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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Going Going Gone! (Midweek Prompt!)


The other day I was trying to remember various poems that I had once memorized.  (Agh.)  

I typically picked poems to learn that I liked very much; I also went for factors such as rhyme and meter as these tend to serve as mnemonics. 

When I was thinking through these old favorites, I was struck by how often they began with a “going.”  (Not necessarily a leave-taking, but simply some kind of movement.)  As in:



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, and a hive for the honey bee
And live alone in the bee-loud glade. 

(From The Lake Isle of Innisfree, by W.B. Yeats.)




Let us go then you and I
when the evening is spread against the sky
like a patient etherized upon a table.

(From The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, by T.S. Eliot.)





As I walked out one evening,
walking down Bristol Street,
the crowds upon the pavement
were fields of harvest wheat.

     (From As I Walked Out One Evening, by W.H. Auden.)


I went out to a hazel wood
Because a fire was in my head
And cut and peeled a hazel wand
And hooked a berry to a thread.

     (From The Wandering Aengus, by W.B. Yeats.)


Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the devil’s foot, 

    (From Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star, by John Donne.)

What I realized is that “going” is a very common jumping off point for a poem; poems from the Odyssey and The Canterbury Tales on down often describe some kind of journey--be it a journey across the world, out to your garden, to the far side of the moon, or into your own heart. 



So, poets, your prompt for the day--should you choose to participate--is to use the trope of “going,” however that may go down for you as some kind of jumping off point for your poem.  You do not need to use the word “going” in your poem and you do not have to write in the present, past or imperative sense (although you probably will use one of them.)

For extra points, although we all know that the game of poetry doesn’t really keep score, think of writing a poem that someone might memorize and that won’t immediately “go” out of their consciousness--i.e. consider incorporating rhyme, meter; also keep it relatively short! 

I hope you are all well!  I am sorry to have been so absent from the blogging world and am grateful to Kerry for allowing me to remain as part of the group. 

The pictures such as they are are mine. You are free to use them, all rights are reserved and please credit Karin Gustafson.  Thanks! 





18 comments:

  1. I love the examples you have chosen.

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  2. Thank you for the mid-week challenge. It certainly got me going going going this morning!

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  3. Ah, Karin.. these are some of my favourites too! I think I use the trope of 'going' quite a lot in my poetry and i feel quite inspired to give it a try today. thank you for sharing your artworks. They are a marvel.

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  4. Do Nursery Rhymes count? How about "went"? I believe my first to learn was "This Little Pig Went ..."
    17 of my Photo and Poem blog posts used the word "going". Very likely a few weren't meant to be poems.
    https://jimmiehov6.blogspot.com/search?q=going&m=1
    ..

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    1. I really like your pictures today. Thanks, Karin, for sharing.
      ..

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  5. I particularly love the last picture - nearly missed this prompt especially as mid-week has already gone!

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  6. Oh I will be late to the party... have to think about this... One of may favorite poems (in Swedish) by Karin Boye is about going and movements...

    I do love the examples you are giving....

    I think I will come up with something.

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  7. Thanks for kind comments. I am going to try to get my own poem up and may delay a little visiting till then, just to keep head clear! All best. K.

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  8. Afternoon, Toads! Thanks for the intriguing post, Karin!

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  9. I love this prompt. It sure got me going....so my poem is laced with action words, while lamenting the state of the world. Great images!

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  10. Great prompt, Karin! I love your choices, and your art!

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  11. A great prompt, Karin, and your illustrations are so charming. I will try to write in the morning. Am under the weather this week.

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  12. Karin, this prompt is so wonderful. Right away it made me think of another piece of Prufrock, "...in the room, the women come and go, talking of Michelangelo..." Just love that. I have not been to present with my writing lately either, but will try to respond to your lovely prompt over the weekend. Be well.

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  13. Thanks so much, Marian--I thought of that as well-- a wonderful poem. Thanks, Sherry and all, and Kerry especially, for kind words re paintings. k.

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  14. Better late than never... Phew! A Friday 55, for anyone else who wants to join me.

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  15. Another day has passed.... sorry for not visiting yet... I will get back and read you all.

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  16. Thanks for a thought provoking prompt.

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  17. Sunday will have to be for reading and catching up... I have a few posts I'm behind but I WILL be around. Just a busy week with sick kid and lots of errands and beginning of year school class meetings, etc. Thanks for this challenge - my effort is a little wonky :)

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