ODE TO WRAPPING PAPER
You sigh as you unroll, your stars
cartwheel and your candy clouds cluster.
The scent of paper newness and
an unwrinkled curl hold back my wrist
as I trim your party music into a square.
Do you know you conceal dreams?
One tear reveals, peels, unseals.
© 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham. All rights reserved.
Helen Frost has challenged us to write an ode poem this month, following these instructions:
Choose an object (a seashell, a hairbrush, a bird nest, a rolling pin). It should not be anything symbolic (such as a doll, a wedding ring, or a flag). Write five lines about the object, using a different sense in each line (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Then ask the object a question, listen for its answer, and write the question, the answer, or both.Click HERE to read her sample poem, "Ode to a River."
Post your poem on our March 2017 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, March 31st, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her latest novel-in-poems from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/Macmillan:
You grabbed me immediately with your opening, "You sigh as you unroll." What a perfect description of the sound of paper unraveling. Thanks for unwrapping our new month of ode poems, Brenda!
ReplyDeleteAhhh.. nicely done Brenda. I love that your poem captures the excitement of gift giving. The paper is doing cartwheels of happiness as it fulfills it's purpose. I think it must know what joy awaits!
ReplyDeleteWell done. I like that "party music", Brenda. It's always nice to think of the gift being wrapped in special paper, and you've made it even more special with your poem.
ReplyDeleteGreat subject, Brenda! I like the feel of your word choices, those stars cartwheeling and dreams being revealed.
ReplyDeleteWonderful descriptions Brenda I love the image pf paper doing cartwheels
ReplyDeleteNicely done, Brenda...love the last line.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. The first two lines are fantastic! I adore wrapping presents and this description of the paper is spot on. The ode inspired the idea of writing a haiku on the bits of cut-off pieces of paper about the pattern.
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, wrapping paper concealing dreams; what a wonderful thought, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWonderful images. Who doesn't get excited at seeing s wrapped package? Great idea.
ReplyDeleteYour poem captures the feel, sound, and excitement of wrapping paper.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, Ode to Wrapping Paper is a gift to us. I don't think I remember ever reading a poem about w.p. Artists would love to illustrated this. Since wrapping paper is a big part of many children's lives, perhaps a Highlights magazine or other children's pub. would want you to submit it. I know I do.
ReplyDeleteJust a tiny edit. I read tear as the drop from the eye. If you do submit it to a children's magazine, you may want to consider rip as a sub. But its lovely just as it is, too.
Hi Jan, I thought once it was published online that a publisher wouldn't be interested? I would love to submit it, of course. Thanks!
DeleteOthers have more wisdom/experience than me, but look at some chapbooks & see how the credits can succinctly acknowledge poems previously published.
DeleteA specific children's market may not take it unless it is original to them, especially if they buy all rights, but I just feel has so much appeal. Maybe a craft magazine? Something along those lines. LOVE it.
Thanks, everyone! I thought I was being a bit silly, but I know how excited my daughter got when I wrapped her birthday presents and she kept visiting, wondering and dreaming about them. I read her the poem, and she knew immediately that I was describing her birthday presents.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, silly or not.....that's a great ODE! That whole "once online" thing gets me too. I wish I could produce twin poems....one to share and one to submit. Alas, I can only handle one at a time.
ReplyDeleteFavorite line: "Do you know you conceal dreams?"
ReplyDeleteI love looking (or being made to look at) at commonplace, or silly things, in different, big ways. Great job!
Nice work at crafting an ode, Helen Frost style, Brenda.
ReplyDelete