L Milton Hankins Poet Couplet

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 November 8, 2022 at 9:14 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

Caren Krutsinger November 7, 2022 at 2:02 PM I have that same problemo - so many ideas torn up or crumpled up and stomped on it is nuts! L Milton Hankins November 7, 2022 at 2:20 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 November 7, 2022 at 1:15 PM I prefer stepping stones to abortions. That positive vibe is essential to poetic sanity. Little piece, big message. ~;o) L Milton Hankins November 7, 2022 at 1:19 PM So be it, Arlo. Thanks for your thoughts and your comment.

Terry Flood November 7, 2022 at 11:41 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 Terry Flood November 7, 2022 at 2:09 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 November 7, 2022 at 12:09 PM (chuckling) Thanks, Terry. I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one!

Becky Forbes November 7, 2022 at 5:55 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. L Milton Hankins November 7, 2022 at 8:18 AM Actually, no, Becky. Most ideas just pop into my head rather unexpectedly, and I write them down.

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

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