TODAY (a shadorma)
It’s today
Came upon me fast
Heard a bird
Opened my eyes
Surprise! Before I blink twice
It’s over
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (doncha love that name?), the suggestion was to reach into your jar of short scribbles, pick out a slip (or the back of an envelope, or a cocktail napkin, or the back of a church announcement!), and expand into a poem – surprise, a shadorma from one who generally eschews form. Peace, Amy
“Extreme” by Jaime Clark, used by permission. *
SCREWED OVER AGAIN (a shadorma)
She seems fine
Beneath the surface
heartbroken
and punctured
He dug deep in his toolbox
Used piercing hardware
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Imaginary Garden with Read Toads asked for a shadorma based on one of many photos by talented photographer Jaime Clark, who graciously allowed all toads (!) to use on our blogs. Hooray for sharing! I’ll return the favor with a link to Jaime’s site below. This is, as always, also posted at my poetic woodshop, Poets United. Peace, Amy
* View more of Jaime’s magnificent photography HERE AT HER SITE.
Off-prompt today… soothing thoughts from the sickbed of yours truly… and it’s written in one of the few forms I have been able to capture with any sense of satisfaction – the shadorma. Peace, Amy
Late At Night (a shadorma)
Late at night
A fine resting place
‘neath the stars
on soft grass
bathed in moonlight still spilling
silver on the field
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
This is also published at my Poem A Day home, Writer’s Island, and at Poets United.
The shadorma is a Spanish form of poetry, following a specific structure. I have always felt limited by forms because it felt like stuffing sausage – only so many words, syllables, etc., per line. During this semi-sabbatical from daily posting to Poetic Asides, I have allowed myself room to breathe, and some of those breaths have drawn forms into my being. Weird, huh?
To find out more about a variety of forms, visit Poetic Asides and scroll down to Robert’s list. Click on the links and try writing some yourself. Amy
TREASURE (a shadorma)
Her treasured
not measured in jewels
nor by money
but in love
demonstrated by sharing
all she had
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 