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Literary Abortions

My wastebasket overflows
                           with aborted attempts,
Lines that I cannot rhyme
                           and syntax that limps. 

Written November 6, 2022
Submitted to "Bite Size No. 55" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier

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Maurice Rigoler Date: 11/8/2022 9:14:00 AM I usually trash my bad poems long before they have life on their own. As Germans say: "Aus dem augen, aus dem Sinn." (Out of sight, out of mind.) / Maurice Login to Reply

Caren Krutsinger Date: 11/7/2022 2:02:00 PM I have that same problemo - so many ideas torn up or crumpled up and stomped on it is nuts! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 11/7/2022 2:20:00 PM I've started storing some of them, hoping they'll see the light of day after a while. Some are pretty good, just don't seem to jell at this point.

Arlo Parker Date: 11/7/2022 1:15:00 PM I prefer stepping stones to abortions. That positive vibe is essential to poetic sanity. Little piece, big message. ~;o) Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 11/7/2022 1:19:00 PM So be it, Arlo. Thanks for your thoughts and your comment.

Terry Flood Date: 11/7/2022 11:41:00 AM I’ll bet my waste basket is bigger than yours, Milt. I’ve got poems I can’t finish, poems that seem pointless, poems where the rhyme is strained, and my latest problem… poems I can’t think of a title for. And you said all of that in less words than I. Good one. Terry Login to Reply Terry Flood Date: 11/7/2022 2:09:00 PM I wrote a Limerick about an owl. Not brilliant but okay. Was gonna post it but didn’t want to just call it ‘Owl’. Of course, if I posted it now, the anti climax would be tangible.;-) L Milton Hankins Date: 11/7/2022 12:09:00 PM (chuckling) Thanks, Terry. I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one!

Becky Forbes Date: 11/7/2022 5:55:00 AM Do you ever start and then think "where is this going?" only to be surprised by the journey 'cuz in the end it makes sense? It's like building a plane mid-flight. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 11/7/2022 8:18:00 AM Actually, no, Becky. Most ideas just pop into my head rather unexpectedly, and I write them down.

Tom Cunningham Date: 11/6/2022 10:47:00 PM Lol, good one Milton, for every poem we should plant a tree. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 11/7/2022 8:18:00 AM Thanks, Tom. In my case, I'd have a forest!

Sally Eslinger Date: 11/6/2022 9:08:00 PM Promise me you. Won’t change your mind and put this marvelous piece in that wastebasket? It speaks for most of us 8-) Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 11/6/2022 9:10:00 PM Thank you, Sally. Nope. I thought it was worth posting.