It will happen again:
the falling,
the surprise inside of a doughnut,
the water on the face,
the broken mind your head sign,
the phone call in the morning.
© Carl Burkitt 2021
Again
Reply
The mountains were made to make me feel smaller
I don’t ask them
what’s the weather like up there
because I can see it from down here.
I say Thank you, sorry to bother you
when they get me the last box of cereal
from the back of the top shelf.
When mountains sit in front of me
in the cinema I move seats
without tapping them on the head.
It doesn’t take much
to not ruin a lump’s day.
© Carl Burkitt 2021
#NaPoWriMo Writing Exercise 30: MY WORLD
Game 1: Think of something stunning from the natural world: The sky, the ocean, mountains, grass, a giraffe, etc.
Game 2: Write a poem convincing everyone it was created just for you.
A marvellous creation
When the days
are as blue
as an empty tub
of salt and vinegar Pringles
I think about Simone Biles
back flipping
around your brain
on a Tuesday
when I ask
What are you thinking?
© Carl Burkitt 2021
The birds on the balcony that found Tik Tok fame
Feathers shimmied
like a melting rainbow
on a day
that couldn’t decide
if it wanted
to be remembered.
© Carl Burkitt 2021
#NaPoWriMo Writing Exercise 28: WRITE ALL ABOUT IT
Game 1: Grab a newspaper or magazine, or head to a news site online.
Game 2: Find a headline that pulls you in for whatever reason. Don’t read the article.
Game 3: Write a poem that fits the headline.
Here it comes
Look! There’s grey and
a tiny bit of yellow and
grey and a bit of white
and lots and lots of grey
and some pink and grey
and necks and wings
and grey and are they
bald heads I can’t tell
because there is just
so much grey
but
here comes
the rainbow
to shake us
all up.
© Carl Burkitt 2021
#NaPoWriMo Writing Exercise 27: KID AMONG THE PIGEONS
Game 1: Imagine a toddler running into a bunch of pigeons.
Game 2: You are the toddler. Write for 4 minutes about the experience.
Game 3: You are the bunch of pigeons. Write for 4 minutes about the experience.
Game 4: Stick the two poems together with a ‘but’, ‘and’, ‘however’, linking word of your choosing. OR, create a poem from alternate lines from each perspective.
Drafts
I’m going to fold you into a pretzel
after skipping down a ramp to Black Dog.
I’m going to flick your head wearing black jeans
and no t-shirt and black elbow pads.
I’m going to bop you on the bum.
I’m going to evaporate your eyes.
I’m going to peel your back skin off.
I’m going to post you to your past.
I’m going to count your ribs with your lies.
I’m going to strangle your hobbies.
I’m going to try.
© Carl Burkitt 2021
#NaPoWriMo Writing Exercise 26: YOU LISTEN TO ME
Game 1: You are a wrestler. Take a minute or two to come up with your name, what entrance music you come down to and what outfit you wear.
Game 2: Spend 8 minutes writing the speech you will yell down the camera to your opponent. Try to get the name, music and outfit into the poem somehow.
Carl tells tales 