Category: Christine Bialczak poetry

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry NaPoWriMo2021 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

NaPoWriMo 2021: 4/11/2021

Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

This is a twist on a prompt offered by Kay Gabriel during a meeting she facilitated at the Poetry Project last year. Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a two-part poem, in the form of an exchange of letters. The first stanza (or part) should be in the form of a letter that you write either to yourself or to a famous fictional or historical person. The second part should be the letter you receive in response. 

To Me, From Me

Hello myself, I say to thee,
in a  letter I write  to me.
I’d like to say you are okay 
I think you ought to stay this way. 
You work real hard and care so much 
using all your time and such 
and so I’d like to say  today 
that you can take a break to play 
play with words, play  with sound 
Notice things that are all around 
Write them up, Spit them out 
Now that is what I’m talking about! 

Hello to you, it’s me you know 
I think you’ve got a point to show. 
You care for others and your dad 
making him happy  makes you glad.
But don’t forget to care for you 
And one more thing before you do 
Think of all the people near 
who love you and will hold you  dear. 

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NaPoWriMo 2021

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry NaPoWriMo2021 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

NaPoWriMo 2021: 4/10/2021

Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

It’s called “Junk Drawer Song,” and comes to us from the poet Hoa Nguyen

I didn’t follow the prompt exactly as I don’t have a junk drawer anymore. I have dumped all the junk as I get prepared to put my house on the market. So…Here is my junk drawer poem…

My Junk Drawer

Open it up and you will see

All the junk belonging to me

There are clips and pins

Bands and pads

Some random old screws

And a few crafty brads

A few short pencils

And a black dried up pen

A stamp from that letter

I got way back when

A tack from my corkboard

A bit of tack too

You know what I mean

The gum that is blue.

With all of this junk

I could open a store

Come in we’re open

Just open my drawer.

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NaPoWriMo 2021

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry NPM 21 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

National Poetry Month Scavenger Hunt


https://murisopsis.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/looking-for-poetry

Write a sestina

When I was reading the link about how to write this poem I decided to start with just one stanza and work from there, without worrying where my thoughts would go in the following five stanzas. A thought came to my mind and it was about the kids I used to teach. I don’t know what led me to that but it was there.

The students I used to teach were in our clinical day school for social-emotional disturbances that were no longer manageable in the public schools. Each morning was sort of like a crap-shoot with these kids because their mood often depended on life at home. Some had nothing to eat in their homes. Some had parents that needed more help than they could ever find. We knew we had to be prepared for everything. That was our job along with teaching. I miss those days and those little ones. This poem may give you a glimpse of what it was like each day.

Starting a New Day

Good morning, glad you came again today 
I have left you something good to eat. 
I am sorry that you do not look happy  
Is there something you need to talk about 
We will help you work these things out. 
There is nothing to fear when you are here. 

When you come and I see you here 
I think how lucky I am today. 
To see that you have come out 
so, enjoy what there is to eat. 
Later we will see what you will learn about 
and hopefully the list makes you happy. 

I love to see you smile because you are happy 
I think it helps that you have come here. 
There is nothing here for  you to worry about 
Every day is a new day like it is today. 
Nourish your brain as you enjoy something to eat 
We will see to it that your problems are worked out. 

I want to know how your day is turning out 
It looks like you  are very happy 
It always helps when we have something good to eat. 
Something we always offer you here. 
Let’s look at all you have accomplished today. 
We can talk of all you have learned about. 

There is something I would like to ask you about 
It has to do with you getting out 
Where will you go later today? 
Will it be a place where you can be happy? 
Will you be very far or try to stay here? 
We can think about it while you eat. 

I have tried to provide you something healthy to eat 
I know that we  have a lot to talk about 
we can chat for as long as we need  and sit here 
I hope you  know that  you can  let your fears out 
I only want to help  you be healthy  and happy 
Because every day is important like today. 

When  you  come here  you may always have something to eat 
Whether today or another day it is you we will  talk about 
When you get those feelings out you will feel a bit more happy.   

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NPM 21

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry Grief love NPM 21 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

National Poetry Month Scavenger Hunt

Write a quatern poem
https://murisopsis.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/looking-for-poetry/

Living Alone in a Cabin

Living alone in a cabin 
Wondering who might stop over 
Waiting all day by the window 
Hoping someone would come to call. 

Watching the clouds in the blue sky 
Living alone in a cabin 
Thinking that life was just perfect 
Never wanting to tell the truth. 

For hours and hours you wait so still 
Until someone can find you here 
Living alone in a cabin 
Finding solitude relaxing. 

Suddenly your wish is answered 
When you hear a knock on the door 
Open to see who’s to visit 
Living alone in a cabin.  

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NPM 21

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry Fan Fiction Fan of... NaPoWriMo2021 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting TheCatintheHatFanFIction

NaPoWriMo 2021: 4/9/2021

Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

Write a poem in the form of a “to-do list.” The fun of this prompt is to make it the “to-do list” of an unusual person or character.

The Cat makes a list

Well the Cat in the Hat 
was up to his tricks 
looking for kids 
to bring into the mix.  
He had a big list 
of things left to do 
like tidy his bag 
and polish his shoe. 
He also had things 
like talk to the fish, 
walk on a ball,
balance a dish, 
take a long walk, 
Sing a new song, 
play a new game, 
the list was real long. 
The Cat sat to think 
about what to do first 
he decided a drink  
who help quench his dry thirst 
When all of a sudden 
he finally found 
a book and a pen 
to write it all down. 
He wrote down his list 
in a second or two 
He loved the red ink 
and also the blue. 
He jotted and scribbled 
until the paper was full 
He put on his hat 
and gave it a pull 
He went on his way 
to find some kids to play 
and decided to leave 
the list to some other day. 

©2021 CBialczak Poetry Fanfiction
NaPoWriMo 2021

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry NaPoWriMo2021 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

NaPoWriMo 2021: 4/8/2021

Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

Today, I’d like to challenge you to read a few of the poems from Spoon River Anthology, and then write your own poem in the form of a monologue delivered by someone who is dead.

When I was reading the post about the anthology and then the optional prompt I thought of this family when I was a young child. The family was not very clean. Now looking back, perhaps they didn’t have the money to pay for detergents and soaps. Nearly everyone in town knew where they lived and although I am ashamed to admit this openly, we all used to hold our breath when we passed by their house on the bus. It is so mean and I am not proud of it but they came to mind. I think they may have come to mind because it is a family that is now haunting the living as revenge to all those people who were so cruel to them in life. This family is still alive as far as I know and I wish them no harm. I think if they knew, and maybe they did, then they would find some “humor” in their haunting!

Family Plot 

Before, they were known 
by the odor sent forth 
from their windows and doors. 

Now they lay together 
rotting into the earth 
emitting an odor much worse 
than any that came  
from their windows and doors. 

And he who lay beside them 
must live in death  
with an odor repulsive 
through dirt  
with no windows or doors. 

Together they rot in peace 
All sending their odor 
to all passersby 
as they did in life.  

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NaPoWriMo 2021

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry Grief love NPM 21 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

National Poetry Month Scavenger Hunt

Write a Magic 9 poem using a theme of slavery, freedom, or manumission.
https://murisopsis.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/looking-for-poetry/

I am not totally sure this makes sense but I’m giving it a try!

Equality

I never believed in my mind 

That one is better than you 

I don’t believe in the kind 

Of treatment so bad to a man 

I looked and tried to find 

Peace and freedom for all 

Like peeling back the rind 

Of an orange given to you 

Because love is colorblind 

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NPM 21

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry NaPoWriMo2021 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

NaPoWriMo 2021: 4/7/2021

Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

I wasn’t sure of the topic so I checked to see what “weird” holidays there were today. https://www.holidayscalendar.com/categories/weird/

My Shadorma

Happy National Beer Day!

Today came 
to offer me beer 
because of 
National 
Beer Day, a weird holiday 
That remembered me. 

My Fib

National Coffee Cake Day

Cake 
Day 
Coffee 
National 
Baking and Eating 
Nothing is better than fresh cake!

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NaPoWriMo 2021

@stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry Grief love NPM 21 poems poetry Poetry to enjoy stinewriting

National Poetry Month Scavenger Hunt

Write a poem incorporating your favorite beverage, an automotive malfunction, and basketball
https://murisopsis.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/looking-for-poetry/

Flat Tire

I’m alone on the side of the road 
as I watch my tire deflate 
I think about having a beer 
but by then it will be too late 
So waiting I sit on the ball 
as I really have no good seat 
and wait for the tow truck to arrive 
as I space out and look at my feet 
I sit and think, “there is no hope” 
When in the horizon I see 
there is tow truck coming along 
and it’s coming there to help me. 
The driver was happy to see my good seat 
He said he played basketball 
He told me he had never been beat. 
So I laughed and tossed him the ball. 

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NPM 21