Hardest to Write

Dear Reader,

It is done. #NaPoWriMo 2015 is in the books, and I have successfully followed every prompt, and I have managed to write 30 poems in 30 days. Wow! I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me is happy that it is done, part of me is really going to miss it. I could not have got to this point without my wife Dianne. She encourages me and proof reads my stuff before I publish it. Thank you, my dear. I love you. And to Lizzi, Jesi and Cindy....another whirlwind month of craziness, tears, hugs and (allegedly) pictures (AHEM LIZZI!!!). Thank you 3 musketeers so much. And finally dear reader, thank you. Thank you for bearing with me, and thank you for all the feedback on my work. Let's do it again in October.

Today's prompt was to write a poem from the bottom up. So, we had to write the last line first and work our way up to the first line. This is harder than it sounds. But I did it. And trust me dear reader, this poem, out of all 30, was the hardest to write. 

Rod E. Kok
April 30, 2015

This month of poetry

has been

a lot of work, but

as my thoughts flowed,

my pen recorded

this magical time as

memories were born.

I’m glad I was able

to take part,

for it truly is

is an experience

I will never forget

I am overwhelmed

with emotion

now that my mind is

telling me

this journey is

about to end.

My heart is heavy

and my eyes

are filled with tears,

for the last one

is the hardest to write.

Inside My Heart

Good morning dear reader. Today is the penultimate day of #NaPoWriMo2015. The prompt today is something that at first seemed odd, and awkward to write about but as I thought about it, it came to me that this is exactly what I wanted. The prompt gives me the opportunity to write about a subject (or subjects, as you will soon see) that is very dear to me. Mention has been made in previous introductions this month of the 3 poets I hang out with on Twitter. We are a tight knit group. But, I won’t say any more about them. Read my poem. The prompt was to write ‘a review’ of something, or someone. Think along the lines of a book review. I took this prompt in the only direction I could. I chose to write an Acrostic, and finished it up with a quatrain. Lizzi, Jesi and Cindy, this poem is for you. I value you all so much. Thank you for the love and support. Always together, yet always apart.

Rod E. Kok

April 29, 2015

Four of us, drawn together by words

Our passions, our talents, on display for all

Ultimately we write alone, yet we bleed for each other

Responding in kind, we share a love for this craft.

Many tears get shed

Under the weight of emotion

Searching for interpretation

Keeping close to our prompts

Eager to pen our best yet

Thoughts of inadequacy fill us all

Even though our works are brilliant

Each of us has doubt,

Reason goes out the window in a moment of quiet

Searching continues for inner peace.

Lightning in a bottle, vibrant and alive

Inspiring, for her talent is overwhelming.

Zero days off, her work always amazing.

Zany at times, she always makes me smile.

I believe that there is no us without you.

Jam and crumpets, tea and sugar

Everything about you is amazing and fun

Seriously talented, you carry us all to new heights.

Igniting passion to all who read your work, you inspire me.

Color of spring, greens and reds is how I see you

Insecure at times, yet so full of intensely profound words

Nuances of seriousness, playful and jovial is who you are.

Deserving of everyone’s love. ‘Nuff said.

Yes, an integral part of our little group.

Regales us with words of love, passion, desire

Overtly displays his feelings, yet lacks confidence

Depicts himself as the old man in our circle.

No more words need to be said

My tribute is done, my pen it has bled.

Always together yet always apart

Forever remaining inside of my heart.

The Bridge

Good afternoon, dear reader. Today our prompt was to write about a bridge. Initially I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it, although I knew I wanted to cross a bridge. Finally I decided to write an Etheree, which is a poem that has 10 lines, with the syllables being 1, 2...all the way to 10. I hope you enjoy to poem, and I really hope I counted my syllables correctly.

Rod E. Kok

April 28, 2015

Dark

visions

prevent me

from being whole.

Yet the love you give

is the one bridge I seek

to carry me across this

gloomy morass which threatens me.

Your hand guides me to the only place

where love and passion exist without fail.

My Day

Good morning dear reader. 4 days...yes, there is only 4 days left in #NaPoWriMo. I am sure that some of my Facebook friends are looking forward to that, for now they won’t have to see my timeline filled with links to my poetry.

Today’s prompt is to write a hay(na)ku). Created by the poet Eileen Tabios, the hay(na)ku is a variant on the haiku. A hay(na)ku consists of a three-line stanza, where the first line has one word, the second line has two words, and the third line has three words. You can write just one, or chain several together into a longer poem. I chose my subject to loosely reflect what my today is like.

Please enjoy.

Rod E. Kok

April 27, 2015

Coffee -

morning dose

of caffeinated goodness.

Working -

planning ahead,

playing with budgets.

Relaxing -

quality time

with my family.

Sleeping -

preparing for

the next day.

Time to Die

Dear reader, today we are prompted to write a persona poem, or a poem that is written in the voice of another. We were not given a subject to write on, and this made the poem that much more difficult to write. Ultimately, I chose to write a free verse poem in two parts, based on two of my favorite historical figures. Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia have long held fascination for me, and I have spent a lot of time reading about them. The words I write are pure fiction. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the prompt.

Rod E. Kok

April 26, 2015

Nicholas

My sleep is troubled,

vivid dreams of terror

keep me from resting.

I’ve many hours to reflect

on this frail existence

I now live.

Where did it all

go wrong?

I fear for my children,

dear Olga and Maria,

Tatiana and Anastasia.

What will become of you?

And Alexei. Oh my son,

I wish my kingdom

could be yours,

but alas, there is

no empire to give.

All I had is

gone.

I pray to my God

to protect my wife.

Dear Alix,

forgive my weakness.

I wish things could

be different.

I hear the boots of men

stomping in the hall,

demanding we come

with them, for safety.

I hear the sound

of gunfire,

bullets are tearing through

all that I love.

Farewell my family.

Goodbye, dear Russia.

Remember me fondly.

It is time to die.

Alexandra

Do I have regrets?

This life of luxury

is filled with

false illusions.

How can I be happy

in the midst of

sorrow?

My heart beats wildly

when I think of

how life will be

for my darling Alexei.

This family curse

haunts him, prevents him

from living.

Will there be release

for him, or will he

be cursed to live

in the grips of death?

And what will become

of my beautiful girls?

Will they be slaves

to royalty as I myself

am a slave?

And Nicholas...my Tsar,

my husband.

Have we ever been

friends?

I hate this land

you rule,

it is as cold towards me

as your subjects are.

We now await

our fate,

what will happen to

us.

We have fallen

from grace.

What lies ahead?

I hear the boots of men

stomping in the hall,

demanding we come

with them, for safety.

What are the guns for?

My Nicholas lies dead,

my children scream.

All I hold dear

is now gone.

It is time

to die.