For this week’s Read Write Poem prompt, I was stuck trying to think of three pieces of my life. Who would have known that could be so difficult? On my bus ride home tonight I tried to use the three firsts that Ceridwen offered as prompt ideas:
first orgasm
first death
first fear
I didn’t remember the prompt quite as she had written it. I recalled orgasm, death, and life. I forgot fear.
And I really didn’t want to write about a first orgasm. I shied away from that topic. So I thought I would do it it anyway, and confront my fear. Or perhaps simply acknowledge it.
First Fear and a Death
The first time
I died
arched back
pelvis flung forward
I jumped
no net I
sighed and cried
quaking
like a saint possessed
I didn’t
know
what orgasm
said
coming up for air
I gasped alive
It wasn’t like that
I lied
I was a temple
virgin – I lived
for love no guilt
only knowledge
I lied
I lived
Find other ideas about threes–or poems about something entirely different–here.
Related posts:
wow. wow. This one took my breath away. I read it twice.
I gasped alive
It wasn’t like that
I lied
I will read this one again and again. Did you seriously write this on the bus? You make me jealous (and blushingly honored to share this creative space with you!)
Holy crap, girl. I *just* posted this.
You know, you get credit for using such fresh and free thoughts and writing that it propels me. Adds oxygen to this space. Honestly. I remember your little death poem (which I don’t believe you’ve posted) and I nearly stole the title.
And I am glad you liked this. I am trying to take more writerly risks and it is very, very hard for me!
When are you back?
I’m afraid you must be thinking of another poetry-friend, co-blogger of yours: I’m almost certain I’ve never written a little death poem. Although I’d like to! Which poem are you talking about?
Coming home on the 18th! Yippee!
This is GREAT. I love that you took the leap and write about this. Yay!
You just get better and better … and I love how you structure your work. It’s like a ride at Disneyland–there’s this climb, this mysterious build that sort of takes you over a few small knolls, then BAM! you whallop us down a lovely, rolling, speed-demon, rock’n'roll ‘em joy ride.
I love it! Collect your work, revisit and get it out there!
Pamela
I’m glad you took the risk, this is cool!
I love the ending — I lied//I lived. What a great combination. Good job taking a big risk!
Excellent! If ReadWritePoem were a contest (and thank whomever it is not) you and WD would be sharing the prize this week!
Wow. Thank you–all–for letting me know what you thought. I am so happy that you, some of my favorite writers and poets, found something you liked here.
This warm praise encourages me to keep taking risks. Very cool. :^}
First the little death, then the big one. You are brave to write about what’s most intimate, but you wrote honestly, and well.
Nice, …deb. I’m going, “She didn’t write that on the bus.” Else the bus driver was some handsome devil. Bravo.
I started using Ceridwen’s suggestion, and bogged down. It’s delicate and requires diplomacy. I’ll pick it up again and try to move on.
those vibrating bus seats will get you every time!!!!!! wonderful!!! what fun!!!!
Deb, wow. I’ve been away from poetry sites for a while and I’m glad yours was the first I visited. Your risk-taking has inspired me before, and it does in this poem too. Exhilirating.
You didn’t waste any words in this poem. Each word is delicious! “I didn’t / know / what orgasm / said” is so surprising and perfect!
Hey Saffron-lady!
I just noticed that the lable on this one is ReadWritePoem and our other lables have been RWP. Should we change them all?
Why am I nitpicking? Perhaps so I can procrastinate! It’s 12:45am and I just ate dinner. Roasted chicken off the grill. Better than last night though, when I ate at 2am.
Nobody cares about my eating habits. sorry. :)
[...] my poem, “First Fear and a Death.” It’s a poem you all will have seen in draft, here. I have had a lot of feedback on it from my poetry writing groups, too. (Thank you, [...]