Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
Last Sunday, we Poetry Sisters met on Zoom for live writing. Our challenge this month was an ekphrastic dodoitsu. Yup. A dodoitsu (new to me) is a Japanese poetic form with a bit of wry humor, usually around work or love. It has 3 lines of 7 syllables and a 5‑syllable final line. We all shared an image or two as possibilities, and this wall with crooked brickwork caught my eye. As a not-too-handy person, it looks like one of my home improvement projects (though I’m proud that I recently replaced the ball valves in FOUR bathroom faucets!).
Anyway, here’s what I came up with.
Now, honestly, I love a good craftsperson and handmade items. But when I go to WW every week, I laugh as I drive by an “artisan dentist” in a hoity-toity suburb. Thanks, but I’d just like a good dentist…nothing fancy or too creative, please! And everywhere I look, everything this past year or two is “artisan.” So, that’s what came to mind as I looked at this wall.
Did you write a dodoitsu with us? If so, please share in comments, or tag your social media post with #PoetryPals. We’d love to see what everyone did! And here’s what my Poetry Sisters created for your entertainment :>)
Kelly
Mary Lee
Liz
Sara
Tanita
Tricia
Andi
Click here to see all our previous Poetry Princesses collaborations.
Would you like to join us in April? We’re planning to write poems in the style of or inspired by Taylor Mali, and we’ll post on April 29. Whee!
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at The Poem Farm! She’s sharing her past and future National Poetry Month plans–whee! (Speaking of, I’m planning to share a sticky note poem each day. Keeping it simple!)
19 Responses
I love the wry humor in your poem, Laura. I will have to give this form a try! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, you made me laugh out LOUD! Artisan DENTIST! You’ve got more to write here, methinks. The last line of today’s poem could not be more spot on. And I so look forward to your sticky note poems. What a cool idea. Congratulations again on WE BELONG, my friend. xo
Thanks, Amy!
Hee, hee! Clever joke, and confidently delivered like it was stand-up! Twice the price…of COURSE.
So clever! And funny! What a fun prompt.
This is so funny, Laura, and I must ask. Is there really an artisan dentist? I wrote to your pals’ challenge today, too, but to a love instead of humor. Have a great weekend ahead!
There IS. Shudder. Maybe it’s a branch of https://www.artisandentalmn.com/. I always want to stop and take a photo of the sign, but I’m driving alone on busy streets. Next week, I swear, I’m getting a photo!
Of course it’s twice the price! Ha ha! I’m glad I will never be able to afford artisan walls or dentists!! Great job with this challenge.
Wait, what the heck is an ARTISAN dentist!?
Humans are the most extra creatures sometimes, I swear.
And yeah — they’ll certainly charge you double for that “art.” Whether you wanted it or not…
This hits that perfect smirk-and-snicker tone.
I love this take on the word artisan. And yes, folks do pay more, though I wish I knew why! I like the internal rhyme in the 3rd line. Such a fun poem.
Love your dodoitsu I hear you on the artisan thing. Great job, thanks for the smile (not an artisan one, my dentist is a basic kind of guy). 😀
This poem is so fun! Thank you for sharing!
LOVE it! Bonus points for the internal rhyme!
I L‑O-V‑E <3 your dodoitsu Laura, gave me a good laugh and I’m smiling wide, thanks!!!
Laura, once again I read your post on Friday and then, fell asleep without commenting. So sorry. I have been trying to balance too many things. I did love your dodoitsu. It is clever and is a great accompaniment to your poem with a funny ending. You are right about the word artisan so your ending reminds me of rising prices for home building and crafting.
Love that punchline, Laura. Ain’t it the truth! These days, if I could get any workmen to return my calls, I might even pay twice the price. Thank you for your kind welcome back comment on my blog. 🙂
ha ha ha — twice the price!! and, I really admire the internal rhyme here, too. lovely!
This poem made me chuckle — “swervy” and “topsy-turvy” rise and fall as we read it, translating the visual of the photo into the verbal. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Your poem made me laugh. It sounds like all the “artisans” around here.