Write-O-Rama

Well, I made it. A full day of writing workshops at Write-O-Rama at Hugo House yesterday. I took 6 workshops - well, only 5 since I took one twice. Each workshop was 50 minutes. 

I learned a lot, wrote a lot, met some really great people and was completely exhausted by the time I got home. I learned two new poetic forms - the Pantoum and the Bop. Got a great idea for something to do at the annual Blue House Thanksgiving. 

Oh and I had my picture taken for the Hugo House newsletter. 

So here is the pantoum I wrote yesterday. This is a poetic form from Malayasia.  It is written in four line stanzas - the second and fourth lines of each stanza become the first and the third lines of the next stanza. The very first line of the poem becomes the very last line and the third line of the poem is in the last stanza as the second line. So here is my first attempt with the pantoum:

Because I had one more chance

I watch the clouds

billowing grey, sparkling white

pale blue sky

I watch the clouds

outside the bus window

pale blue sky

the sound of wet concrete

Outside the bus window

the sky turns dark

The sound of wet concrete

lulls me like a lullaby

The sky turns dark

the murmur of voices

lulls me like a lullaby

heading home

The murmur of voices

billowing grey, sparkling white

Heading home

Because I had one more chance.

This is an interesting form and rather intriguing to write. I think I will try more of these.