Beginning with "Life is the only way," write your own list poem using "A Note" as a model. Your poem must use the same number of words and structure as Szymborska's.
Try to find a rhythm to the words you choose (note the number of syllables as well as the number of words). Be careful to punctuate exactly the same way and be aware of how the poet has used punctuation to divide and compare ideas.
Post a copy of your poem to the blog before coming to Wednesday's class.
Be prepared to do a recital of your poem (please practice ahead of time!) and give some short remarks on the process you followed and any difficulties you experienced.
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Another Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to breathe icy winter air,
plunge your hands into pockets,
shiver on streets;
to be a friend,
or cry in deep despair;
to tell someone
stories you shared already;
to squeeze fresh oranges,
savour a coffee,
to seek the best espresso shot ever.
An extraordinary time
to remember once again
a younger man
with all his lofty dreams;
and if only once
to share the worst pain,
finish something started long ago,
lose sight of your destination;
and to remember a hug from someone that you love;
and to continue on not recognizing
many failures.
—by Brad Hyde; November 21, 2010
Note: I noticed that with mult-syllable words that, sometimes, it is better to match the rhythm you want than an exact word count on the line. Use your best judgement and read the poem, out loud, to yourself again and again (and again!) to get the sounds right.
It's hard work, I know!
Life is the only way
To be trapped in trees,
Pause your breath in a forest,
Rise on winds;
To be a lion,
Or combat his wild life;
To tell truth
From everything it,s not;
To embrace a dream,
And hold onto it,
To seek the least of all misapprehensions.
An extraordinary occasion
To remember for a moment
The pillow talk
Between you and love one;
And if only once
To fall into a ditch,
End up drowned in one downfall or another,
Mislay your passport at the airport;
And to chase fire fly in the air with your eyes;
And keep on not feeling
Something important.
Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to exhaust on products packing line,
catch your breath front a machine,
fall on floor;
to be a labour,
or seek a way out;
to tell the coast
from dim endless ocean;
to strive on several efforts,
aged in time,
to seek the least of all possible ways.
An instant event
to record for ever
a signature on paper
with shivering hand signed on;
and if only once
to drive on wrong way,
end up missing one road or another,
lost your path in the forest;
and to follow a clue of the dream in your heart;
and to keep on trapping in
something trivial.
Life is the only way
to get passport for travel,
catch your memories in mind,
hide your tears;
to be survival,
or live the rest a lone;
to tell soul
from everything it’s not;
to squeeze inside self,
stroll in streets,
to seek the least of all possible return.
An extraordinary event
to remember first land
a strong missing
with sunset and dawn;
and if only once
to fly with the birds,
end up along painful missing,
lose your final plane ticket;
and follow the news coming with the breeze;
and keep on dreaming kissing first land.
Life is the only way
to be surrounded in dream,
run your step foe ahead,
achieve at goal;
to be an eagle,
or spread its huge wings;
to keep lenience
from everything its not;
to show forgiveness,
hug with your enemies,
to seek the least of all peacefulness.
An extraordinary time
to remember for a moment
the acceptance
of university was received by you;
and if only once
to slip on the ice
end up sprained an ankle or another,
mislay your glasses in home;
and to see your daughter looked for everywhere with you;
and keep on not feeling
something sweet.
Life is the only way
to enjoy every moment of happiness,
share your laughs with friends,
fly unto the sky;
to be a leader,
or a follower in his beliefs;
to learn honesty
from someone who always says the truth;
to squeeze stressful thoughts,
get rid off sadness,
to seek the way of pleasant moments;
An extraordinary opportunity
to change your life
a new beginning
with a lot of fun;
and if only once
to roll down the hill,
end up feeling elated and free,
mislay your mistakes in the dark;
and to conquer your fears with all your effort;
and to keep on not trying
something significant.
~A Piece of Mind~
Life is the only way
to run through the sprinklers,
relax underneath a shady tree,
discover the unknown;
to be a camera,
or to capture the beauty;
to find fulfillment,
from everything that it’s not;
to become the wealthy,
spending without limits,
to seek the least of all possible fame.
A cherished memory,
to endure through life
an everlasting moment,
that shall forever be enticed.
And if only once
to wash upon an island,
end up soaking in the warmth of the sun,
mislay your flashlight in the house;
and to be guided through the thick darkness without any light;
and to keep on not realizing
something important.
-by Annie Wu
A Lesson Lewarned
Life is the only way,
to learn from your mistakes,
take the good with the bad,
breath in deep
to be the sea,
or taste the salt
to feel envy,
for everything its not,
to live in the moment,
imagine the rush,
to crash and burn before its to late.
An extraordinary chance
to share for a moment
a new idea
but ending up in misery,
andif only once
to fall on your tush
end up getting up starting all over
mislay your shoes in the closet
and to realize a picture in the blink of an eye
and to keep on not knowing
the lesson learned.
Life is the only way
To search in endless abyss of possibilities,
Catching a snowflake thus melting on the tip of denial,
Drifting on waves of hope;
To be a leader,
Or follow the footprints left behind,
To grasp freedom
From everything it’s not;
To gaze past the fog
Dwell in the clouds
To seek the least of all possible judgments;
An extraordinary time
To cherish a thought
Laughter happening
Seeing now their was no comedian;
And if only once
To turn back the hands of time
To replay and ace life or another,
Mislay your regrets in the future;
And to follow your aspirations on a rocket;
And to keep on not knowing,
where it will take you
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