In the school of Kay Ryan

Every so often the Poetry Sisters and I like to try writing In the Style of... a poet whose skill we admire. In the past we looked at e.e. cummings and wrote poems somewhat like his. This month we are echoing Kay Ryan, US Poet Laureate from 2008 -10 and Pulitzer Prize winner in 2011. Ryan is known for short lines, brevity, alliteration and internal rhyme, or what she calls "recombinant rhyme". I like that very much!

Here is my echo of the style of the poem "Turtle" by Kay Ryan:

'Skeeter

Who would be a ‘skeeter who could help it?

A whiz-buzz on the wind, risking a slap.

She takes leave of sense, mindless missile locked on

your bright breath’s beacon; answer to her longing.

Zoom - she’s on you, mad dashing to hot blood.

No plan for retirement, no thought for tomorrow;

only tonight, and those infuriating screens.

Hounded by citronella and DEET, she

dodges light and smoke for just one meal.

Nothing lost, nothing gained, she only wants

one blind chance to kiss the back of your knee

(skin love for the the sweetest spot).

In exchange, her gift to you -

the unavoidable mindfulness

of irrepressible itch.

                    -Andromeda Jazmon 2016

Go see what wonders my Poetry Sisters have done!

Laura Purdie Salas
Tricia Stohr-Hunt
Sara Lewis Holmes
Kelly Fineman
Liz Garton Scanlon
Tanita S. Davis

and be sure to check out the Poetry Friday Round up by 

Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference

(I don't have any photos of mosquitos, so I have to use some of my mosquito-repellent plants. Citronella for the win!)