Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A Letter to My Face

Dear Face,

How can you be so anomalous?
A shriveled-up peach so barbarous

With parentheses and crow’s feet
Like a Language Arts backbeat

A perimeter of fluffy hair
A TRESStle, a tussle; grey beware

I know you’ve screamed in mirror fights
Every little thing gonna be all right*

But my kid can’t draw you, blockhead
And my serenity has plummeted

So won’t you set the record straight?
Backtrack ten years, don’t hesitate.

©laurie kolp

Prompt inspirations:

Poetry Jam- Face the Facts

NaPoWriMo, Day 17-
Today’s prompt is an epistolary poem — a poem in the form of a letter. In particular, I challenge you to write a poem addressing an inanimate object — Dear Headache, Dear Goldfish Bowl, etc. But that’s not all. Try to include at least 4 of the below in your poem:
1) a song lyric- Every little thing gonna be all right*
2) a historical fact
3) an oddball adjective-noun combination (like red grass or loud silence)
4) a fruit- peach
5) the name of a street in your neighborhood- Serenity
6) a measure of distance- feet

*Bob Marley- Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Also inspired by Brian Miller's One for the Money, Two for the Show

16 comments:

Brian Miller said...

haha...oh my...dont let your self esteem drip down the drain, kids can be so funny....

(at least that is what i am telling myself after my boy drew mine)

With parentheses and crow’s feet
Like a Language Arts backbeat

ha i like those lines...

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I so enjoyed this poem, Laurie!!!! You incorporated all the prompt words so effortlessly.......love the humor!!!!

Kerry O'Connor said...

Excellent title and very enjoyable poem - perhaps being so close to home.

Laurie Kolp said...

Thanks... my youngest tells it like it is (but I'm going to keep on trying to get him to draw me).

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Well done, and yes, our children can be brutally honest (once found my youngest, my daughter the writer, once refer to me as a "Fat Ape." Cracked me up.)

BTW, I have seen your pic and do not remotely agree with your assessment.

:)

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Well done, and yes, our children can be brutally honest (once found my youngest, my daughter the writer, once refer to me as a "Fat Ape." Cracked me up.)

BTW, I have seen your pic and do not remotely agree with your assessment.

:)

Mark Kerstetter said...

Laurie, you have a lovely face, and I wish you'd put it higher up on the sidebar. Every time I come here I think you're Sheila Moore!

Love the poem, and, alas, I do know how it feels. I send such missives out (albeit far less poetic) on a regular basis.

Mary said...

Yes, it is sometimes quite a shock when one looks in the mirror and sees someone you aren't! I had my granddaughter draw me the other day just to see what she would come up with. One can't be too insulted by a 4-year-old's view! LOL.

Helen said...

You are lovely, young and talented .. no need to consider regressing. Incorporating all of those prompts in your letter - stellar!

Peggy said...

Either your photos lie or you really do not do your face justice in your poem. LOL But I like how you used this for the two prompts.

Lolamouse said...

Hilarious! I don't understand how sometimes my mother's face gets into my mirror!

Grace said...

Ha..ha...NO need to regress Laurie. You are lovely as you are ~

Hannah said...

I love the honest/humorous voice you use in this, Laurie and your skillful multi-prompting is impressive! Something I need to learn! Smiles to you my friend!

Linda H. said...

OMG. I can't believe you worked all those things into your poem. I've said it before but I'll say it again...
you ROCK, Laurie Kolp!

;-)

Linda H. said...

OMG. I can't believe you worked all those things into your poem. I've said it before but I'll say it again...
you ROCK, Laurie Kolp!

;-)

Mary Mansfield said...

To quote my favorite line from Steel Magnolias, "Time marches on, and eventually you realize it's marching across your face!" A very clever poem, nicely done :)