DVerse Poets: Spill

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This one word prompt was “Spill” and called for just 44 words to be used. If you are a word-counter, oh ye of little faith, you will find there are just 43 words in the body of the poem because, after reducing the first draft from 96 words, I didn’t realize until after I’d posted that the 44 wasn’t supposed to include the title.  Although I could easily and happily have reinstalled the last word painfully cut, I cannot because the poem is actually a photograph that took me forever to print out (because the printer isn’t cooperating) and photograph (because I needed to find a spot without a late afternoon glare) and adjust the poem to make all the words the same darkness because I never did find a spot without a glare.) So please just consider the title the first word of the poem.  It really is, anyway! (WordPress does not believe in letting us “shape” poems, thus the need to print up and photograph it.)

 

Want to play along?  If so, go here to find the prompt and other poems written to it:
https://dversepoets.com/2016/06/13/quadrille-11/

30 thoughts on “DVerse Poets: Spill”

    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      So I’m forgiven for not reading the rules closely enough? I was just so anxious to get to my assignment, don’t y’know???? I had 44 and thought, “I bet that includes the title” so cut one. And I REALLY liked the word I cut, but oh well. Probably meant to be.

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      1. whimsygizmo's avatarwhimsygizmo

        The title is not included in the word count, but truth be told, I am not clicking around counting words on everybody’s pieces. Just enjoying poems. 😉 If something feels super long, or super short, I might notice. Otherwise, I’m just caught up in the talent and awesomeness of it all. 🙂

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  4. Grace's avatarGrace

    The ending words gave me pause….I will take it positively though.

    Welcome to D’verse and hope you will also visit and comment on other poems. Have a wonderful week.

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  6. Manja Maksimovič's avatarManja Mexi Movie

    Your technical problem-solving reminds me heavily of me. Just two examples:
    – In my pre-internet days, I downloaded a demo bridge-learning software (at my parents’ who had internet yet) but it was only good for 24 hours. Therefore after installing it on my computer I promptly kept turning the computer clock back a full day before bedtime and voila, I lived the same day one more time, and one more, and one more… Until one day when I was too late.
    – When I finally got the internet, one of the first things I did was download rare concert song versions by my favourite band (Pearl Jam) in mp3 format, but then realised that this was no good if I wished to listen to them in my car. Therefore I recorded them with my cassette-player through computer speakers to a tape. VERY high-tech.

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Jane..I’ve read through it and I’m feeling a bit dizzy! If I could do this after I’d written the poem it would be one thing, but I think having to remember all that code would get in the way of my process during the writing, which is when I do it now. Have I turned into that old dog you can’t teach new tricks to??? I used to use the   to prevent double spacing between lines, but now I just hit shift return instead of return and it accomplishes the same thing. As for the 

      AH, Would you just hit this once at the beginning of the document nd then space in the number of lines you want to space in for each line?  You see?  The directions are never complete enough for non-html moi!

And, now that I look at it, the AH must be part of the poem and not part of the  html.  At any rate I'll try it and appreciate your helping me out on this.  It will make a big difference if it works.  oxoxo


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      1. janebasilblog's avatarjanebasilblog

        I copied the relevant bits into a notebook and refer to it when I need to. Maybe I’ll do a post to illustrate…
        Your AH had me confused until I checked the Advanced HTML page – yup, it’s part of the poem 🙂

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    2. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Also, can I do this in Word and then copy to my blog or does it have to be done in the editor itself? I shall experiment. If this works, I’ll love ya forever! Probably will, anyway…

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      1. janebasilblog's avatarjanebasilblog

        I use Open Office, and when I first started copying and pasting from there, it worked in the main, but I don’t think it does now…
        I’m sure I’ll love you forever, too – you’re an inspiration… xxx

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Walt. It is fun to sculpt with words. A friend sent me instructions about how to use html to overcome the WordPress instructions, but afraid I’d have a right brain/left brain riot if I had to apply the rules every line. Perhaps it is easier than it looks, so must give it a try.

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      1. lynn__'s avatarlynn__

        If you simply wish to indent different lines, you can use the indent tools on second line of WP Visual writing tools (when writing new post), on right side. I keep discovering new things on WP!

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        1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

          Hi Lynn… that hasn’t worked so well for me with individual lines, though, and you can’t choose the number of spaces.. that is set. Someone else sent me instructions to use the html but all that stuff gets in the way of the poetry, I find. Perhaps used afterwards is okay, but in the composition, the spacing has to happen as I write and to be done as quickly and easily as possible. If you now how to make the indent tools do your bidding rather than their own, I’d appreciate knowing..Always something new to learn and I appreciate your taking the time to share your knowledge!

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Sarah. This was a fun challenge. I appreciate your taking the time to comment–and so satisfactorily, as well! See you in the next prompt if I don’t get lost on the way!

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I didn’t want to use spill for a third time, but really prefer it. Leaks is a bit too medical!!! But the point really was that both truth and life leak out of us.. and no, not always pretty.

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