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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCelebrate with me!
A very recent poem is going to be published in the periodical Decanto, from England!
I just got the email today! It's so validating to have someone who doesn't know me want to publish my work.
Midnight Balloons
purple shadows
damp
and
cold
in the dark
on the sidewalk
black sky no moon
lights off
no hustle
for this
locked building
balloons tethered
limp from days
aloft
sagging strings
not even trying
to
float
away
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)nolabear
(41,991 posts)Congratulations. What a great affirmation of your talent and dedication. Kee 'em coming!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It really is. This one is the result of my recent workshop...
You can bet I'll keep 'em coming!
If I don't let the words out, they make me crazy!
Mira
(22,380 posts)puts me right there to see it and feel it.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)This is what I was trying to do...
It was a Jiffy Lube, of all places, and I saw it on the way home from my workshop. The way it looked just struck me and this poem was the result.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Wow, that is one beautiful graphic!
You are truly too kind...
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)And this awesome poem and wonderful news only reinforces that feeling.
Congratulations!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I am truly grateful for your very kind remarks, sweetie...
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)May the poetry force be with you.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I always hope for that!
I guess it was, this time...
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It means a lot...
backtoblue
(11,345 posts)Your talent is inspiring and congrats on your publication!!!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I've never thought of myself as awesome...
That means a lot!
ohiosmith
(24,262 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Phentex
(16,334 posts)That's wonderful, CP!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Glad you enjoyed...
Raven
(13,899 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)You never know when inspiration will strike...
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Kali
(55,019 posts)you should submit your xmas card photo to a few contests or somehting. really! (not that I know anything more about photography than poetry, but I like dem pichers better'n werds hee hee)
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Aw, shucks, girl!
I gotta tell you, the professional photographers are head and shoulders above me in quality! I get a good shot now and then.
Glad you liked the poem...even if you do like pictures better than words, lol!
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Nice work!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Now and then, I get it right...
And then a happy publisher does too!
emilyg
(22,742 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Aristus
(66,449 posts)Great images. No surprise that it's being published. Congratulations!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I really appreciate your very kind words!
applegrove
(118,767 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
.
.
Flowing language (except for the effective and not-at-all jarring
double-dead-end streets of Lines 3 & 4 -- intriguing).
.
The epitome of distillation... I don't see a wasted word in it.
.
It seems to hint you were in a dark or low or negative mood at its
conception -- I certainly hope you're feeling better!!!
.
.
.
Funny, I've been noticing and thinking about balloons myself recently --
starting with about a week ago when I was walking on a sidewalk and
facing oncoming traffic. At a fair distance in front of me and rising
fairly quickly was a double-line of big orange balloons in an inverted
U-shape (like you might walk through or under at a party or ceremony).
SOMEHOW, they were maintaining their U-shape. I stared mesmerized
for minutes until they disappeared.
.
They were behind and above the oncoming drivers -- and when I was
aware of my immediate surroundings again, I laughed to think what
THEY were thinking of the slack-jawed man standing on the eside of
the road staring up and into space.
.
.
.
I'm certainly happy you've started submitting your work again -- it's
extremely gratifying to get positive feedback from the professionals of
one's art/craft.
.
You know, if only Kali wrote poetry of your caliber (snicker), she would
be the Poet Lariat of Arizona.
.
.
.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Not sure I follow what you're saying about lines 3 and 4...
I do make every effort to have every word speak clearly. I want my poetry to be distilled down to the minimum, while maximizing the impact.
I love your balloon story! That must have been quite a sight. Your description makes me see them...
Poet Lariat?
Oh, and I meant to mention that I was not in a down mood at all, when I saw the sight I wrote about. I was on my way home from the workshop when I saw this, and I was feeling quite happy with how things were going. And I'm still happy!
Thank you for your critique! I really appreciate it.
av8rdave
(10,573 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Ohio Joe
(21,761 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)AllenVanAllen
(3,134 posts)not even trying
to
float
away
I love that.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I want to say how much your critique means to me...
As an artist in your own right...
Those last lines just showed up in my head, as though there were some sort of poetic synthesis going on...
I appreciate your kind words so very much...
denbot
(9,901 posts)Mucho congrats!!!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I have!
Thanks, sweetie!
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It was a Jiffy Lube place...
mentalsolstice
(4,461 posts)Decanto appears to be a very "competitive" venue. Bless your heart for all your efforts, and it paid off.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)The editor has printed my work before...
But it's always a very pleasant surprise.
IcyPeas
(21,901 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It certainly was!
bluesbassman
(19,379 posts)Nice to be recognized for your efforts, and I like the poem too. Congratulations.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It IS such a good feeling...
Luciferous
(6,085 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)MrsBrady
(4,187 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)And a great boost to the old ego--just in time for the holidays.
Ro-BAIR, Anne, Zorro and Juanita Chang are hoping to join you soon!!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It is a grand boost to my ego, and to my sense of worth as a poet too!
I'm hoping so much to see my old friends too!
Keep me informed, OK?
Did you get the card? I don't know if you've been home to Germany yet...that's where it went.
Merry Christmas!
6000eliot
(5,643 posts)You have gotten so good at writing poetry. I'm envious.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Please don't be envious, sweetie...
It takes work, and I still have much to learn.
I let the world around me, and my own emotions and thoughts inspire me...
You can do it too...
And thank you for your very kind words!
abq e streeter
(7,658 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)It paints a picture in my mind and evokes emotion.
I'm not much of a poet or a very good interpreter of it. Was this an exercise in imagery for you or is there a metaphor there?
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)It was just my interpretation of what I saw...a Jiffy Lube building, late at night, when I was on my way home from my recent workshop. The poem describes how I felt on seeing this building, standing there in the dark. And the balloons were really sagging! So, no, not much metaphor going on here...
And so, yes, more an exercise in imagery...
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
sibelian
(7,804 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Stuart G
(38,439 posts)Many more poems to be published in the future...
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I hope so...
I need to get off my tush and start submitting more...
HipChick
(25,485 posts)that's awesome..
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)Oh, I didn't know you write too!
Sometime, you should share with us...
I'm glad you like my little work.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)The Lounge is very proud of you!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I guess you all are.....This post went up on Wednesday.....and you're still responding!
I appreciate your very kind words so much, sweetie...
Dystopian
(6,421 posts)Peggy
Congratulations!
I love the poem...
Feelings and visual ....
I'm celebrating with you...
peace~
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,688 posts)I'm so glad you like my poem!
Thanks for celebrating with me, sweetie...