Spring Action. Working on showing not telling.

Spring Action

Over the rush and roar
of the heat pump and

outside my bedroom window,
I hear chirps. Nature’s ice-

box opens early. Red-bursts
against the orange slice of morn

allude to the unresolved evening
lightning. I prefer a crock pot,

never quite boiling,
and for everyone else,

the microwave.

--Sukany 22 Feb 2012

 

 

Todd,  I had to read the poem two or three times to get where you were going.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but I was wanting to understand the picture while most people are either grabbed right away or just move on.  The poem would have drawn my interest quicker if it had started with "I heard chirps..." rather than "I" bringing up the rear. I think it would have utilized the conjunction "and" smoother. The hardest part was trying to grasp the "red-bursts" even though you told me what they were. All that being said, I liked the brevity, to the point, in and out quickly, that you used. I would read it again.  D

Seems to me you met your goal very well. I especially like the economy of words balanced with "show images"... The jump after unresolved lightning leaves me wanting some help to know I bridge comfortably in this spot. If I were trying to rewrite this poem I might put an additional image in there set off by commas. The ending serves well. A "keeper". Dewell

I'm thinking you have an opportunity here for internal sounds: Chirps can be heard over. . . And it's about spring this and that, not about the heat pump, etc. Just jump into spring with the first word. : ) And then you do the shocking thing: you break icebox at the end of a line! I have only seen that done by Jane Kenyon. I think she broke bluebird. : ) I will never forget seeing that done. Okay. That's playful and very contemporary.

I prefer slowness over fast. . . .well put in showing words. I'm wondering if the last line. You are saying what others prefer. Hmmmm. It pulls me away from nature. Spring is a microwave at times: a burst of color. I'd say what I prefer and what nature does. I don't think I'd include what others want. Todd, that takes me down another road.

I like the poem. Title fits. Showing: good job! Pat