.

Desire

“Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
life is a broken-winged bird
that cannot fly.”

—Langston Hughes, ‘Dreams’

To have, to HOLD
what’s going FAST
in longing TO
capture my DREAMS,

I’m looking FOR
and wonder IF
I’ll find these DREAMS
before I DIE

For such is LIFE
sometimes it IS
a song of A
record BROKEN—

But I am WINGED
as though a BIRD
in a bough THAT
sings, “You CANNOT
forget to FLY.

.

.

Lucia Haase has several books of poetry published and was recently included in a poetry anthology titled Symphonies of the Wild Hearted available on Amazon.com.  She also recently had poetry accepted by several publications including Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, The Long Islander, Nostalgia Press, The Raven’s Perch, and POEM publication. She lives in Spring Valley, Illinois.

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17 Responses

  1. Bruce Phenix

    Thank you, Lucia. I hadn’t previously come across this lovely way to compose, I suppose a variant on acrostic poems. You’ve done it beautifully and very expressively.

    Reply
  2. Shamik Banerjee

    As much as I like this poem, I also like the idea and creativity. You’ve inspired me to try this form, Lucia. Thank you so much!

    Reply
      • Lucia Haase

        Thanks! I look forward to reading your Golden Shovel
        also.

        Lucia

    • Lucia Haase

      Thank you! I look forward to reading one of yours also.
      Happy writing!

      Lucia

      Reply
  4. Lucia Haase

    Hi Bruce,

    Thank you so much! I’ve only written one other of these
    and I thought it might be time to try another one.
    Appreciate your comments.

    Lucia

    Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    These sorts of poetic games are found in medieval poets, and I know Christine de Pisan has several of different types. Don’t recall this particular one. You, Lucia, have made good sense, which is the major challenge. Excellent idea to split “broken” and “winged” into a contrast pair rather than one descriptive word; the decision helps you fly to an upbeat end.

    Reply
    • Lucia Haase

      Thank you so much Margaret! I was going to do both
      verses. I still may do that. But it was inspired by one
      I’ve read several times on the internet Terrance Hayes
      wrote a Golden Shovel poem using lines from
      Gwendolyn Brook’s poem ‘We Real Cool.’ It’s excellent.
      And well, that poem by Gwendolyn Brooks…really struck
      me the first time I read it. I love it and the Terrance Hayes
      Golden Shovel poem is great.

      Reply
  6. Gigi Ryan

    Lucia,
    Thank you for this introduction to this form of poetry. I look forward to trying it out. As Margaret said, your poem made sense. I hope I can accomplish that as well.
    Gigi

    Reply
  7. jd

    Very well done, Lucia. Not only does it make sense, it’s also uplifting.

    Reply
  8. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    How innovative and charming. Simply lovely! Thank you, Lucia.

    Reply
    • Susan Jarvis Bryant

      … also, Evan’s choice of picture showcases the words perfectly. I love it!

      Reply
  9. Daniel Kemper

    I love to see experimentation and play with form as much as I love a well-executed standard form. I’d only seen this done with the first word or first letter in a line and not with the last word. The visual effect is a strong one. Better for the final word than the initial, I think.

    Reply

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