RENDER SURRENDER
Give it up
Push it away
that ego, whispering “me me me”
(like a bad soprano warming up)
Let it go
Open your mind
Listen to the echo
(the voice that says the world revolves around you)
Let it in
Breathe it in
Creation, the Creator, who loves you
(and only wants you to give love back to the world)
Come full stop
Close your eyes
Let love catch up to you
(you were running too fast anyway)
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
This is in response to a challenge from We Write Poems (make up a prompt/form that may be used in the future. I call this Formulaic: 3 + (x) = Poem) and my poetic home, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Yousei Hime
Using the parenthetical expression suggests secrets and thoughts and whispers. I like it.
Sharp Little Pencil
That was a conscious decision on my part. Glad you found it pleasing, Yousei… Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
Four stars! This is perfect! Loved it.
If you can, contribute it to the http://www.virtualpoetryreading.com -it’s way easier now to send a message, just call 951-665-8161 and leave your poem on the voice mail. Then I’ll post it.
Seriously, this was superb!
Gob bless youse, Mosk
Sharp Little Pencil
Just called the number and read it! Very excited about this new project, thanks so much for encouraging us to call in. Will plug on my next post (if I remember… I’ll put up a sticky note on my computer!). Dog Ssleb Uoy, Yma
Anna :o]
Perfect indeed Amy.
Anna :o]
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, thanks so much, Anna. Went over to your blog to rant about health care, LOL. A
Buddah Moskowitz
You’re up and you sound great! Keep ’em coming!
Yam Dog Sselb Uoy, Oot! ztiwoksoM
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m up?! Thought that was the boy’s job, LOL. Thanks, will check out ASAP! Evol, Helema
Elizabeth
Another brilliant offering, Amy…and what an exciting new project for you to be part of, too. x
Sharp Little Pencil
Elizabeth, it was a response to a prompt at We Write Poems. Create a form of any sort or a prompt of any sort and post it on your blog; then, submit it to We Write Poems and they will consider using it! We are always the ones who write or photograph in response to others’ prompts, so what the heck? Go nuts!! Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
I love it, Amy!
booguloo
Running to and from.
Debbie
Loved your form prompt! And this . . .like a bad soprano warming up. 🙂 I’m so blessed that you write and then share it. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, a couple of folks liked that soprano. I picture her with Wagnerian horns on her head!
Roger Green
OK, off topic:
Why is this particular end-of-the-world prediction getting such play? I mean, the Mayan one for Dec 2012 I’ve waiting for for a couple of years. Of course if Newt/Michelle/et al were elected, maybe it WOULD be end times!
Sharp Little Pencil
If the Mayans were so good at predicting things, they would have seen Cortez coming to destroy their entire civilization. Jon Stewart mentioned this on this Daily Show, and it makes a lot of sense to me!
neil reid
It’s like the weather I suppose – whether or not a fine poem gets seen by the many or by the few. (I understand the mechanics, however… ) Makes me to think about this more.
Fine fine prompt idea Amy, as well the poem… uses this form to good result for the poem itself. (I’m kind of the same. Form for itself don’t interest me much.) But this “form” still allows to poem to be anything it wants, just scratches its’ head and add a conditional after-thought. I like it. This prompt for certain we are going to use! Thank you Amy, very much.
I very much liked the progression within each stanza too – each line growing slightly in complexity and mass, then of course that near-commentary parenthetic final line (the “x” factor, yes), and it invites a certain rhythm to play the way you’ve used it here. All good.
And interesting, that audio link. I liked your reading too!
Sharp Little Pencil
Wow, thanks so much for all of this, Neil. The form came from a poem I was working on… the only form I generally employ is a tendency to use three or four lines per stanza, sometimes with a single line at the end for punctuation. Glad you think you can use this one! In fact, delighted!
And yes, the idea is still free-form in the sense that it’s not a certain number of syllables, all that math drives me nuts, unless I develop a meter in the back of my mind. So that’s why I used a math quotation as the title of the prompt, just for fun.
Bless you for all the work you do, Neil, and thanks again. Amy
neil reid
You’re more than welcome my friend. ~neil
Tilly Bud
A nice one, Amy 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, LInda! Amy
Miskmask
Amy, I just heard your voice! What fun to hear you reading your poem to me. Splendid! Perhaps when I’m in the USA one day, I’ll ring up Buddah’s number and record a poem also.
Sharp Little Pencil
Marilyn, that would be wonderful, In the meantime, if you have a small digital recorder, record an mp3 and email it to Mosk via his site. The sound quality is even better; if you listen to me reading “Intertwined,” you will hear the difference in tonal quality. Thanks so much for the nice comment! Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Bravo! I love it. And this cracked me up:
(“me me me”
like a bad soprano warming up)”
Sharp Little Pencil
And I’ve known a few!! Thanks, Madeleine, Amy
Renee Espriu
My practive of ‘not putting my own agenda’ into the day…same as ‘letting go’ and yes, it does give a sense of open awareness, of peace. Very nicely put!
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, Renee, I’ve always felt you are a really practival person, LOL. But yes, the letting of agenda makes send. Thanks so much! Amy
Renee Espriu
Sorry, I meant ‘practice’. Guess I’m still tired from vacation.
ladynimue
oh I love the form !! suits me to the T 😀
( I am never able to express myself in short 😉 )
Sharp Little Pencil
Glad you liked it, Nimue! Love, Amy
a.m. trumble
so very cool!! it’s so catching and it grabs you. and I agree whole-heartedly.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amy, thanks so much for this “captivating” comment! And your agreement is good, too… Amy
Mr. Walker
Amy, it’s a good poem. I like how you use “voice” – and it’s a great prompt idea. I look forward to giving it a try.
Richard
Sharp Little Pencil
I’d be thrilled to see the results, Richard. Thank you for the compliment! Amy
vivinfrance
I don’t know how I missed this first time round, but I’m glad Neil gave us the link and is using your tempting prompt. Time will be needed to mull it over, as your poem has to be an uncopiable example. Oh, to eliminate the me, me, me in me!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Viv… and now I have to write another one, too!! LOL I’m screwed. Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Love your poem! And what a great idea for a prompt!!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Mad. You could have knocked me over with a feather when Neil posted that!! So happy! Coming by for a laugh now… peace, Amy
nan
I like the message even more than the form. Like Neil, I like the progression. I also enjoyed going back and re-reading the first line to each of the stanzas for a complete take on giving it up, letting it go, letting it in and coming to a complete stop. Nice. Can’t wait to put this equation to work this week. FUN! Thanks.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Nan, I’m so happy Neil posted this and that you are pleased with the form! I appreciate your kind words very much and am excited about what folks will come up with… Peace, Amy
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Sharp Little Pencil
Margo, thanks for including this in your HUGE list of prompts. I’m stopping by next Tuesday for Tryouts! Peace, Amy
Kellie Elmore
Amy this is great! It really resonates with me as I have many times fought with myself saying much of the same.
Been a long time…hope you’re happy and well love. Xox
Kellie
Sharp Little Pencil
Kellie, thanks so much, and glad we are in touch, too! Yes, the surrender is seen as a weakness, but it can be a real strength. Peace, and I’ll stop by and see you, Amy
ms pie
classic slp…. it has a rhythmic slow as a wave coming to shore…
Sharp Little Pencil
The form sort of came out as I wrote. Don’t know if it will ‘catch on,’ and don’t really care! It was so soothing to write…
Editing gig will tie me up until 9/15, so forgive me if I am scarce. Thanks, Pie, Amy