Each year poet Laura Shovan plays with words and poem-making,
by sharing prompts, catalysts for creativity with words.
This year photographic images are the wardrobe door into idea spinning.
(And we are all spinning about Laura’s forthcoming novel in verse.)
Today’s photo is one I snapped in Washington, D.C., in the tunnel
between the Library of Congress buildings.
I’m pleased to have this response to the photo prompt,
from poet Charles Waters, via Laura Shovan.
Day 23
MAIL BAG
My pouch is bundled with news,
thoughts, sweepstakes, prayers
that I can’t wait to share.
c. Charles Waters
. . .
Another look at it –
Bin binge
by Jan Godown Annino
O what treats
what treatises
treasure maps
photographs
poems
ballads
rhymes
cartoons
stories
picturebooks
babbling brooks
have been rollin’
in this underground
river of words.
© 2016 Jan Godown Annino
This traveling photo prompt party would be pleased to have your thoughts, lines or even poems.
Share here in comments.
Or at Laura’s blog (the link is in the first line of this post, above. And there is another link, below.)
Or via your own blog, with a link to your blog left in comments here.
And you can do this any time.
Or use the prompts but keep your results to yourself.
That’s mighty fine, too.
If you are joining recently here’s Laura’s intro.
And here is the way the found poems went last week –
Week Three
Bookseedstudio 
16 responses to “Promptly, poetry! Laura Shovan’s February gift.”
[…] Tuesday, February 23 at Guest Blog, BOOKSEED STUDIO FOUND OBJECT: Library of Congress Cart Poems by: Jan Godown Annino, Jessica Bigi, Donna Smith, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Carol Varsalona, Diane Mayr, Mary Lee Hahn, Charles Waters, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Heidi Mordhorst. […]
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[…] Tuesday, February 23 at BOOKSEED STUDIO FOUND OBJECT: Library of Congress Cart Poems by: Jan Godown Annino, Jessica Bigi, Donna Smith, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Carol Varsalona, Diane Mayr, Mary Lee Hahn, Charles Waters, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Heidi Mordhorst. […]
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I’m trying to catch up too!
Traffic Stop
rolling rolling rolling
carry me away
it is my right to copy
it is my right to read
rolling rolling rolling
with the cargo of the mind
defend my right to congregate
defend my right to read
officer, please
rolling rolling rolling
carry me on home
home to shelves and piles and stacks
home to libraries
© Heidi Mordhorst 2016
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What a great photo. Here’s mine:
Books shelved at the Library of Congress
Overwhelming abundance
Of titles for all
Kids and adults who cherish them like gold
So come and visit.
© 2016 Jone Rush MacCulloch all rights reserved
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Jan, my post, Noticing and Wondering, holds my first draft poem and some thoughts on writing with students. It can be found at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/02/noticing-and-wondering.html. The poem is also below for copying but please paste the link to the post for background information. Thanks for hosting today.
Rolling, rolling, rolling down the hallway.
A long tunnel I travel
to sort the mail-
millions of copies of
books,
recordings,
photographs,
maps,
and manuscripts
fill the
Library of Congress,
my prestigious home.
An important job I have.
Take a peek.
I’m full today.
©CVarsalona, 2016
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Hi, Jan. It’s my first poem in days! I’m trying to get caught up.
Ode to Book Cart
by Laura Shovan
In the subterranean stacks of my dreams,
I hear your wheels click closer
across the cement floor.
Wait for me in the basement of the L.O.C.
You, smelling of that rich cologne, Old Paper.
Me, smoky-eyed and smudged with newsprint.
I’ll dive in, wrap myself in your reams of pages,
crack the spines of long-forgotten books,
as you recite their charming,
antique titles with the reverence
one might give a love poem.
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This is a hoot & a hug, Laura.
I love it.
Many, many appreciations.
xx
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Appreciations, all!
I expect to return here, to add in other poems collected.
And to spend more time with each of these fabulous contributions.
The day has got away from me 🙂
~ jga
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I am overwhelmed with the new responses & the previous ones.
Here’s my deal this week. I am “Jumping at the Sun” as Zora Neale Hurston said.
An opportunity has presented itself (with a deadline) & so I expect to return
here for the joy of rereading every comment & poem & look forward to when I
can enjoy a real conversation.
I am also feeling deficient in experiencing the
prompts most days. I need those boots & look forward to them the way I do to
hauling along a bag of great books (including poetry chapbooks) to a
vacation cottage by the sea.
xx
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I left a comment but it disappeared, will try once more. I like the possibility of discovery in your poem, Jan.
Day 23
Bureaucracy In The Back Hall
This is the workload headed for the copyright office.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess, then reply to queries from those waiting
for answers.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess, then reply to queries from those waiting
for answers, which are priceless.
This is that workload.
Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved
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Thanks for hosting today Jan, and for that picture that has me wondering! Your poem touches on mine, but I like yours because it’s much more positive. You make it fun to discover what’s in there!
Here’s mind for Day 23
Bureaucracy In The Back Hall
This is the workload headed for the copyright office.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess, then reply to queries from those waiting
for answers.
This is the workload headed for the copyright office in the bin that rolls, filled with magazines and
news articles for employees to read and assess, then reply to queries from those waiting
for answers, which are priceless.
This is that workload.
Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved
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Thanks for hosting today!
Day 23
Comparable Contents
Conestoga wagon
Off to win the west
Library of Congress
Whoops! I just digressed…
Conestoga wagon
Rumbles prairie road
Copyrighting Office
Whoops! A different load…
Conestoga wagon or
Library of Congress bin
Both with precious contents
Stacked with care within.
Moving on four sturdy wheels
Sporting canvas sides,
Destination places where
Opportunities reside.
©2016, Donna JT Smith, 2016
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Jan, your thoughts on this photo are an amazing departure from a static photo to deeper thought. From a long stretching tunnel to the treasures of the mind you led me. I was in the underground tunnels in DC and must admit I never saw that intriguing cart. I probably would have peeked into the bin. You let me peek into your bin today. Thank you. I am still searching for the words to accompany this prompt.
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Day 23 poem by Jessica bigi
S
T
O
C
K
Piles
O
F
Letters
S
T
O
R
E
D
In
A
L
P
H
A
B
E
I
T
I
C
A
L
Order
O
U
R
Life’s
S
T
O
R
I
E
S
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It is exciting to wonder just WHAT is in there! Appreciations for playing, Jessica.
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[…] Found Object Poets. I am taking a break today to catch up on poem writing. Jan Annino Godown has been kind enough to take over today’s hosting […]
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