National Poetry Month '24: To Live Like a River

Thanks for stopping by Merely Day by Day. It's National Poetry Month.

For April I will be taking a deep dive into The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics, edited by Diane Lockward. This book is full of 30 craft tips, so it is the perfect way to shape this month's challenge and dig a little deeper into the craft of poetry. Stop by my Substack page, Merely in Progress, each day to follow this month's writing journey. There you will also find reflections, links, and inspiration across the challenge. 

Of course, this month is really about writing poetry so I will have a new poem posted here each day utilizing a craft tip from the book. I'm sure the ride will be bumpy, but there will be a lot learned along the way. 

Tip #7: The Music of Poetry

In today's prompt, Piercy suggests using simile to write a poem. Why is something always harder when you try to do it? Yikes! 

To Live Like a River

To live like a river:

to know my path

day after day,

to follow twists and turns,

trusting what's around the corner.

To live like a river:

To meander day after day

peacefully bubbling,

to pass over rocks

and hold fish in my hand.

To live like a river:

to travel through cities

knowing my banks and boundaries,

to rise for adventure,

out to explore the world. 

To live like a river:

to wake each day

to the song of the birds,

to close my eyes at night

and know the comfort of stars. 

© Cathy L. Mere, 2024