Category Archives: Poetry

Announcements, News, Poetry, Appearances

‘Bards Against Hunger’ Indiana Book Launch

(Yeah, an announcement blog hardly seems substantial, but I do need to start promoting this).

The cover of the anthology. (Great job making it my favorite color). 🙂

I’m excited to remind everyone that Bards Against Hunger: Indiana Edition will have a book launch party from 1pm-3pm November 17, 2018, at the Elwood Public Library. It features over 100 poems from over 40 authors—including yours truly—from across the state. The book will be available on Amazon for $15.

The contributing authors have all been invited to attend the party and read their work. I haven’t decided if I’ll be able to attend yet. Stay tuned for more updates. I admit I’m tempted because these are the first poems I’ve had published (aside from one that was in Pandora’s Box).

The proceeds from the book will be donated to the Homeless Advocacy Center of Anderson and Madison County, which is set to open soon. So, I highly recommend buying a copy to support this charity!

According to their official website,

Bards Against Hunger was founded in 2013 by the Bards Initiative, a poetry group on Long Island, NY that hosts many readings and publishes local anthologies. The leaders of this group came up with the idea to host a poetry reading that would gather food for the hungry around Thanksgiving time as a way for poets to give back to their local community. The poets of Long Island loved the idea and flocked to help organize, read at the event, and gather food.

The event was such a success that the group decided to make it an annual event–and keep the tradition strong and growing each year.

This should make one of my professors at university happy since he’s a poet himself.  🙂

If you’d like to have a copy, let me know so I can preorder one for you!

Poetry, Blog

The Best of NaPoWriMo 2013

It might seem a late to do this, but I don’t care. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a while, so I’m gonna stop procrastinating on it.

Back in April, I participated in National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo). I did write 30 poems. While I will leave all of them posted, I’m only going to “promote” what I think were the best ones by listing them in this post and on the “Poetry” section of the “Nathan’s Works” tab.

Some of these will be links to posts with two poems, but only the poem whose title is listed is part of the list, but feel free to read the others.

Do you agree with this list? Were there any poems I wrote that you think should be included? Which ones were your favorites, True Believers?

So, without further adieu, here are what I think are my best NaPoWriMo poems:

Madness
The Lie
Obsession
Final Farewell
The Question
He Beat Me
“Superman” & “Captain America”
Together
Awestruck Greeting
Braggart
Magnolia Tree
“A Dirge for Elektra” & “Wasteland”
“Ballad of a Broken Heart” & “Triumph of the Nerds”
“Pride Goes Before a Fall” & “Red Passion”

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 29 & 30: ‘Sub vs. Dub’ and ‘The Fight’

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My month-long poetry-writing marathon comes to an end. I gotta say, I did better this year than last year. For one thing, I never fell more than one day behind and I finished on time. I did use the last two prompts, but in my opinion, my last two poems aren’t the strongest ones from this year’s NaPoWriMo. Feel free to disagree with me.

Yesterday’s prompt was to write a poem with five words from a foreign language. I chose Japanese. While it should be obvious, I put the Japanese words in bold. It’s based on a less-than-serious debate among anime fans, but it was fun to write.

Today’s prompt was to take a short poem I like and rewrite it by replacing words and phrases with their opposite. For example, Shakespeare’s sonnet, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” could be changed to “I won’t contrast you with a winter’s night.” I selected “The Fray,” a poem used in the 2011 film, The Grey, which was written by it’s screenwriter/director, Joe Carnahan. I don’t think it turned out too well. I chose it because it was only four lines, which I thought would make it simple. Perhaps I’ll rework it later (as I’ll probably do with all these poems).

Day 29:
Sub vs. Dub
By Nathan Marchand

Do you prefer “Konichiwa” or “Hello”?
The original language or English?
Otakus decry their own tongue
Being put in the mouth of Naruto.
“Nai! Too must lost in translation!”
They’re annoyed by people who,
When they hear “Ohayō,” think of a state.
They’d rather read than listen,
Perhaps even missing the action.

But must a character say “watashi wa”
Instead of simply saying, “I”?
The eyes should be free to admire
The beauty of the art, the animation,
The hand-drawn work of masters,
And not be distracted by scrolling text.
Watch it as it was intended:
With voices bringing life to drawings,
And bid the elitist otakus, “Sayōnara!”

Day 30:
The Fight
By Nathan Marchand

Once more out of the fight.
Out of the first bad brawl I’ll ever forget.
Live or die on this night.
Live or die on this night.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 27 & 28: ‘Pride Goes Before a Fall’ and ‘Red Passion’

 

Yesterday’s prompt was to take a commonly known proverb or saying, plug it into an internet search engine, and then select words or phrases in the first few pages of the search for a poem. I chose, “Pride goes before a fall” (based on Proverbs 16:18). The words in bold were the excerpts from the search.

Today’s prompt was deceptive in its simplicity. I was to choose a color and write a poem inspired by it. I chose red.

Enjoy!

Day 27:
Pride Goes Before a Fall
By Nathan Marchand

In this maniac world,
People worship themselves.
What does it mean?
You’ve become your own idol.
Might as well admit it—
You don’t love me.
How could I compete?
How could I compare?
Composing the most beautiful
Song lyrics could do you no justice.
No modest alterations could
Make me worthy of you.

But as history illustrates,
Hubris is always fatal.
The arrogant are likely to fail
Despite their haughty spirit.
God opposes the proud
You may exalt yourself,
But God will humble you.
Who will follow you
When the truth is revealed?
You will watch in despair
As the humble are exalted
And the meek inherit the Earth.

Day 28:
Red Passion
By Nathan Marchand

A man was drenched in red
As passion bled from his wounds.
A self-sacrificial suffering
At the hands of those red with rage,
Driving nails through
Flesh and bone,
Soul and spirit,
With unquenchable bloodlust.
From him, a crimson flow, washing
Hearts stained scarlet
And leaving them white.
The bread of life
Dipped in burgundy wine,
Poured out as an offering.
Eat his flesh and drink his blood,
And you will have eternal life.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 25 & 26: ‘Ballad of a Broken Heart’ and ‘Triumph of the Nerds’

I used yesterday’s prompt but not today’s. Yesterday, I had to write a ballad. I’ve never done that before, and honestly, I was disappointed with my first effort. Feel free to disagree with me, though. Then read my rather silly poem for today. Enjoy!

Day 25:
Ballad of a Broken Heart
By Nathan Marchand

I was foolish and young
When that Cupid’s arrow first stung.
Never knew a girl
Who could throw my heart for a whirl.

She promised loyalty
And I saw her as royalty.
Beautiful as a dove.
I could not help but fall in love.

But I lied to myself,
And she was shrewd like a dark elf.
She perceived how I felt,
And then left my heart with a welt.

This was my first heartbreak.
I still have the same searing ache.
My heart was torn in twain.
How can I ever trust again?

Day 26:
Triumph of the Nerds
By Nathan Marchand

I am a nerd.
Or haven’t you heard
The name you called me an insult
Became my badge of honor as an adult?

I created your favorite TV shows.
Your video games? Wrote the code for those.
You probably read a book I wrote,
And I created the smartphone you use as a remote.

You were king because you played a sport,
But your reign has been short.
The kids at whom your insults were hurled,
In the end, it was them who shaped the world.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 23 & 24: ‘A Dirge for Elektra’ and ‘Wasteland’

I didn’t use either yesterday’s or today’s prompts. It was mostly due to time. In the words of the Doctor from “Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Dearth,” “I’ll explain later.” Regardless, here are my poems for yesterday and today. Enjoy!

Day 23:
A Dirge for Elektra
By Nathan Marchand

Her name is Elektra,
A warrioress clad in red,
A veteran of many journeys,
And I saw her die today.
Crushed between two soccer moms
Because one was distracted.
Reliable though she was, Elektra
Was declared too broken to mend,
And too old to save.

She lays unburied amongst the dead,
A lifeless husk to be scavenged by vultures,
Forgotten by all except the one
Who journeyed with her most.
He’d revive her if given the chance…
If only give the chance.
Death came before her time.
Now he must move on, but her
Memory will always be with him.

Day 24:
Wasteland
By Nathan Marchand

I am lost in the desert,
The unending wilderness,
The most barren wasteland.
I see an oasis, my refuge,
But fear it’s a mirage,
So I walk on, my mouth parched.

I see the promised land,
My long-awaited destination,
But a minefield is before me.
Voices whisper in the stinging wind.
Some urge caution
And some reckless abandon.

I’ve seen others killed by mines—
I myself have their shrapnel
Imbedded in my body.
Another will kill me,
But the promised land beckons.
I don’t want to die in the wilderness.

It’s the only life I know,
Yet I desire far more.
I can receive more if I will but take it.
But I fear the minefield
That has wounded me so often.
I am at an impasse—what shall I do?

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 22: ‘Magnolia Tree’

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Today’s prompt was inspired by Earth Day, which is today. I’m not one to celebrate this “holiday,” but the prompt was a good one. It was simply to write something that had to do with the natural world. Growing up in the country, I was always surrounded by nature. This poem was inspired by my favorite tree on my parents’ property: a magnolia. It was the most beautiful tree there, especially for the several weeks it bloomed in spring. (It was also easy to climb). I hope you enjoy it.

 

Here's a photo of the magnolia tree at my parents' house. It inspired today's poem. Photo by Nathan Marchand
Here’s a photo of the magnolia tree at my parents’ house. It inspired today’s poem. Photo by Nathan Marchand

 

Magnolia Tree
By Nathan Marchand

I hid in the shade of the magnolia tree,
Holding my broken heart as the
Pink petals fell like tears in the breeze.
This, the tree reborn annually at Easter,
Held no comfort for me
Despite its sweet-smelling overtures,
For like it, I’ll bloom only for a short time,
And then my beauty will fall,
Leaving me as common-looking as the others,
Until the onset of winter steals that from me,
And I am left naked and lifeless,
But with no hope of rebirth.

I wept like a widow, mourning my loneliness,
When I heard a man’s voice amid the wind.
“Did you come to cry here, too, as I do?”
I looked up to see a man with a weathered face.
He extended a hand to me, saying,
“The magnolia petals look lovely in your hair.”
Reluctantly, I took his hand, and he pulled me to my feet.
He took one pink petal from my hair wiped my tears with it.
“I came to grieve a broken heart, but perhaps
I no longer need to,” he said, and clipped a blossom
From a branch, placing it in my hair.
There, under the magnolia tree, we found our rebirths.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 20 and 21: ‘Braggart’ and ‘Rejected Fortune Cookie Messages’

 

I had to make up for another lost day today. Sorry!

Yesterday’s prompt was to write a poem using at least five words from a list given participants. I used more than five. The words I was supposed to use are in bold.

Today’s prompt was to write poetic fortune cookie messages. I wrote a list of humorous (and sometimes nerdy) rejected messages. I could’ve written more, but time didn’t allow for it.

Enjoy!

Day 20:
Braggart
By Nathan Marchand

He is a deadly combination:
A dunderhead with a massive ego.
He was fond of making rodomontades
About his many achievements:
The slaying of a bilious Cyclops,
The miraculous rescue of a maiden,
The invention of a clean energy generator.

He fancies himself non-pareil,
But I find truth to be elusive in his stories,
So I take them all with a grain of salt.
He is a boy who thinks himself a man,
Because he was abandoned by his cowbird father.
His tales are a thin veil he pulls over his face
To hide glasses that make him look like an ugly owl,
A cover-up for the potential he squandered,
To convince people he’s anyone but an oversized adolescent
You’d rather be upwind of after he eats cheese.

My words would be artillery against his ego
Had his skull not been thicker than a quahog.
Twice I have tried to help him,
But his mind remains in the gutter,
Collecting BS to sell to the gullible.
I pity him more than I could hate him
Because one day he’ll have nowhere to abscond from lies.

Day 21:
Rejected Fortune Cookie Messages
By Nathan Marchand

Never trust the next woman you meet who’s wearing a red dress.

The Doctor lies—just like you’ll learn your significant other does.

Talk to the next person you sit next to at a movie theatre—it might be a sweet beginning.

You will eat another fortune cookie, and its message will cancel this one out.

I am Batman, and so are you.

You’ll have a baby—even if you’re a man.

You will use more emoticons. J 😉 😀

You’ll notice this message doesn’t match your horoscope. Sorry.

You are the chosen one, I just don’t know what for.

Your lucky numbers are 5, 7, 9, 11, 16, 21, and 3,974,198.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 18-19: ‘Unrequited’ and ‘Super-Nerd Seeking Impossible Love’

Yes, I fell behind again. Sorry!

Anyway, yesterday’s prompt was to write a poem that began and ended with the same word. Today’s was more interesting. I’m not sure how to explain it. It amounted to writing a humorously self-deprecating want-ad. I recommend reading the prompt description in the provided link.

Enjoy!

Day 18:
Unrequited
By Nathan Marchand

Love is a one-way street:
I go, but she does not come.
She acknowledges my words,
But she is deaf to them.
My gifts are received,
But she never returns the favor.
We spend time together,
But I feel trapped in the “friend zone.”
She lets me carry her heavy loads,
But does not fully appreciate the gesture.
I offer hugs in time of trouble,
Yet she neglects to shake my hand.
No disease plagues a man worse
Than the sickness of unrequited love.

Day 19:
Super-Nerd Seeking Impossible Love
By Nathan Marchand

It’s a bird!
It’s a plane!
It’s Super-Nerd!
I’m a Spider-Man, 29, seeking his Mary-Jane,
Which any woman would find absurd.
So, single is how I’ll remain—
Unless you’re that rare bird
Who won’t find me insane
For quoting “Star Trek” lines you’ve never heard.
You’ll think I’m someone to disdain
When I greet you wearing a “Doctor Who” costume, how absurd.
At least I tried, though you’re a woman I can’t attain.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Days 16-17: ‘Misunderstanding’ and ‘Awestruck Greeting’

Once again, I was so busy yesterday  that I neglected to write a poem. I did make up for it by writing two today, but I didn’t follow yesterday’s prompt despite being a great exercise (“translate” a poem in a foreign). I did, however, follow today’s prompt: write a “poem of greeting.” So, without further adieu, here are two poems for you (hey, that rhymed! HA!)

Day 16:
Misunderstanding
By Nathan Marchand

Was it all a misunderstanding?
The year you admired me,
The day your attraction grew,
The flabbergasted joy of holding hands,
The adventures we shared?
Through it all, there was no love.
I was only a friend—
A friend who fell in love
For the first time in his life,
Who, despite no wrongdoing,
Was gently released and left alone,
Like a tamed animal abandoned in the wild.
You walked away without a drop of malice
While I, wounded, limped home
To lick wounds that may not heal.

Day 17:
Awestruck Greeting
By Nathan Marchand

I, surrounded by darkness, walked toward the light.
Touching it, I was enveloped by it, and transported
To gates of purest gold, shiner than bronze.
They opened wide and there stood a familiar stranger:
A face I had always imagined but never seen.
He, smiling, extended a scarred hand to me and said,
“Welcome, My servant, My child, My brother, My friend.”

I was awestruck at this, a sight beyond imagination.
Slowly, I raised my hand and took his, locking eyes with him.
He gripped my hand and pulled me into an embrace.
Overwhelmed surprise mingled with joy, I patted his back.
He said, “Well done! You’ve been good and faithful.
Come, share in my happiness. Your room awaits you.”
His hand motioned me toward a new home—my true home.

Words failed me, though I was a writer and a poet.
The day I longed for had come suddenly.
What should I say? Should I say anything?
I’d finally met the man I owed my eternity to,
Yet I couldn’t utter a grateful word or even a greeting.
I paused long to conceive a single sentence,
Finally saying, “Join me on a new adventure!”