Following a three-day “manic panic” and the PTSD (Post-Trampoline Stupid Depression!) that followed, I’m back on an even keel. Even tried a new form today, which is the first poem, and answered a Wednesday prompt within 24 hours! Now that’s what I call progress. Peace, Amy
My Blue Plastic Nurse
Compartments are labeled, one for each day
I’m keeping track of keeping track of me
Pill boxes can be fun if you like play
Varied colors bring mental harmony
Blue, turquoise, tangerine, help color me
Curved, tubular, round; all help shape my days
Some score scarred, others numbered clinically
Count it wrong and I’ll be in stupor gaze
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For dverse, the amazing Gemma (an Aussie whose blog is Greyscale Territory)schooled us on the Huitan – basic structure being eight lines of eight or ten syllables, with rhyme scheme A B A B B C B C. A much more instructive post can be found HERE AT DVERSE. My first time with the form, and I must say, it was more fun than I thought! As always, this is also at the blessedly formless, shapeless void of pure poetic love, Poets United. But wait, there’s more!
Greenwich Village, Late 60s
The pulse of Bleecker
measured in bongo bangs
In the Beat poets’ Howls
and comic harangues
That mellow café scene
One coffee took all night
Pressure built over Nam
The Man made a fight
Scene took on substance
as poets and folkies
took on the rhythm
of Guthrie’s Oakies
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Three Word Wednesday, Beat, Pressure, Substance. Also at my poetic café, Poets United. Coffee’s always on and the conversation is fabulous! Peace, Amy
Aug 17, 2012 @ 00:46:28
It’s when you and the boxes rattle that you wonder where life is taking you!
Aug 17, 2012 @ 02:07:10
There have been many times where I wish I could’ve been in Greenwich Village in the 60′s, or even today for that matter. Reading the second poem makes me want to listen to bebop and the first one makes me glad I take only two medications instead of a handful. Well done on both, Amy! Brett
Aug 17, 2012 @ 02:30:06
Those insidious pill packages become a work of art in your poem! Fascinating and clever! Love the “thumping” rhythm in your second poem!
And thank you ever so much for your lovely comments on my huitain post!
Aug 17, 2012 @ 03:06:35
Amy, it is odd that we both went to the way back machine. I didn’t really mean to but one thing I am doing among all the others is to record those special moments in my memory. I don’t remember that much, you know. As they say, if you remember the sixties, you weren’t really there…
Aug 17, 2012 @ 04:36:19
Extremely relieved you are now ok, Amy! Things sometimes come to a head. Blogging helps in my case! Talking about pills all in varied colors, I gulp them everyday. Doctor’s orders, that’s why! Age catching up, medication and supplements help maintain sanity so to speak! Two wonderful verses you have here!
Hank
Aug 17, 2012 @ 05:30:35
that second place sounds like a fun place to be you know….the huitain, yep had plenty a kid that got their cocktail mixed up and that is not a lot of fun….smiles…i like that you captured the simple things in life….taking our pills…cool that…
Aug 17, 2012 @ 06:27:09
Glad you’re past your “event”.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 07:19:48
So many great references in Greenwich Village–you have captured an entire era in a few stanzas. Fine, fine job here!
Aug 17, 2012 @ 07:41:05
Ah those pills! It always amazes me what those colourful ‘sweets’ have the power to do…
Anna
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Aug 17, 2012 @ 08:02:02
Loved them both. The Blue Plastic Nurse sat on my mother’s dining room table as, first my dad lived out his last days, then mom kept tabs on her meds until she passed away at 91. An essential tool♫
Aug 17, 2012 @ 09:21:39
Both of these pieces seem to play with the theme of finding order in the haze..the pill box resonates..naturally..it is always hard to explain isn’t it..how the pills in their physical state..being in control of them…seems as important as what is chemically wrapped inside..I hope there is a little calm for you now..jae
Aug 17, 2012 @ 09:39:01
Bleecker St Greenwich Village..you are an icon Amy.Conjures up visions of girls with waist length hair, mini skirts, Joni Mitchell look alikes and Arlo Guthrie.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 09:50:31
I like how you used colors and sensory words to express your emotions. That’s crazy talented, all pun intended, because I’m crazy too.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I had pne of the worst anxiety attacks I’ve ever had last week. I’m okay this week but every day’s a struggle.
virtual hugs, dude.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 10:26:21
I’m keeping track of keeping track of me..just love what you’ve done with the form…i totally forgot it was form actually..
Aug 17, 2012 @ 11:00:43
well done on the form (have not tackled it yet myself) and also like the line Claudia referenced. Liked it much.
1st stanza of second very cool, through I shall be cursing you for the last as I spend my day with Alice’s Restaurant playing in my head.
‘you can get anything you want….”
Aug 17, 2012 @ 11:25:03
I love how you made your daily pill popping routine into a very fun little poem, Amy..I have a couple of pills that “help color me” too… So glad that you’re feeling more on track now.
http://bodhirose.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/snow-leopard/
Aug 17, 2012 @ 11:56:05
We fight those pill boxes – but after a while they help life make sense. Very clever huitain exploring the way you are keeping tracking of you! Well conceived and executed. Loved the second too. I often wonder how my life would have been different if I’d made for New York instead of Dallas after college. For sure I wouldn’t be stuck in Texas heat and might have been a better poet although a much different one, no doubt. Love that poem too.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 12:27:54
Yes, the line about keeping track of keeping track of me is a line I like too. You wrote a fine Huitain about pill taking. Your honesty is always refreshing, Amy.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 14:41:29
Both winners Amy. Especially love the last line about folkies, and Oakies
you make me smile!
Aug 17, 2012 @ 15:49:24
Wow, a two-fer…….love it. And, like Mary, I so love your openness and telling it like it is Amy. I love that about you. Way to be, (I also love your “formless, shapeless void of pure poetic love, Poets United”…..good one, kiddo! I always enjoy your inclusion of PU after every post. You so totally rock.)
Aug 17, 2012 @ 17:17:50
These are wonderful. I especially like the second, which plays a bit of an anthem of my youth.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 20:29:00
Without my virtual iPhone pillbox app I’d be a mess. Love both poems.
Aug 17, 2012 @ 23:30:59
LoveloveLOVE this, Amy: “I’m keeping track of keeping track of me”
And the idea of the pulse of a place measured in bongo bangs…and a cup of coffee taking all nice. Just gorgeous.
Aug 18, 2012 @ 00:10:00
Wow Amy, they both were great, but the first one spoke to me~ I know the dance of meds~ Did I take my insulin or not?! It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen and the before bed one haunts me….
xo
I so admire your authentic voice! It is the best way to be
Aug 18, 2012 @ 02:43:27
I’ve got to say I didn’t notice the form at all… I had to read it again and yep there it was, it flowed so well, and good to put a fun spin on things. So enjoyed both poems, and it would have been fun to be in Greenwich village, if only I had a time machine…
Aug 18, 2012 @ 16:06:29
Well done on both prompts!
Aug 19, 2012 @ 10:22:56
I was walking around the Village last night, and even though I’ll eternally envy your presence in its heyday, there’s still a lot to be loved about it now… I think it echoes the sentiment you channeled here. So, come visit.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 02:47:47
I enjoyed both poems. I remember the Village during that period and you captured it so well.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 03:30:19
love your poems! very different forms and feelings but well captured. The pill box one I especially love. The idea that the shape and colour of the pill effects the day. Clever way of looking at it
And I’ve not seen that format before, it’s very pleasing to the reader 