July Challenge Winner - An Advice Poem

The winning poem in the July Poetry Challenge uses a metaphor from soccer to advise a young poet. It is a fairly complex metaphor, but then soccer and the writing of poetry are complex, each in its own way. Here is the winning poem:

Advice to a Young Poet

You don’t have to love

frustration

but know it will be your

constant companion

whether your poems

hit readers with the shine

of new currency, or tarnish

the dank water of a well.

Fragile is not futile, but know

when writing is going well

it’s like striking a ball off your foot

perfectly placed to meet

the run a teammate’s

stretching towards the goal—

you feel it,

the vector,

the angle,

the speed

of the ball

in icy coordination

with the speed

of the runner, both

will meet at full go,

 and the ball will land

like a blessed dactyl

for the player’s foot to kiss

forward, 

but then, 

along the way,

a random divot

catches the ball’s round rind and it all

skitters off to the side like a thought

interrupted, a scattering of words

at a random dog’s bark or the unbidden

memory of a lazy afternoon

and a sudden flash of thigh.

And the phrases tangle, the lines unword.

Deep breath. Again. Start over. Again.

~ Steve Werkmeister

Steve retains copyright on his poem.

I especially like the first stanza, which I think could stand alone as a complete poem, and the next to last line. Congratulations, Steve.

Steve Werkmeister is an Associate Professor of English at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. He teaches composition and literature courses, hangs out with his family, and, when he has time, writes poetry and fiction, even occasionally publishing some.

Linda Wallin, the judge for July, is a retired special ed teacher, speaks German, some sign, and some Spanish. At National-Louis University, she taught teachers how to use educational technology. She writes poetry when she is not quilting, tutors children and adults, and teaches Lego Robotics, Artbotics, and art quilts to gifted children. Linda is Vice-President of Poets and Patrons in Chicago.

AND ON ANOTHER SUBJECT:

Consider attending the Green Lake Christian Writers’ Conference in August. It is the conference that got me serious about writing poetry. And it is for writers of prose, too. Check out the link at http://glcc.org/adults.html. The grounds are so beautiful it is almost impossible not to write poetry there. Everyone is kind and helpful. If you are looking for a conference to help you improve your writing, this may be the answer for you.

Your road to writing success awaits! This is the 66^th year

for the Green Lake Christian Writers Conference.

 

Come and set aside Sunday, August 17, 3 p.m. to Friday, August 22, 10 a.m., 2014.

Writers and artists, this week is for you – our own “Route 66” conference.

The Green Lake Conference Center will nurture your creativity. We’ve met for more than six decades here. You’ll enjoy the 1000 acres of natural beauty by the shores of Wisconsin’s deepest natural lake. With two and a half miles of shoreline, forests, rolling hills and unique historic structures, you’ll find both inspiration and peace.  Green Lake Conference Center (GLCC) is situated in South Central Wisconsin and is easy to reach.

Take a look: visit http://glcc.org/Adult%20Conferences.html for more information, and then pack your bags to journey with other writers and artists.

We offer inspiration, great instruction, varied opportunities to improve your skillset, or you can try something new. We also allow you time to network and to write or work on your art. We’ll enjoy generous and creative meals and comfortable lodging.

You will have personal attention and can make real progress on your projects,

or begin something new.

If you are new to serious writing, you’ll get as much attention as you need.

The leaders are all experienced as writers, presenters and teachers.

Artists, you will have your own room to use as a studio for the length of the conference.

In addition to classes where writers can concentrate on an area of interest, we also offer a choice of seminars covering a wide variety of subjects to broaden your horizon. You may submit a manuscript for review, enter our writers’ contest, spend time with all instructors, enjoy morning devotions and evening vespers, and browse through published books by our instructors and fellow writers.

Please take time to prayerfully consider coming, whether you are new to this conference or have

been here before. Each year, we offer new elements to keep the event fresh.

Each year, people return home refreshed and energized.

Also, please think about others who could come with you – either as attendees wishing to write or paint/draw/photograph or just as vacationers to have some time here to golf, go boating, shop, swim, bike and hike. You may download a packet of information from the www.glcc.org website.

May blessings be yours,

Jan White Moon, Conference Director and Sue Engebrecht, Associate Conference Director

Green Lake Christian Writers Conference at Green Lake Conference Center: W2511 State Rd 23

Green Lake, WI 54941 – (920) 294-3323 for meals and lodging reservations

~ In-depth Instruction in the Workshop of Your Choice ~

Choose a workshop (class) which meets for five sessions, Sunday evening and Tuesday through Thursday. You’ll profit from one-on-one appointments with your instructor in addition to your class time. Both new and experienced writers are welcome in all workshops. Instructors are flexible and helpful to see that you can meet your goals.

            Wilda Morris: Journeys in Poetry

Your life journey, side trips, flights of imagination – whatever is or has been important to you as you have traveled through life – provides possibilities for poems. Participants will listen to and discuss poems by accomplished poets, draft their own work, and provide each other feedback, as well as trying some exercises that will open us up to new ideas. Publication possibilities and a few poetry forms may be discussed, but the questions and issues of participants will be given priority.

            Mary Pierce: Write the Story Only You Can Tell (Inspirational/Memoir)

Using your life’s anecdotes, personal experiences, special events and/or encounters with memorable people, decide what format is best to tell your stories. Develop them into meaningful pieces, long or short, so that you can tell these stories to inspire others and touch readers’ hearts. Bring your own ideas and projects, too.

            Karl Stewart: Fiction: Finding Your Writer's Voice

Ernest Hemingway, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Twain, and C.S. Lewis. What do these authors have in common, other than writing in the English language? Each has a distinct literary voice, instantly recognizable. How did they do it, and how do you find and establish your own voice? Join us as we explore the subject and work to develop our unique voices. All are welcome, and aspiring writers are encouraged to bring samples of their work to share.

            Jan White Moon: Nonfiction – So Much to Say & So Little Time…

We’ll explore the many avenues which nonfiction takes: journalism/columns, letters, short creative nonfiction, magazine articles, interviews, curriculum, devotions and so much more! We’ll experiment and critique. We’ll take a look at published examples and try our hand at some original work. We’ll learn to love editing – really! You are invited to bring your own projects, too. 

Seminars meet on Sunday and Monday, providing a "short track" for writers 

who cannot attend the entire conference.

For more information see the website listed above or email me at wildamorris[at]ameritech[dot]net.

Green Lake Conference Center is a beautiful location for working on the improvement of your writing skills. I began attending this conference a couple decades ago. The leaders gave me the help and encouragement I needed to become a poet. Now I'm grateful for the opportunity to help other poets in their journeys with poetry.

 ~ Wilda Morris