Celebrating Poetry

This is the first Celebrate Friday this month, which just happens to be National Poetry Month, so it’s only natural to celebrate poetry!

I went to Poetry Slam the first day of the month and joined an online group that is challenged to write a prompt based poem a day all month AND I have a smoking hot and sexy new Macbook that I bought lightly used from a friend—after she souped it up with more bells and whistles then a bicycle factory.

There’s a lot of ways to celebrate this month including a chance to hear Richard Blanco read in person, something I’ve looked forward to since I saw it announced last fall. So, it’s poetry, poetry and even more poetry…  this one had Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday as a prompt.

Mind Over Flatter
I was once the Ugly Duckling
hoping to be the swan
but awkward and ugly I stayed
forever backwards and wrong—
until I learned that the swan was in prison
trapped in expectations her fans made quite clear
and it was poor awkward me with nothing to lose
that could step forward in life with no fear.
Now the poor swan has faded away—
to be adored and revered was her plan
and having naught but a brief, fickle beauty
her life was finished before it began.
But the freedom of mind over flatter
is what lets the awkward fowl fly—
unencumbered by what other birds think
when touching the indigo edges of sky.

What are you celebrating?

Today’s post is part of the Celebrate the Small Things Blog Hop hosted by Lexa Cain, L.G. Keltner at Writing Off The Edge and Katie at TheCyborgMom.

Celebrate the Small Things: To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is put your name on the linky list and then post every Friday about something you’re grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life. (Originated by VikLit)