Ode to Writers Cafe Poets

Homage to you all

To all the poets of the Writers Café

I hereby pay homage to your enlightening array

of verses and lyrics which delight and dismay

using words I never knew-much less ever say!

 

You whirl and twirl your prose in stylish assertions

like a merry-go-round, with no discernable exertion!

I find myself lost and complete in my immersion,

I’m a poet at heart! Who knew?  But I’m certain

 

that had I not read such moving prose

my mind would yet see poems as foes,

written in language though sweet as a rose

would remain closed to me. Now, in silent repose

 

I have uncovered an extraordinary world

of battles with soldiers, mighty spears hurled

and scuffles with conscience, depression-words slurred

by battles with alcohol-drugs, bodies curled

 

in tight fetal positions and sometimes much shaking

your longing for love, acceptance, need taking

by someone past known, or one of your making,

the words are heartfelt, not one of you faking

 

your desires.  And sometimes your merry wit

brings spontaneous smiles while I sit

reading and learning, my lamps long lit

far in the night, in my own writing pit

 

created by me for just this endeavor

to learn, to absorb-by all means whatever

I can assemble, no matter the weather

outside, while in here, soul becomes light-like a feather!

 

You’ve welcomed my elementary works,

praising and encouraging-it always perks

my ego, my pride-you literary Young Turks

pulling from me rhymes with insistent jerks

that I try!  That I exercise my ‘till now unknown skill

of making use of language and bend to my will

words whirling and twirling in the same spinning reel

that you, dear poets, labor to instill

 

in me the same love of articulate expression

that comes to you naturally, free of oppression

from form, format and most certainly repression

that hinders one from total possession

 

of powerful wording to say what you mean,

to mean what you say, padded or lean,

stanzas with heart, pictures now seen

of what’s in your mind-so sharp!  So keen!

 

Now I humbly submit, this prose-so tame

compared to you poets, and it might sound lame,

but this time, dear fellows, it’s not the same,

for this modest offering-is in Miz Carol’s name!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

If you find issues, remember you inspired it!

Reviews

[Glen Weimann]

Hi Carol.
'I have uncovered an extraordinary world ...' This is so true. And it's interesting how what we read on WC influences us. In this work, I especially like the way you've allowed statements to hop across from one verse to the opening line of the next. And in that regard, I keep coming back to the line I mentioned above:

I have uncovered an extraordinary world
of battles with soldiers, mighty spears hurled
and scuffles with conscience, depression-words slurred
by battles with alcohol-drugs, bodies curled

in tight fetal positions and sometimes much shaking
your longing for love, acceptance, need taking
by someone past known, or one of your making,
the words are heartfelt, not one of you faking

your desires. And sometimes your merry wit
brings spontaneous smiles while I sit
reading and learning, my lamps long lit
far in the night, in my own writing pit

Nice job!
Nigel

[Ashwin Shanker]

The idea of writing a poem for the writers cafe members did strike me though the content would not be the same. The rhyme scheme at certain areas felt a bit force fit but the overall idea is spot on.. keep writing

[Xxxxxx]

Love it, really love the rhyme. Great poem.

[Zoya]

Wow, what a lovely tribute! You seem no less than a poet. Loved it!

[rhea]

this is really good. i love your style of writing and the flow of the poem...awesome job!

[Davidgeo]

Nice tribute, most of those things are overly sappy and sentimental.

Very few of us humorously admit the vanity and ego aspect of this whole thing.

I disagree about "not one of you faking...", unless you were being ironical. Most people are faking I think.

I also think the Young Turks, Cenk in particular, are a liberal version of Bill Oreilly or Rush Limbaugh.... bunch of caricatures pandering to echo chambers.

I'm pretty high right now.

[Carol Cashes]

I'm not a poet, by any means, but the poets that I wrote this for were able to glean from this Hallmark card the sincere sentiment.

Young Turks: any person aggressively or impatiently advocating reform within an organization."

This is the definition I had in mind - the young poets here push boundaries, press for acceptance from old school poets, forge their own way in the literary world.

Faking? They are writing what they know - either current or past personal experience, or someone else's close enough to observe.

I appreciate honesty, not all writing is for everyone. But - you felt something that compelled you to respond. Thanks.

[Davidgeo]

Aren't you supposed to vigorously hate me?

[Carol Cashes]

Why? I am no delicate flower, and a bad review does not upset me. If you were trying to hurt me or anger me, my first response is still "why"?

[Davidgeo]

If you say so.

[...]

And this is most great honor for all of us here. Your words describe our creativity and talents. Our desires and dreams. You should be our speaker on public form. well done.

[Carol Cashes]

I am humbled by those generous words. I have no problems with public speaking, but there are so many writers and genres I never heard of that I am hardly one to represent the Cafe as a whole. I'm just glad to be counted in their numbers.

[...]

I just want tried to say. This poem is really great. You celebrate us in very honor way.

[Michael Stevens]

I, too, have been learning as I go, it's nice to be able to learn by reading, when I first started, I was very self-conscious about my writing--now, I'm only semi-self-conscious--a fine poem, Carol!

[Carol Cashes]

Thanks for reading. It was my honor to write it for those who have encouraged me to try.

[GreenShoes]

I love this! I've come across so many talented poets here at the Cafe, and they are all so generous with their support. :)

[Carol Cashes]

Yes, they are. I have been welcomed and encouraged to continue to write, in any genre I try my hand at. Like having a personal cheering squad.

[Wajiha Nayeem]

aww....this is soo good.... beautiful.
i loved it...❤

[Carol Cashes]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was my pleasure to honor the phenomenal talent on this site.