2021 and a fresh start to Friday Poetry with my Poetry Sisters! This year we are going to be doing monthly challenges and invite you to join in, if you would like.
Here’s our plan for next month: To post on Feb 26 (and to share on Twitter as #PoetryPals): roll a set of metaphor dice and write a poem inspired by your metaphor. If you don’t have them, try the online one: https://perchance.org/ve4axzbkx4"
For January, we collected words at the Merriam Webster's Time Traveler site, where you can take a look at a list of the words first used in print during your birth year (or select any year!). I was thinking generational, since I've recently lost my mother and lost my oldest child three years ago. I wondered what progression in language I would parse from comparing our three birth years.
Merriam Webster's Tale of Three Generations
First Generation
Grandma was born
at the moment of truth.
She was no gal Friday.
She was a flat out,
filter tipped,
interfaith
supernova.
She passed on
the genetic markers
of wishful thinking.
She mixed culture shock
with pablum
and a new deal,
tape recorded our boo boos
and pointed a zoom lens
at Silver Stars.
Second Generation
For instance,
it was happy hour
in the global village
when our virtual memory
reached the tipping point
and queen size
soul sisters
got zonked
on hard rock,
plain vanilla
amuse bouche
and open heart
munchies.
We were brown bagging
no load, nonself picholine
shrink wrapped in
soul music.
Next Generation
Welp.
The third generation
in this story
could be patient zero,
scripting language
and contact tracing
acid wash emoticons.
Their messenger bag
stuffed with off label
steampunk,
they take a deep dive
into a thirtysomething
minitower.
The FAQ explains
how to gank
paintball GIFs
in virtual reality.
We are all ADHD now.
- Andromeda Jazmon 2021
Welp, that was a hoot! Check out my Poetry Sister's poems:
And please save some time this weekend to enjoy all the poetry at the round-up at Bookseedstudio!
9 comments:
Andi, I love how you've captured something of your family across time in these interlinked stanzas. I can feel the passage of time and feel like I get each person described. It's really lovely.
Andi! Look at you, punching out THREE gorgeous poems. These are so full of life, and the progression through generations is genius. LOVE.
What different language for each generation! Such an interesting comparison to make. I looked up a few things like amuse-bouche and learned some words I didn't know!
LOL, that "welp!" Growing up, that was considered an awful, terrible word grammatically, but it always makes me laugh. I like how wildly different your words are - and the eras represented. I think you did your Mom justice especially! A "flat-out, interfaith supernova" is a lovely description.
The timeline is precious, Andromeda. I went over and over it, laughing & bringing up memories. I took lots of French in high school, then college, remember how we (high school) began to use "amuse-bouche" & feeling so cultured. And, like Tanita, that "Welp!" added in is all that needs saying. It's a clever idea to do all three.
Andi, these are amazing! I get such energy from these poems, and such a different feeling from each one. Wow!
What a fantastic idea! Saving that Time Traveler site to go back to when I get a chance.
Your three stanzas capture the three generations. I find it fascinating how language changes and how that changing vocabulary expresses the vibes of the times.
HOLY WOW. The shift of language is incredible. I love the way you used this to bridge the generations. And that wishful thinking... oh, my.
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