2011 April PAD Challenge: Day 1

I just returned from a 20-hour road trip. Since I need a little time to get sleepy after loading up on caffeine, I might as well get this month's challenge started early. Click here for April Poem-A-Day Challenge guidelines.

*****

For today's prompt, write a "what got you here" poem. For instance, write a poem about a mode of transportation like your car, bike, horse, etc. Or write a poem about what "got you here" as a human being or writer (like what got you started writing, perhaps). Or write a poem about what brought you to this blog. Or whatever other interpretation you might have.

Here's my attempt:

"Raising Dough"

Early in the morning, the baker blames his irritability on his wife,
who snores through the night and faults her five grandchildren, who
run her ragged in the afternoons, though they observe that their
problems start at school with their teachers, who keep the children
confined to their desks and who blame a test-driven principal, who
acknowledges her stern manner is a result of her husband, who very
openly flirts with the town's only doctor, who would reject his advances
if not for her own husband, who is constantly on the road attempting
to sell more units for his boss, who blames his money-focused approach
to life on his shabby upbringing by his father, who often lost jobs
(and even a finger once in a car factory) while daydreaming about
becoming a great writer like his favorite poet, who chose composing
stanzas over spreadsheets and as a result found himself often worried
late into the evenings about how he would manage to pay his rent
while realizing he had absolutely no one left to blame save himself.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

Also, if you want to report or share your April PAD Challenge progress on Twitter, use the #aprpad hashtag.

*****

Want to publish your poetry?
If you want to take the poetry you've written and get it published, I recommend checking out the 2011 Poet's Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer (yes, that's me!). Poet's Market is packed with hundreds of publishing opportunities and articles on how to place your poetry, connect with readers, give poetry readings, and more.

Click here to check it out.