Illustration courtesy of Frits Ahlefeldt, Public Domain Pictures.net.

“I suspect there will never be a requiem for a dream, simply because it will destroy us before we have the opportunity to mourn its passing.” Hubert Sibley, Jr., Requiem for a Dream

Our scripts poorly written, poems stillborn.

Our music silent. Impoverished souls.

Victims of that

glib dreamscape of Madison Avenue

and Wall Street parvenu, preachers too-

We have lost our muscle and

they have built for us an iron lung.

Using it well, they line their pockets

with the gold of crippled spirits –

While we, the pedestrian heroes of

blue Mondays, stale “Pastor says” Sundays,

and Christmas at the mall, where

manufactured dreams are sold –

we buy-in, shop dead, and

are swallowed whole.

© 2011, Jamie Dedes

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT

In this week’s poems tell us about values gone awry.

Share your poem/s on theme in the comments section below or leave a link to it/them.

All poems on theme are published on the following Tuesday. Please do NOT email your poem to me or leave it on Facebook. If you do it’s likely I’ll miss it or not see it in time.

IF this is your first time joining us for The Poet by Day, Wednesday Writing Prompt, please send a brief bio and photo to me at thepoetbyday@gmail.com to introduce yourself to the community … and to me :-). These are partnered with your poem/s on first publication.

PLEASE send the bio ONLY if you are with us on this for the first time AND only if you have posted a poem (or a link to one of yours) on theme in the comments section below.  

Deadline:  Monday, December 10 by 8 p.m. Pacific.

Anyone may take part Wednesday Writing Prompt, no matter the status of your career: novice, emerging or pro.  It’s about exercising the poetic muscle, showcasing your work, and getting to know other poets who might be new to you. This is a discerning non-judgemental place to connect.

You are welcome – encouraged – to share your poems in your first language, but please accompany it with a translation into English.

ATTENTION U.K. READERS

a note from Anita Lubesh (As It Comes, a new era)

“I like to try and raise awareness and money for a good cause, namely breast cancer, and because I am a survivor of that, I am always willing to give something back ….

I’M SO CLOSE – HELP ME MAKE MY FIRST JustGiving £1,000! Let’s beat cancer sooner. Would you support me in raising funds – every little bit helps – even the price of your next coffee?”

In aid of CR

Hi.  I’m using the run up to the holidays, calling on friends here and the writing community at WordPress for support to ask if you can either donate a small amount by using my donation button below (any country) or text BGON64 to 70070 (for those here in the UK) to give whatever you can (even the price of a solitary cuppa) to help Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Research.  As a breast cancer survivor, I can sincerely say that your help is more than appreciated.

Cancer Research is not government funded and is responsible for a high percentage of the major breakthroughs we have seen to date.  Without you and me, those breakthroughs will not happen.  Regardless of the amount or where you live in this world, your generosity will one day give the gift of life.

On the JustGiving page, you will find verification.  It will also tell you all about my story, reasons and action plan I’ve used and for the foreseeable future.

Thank  you very much!

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Poet and writer, I was once columnist and associate editor of a regional employment publication. I currently run this site, The Poet by Day, an information hub for poets and writers. I am the managing editor of The BeZine published by The Bardo Group Beguines (originally The Bardo Group), a virtual arts collective I founded.  I am a weekly contributor to Beguine Again, a site showcasing spiritual writers. My work is featured in a variety of publications and on sites, including: Levure littéraure, Ramingo’s Porch, Vita Brevis Literature,Compass Rose, Connotation Press, The Bar None Group, Salamander Cove, Second Light, I Am Not a Silent Poet, Meta / Phor(e) /Play, and California Woman. My poetry was recently read by Northern California actor Richard Lingua for Poetry Woodshed, Belfast Community Radio. I was featured in a lengthy interview on the Creative Nexus Radio Show where I was dubbed “Poetry Champion.”

 The BeZine: Waging the Peace, An Interfaith Exploration featuring Fr. Daniel Sormani, Rev. Benjamin Meyers, and the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi among others

“What if our religion was each other. If our practice was our life. If prayer, our words. What if the temple was the Earth. If forests were our church. If holy water–the rivers, lakes, and ocean. What if meditation was our relationships. If the teacher was life. If wisdom was self-knowledge. If love was the center of our being.” Ganga White, teacher and exponent of Yoga and founder of White Lotus, a Yoga center and retreat house in Santa Barbara, CA

“Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure.” Lucille Clifton

17 Comments

  2. Dis=Gusto

    What are the lessons mothers taught
    when what they said was not for nought

    “Family is important, Charlie” was Mrs Manson’s word

    “You are what you eat,” is what Jeffrey Dahmer heard

    “Find a nice girl,” Ted Bundy’s mom said,
    “You’ve got the looks to knock ‘em dead.”

    “Don’t play alone”, said Virginia to Billy
    Play the her – monica, and watch your willy.”

    “Work you body and open up more,”
    Mrs.Weinstein said to Harvey as he went out the door

    Mrs Crosby said,“Share your Jello, Bill,”
    “And accept some help from oblivious Camille.”

    “Don’t listen to others’ opinions,” Mary Anne told Donnie
    “Your voice trumps them all even when you sound funny.”

    So much wisdom distorted, misused
    History is only very old news.

    So mothers be careful, what comes from your mouth
    You never know when it could all go south.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Oh my! This was a fun read and quite thought provoking! Is it really the mother’s fault though or that men/boys/people tend to hear what they want to hear? Or maybe the one voice of Mother is overshadowed by the numerous voices of society that still champions toxic masculinity? Your rhymes and rhythm are on point!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  3. Spelling Bee…..

    Please spell AWRY.
    definition?
    : not straight or neat
    : not working correctly
    : not happening in the expected way
    : off the correct or expected course
    : in a turned or twisted position or direction

    AWRY:a sentence?
    “If one or another part of this progression goes awry,
    there are sufficient compensating processes
    in the average social environment”.
    “Because each assumption requires extra tests,
    fewer assumptions mean a smaller probability
    that the assumptions go awry.”
    AWRY: A- W- R- I
    WRONG! be seated.
    Askew,
    aslant,
    atilt,
    cockeyed,
    oblique,
    Off-kilter,
    uneven.
    Disordered,
    distorted,
    Contorted.
    WRONG!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. Change comes quickly

    Sweet melodies,
    Obsessive love,
    Aspirations.
    momentary
    questions.

    all around awry

    warnings not taken
    deaths, tragedies,
    horrors, starvation
    clouding our vision,

    Peggy Lee singing,
    “Is that all there is.”

    thoughts
    of love and war
    cancelling each other
    out,
    regrets to late
    to regret
    no time to run.
    Its done.

    Jen Goldie

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  5. .moving on.

    moving on from the last verse of girly looking

    after girly, we stopped at the jeweller’s window.

    the assistant, neat looked bore & very clean. the

    rings were three thousands and more.

    enough to take her home and more.

    “yes sir you may buy the ring, for a
    thousand pounds, or choose to save
    her life”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  7. Thanks Jamie

    .the prize.

    the prize came as unexpected

    a big building enough to house

    the poor, the homeless the dis

    possessed. it was tea and

    i felt sick

    i will rather give the money away

    the added value of the food. ritz.

    crackers. that bread can cost so much

    spread with regular stuff cut thin

    the waiter smiled ; i noted his shoes

    an honest worker like me

    alongside they enjoyed the moment

    without the anxiety of my chest where

    reparation fails. this is the promise

    the outcome of a difficult day

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  9. up up and awry

    when a man is hacked to pieces
    while still alive and
    the murder was suborned
    by a royal
    killer
    and small fry are arrested
    and the big shot walks
    and another big shot says
    in effect
    attaboy
    and the world takes five minutes’
    notice
    and shrugs–

    decency has taken a powder
    ethics is in A locked chest in the attic
    and kindly is an uncomfortable party guest
    who gets hints to leave
    from the big boy host

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

Thank you!