2011 April PAD Challenge: Day 17

Yesterday, we had the snapshot poem.

For today's prompt, write a big picture poem. I know these can be difficult to write, because they cover big ideas or emotions or concepts. However, we're just getting our first drafts out this month, so it's the perfect time to attempt something big--even if your big picture poem fits within a shadorma or fib, which actually might be a great fit for tackling a big picture since the poem expands with each new line.

Here's my attempt:

"Poetry and world peace"

I don't believe in the perfect poem,
one poem that could stop every gun
from firing, every fist from punching,
every mouth from saying what shouldn't
be said. Prufrock's love song appeals to some,
but leaves others scratching their heads. So much
depends on red wheel barrows in a few
circles, but others couldn't be bothered
with white chickens (rain or no rain). Again,
I don't believe in the perfect poem,
though I'd like world peace. I'd like to wake up
every morning without a reason
to mourn what's happening on this planet
each day. You know what's happening as much
as I do. The knives and shouting, the lack
of "thank you" and "please." The little things that
build over generations and sink their
teeth into our skin. The big mistakes we
make after we let smaller ones snowball.
I don't believe in the perfect poem,
but we can still keep trying anyway.

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Paint pictures with words!
Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but how do you convey a picture in a thousand words or less? Rebecca McClanahan provides tips in her book Word Painting, which helps writers write in a way that enables their readers to "see" what's happening.

Click here to learn more.