Talent Is a Ticket [Poetry Friday]

Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was from me: Roll a set of metaphor dice and write a poem inspired by your metaphor. If you don’t have metaphor dice, try an online metaphor generator, like this one: https://perchance.org/ve4axzbkx4 

I feel kind of bad that I didn’t enjoy this process all that much. Maybe it’s because of all the tech problems I was having while trying to write this poem. And it came out very general and abstract. I did one revision, in my Write Alone Together session on Monday, and I like it a little better. But still. Not crazy about the whole thing–I hate it when I don’t respond well to my own dang writing prompt! I hope you had more fun with it than I did! If so, share it on your blog or in the comments here–or on social media with #PoetryPals.

Okay, here’s what I wrote in response to “Talent is a birdcage.”

And don’t forget to see what my Poetry Sisters have come up with! I was so glad that we were able to write together, all 7 of us, last Sunday. It’s amazing.

Kelly
Liz

Sara 
Tanita 
Tricia 
Andi


Click here if you’d like to see all our previous Poetry Princesses collaborations. 

Want to try next month’s challenge and post with us? We’d love for you to join us! Here’s the prompt: dizzying dizains. (Here’s a bit about dizains.) Apparently, we wrote dizains back in March 2019. That’s the only (I think) month I’ve missed posting with my poetry sisters, so dizains will be brand new to me, too!  Share your poem on March 26 in a post and/or on social media – #PoetryPals. Hope you’ll join us!

Also, make sure to stop by Karen Edmisten’s blog for the Poetry Friday Roundup! I’m so grateful for this patient and encouraging community.

Save

Save

Save

19 Responses

  1. This is something so completely different from you, Laura. But I like that you have kept pulling me up and making me ponder as I read. And I’m still thinking about it — will take your metaphors away with me for thought during the day. (Fact: There is no pressure quite like the pressure of performing to your own prompt!)

  2. It’s interesting that you don’t like it. I think it’s mixed up & shows the clear frustration when something one wants so much does.not.work. You jump around, you play out that paintbrush part, then, egads, the bat’s back. I like it!

    1. I agree, it feels different for a LPS poem, but I think it’s interesting the way you move from talent being a ticket to being quite the opposite. Molly had a metaphor poem, too — so I think I need to find out more about these dice & generators!

  3. I get a pretty clear picture of a kid/teen who feels deeply about wanting to paint, wanting to be free, wanting a future but feeling stuck.…even hopeless. It is sad that life is a cage for too many. And talent? So much untapped potential. Prayers for wisdom. Is my reaction in the ballpark ( seriously no pun intended ).….?? Challenges are good for stretching. I always want perfection which is surely elusive. But at least I am writing, I remind myself.

    1. Yep, that’s the general set-up, Janet :>) Just wasn’t happy with the poem itself. But at lest I am writing–yes!

  4. This is heart-rending, Laura, not general or abstract at all. I especially love the scraping of shredded paper at his feet, not only because it recalls art paper AND birdcage liner, but it’s as if home plate were as thin as that..a triple metaphor.

  5. You took two prompts and rolled them into one. The imagery of ticket vs. cage battles to the end. In the end I suspect we’d see that for this kid, the ticket only takes you as far as the cage will let you, and if you’re not careful… the cage stays.

  6. So much to think about in your poem about talent and how we feel as we try to discover and use it. And yes the talent and the cage–much to think about. Thanks for sharing it.

  7. This poem is heartbreaking. I see a lot of kids who think sports is the only way to achieve something. I love those kids who push past the boundaries of stereotypes to pursue their dreams. Thank you for this lovely poem. What a great way to address your metaphor.

  8. Such a great first line. It starts the story and there’s so many places to go. This reads like a dream one would have. How DID that bat get in here?

  9. Potent, and darker than I expected. I quite like it, especially the frustration, the closing in, and that shredded paper.

  10. I, too, am struck by the arts vs. sports-ness of this poem, and the contrast between ticket and cage.

  11. The cage of talent is fierce! I think your poem is heartbreaking and powerful. You really captured the turmoil of the speaker, desperate to escape, yet trapped by the route out as surely as by staying.

  12. There is so much to think about in your poem–how the same talent that offers a way out can trap us in expectations that may not match our dreams.

  13. You’ve given us an absolutely incredible character study, Laura. I feel like this deserves a book length story. (Hint hint…)

  14. It’s so interesting to me that you don’t like it (although we all know that feeling well.) 🙂 I don’t think it’s too general or abstract — to me it tells a story about how trapped he feels. I love that his chosen subject is a tiger, a dangerous beauty.

  15. Sorry about the issues you had, but, as others have said before me, I like it! When I saw the link said Laura P. Salad, I wondered if it was someone new! 😀
    Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

  16. I really like the metaphor you chose and how you turned it to suit you–being a ticket out. You were exploring, discovering, painting… I like Liz’s comment too, that perhaps there’s a book in that poem…

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,499 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter bookschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."