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[Father Luke]

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I used to not dream. I didn't have dreams, or I didn't dream. Either way I wasn't aware of dreaming,
and so I didn't have dreams. Same as not dreaming.

But I woke up the other day thinking of a great prompt.

Take someone's poem on the forum.
Write it from your own voice.

Then take one of your poems and write it in the voice of the person
whose poem you wrote in your voice.


Thoughts...

We all imitate.
We all read things that move us.

Instead of unconsciously trying to avoid writing
in another's voice, do it purposely and see how it
differs from your own voice.


Anyway, poast the work here so as to keep the exercises
in the thread, and so others can participate without the
poems getting thrown into the general poetry board.

Have fun.
And grow...

[Father Luke]

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Jenifer wrote this poem: http://literarymary.com/forum/poetry/thin-is-an-armor/

Here it is in my voice.


The armor wears thin, still it protects you, my Love


She's crying.

Deep sobs. Genuine sorrow. Not a manufactured grievance, or some petty annoyance.
Real sorrow. And all I can do is listen. Listen to the words between the sobs, and
watch the tears make her dark blue sweater darker where they drop.

She is saying that she's not fat. Not a cunt. Not... you know?
Not all the things that damage her, and make her feel less than.

I'm remembering how my mother held me when I was lonely and frightened.
I'm wishing I could do the same for her. I wish I could give her something she
already has. A sense of her own beauty, her own power, her own...

She has carried four children inside her. Those children now call her
Mom, and they look to her for the same comfort she now needs.

She has been the good wife. The good friend. The good woman. The good daughter.

And now, in pain, she cries, less than an arms length from me, and I can't touch her for her distance from me.

[Father Luke]

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Now here is one of mine from what I perceive to be Jenifer's voice

 


Here is the original:  http://www.foxchasereview.org/11WS/FatherLuke.html


Here is how I perceive that Jenifer would write it:



Travel Companions


Stepping onto the bus she pays her fare,
looks around,
and finds a seat.

She begins making her way to sit down.

The bus jerks to a start, and begins it's endless
journey forward, on a route that never varies.


"STOP!" the woman screams. "JUST WAIT!"

The driver looks up at her in his rear view mirror.
She is wearing a too big white hat, and really large
sunglasses. Wrinkly, skin with sun blotches.

He stops, and waits for an explanation, settling into a 'so wut' posture.

There is a feeble tick - tick - tick at the bus door.
The driver opens the door.

He steps in,
out of breath,
and pays his fare.

She comes to him and hugs him,
and they settle in, as the bus makes it way,
once again.

[Father Luke]

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Like that. That's what I'm talking about.

I'll probably do more. That was fun.

I learned a little more about my voice.
And I had to really, really listen to hear Jenifer's voice.
So, I saw something familiar from someone's perspective other than my own.

I'll probably try one of James' poems next.
That should be a stretch...


...and very fun.


And thanks for letting me share...

[Ġakbu]

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Life, friends, is interesting.

[Father Luke]

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You're next, Sir. I'm just taking aim.
Nick is after you.

Don't know who I'm going to emulate after that.

I see your Berryman and raise you a crap shoot:

He said, she said...

Alright then.

[Father Luke]

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Adendum:

So. There is no poetry of James' that is not in private. The poems he's put up for critique have
been poasted in the private category; not being public I won't reprint them here. But I can link
to them.

Anyone not registered with Mary will not be able to read the originals.

Fair is fair. Mary has a strict policy of respecting member's wishes. Names, private poems, and so forth.

I really enjoy this prompt. It is forcing me to expand from my own viewpoint to see things outside
myself, as my self -- and more importantly? -- as another.

There are so many distinct voices at Mary...

Ġakbu
Nick
Vulgar
103_smalls
Jenifer
astronacht
danny fahey
Olaf


...you know?


Each of these people, and more, have unique voices,
unique ways of seeing the world they live in and
bringing those words to print.

I really can't wait to try them all and see how I feel
seeing the world as they do.

I really love this experience. It's just great.