Two Hundred Fifty-Two - A Poem

Last year, I was a part of a writer's group that had a writing challenge. The challenge was, in 250 words or less, write anything involving a wish.

My wish was to have more than 250 words, and I wrote a sonnet, where technically, that wish was granted (although maybe I should write a 3rd sonnet about how that wish was not granted as much as it was earned).

I spent the last hour re-writing, rewording, and putting the finishing touches on it. I liked it enough to share it, and since it's the first sonnet I've written since high school, I thought maybe making it public would give me more incentive to write more of them. I know it needs work but it's been - Oh Dear God - 10 years since I have written one.

(Also please note that this rough draft was written last July, when Scott Walker had just shrugged off a recall election, and we were in the middle of a terrible, terrible drought up here in Wisconsin, to explain the few lines that aren't synced up with current events.)

Two Hundred Fifty Two

Pam Gabriel

 

Before me lies a toil, one so daunting

To search the depths of my own weary heart

To solve one thing in this world that's haunting

Only two hundred fifty words, to start

And in those few words, find my greatest wish

Something grand, and above all else, perfect

Bring back a loved one I so dearly miss?

Or help a suff'ring friend I'm desperate to protect?

Bring them back to where I feel they belong

Let them wake up, without hunger or pain

Though something so farfetched feels so wrong

I sudd'nly won't awake with powers gained

Instead of taking Godlike leaps and bounds

Perhaps I should keep my feet on the ground

So many problems I could write about

In less than a page I must express them all

Wish for some rain to end this scorching drought

Or for another chance to get Scott recalled

With ideas so vast, and words so few

To say it all would be fiercely tough

What I would like the most is more words to use

Even a second page would be good enough

Then I could say it all, express my plight

Tell you my woes, 'til my voice disappears

Stand upon my soap box, all day and night

A thousand more words, I'll be rid your fears

Desperately I wish a miracle to bring

It will sweep through and solve every little thing

Even if I could, it would not come true

But this one did, with two hundred fifty two!

I'm a clever gal, ain't I?

(You don't have to answer that)

In other writing news, It's Camp NaNoWriMo, and I'm hoping to write more poetry (maybe something less structured), as well as maybe some short stories or screenplays. We'll see if they actually end up here or not. April started almost a week ago, and this is the first thing that resembles writing that I've done, so we'll see.