I cannot hear the symphony of spring
behind this window. I only hear
the plague of tinnitus, the shifting
floorboards, gentle thuds on the stairs
when the cats are awake, the creak
of a door in a draught. But I see
the wind chimes swing, their notes rise
into the branches of the cherry tree.
I watch it rustle honeysuckle leaves,
bounce russet cherry blossom buds,
tousle the curly willow, set daffodil
heads nodding, and buffet birds.
Kim M. Russell, 3rd April 2021
My response to NaPoWriMo Day Three
Today’s prompt from napowrimo.net involves making a ‘Personal Universal Deck’, and then using it to write a poem. The ‘Personal Universal Deck’ is made by writing 100 words, one on the front and one on the back of 50 index cards or small pieces of paper. There are some rules too:
- The words exemplify past, present and (ideally) future, and must sound good together, even beautiful, reflecting good and bad sides.
- We can make up a word or two if we have feelings that current words can’t express.
- Use concrete words, root words, no plural words, reduce words to their most concrete, original, basic grammatical structure, and Use specific words, not categories. Beef instead of meat. Lily instead of flower.
- Divide 80 of the 100 words evenly among SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE, TOUCH AND SMELL, sixteen each.
- Use free association to determine the words.
- Use ten words of movement. Again, no “ing” words.
- One or two words will be parts of the body, our own or someone else’s.
- Include some words for personal heroes or SHEroes, places in the universe, invented words, times of night or day, symbolic signs like astrological signs, totemic animals, birds and plants and only one abstraction.
- Once the deck is ready, shuffle it a few times, select a card or two, and use them as the basis for a new poem.
I followed all the rules and did not cheat, and the two words I selected were ’symphony’ and ‘chime’. A first draft that could do with more work, but a poem nonetheless.
writing in north norfolk 
This was a laborious prompt. Took me two hours just to make the cards. You did a masterful job of it, Kim. A lovely poem.
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Thank you, Judy. It took me ages, too. I’m about to read yours.
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I love that image of the birds being buffeted! We had a storm of biblical proportions last night and the laundry was almost buffeted off the line!
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I can see a single feather caught in the honeysuckle, Ingrid, and I know it wasn’t there first thing. They really are being bullied by the weather today!
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Superb writing. Loved it!
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Thank you so much, Rahul!
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(As you might have guessed) I’m off-prompt again today but you, my dear KR, are not only on-prompt you are ABSOLUTELY, (& magnificently) ON-PROMPT!
My cap is doffed.
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I curtsey to your praise, Ron. Thank you kindly, good sir.
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Color me fascinated. A ‘Personal Universal Deck’ ~ cannot wait to take the poetic journey. Thank you so much. This is truly amazing.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Helen!
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What a delightful poem! Love those nodding daffodils.💜
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Thank you kindly, Romana!
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Which is why I always have my bedroom window open just a tad when’re the temps are not extreme. I love hearing the outside, especially the wind chimes. Great poem!
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Beautiful imagery as always. I like especially the sounds your words make. (K)
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Much appreciated, Kerfe.
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