompt, write an appreciative poem.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE WELCOME RAIN
by John Yeo

When the Kingfisher comes inland
It is a sign of rainfall.

Living under indigo skies
Everything is burnt and sere,
Parched people on a parched earth
Scratch the dusty soil to survive.
The drought has been severe.
Acacia and Palm trees thrive.

Rainfall arrives with a cool fresh shower
Flushing the scarred dry land clean.
The dust we have been breathing
Turns to mud. Life is a celebration
Dancing, laughing and singing,
We have free fresh water to drink.
The crops breathe a sigh of relief.

Birds fly down to bathe and drink
In the swiftly forming puddles.
Dry river-beds begin to fill
First with a trickle, then a flood.
Flowers bloom fresh and smile.
Our crops grow green with welcome.

Women fill stone jars with water
Balancing the weight on their heads.
People dance and sing once again
Coming together to appreciate the rain.
Clean, clear fresh water is everywhere,
Flushing away the forgotten pain.
Of the dry sad months of drought.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo, All rights reserved

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 26~ Same P0EM ~

27/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-26
For today’s prompt, write a same poem. I guess it could be the same old poem, but it could be a completely different poem that looks at a person or thing or system that is still the same. Or maybe a poem about how all people are the same. Or take the “same” concept and show how things are not the same. And that opens up a universe of possibilities.

UNIQUE
by John Yeo

Same again?
Asked the man behind the bar.
The liquid was measured into a glass
Containing a speck of dust.
The quantity was exactly the same
But there was a glaring difference.

The germ was consumed and grew
Then quickly spread through my body.
Cells attacking cells the battle was fought
Then medical science joined the affray
Although I have recovered my health today
I will never be the Same again.

A glaring display of opposites is always very plain
Wars are fought over a tiny differential.
To be exactly one and the same,
Would be impossible to sustain
Variation is a valuable guide to follow.
Life stands still with the Same again.

Like peas in a pod the midwife laughed
As the twins came into the world
There the similarities ended.
Differences always arise during growth.
Upbringing and shaping count for a lot.
A clone is a carbon copy of the original,
Tempting fate to fill the glass by requesting the

Same again.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 25~ Love P0EM or Anti-love poem ~

26/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-25
For today’s prompt, you have two options:

Write a love poem.
Write an anti-love poem.

IN AND OUT WITH LOVE
by John Yeo

Days in with you, mean days full of love,
Caring, sharing, passing time with each other.
Days with warm comfort of being together.
Not having to try hard to understand one another.
Togetherness, well practised, love built over years.
The antidote to anti-love.

Days out with you, mean days out with love,
Caring, sharing, planning our interests together,
Days out with each other, sharing the world together.
Accepting the otherness of people, through each other,
Togetherness with protection, one for another.
The antidote to anti-love.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 24~I'll Be~~(Blank) ~ P0EM

25/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-24

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “I’ll Be (blank),” replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “I’ll Be Back,” “I’ll Be Late for Dinner,” and “I’ll Be a Monkey’s Uncle.”

THE IMPROBABLE VALUE
by John Yeo

I’ll be back in the mountains someday,
Mesmerised by pine trees and solitary peace.
I will travel miles to the nearest store to survive.
Taking time to breath the heady air.

The traffic in the city, shedding fumes and noise,
Will set me to dreaming, head in the mountains.
Life amid the beauty and rugged trails
As I waik to the store from the cashpoint.

Life where the air is fresh and clear,
The water streams over the gulleys,
Creating falls of splendour.
While I live with the convenience of city life.

Mountain trails and craggy rocks
Green valleys with peace all around
Mask the stress that keeps me surviving
The pace of the concrete covered city.

The contrast of loving the life in the city,
Life in the fast lane searching for meaning
Contemplation, meditation with inward calm,
I’ll be back in the mountains someday.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 23~Alone~ P0EM

24/11/2014

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2014-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-23
For today’s prompt, write an alone poem. Some people covet “alone time.” Others prefer not to be left alone. Many like a certain balance. But this doesn’t have to just be about people. Maybe a forest wishes to be left alone, or there is a product left alone on a store shelf (how the children’s story “Corduroy” begins).

ALONE AGAIN and ENOLA

by John Yeo

A is the beginning of A life now you are Alone.

L is the Loss of a partner and a very good friend.

O is Overpowering, unwanted on your Own.

N is having No-one there Never again to care.

E begins the End of a life shared and built for two.

Then?

E begins the Excitement of a new beginning.

N is Never feeling solitary. Not needed anymore.

O is the Opportunity to build a new life again.

L is Love and Lots of sharing, a Life made for two.

A begins the Afterlife with Acceptance by a friend.

Enola turns the terror of being Alone

Upside down!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 22~Release~ P0EM

22/11/2014

For today’s prompt, write a release poem. Maybe somebody’s being released from prison or a contract. Maybe a person is signing a release form. There’s emotional and physical release. Animals capturing and releasing other animals. Trees releasing leaves in autumn. And so on.

SWEET RELEASE
by John Yeo

I signed on as cabin boy when I joined the ship
Looking for high adventure.

When you infuse the solution the flavour is released
Then melds into the whole.

The tea clipper speeds across the world
Battered and bruised by the waves.

The odours of the brew rise as the released flavour
Permeates the liquid.

Fully loaded we head for home across the stormy sea.
Facing harsh rigours and enduring deprivation.

Bone china teacups are a must, with a silver tea-strainer
To allow the flavour to be released.

The crew get by, working hard, chasing the horizon
Filling their bellies with rum.

The infusion is perfect if the pot is left to stand
Allowing the fullest flavour to be released.

We arrive in port and I jump ship, never to return.

The experience and the flavour of a sweet release.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

OR

SWEET RELEASE
by John Yeo

The tea clipper speeds across the world
Battered and bruised by the waves.
I signed on as cabin boy when I joined the ship
Looking for high adventure.
Fully loaded we head for home across the stormy sea
Facing harsh rigours and enduring deprivation.
The crew get by, working hard, chasing the horizon.
Filling their bellies with rum.

We arrive in port and I jump ship, never to return.

When you infuse the solution the flavour is released
Then melds into the whole.
The odours of the brew rise as the released flavour
Permeates the liquid.
Bone china teacups are a must, with a silver tea-strainer
To allow the flavour to be released.
The infusion is perfect if the pot is left to stand
Allowing the fullest flavour to be released.

The experience and the flavour of a sweet release.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 21~Compass Point~ P0EM

22/11/2014

For today’s prompt, pick a direction on the compass, make it the title of your poem, and write that poem. North, South, West, and East are easy directions. Then, there’s Southwest, Northeast, and so on. Then, there are the directions that are completely invented.

BLIND FATE
by John Yeo

Blind fate spins the arrow on the compass,
The needle spins and twists and turns
We head in the direction of the result.

South West across a burning desert,
Sand as far as the eye can see.
We have money to buy our direction
The North star is in position.

We continue to follow the blind fate compass
Until we reach a rough salty sea.
South West is over an ocean of dreams.

We fearlessly follow the fateful compass
Searching for the answers to life
South West on a blind fate compass.
The North star is in position.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 20~I'll Never~~~(blank)~ P0EM

21/11/2014

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “I’ll Never (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write the new poem. Possible titles include: “I’ll Never Write an Excuse Poem,” “I’ll Never Go to Disney World,” “I’ll Never Tell a Lie,” or “I’ll Never Understand People Who Like Rush.”

THE SHORTCUT

by John Yeo

I’ll never take that shortcut again!

The night was late. To stem the worry,
I hurried along the highway.
The moon was full and clear,
Shadows stretched out from Yew trees,
As I climbed over the imposing gates.
An Owl hooted in dismay
Flying through the night searching for prey.
A cat screeched in reply.

A figure stretched out on a bench
Old Nick, who is homeless, lives here.
I picked up my pace as I made my way,
Overgrown stones on aged graves
Loom up in the shadows as I pass.
A flash of white to the right
My imagination runs riot.
Dead flowers in vases on chipped marble.

A movement in the trees to the left,
I hurry along between the graves.
Strange noises from where I tread,
I try to creep, not making a sound
For fear of waking the dead.
My mind mingles with magical thought
I pick up my pace to get through,
I feel unseeing, unseen eyes all around.

A vision crosses my mind as I travel
A lady in red wearing a hood
Sadly standing, seeking solace,
Sobbing bitterly In silent prayer
Before the grave of a child.
I reach the end of the pathway
When I look back, the lady is gone.
I make a vow as I run to my home,

I’ll never take that shortcut again!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo All rights reserved

Image from Ermilia's blog