The Poet’s Hotline
Her words land in poems
like eggs in a skillet
She makes them sizzle
She burns the butter
Leave your poem
after the tone …
Her sonnets spill
into three message parts
until my answering machine is full
Speak in rhyme
if you’re so inclined…
With sparks flying
I hear her typing
“Sonnets are like poems wearing neckties
kind of ridiculous but demanding respect”
her new message says
Leave a haiku
and I’ll get back to you…
Holding the phone
between my ear and shoulder
like a hot potato
my pen is a spatula
slapping down notes
Let your verse be free
after the beep…
Ingredients for recipes
whipped up on the spot
The phone rings poetry
or random conversations
She’s alliterating lettuce
for a garden villanelle
~ Colleen Redman (for Mara)
Comments
"My pen is a spatula
slapping down notes"
I love that. It's perfect.
Posted by: deirdre | February 29, 2008 11:41 AM
I love it I bet she does happy weekend and then some !!!!
Posted by: sandy kezzela | February 29, 2008 12:00 PM
Another great verse full of perfectly crafted imagery.
Posted by: June | February 29, 2008 1:38 PM
Nice poetry--hope you've feeling better, I too was down over the weekend and the first part of the week with the flu. Here from Michele's today.
Posted by: sage | February 29, 2008 4:30 PM
:) "...she's alliterating lettuce..." fabulous placement of words and sounds.
much fun to read. "she makes them sizzle. She burns the butter."
yeah, YOU do!
Posted by: sky | February 29, 2008 4:43 PM
Coleen,
I can't believe you're from Hull! Love it there....I am originally from the South Shore and often went to Nantasket. Great place...great beach...kind of rocky but what the hey. Michele sent me by the way
Posted by: gemma | February 29, 2008 9:14 PM
"....Triolets, Villanelles, Rondells, Rondeaus...." These words said by "PETIT THE POET", a character in Edgar Lee Masters "SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY".....Colleen....I have NEVER seen this word (Or the others) anywhere else, ever..TILL, today!
PETIT THE POET was a very dear vulnerable character in SPOON RIVER ANTHOLGY...Have you ever read this magnificent "prose poetry"?
I LOVE YOUR POETRY, my dear Colleen. Truly. Love It!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | February 29, 2008 9:23 PM
Leave your sonnet
And I'll get right on it!
You can be terse
If you leave a verse!
Now is the time
To leave a rhyme
No need to be deep
HERE'S the beep!
It dioesn't have to be great
Just "Poetate"
Have a crack
I'll get right back!
HE! HE!
Posted by: Ruth | March 1, 2008 11:33 AM
Oh I love this - and the responses it has evoked. Now I'm tempted to leave a poem on my answering machine!
Posted by: Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah) | March 1, 2008 12:13 PM
Ruth, you crack me up!
Posted by: colleen | March 1, 2008 12:37 PM
This is very clever...did Mara appreciate it? You've gotten some really cute responses to this one!
Posted by: Deana | March 1, 2008 1:47 PM
Mara hasn't read it yet. I started this poem about six months ago but never finished it, and then picked it up again yesterday and found it was ready to come together.
Posted by: colleen | March 1, 2008 2:34 PM
I can just hear your voice on the answering machine. I used to love making up rhyming messages for you!
Here via Michele's.
Luv ya lots!
Posted by: Chrissie | March 1, 2008 5:29 PM
Hi Col,
The testing is for our own personal knowledge only and maybe an insight into others personalities - as we can share with the group of 7 (my dept) taking this test, if we choose to share the results with eachother. I think it'll be interesting.
Posted by: Chrissie | March 1, 2008 6:18 PM
this is wonderful, fun to read and very engaging
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | March 2, 2008 10:56 AM
Thanks...I think!!!
Posted by: ruth | March 4, 2008 9:24 AM
Thank you!!!
Funny--as you posted this a few days ago, I was revising the villanelle about lettuce--it hasn't made the thesis cut yet, but it is in consideration. I will reply in poetry soon...
Posted by: Mara | March 7, 2008 8:17 AM