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Saturday, January 19, 2019

Weekend Mini-Challenge: Mustn’t Be Fancy


Mary Oliver, that wondrous word-loving mind who just crossed The Veil, said that poetry “mustn’t be fancy.” According to her, “whatever isnt necessary shouldnt be in a poem.”

For todays prompt, I invite you to write a new poem with Mary Oliver’s words in mind. Let’s craft poetry that wastes no words.  

illustration by Deanna Halsall
via

Add the direct link of your poem to Mr. Linky. Delight in other Toads’ fancy-free contributions. Have a world of fun. Ink a mental wave for our Mary.   

27 comments:

  1. Greetings Toads and garden-loving visitors. I hope you are have a fantastic day. I can't wait to read what grows out of this one.

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  2. Good evening from the UK, Magaly! Thank you for this Mary Oliver prompt. The weather has turned cold here and we've had frost. It's too cold to sit in my study, so I shall be moving into a room closer to some heat. I'll try to comment on my Kindle but I can't be held responsible for anything weird that appears - it has a mind of its own!

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  3. @Kim - We are expecting a snow-slap and a lot of cold, so I totally understand the need to stay warm. Also, I am so glad that I am not the only haunted my Kindle posting mischief. 😁

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  4. I lost my Kind;e (!) but am posting from my phone so more mischief from that. A great prompt for a cold snowy day.

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  5. I wrote about my deep and abiding passion for sports so it had to be a short piece :D

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  6. And thank you for this simple prompt. I detest prompts that go on and on and on!

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  7. Loved the prompt, Magaly!💞 I decided to write a ghazal. Happy Weekend, everyone💞☕

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  8. @Toni - I hope you didn't lose your Kindle for good! And you are so right about the phone, mine seems to work on blogs only when it wants to. I'm glad you like the prompt.

    @Rommy - I actually squinted when I read "passion for sports" before I saw the rest, lol!

    @Sanaa - I've no idea what a Ghazal is, so it will be nice to learn something new.

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  9. Sometimes I really love cutting down my words to the bare minimum... it fitted the cold weather actually... in cold weather people tend to speak less.

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  10. @Bjorn - I am so glad this worked for you. And I agree, the chill has an effect on the lips (the fingers?)

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  11. Plan on spending an evening before fire with glass of wine and Mary Olivers' "New and Selected Poems" Volume One and Two. Thank you for this prompt.

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  12. for whatever reason I can't delete one of my links - either one is fine as both are the same. Sorry

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  13. @Margaret - I deleted one of the links. I hope you are enjoying your wine and fire and Mary's words.

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  14. Not certain what this post meant? A haiku is a poem with the leadt wasted words. But it didn't say haiku, so I posted a sonnett?

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  15. I have come up with some simple-time shit, because, I'm poetic that way.

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  17. I don't often get saddened when a famous person dies but her death shocked me some. I have read more than several of her poems and for a time regularly would check out a book she wrote on writing poetry. Plus she was younger than me, I generally take notice of that.
    Magaly. I started with a 'short' ditty for her but haven't finished it. I might tonight, here sitting on the side of my bed. We will see.
    ..

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  18. @Rob - I don’t think length or form have anything to do with word wasting or not being fancy. The link I offer in this prompt will lead you to an article which explains it quite clear.

    @Jim - Those who influence the parts of our life we love most tend to mean the world to us, even if we never truly met them. When Gabriel García Márquez and Terry Pratchett passed away, I wept.

    @Kerry - And what a “something” that was. 🖤♥️

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  19. Thank you Magaly for this interesting prompt.I am not familiar with Mary Oliver's work but I like her idea of simple straight forward poetry without the struggle to understand it.

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  20. Hello Magaly and all- Happy Sunday! Thank you for the wonderful prompt

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  21. @Fireblossom - Your simple-time shit was awesome. But you already knew that. Poetic woman, you.

    @Rall - If you ever read her, I would love to hear how you like her work.

    @Linda - Happiest Sunday to you.

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  22. I hope it's okay to share, I penned my Mary Oliver poem before seeing your prompt, Magaly. A poet who meant so much to so many of us.

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  23. @Marian - She’s in our hearts these days, isn’t she? I believe that deserves an exception. 🖤♥️

    @Other Mary - Welcome. 😊

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  24. I'm sorry to be behind on my commentary. Sunday was a busy day, so I'll be back on Monday. Thanks again for the lovely prompt, Magaly.

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  25. Thank you Magaly for the prompt. I'm not sure I am a poet of fancy words. :)

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