2012 Poetry Month

Imitate Your Favorite Poem

xEli at the dog park 4-11 (c) 2011 April Halprin Wayland, all rights reserved
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Who’s coming in the dog park gate?!?!?!
Okay…first read this poem:
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THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE
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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
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And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
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I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
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Here’s my poem for today:
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THE DOG PARK OF REDONDO BEACH
by April Halprin Wayland
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I will arise and go now, and go to Redondo Beach,
To the dog park gang there—my pup can hardly wait;
Nine owners I will know there, my mutt will romp unleashed,
As soon as I unlock the gate.
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And I shall have some peace then, for peace comes when he’s tired,
Dropping to the rug and sleeping—I’ll rhyme while he does doze;
Then I can focus, think now, and this pooch won’t be wired,
Won’t poke my thigh with his questioning nose.
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I will arise and go now, for when my dog is young,
I can’t get any work done until he’s tuckered out;
I’m grateful for all dog parks, give thanks for panting tongues,
I know now what to write about.
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c) 2011 April Halprin Wayland, all rights reserved
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The story behind the poem:
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My friend, Alison McGhee emails a poem of the week.  I love this.  Just enough to read.  Just enough to absorb.
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Today she sent THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE.  I’ve read it many times before but today I decided to take it apart and see how it was made.  I suppose my process is like a seamstress who takes apart a dress so she can see how to make one like it.
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I worked out the rhyming pattern.  I analyzed the rhythm of each line.  I read it aloud to my dog, Eli.  Then I chose my topic and sewed my own dress from Yeat’s pattern.
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It’s your turn.  Choose a favorite poem.  Take it apart.  Write your own.  And for heaven’s sake, enjoy!
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Gizmo, Murphy, Eli & Butter--the husky-- at the dog park 2-6-11 x
All tuckered out…

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