Hello friends, and welcome to this week's List! There is a book of poems I bought for a buck and a quarter used (it was a whopping dollar ninety-five new) when I was just in high school. It has traveled with me from my childhood bedroom to every place I have gone since, and I have it still. It's Who Really Cares by Janis Ian. My copy has a bright green cover with just the title in black, but newer editions have her picture and the addendum "childhood poems." Fair enough. I was a childhood fan.
The back cover of my copy has a picture of her wearing a hat I liked so much that I looked until I found one just like it and bought it. Fangirl much, Shay? Oh yeah. Here is a snippet from one of the poems in the aforementioned collection; it's the end of a piece called Poems For The Young Psychologist.
we were eating when daddy came
home from a long tiring day and
started complaining how come the
food wasnt hot and the
house was all dirty and he
turned to me and
opened up his mouth and
i said
dont take your frustrations out on me
baby
Those who know me will surely be mystified why I liked such stuff. *cough*
Janis Ian is, of course, most well-known for her music. Three of the words on this week's List are taken--one each--from the songs Society's Child, At Seventeen, and Boots Like Emmylou's. The rest are taken from her book Who Really Cares.
What we do here is to take at least 3 of the 20 words provided and use them in a new original poem of our own, Then just link up, visit others, and adopt an air of sweet accomplishment that will surely attract money, mates, and mysterious boons your way. Enjoy.
And now, your List:
absurd
anymore
armadillo
boots
dubious
formal
genius
interfere
jukebox
Kerouac
mix
nightbird
ribbon
simulated
smoke
soap
society
starched
superstar
train
Very cool. I only knew the music great to learn about her poetry!
ReplyDeleteThe more you know... ;-)
DeleteFinally got to your list this morning, Shay, and the poem wrote itself. Such a good list!
ReplyDeleteHuh, my comment didnt post. I finally got to your very cool word list, Shay, and the poem just wrote itself.
ReplyDeleteBecause comment moderation starts after three days.
DeleteYou had the heart of a poet before you knew you were a poet my friend! I always so enjoy the rich history you bring to each person featured. I will have to try to find her music and poetry.
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie, I tried to comment on your poem but it kept saying there was an error so I'm responding here: :-). So beautiful & poignant, Carrie. I love so many lines from this heartfelt piece. still I dance alone with a grace that loneliness carries.
DeleteBut there was a time that I was the voice that carried high, like a song reaching for broader skies.
Now my heart is a nightbird; still and quiet in the daylight.
You capture so much of the awkwardness of grief.
Thank you so much for reaching out to me here with your thoughts and they are so appreciated Jo! You are so right there is an awkwardness of grief. You put in a way my mind had not always wrapped around, but my heart already knew.
DeleteI'm late to the party this week. THanks so much, Shay, for another interesting poet & list.
ReplyDeleteJust after midnight! i hope a new list comes out today. My husband is visiting from NC (he hopes to be here permanently in August) so I hae had a hard time getting here! I WILL comment and respond tomorrow afternoon! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t forgotten. I will comment on the past two posts and do todays prompt. Just been busy with life! Thank you for doing these prompts.
ReplyDelete