Did I reach my goals? I sure did. One hundred pages on my script-which isn't yet finished-and 30 poems written to commemorate National Poetry Month.

Yeah!

Most of the poems are still in my notebook. I find writing poetry easier when writing long hand, and besides, it's much more convenient to carry my notebook in my purse. My laptop just doesn't travel as well.

I found the 30 poems in 30 days a challenge. I usually just wait for inspiration to strike for poetry. Forcing a poem into creation is not my forte. I'll never call myself a poet and after reading some of them, you'll probably agree with me.

Twenty-eight days in, I found that one of my favorite columnists for Writer's Digest was offering a prompt a day throughout the month. I'll have to remember that for next year. Maybe that will make it a little easier.

So, same said columnist also introduced me to several new forms of poetry in his column. I've tried out a few and posted (or will post) the results here or at my exclusively poetry blog: www.shawnannmurray.blogspot.com.

I challenged my writing buddy (who does call himself a poet) to come up with a few poems that met the guidelines of the new forms, and as payback, he challenged me to come up with a new form myself. He threw down the gauntlet, and at first, I laughed it off. Several days later I began a new form that I call the Deja vu poem.

The Guidelines:

• repeat words with different spellings
• repeat rhymes
• repeat words in different contexts
• repeat meanings with different words
• repeat consonants in consecutive words
• as with Deja vu, you don't know what or when they happen. Anything goes; no specific forms - stanzas, beat, rhyme, syllables, meter, etc.

Below is my attempt. Give it a try. Good Luck.

Sweet Tooth

my sweet tooth will be,
surely, the death of me;
apple turnovers,
peanut butter pie
with chocolate chips,
whipped cream on top,
and a Reese's cup added
for good measure;
made just for my pleasure,

saying no is hard for me,
just can't seem to let them be,
"dessert before dinner"
is a great motto for me,
or rather, it should be,
"dessert rather than dinner for me,"

chocolate covered nuts
can make me insane,
Swedish Fish and red licorice
and peppermint candy canes,
my love of sweets
will surely never wain,

bananas, cherries, strawberries,
and pretzels all chocolate covered,
that melt and drip
all down my hand,
with sprinkles and jimmies,
and chocolate fudge drizzle
are all part of my
finger-licking plan,

if you can make home-made Tiramisu,
my heart and my favor you will gain,
take away my chocolate
and I will raise Holy cain,

Butter Pecan ice cream,
always my favorite flavor.
apple butter or raspberry jam
on my morning waffles I love and savor,

cinnamon rolls with raisins
fresh, plump and full,
and covered with cream cheese icing,
drizzled and dripping,
hot and fresh from the oven,
makes for a perfect morning,

chewy chocolate chunk chocolate chocolate chip
coconut cookies with walnuts, almonds and pecans
make my milk chocolaty,
especially when warm in my hands,

weight, you would think,
I'd have surely gained,
my liver and pancreas
have surely been strained,
diabetes has forced me to control
the food I inhale and all the sweets too,
now I eat only half my dessert
instead of my preferred two,

my sweet tooth will be,
surely, the death of me,


by Shawn Ann Murray ©2011