DMC: "Alphabet Coaching" by Jesse Anna Bornemann

ALPHABET COACHING

Excuse me, please! I’m eager to
Address all 26 of you.
I think that I heard someone say
You’d like to form a poem today?
There’s little doubt you’re each endowed
With stellar skills! You should be proud!
I’m not here to suppress your style
But, rather, to enhance it while
I teach you to work as a group.
A lithe and lovely letter-troupe!
First, some warm-ups . . . take your time.
Maybe make a simple rhyme?
Nice job! (Or, I mean, could be worse.)
Now, can you stretch into a verse?
That’s it! Oh, wait – you missed a beat.
No, you don’t have two left feet!
I’d never say that. I’m impressed!
Fine, I can see why you’re stressed.
But stress is needed. Rhythm too.
Don’t choke now. There’s work to do!
So, that’s it? Our session’s done?
I thought that we were having fun.
An artist must stick to her craft!
What if we call this our first draft?

© 2017 Jesse Anna Bornemann. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.