Spring for a cup of poem

Written by Manja Maksimovič

Sometimes, rarely, I do what I’m told. If not today, on the first day of spring and World Poetry Day, when then?

I love coming across new sources of inspiration, kicks in the behind, reasons to act. One of such is provided on the blog Something to Ponder About in the shape of what appears to be Amanda and Ineke’s first monthly bilingual poetry challenge. There will be a prompt at the start of every month until October.

My entry is down below, underneath the gallery. Don’t worry, it’s short.

But first, a few images from this morning’s stroll through windy, just above-freezing Maremma in search of poetry and spring. One is celebrated today worldwide and the other only in one hemisphere.

And if I was to bring my poem to one of several bars in Slovenia today, it would buy me coffee of a certain brand. This is what I call inspired sponsorship.

Closest book, always: Jeanette Winterson, Sexing the Cherry
Page 29, seven words, use five in a poem:
Gentleman/perhaps/tenderly/dogs/sea-sick/belongings/hand

Go on

Yesterday you kissed my hand, twice.

Tenderly, the gentleman that you are.

You told me not to be sad three times.

Does sea-sick mean to be sick of the sea?

I hope not. I’m not done with it.

All my belongings are here

even though I spelled that “belongoings”.

I belong and it is ongoing –

my love

of the sea and you.

For A and I Poetry Challenge

26 thoughts on “Spring for a cup of poem”

  2. It struck me that the photos of the countryside you posted could be absolutely anywhere. Could be Australia, America or Slovenia! It is the architecture, the people, weather and material things that differentiate each place more often than the landscape. I love the drone photo, it made me look twice and for a moment believe!! The nuances in your captions made me think more deeply, as did your poem itself. To say those words are wonderful seems trite but they do sound heartfelt and my mind shapes all sorts of images of love and loss upon reading them. That those words began, over here in Australia, with a prompt makes me smile. I have no doubt your poetry would be appreciated but I remain impressed that there are bars that DO appreciate the qualities of words in your town. I hope you continue to post further poems in this challenge. I am intrigued to see what you come up with next month!

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    1. Thank you so much, Amanda, for your kind and thoughtful comment. Maybe I didn’t make it clear – the photos are from Italy, southern Tuscany, where I live now (for the last 5 years). But I’m from Slovenia and I heard of this annual free coffee for a poem campaign they have there on World Poetry Day. I’m glad you like what I’ve come up with and I’m intrigued what happens next month just as much. 🙂

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      1. Ok, Tuscany it is!! Lol!! I have not been to either place, near to them, but not those exact places, so thanks for clarifying! What a great initiative. I will have to dig around to see if there is something happening in my local area to celebrate Wold Poetry day.

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    1. Thank you, Scooj. But did you see that I mention you? 🙂 I wasn’t sure if that was art or just child’s play on the wall. The closest we get to it around here though. And there is still that Nazi cross on the primary school. 😦

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      1. I hadn’t read the caption (my bad) but had noticed the graffiti. It is a naive attempt at wildstyle writing, but everyone has to start somewhere and although I realise this kind of thing drives most people crazy, I quite like it. If the artist keeps practising who knows they could end up like Banksy.

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