The Psalm of Useless Prayers by Nicolas Samaras - NPM1

To become holy.
To become a philanthropist by winning the lottery.
To make someone love me.
To make me taller and handsome.
To change everyone else.
To understand the opposite sex.
To have my children understand me.
To keep my hair.
To ask for things apart from good health.
To write my speech for the Nobel committee.
To have a Church without conflict.
To bargain for anything.
To fit in the clothes I wore when seventeen.
To go back and live in a time of innocence.
To live my life without fantasy --
          which is fantasy.
To not pay the cost of time on these prayers.
To have the fleeting time back.

Samaras, Nicholas "The Psalm of Useless Prayers" American Psalm, World Psalm. Ashland: The Ashland Poetry Press, 2014. 48.

NaPoWriMo - April is National Poetry Month!

since my return from a writing workshop with scott cairns in santa fe last fall, i have found myself newly invigorated with pursuing poetry. i recognize the importance of consistent work, of engaging regularly - perhaps even daily - with language. i need a literary community. i need more discipline.

which got me thinkin'.

i'm sure many of you have heard of NaNoWriMo (if you haven't, learn more about it here), and i wondered if there was anything similar for poetry. it turns out there is.

i would like to invite you to join me in an experiment - an informal National Poetry Writing Month - during the month of april. 

after all, it is national poetry month in both canada and the united states.

i am going to attempt to write a poem a day for the entire month, and would like to invite you to do the same. you can add your poems in the comment section -- perhaps even write them as responses to what i post.

i make no guarantees about the quality, nor will i commit to a specific type or length of poem. i simply commit to posting something every day before midnight.

will you join me?

please say yes.

a poem for my wife

laugh! you're only forty now. still young.
it's time to get dressed up &
shimmy your fine self to the front
& let your presence be known.

measure yourself by your divine calling
& not by the frailty of others.
rail against those who would press
in on your joy, your creativity.
engage that enemy with passion.

vie for your freedom - relentlessly -
& for the freedom of others.
never stop moving your feet.

venture deeper into the great dance.
leap into my arms; let me embrace you
in every moment's movement, let me
embrace you in wonder & thankful yes for
this is you: my bright & beautiful star.

a poem for my wife

leap! jump! run! shout!
in this moment you are free --
surprise yourself with the depth of this
abandon, embrace this particular

mystery. there is more to this
action of lunge, stretch, pivot,
reverse -- this is a dance of
intuition & passion, hope & joy.
escape into that place of refuge.

victory comes to those who dance
after dreams; & always they must.
not as they can, or when convenient.

violently hurl yourself full bodied against
lingering doubts, fear that
inserts itself into your steps.
ever vigilant, you must remain
true, steadfast, relentless.

naked & unashamed

last night we spoke
of redemption.
you almost convinced me
it was a matter of vision,
of paying attention.

i see you.
i see you.

what a frightening thought –
to be seen. known
for any length of time,
to be unable to hide
behind your not seeing.

let me return the honour
of noticing you noticing me.
let me shake hands with you.
let me belong to you.
let me be naked & unashamed,
full of glory & longing.