In this special video, I read my five favorite poems from this past National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in April. I based these selections on my own opinion and on reader feedback. Trust me, it was difficult to choose only five!
I’ll post a list of all the poems soon.
In this special video, I read my five favorite poems from this past National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in April. I based these selections on my own opinion and on reader feedback. Trust me, it was difficult to choose only five!
If you’d like to read my other 25 poems, check out my website: www.NathanJSMarchand.com.
I come from a military family. I wanted to write something today in tribute not only to my own family members who have served in the armed forces, but to all the men and women who put on a uniform everyday to defend their nation. With all the busyness that has been accosting me, I barely had time to write this. I wanted to include photos. Even if I did, it still wouldn’t seem like enough. So, I will do the best I can with the time I have.
My grandfathers both fought in WWII. Don Marchand was a motorcycle messenger for the Army in the European theatre. He ran over a landmine and survived. While he wasn’t physically disabled, per se, he lived with that injury for the rest of his life. Max Sitton served in the Navy and later the Air Force. He was a practical joker and loved pranking his comrades. It was him who inspired my mother, Tina (Sitton) Marchand, to enlist in the Air National Guard. It was there she met my father, Joseph Marchand, who was an MP (military police). Mom retired from the Air Guard shortly after my first brother, Josiah, was born, but Dad stayed in for ten more years. He made several tours overseas in Europe, and his unit was nearly activated to serve in the first Gulf War. He retired in the mid-’90s after achieving the rank of senior master sergeant.
In all honesty, I’ve considered enlisting several times over the years because of the stories I’ve heard from my parents. Despite that, I’ve always had an interest in the military. That’s probably why my first novel, Pandora’s Box, is military science fiction. (Hey, I had to sneak a little shameless self-promotion in here, hehe).
These are just a few stories. I had other relatives who served in WWII. They all deserve a tribute. So do all the soldiers who’ve served out great nation. You’ve heard all the clichés (“Freedom isn’t free,” etc.), but they still express a good sentiment. Like all holidays, they are reminders of what she should do all year long. Whenever you see a soldier, tell him, “Thank you.” Even if you disagree with the wars we’re involved in, these men and women fought, bled, and even died so you could have the freedom to disagree. You still owe them for gratitude.
I find myself wanting to express that gratitude even more. I hope I–and all of us–remember to do that everyday.
So today when you’re enjoying barbecues and a day off work, remember the soldiers who didn’t get a day off to spend with their families so you could be free.
Happy Memorial Day.
“But I Digress…”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand
I’ve been very busy with several writing and personal projects, so I wasn’t able to film a review for “Star Trek Into Darkness.” However, I managed to get an old friend to do the review for me–none other than Capt. James T. Kirk himself! (Did I mention I’m a HUGE Trekker?)
However, I did see the movie (at midnight) and wrote a review for it on my column for Examiner. You can read it here.
Please comment, subscribe, and share!
“But I Digress…”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand
I’m back, baby! After a month-long hiatus, I return with a new vlog on writing poetry. Since April was National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), I give six helpful tips for aspiring poets. Enjoy!
Please like, subscribe, and share!
www.NathanJSMarchand.com
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.
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.
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.
I said I would explain later, and that time has come.
A huge monkey wrench was thrown into my plans because I was in a car accident Tuesday. Nobody was hurt (not badly. I was sore for a few days), but my car is in bad shape. The incident actually inspired my poem for NaPoWriMo day 23 because I named my car Elektra after the Marvel Comics character, but I digress.
I went to visit my Grandma at the nursing home she was recently moved to in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After spending a few hours with her, I left to get ballroom dance lessons from a friend and hang out for a bit afterward. I came to a stoplight on a busy street. Traffic was thick since it was 4:30pm and people were heading home from work. The light turned green and I moved forward. Just past the light, the quasi-SUV in front of me stopped, so I did, too.
There was a crash.
I suddenly found myself sandwiched between two cars. Someone had rear-ended me.
Both of the other drivers were soccer moms driving larger, sturdier vehicles than me (Elektra is a 1998 Ford Escort). The one in front of me said she stopped because of traffic. I couldn’t see past her, so I can neither confirm nor disprove that. The woman behind me said she thought her two-year-old son in the backseat was choking on something, so she looked back to check on him and didn’t realize I’d stopped.
Both of them had fairly minor cosmetic damage to their vehicles, but since I was scrunched between them, I took the brunt. The hood was arched about a foot, the headlights were shattered, and there was a huge dent on the front. The rear bumper was bent at a slight angle. I shut the car off immediately, but after 20-30 minutes of calling and texting, I tried to start it again and it wouldn’t turn over. The damage doesn’t look too bad, but since it’s 15 years old and has 225,000 miles on it, insurance will probably declare it totaled.
Anyway, the two women eventually left but I had to wait for a friend to pick me up and for a tow truck to take my car away. I did hang out with some friends to celebrate a birthday at a Mexican restaurant that night, though.
As usual with me, the gravity of my situation didn’t hit me until later. I’ve been quite frustrated since Tuesday. I get constant calls from the insurance companies involved in the accident (including one where they were running scared to set up a free chiropractor appointment for me even though I wasn’t hurt. They must be afraid I’ll sue). My plans have been forced to change. I’ve had to start looking for a new car. It hasn’t been fun.
What’s ironic was I had been telling people how grateful I was that my car had lasted this long. I’ve had it since 2006. I’ve driven it longer than the 1990 Dodge Daytona I had before that. It probably could’ve gone another 50,000 miles. It was like how God made the Israelites’ sandals not wear out while they were in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 29:5). Now I suddenly find myself in need of a new car.
If you’re the praying type, prayers would be appreciated. Thanks, True Believers!
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?