Fragment exchange program...

[bodkin]

You must have great fragments that remain stubbornly detached from actual poems?

Post some here, then take one from somebody else and write a poem based on it.

I have a line, a phrase and a sketch for a strophe:

"Is Heaven a safe destination?"

"desolation algebra"

"the hound of evolution
a serendipity dog
pragmatism's evil twin
the lord of the cogs"

Obviously you can tweak the wording as you might need...

Ian

[David]

This is a great idea, Monty. I'll dig some of my old notebooks out.

[k-j]

Fantastic idea. Here's a pitiful fragment:

In spite of the world being full
of wonder as a peel is of fruit,
as a lilac bulges with scent,

and another:

Ungainlily,
under a boulder huddle purple seastars at low-tide

I have three separate sestets going spare, I'm not sure if they're too long for this though? All in good nick, barely used. Also about 20% of a three-sonnet series about Father Christmas.

[bodkin]

Hi k-j,

I think sestets would be just about under the limit, as long as you don't mind the risk of people breaking them down for haiku?

20% of a sonnet? Is that like the first foot from each of 14 lines:

Such are...
and yet...
broadly...
no house...
I wouldst...
forbearing...
She knew...
her breath...
Certain...
averts...
anodyne...
She feels...
his voice...
the game...

Ian

[bodkin]

I was going to wait a day or two to see what bits and pieces rolled in, but I was toying with k-j's three lines and...

Accommodation

In spite of the world being full
of wonder as a peel is of fruit,
as a lilac bulges with scent,
as an ant is filled with busyness,
or an ant-hill filled with ants;

in spite of the laundry basket,
filled with dirty pants
and socks I could attend to
and the fridge replete
with items it is now too late
to ever eat, and which I could identify and chuck;

in spite of the molecules in the sea
numerous to a degree that's innumerable;

in spite of all the beetles,
all the species of beetle,
and all the various variations on a beetle's life;

in spite of the risk from guns,
and knife crime, and identity theft,
of borrowing so much there's nothing
left to feed the kids;

in spite of the roiling, boiling mass
of bulk humanity, every one equipped
with lusts and fears and hearts
and fists and egos and ids;

and in spite of the light
of distant stars
that fill the night --

I'm so bored!

[Ros]

Great poem, cop-out ending!

Now, your 20% of a sonnet gives me an idea for a new exercise...

[bodkin]

Great poem, cop-out ending!

I know, I'm wondering if this is why k-j never got any further...

Now, your 20% of a sonnet gives me an idea for a new exercise...

[David]

I know this is not the idea of the program, but I'm just really enjoying reading people's fragments. More, please.

[Ros]

The sky is skimmed with milky clouds -
I’ll hitch my meaning to the full-fat moon.

[Ros]

avocados ripen instantly
if you scream at them
and melons rot