NaPoWriMo 2015, Day 5: Spendthrift

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Today we were to write a poem inspired by Emily Dickinson.  The first poem below is the one I wrote.  Hers is given last.

Spendthrift

I exist in silence­­—
rare life hidden from gross eyes
until an instant ambush
rocks me in surprise.

Pierces all my “shouldn’ts,”
spends my hoarded dimes,
melts my frozen assets
saved for future times.

We dare not look too closely,
lest we see adventure’s end.
If we knew what came of it,
we’d doubtless never spend.

We cannot live for endings
lest the story never start,
For all that lives in memory
is paid for in the heart.


The Prompt: Find an Emily Dickinson poem – preferably one you’ve never previously read – and take out all the dashes and line breaks. Make it just one big block of prose. Now, rebreak the lines. Add words where you want. Take out some words. Make your own poem out of it! (I chose the below poem:)

I know that He exists (365)
by Emily Dickinson

I know that He exists.
Somewhere – in silence –
He has hid his rare life
From our gross eyes.

’Tis an instant’s play –
’Tis a fond Ambush –
Just to make Bliss
Earn her own surprise!

But – should the play
Prove piercing earnest –
Should the glee – glaze –
In Death’s – stiff – stare –

Would not the fun
Look too expensive!
Would not the jest –
Have crawled too far!

 


11 thoughts on “NaPoWriMo 2015, Day 5: Spendthrift”

  1. Pingback: High Noon With Emily | lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

  2. Pingback: High Noon With Emily Dickinson | lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I probably have a less God-based view of spirituality than Emily does, but perhaps not. There is a little bitter edge to her poem, I think, which had me thinking she, too had her doubts. I think in another age she would have been an animist. I always appreciate your close attention and comments, ABC! Judy

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  5. Pingback: Emily | lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

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