Published inPaper Poetry·PinnedMember-onlyMonocle on Monoku and My Aha MomentWith help from Jim Kacian and Allen Ginsberg — this article is all about a poetry form called monoku my motivation to write it comes from wanting to share what i’ve learned before we go any further, there are a few things you need to know: first off, all these lines are styled as monoku but they’re not the…Monoku5 min readMonoku5 min read
PinnedMember-onlyTwittle in a NutshellWhat’s a twittle? — A twittle is a nutty poem in the class of a quatrain exactly one hundred alphabet letters a perfect workout for your brain © Carolyn Hastings 2022 And that’s a twittle in a nutshell! …Poetry2 min readPoetry2 min read
Published inEngage·PinnedMember-onlyMake Your Twittle CountWe’re making twittle history — Hi, I am the curator of twittles among many roles and titles I’m everyone’s twittle inspector and a pedantic letter counter I love reading others’ twittles But watch out! I scan them like a hawk One letter off the magic score Excuse me, we need to talk! If you’re the…Twittle6 min readTwittle6 min read
Published inThe Lark·2 days agoMember-onlyRobbed of Life at 35A tribute poem for Rob on the day of his funeral — His name was Rob He lived his life with a passion love in his heart a young wife to whom he was smitten And together their precious boy made his life whole He wanted nothing more than to be with them forever “The news is not good in fact, it’s quite…Cancer4 min readCancer4 min read
Published inthe speech:ery·5 days agoMember-onlySloth Hanging From a Tree Beats ChatGPTEtherees and fun facts about sloths — sloth hanging from a tree all day and night except once a week when the urge to poop grips she then descends to the ground where she attends to her toilet at the base of her jungle treehouse; a girl after all needs her privacy © Carolyn Hastings 2023 Dedicated…Poetry5 min readPoetry5 min read
Published inThe Lark·May 24Member-onlyImperfectly PerfectA free verse poem inspired by an imperfect rose — One boob bigger than the other A scar across the brow They’re lopsided A snaggletooth smile Knots in the grain A heart that misfires It’s all random A three-legged cat A bird that can’t sing The runt of the litter Someone has to be last Wind-buckled trees gnarled bent not broken Roots…Poetry2 min readPoetry2 min read
Published inPaper Poetry·May 22Member-onlyBuzzing in My EarsThe buzz of getting my mind off the buzz — I sit awhile and meditate to the buzzing in my ears tinnitus my ever-present background state of om © Carolyn Hastings 2023 I’m having a low-energy day today which invariably means my tinnitus is worse — or maybe I’m just more aware of it — it’s hard to tell. I’m…Tinnitus1 min readTinnitus1 min read
Published inEngage·May 18Member-onlyThank You, John O’NeillIt’s an honor to know you, kind sir — “Be gentle and kind of heart in all of your actions Keep in mind always That we are not islands But all life is part of one creation Life’s burdens were meant to be shared Mother never intended that anyone be alone” These are the end lines to John O'Neill’s…John Oneill3 min readJohn Oneill3 min read
Published inPaper Poetry·May 17Member-onlyWarms Your Heart, Now You BloomAnd how ChatGPT failed my nonet test — She stirs from slumber to greet the day The air piqued crisp a sweet bouquet Petals kissed by morning dew* Here she waits just for you Feel her poetry It draws you in Warms your heart Now you Bloom © Carolyn Hastings 2023 Of course, this nonet really only makes…Lets Get Real5 min readLets Get Real5 min read
Published inPaper Poetry·May 8Member-onlyIn Her ArmsA tapestry of life in free verse — I see in my daughter’s face a softness of gaze that is eternal and with it a malleable bond of gold maternal and sacred for in her arms a tapestry of life she nurtures my heritage thread helixed divined into the future my granddaughter come bless her © Carolyn Hastings…Lets Get Real2 min readLets Get Real2 min read
