Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Success


“If you're not gonna go all the way, why go at all?”

“A lifetime of training for just ten seconds. ”

". . . hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting."
― Barack Obama,  Victory Speech, Nov. 7, 2012


Midweek Motif: Success

Consult with your experience about success and your muse, and come back with a new poem. 


I am inspired by three poems about success:  
          BY EMILY DICKINSON
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of victory

As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

(2)  Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and

(3)  Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

(Our next Midweek Motif will be Women's Achievements) 

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30 comments:

  1. Just linked my poem about success! Sorry if there are any few mistakes in it, I didn't have much time to edit it. I wrote it based on notes I've collected during the week since you wrote what the next weeks topic would be :) I hope you like it!

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  2. Good Morning M.Z.! Good Morning Poets! I can see that we are in for an exciting day. I posted my poem, and suddenly I am filled with things i might/could have written: finally learning to ride the bike--that moment I did not all. Seeing my nephew talk, learn to read, oh my! Life is one success after another.

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    Replies
    1. That is: the moment I did not FALL. Imagine me stumbling over that small word!

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    2. Well good morning! And i have to agree with you that life truly is one success after another! Success is what we make it, and as long we do not seek after impossible victories, life will be filled with joy and happiness every day caused by success!

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  3. your prompts! Susan!!! Phew!! makes me dig, dig dig and sometimes i just miss the bus. and yet! i am glad to be taking profound tidbits from here. let me see if i can come up with soemthing

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Akila. I'm looking forward to your return. I hope you and everyone remembers that the poem you write today need not contain the whole world, just a bit of what you know, a taste of what you see.

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  4. Good morning, my friends.....another day of poetry. What could be finer?

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    Replies
    1. Rhetorical Questions help me affirm! I'm full of gratitude today. Thank you, Sherry.

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  5. Susan,

    I was suitably motivated to write for this prompt, especially as your pre-hint was given last week. I had been mulling over my words for quite a few days in advance. I found the pre-hint, very helpful. Thanks Susan:)

    Eileen

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad for the feedback on the pre-hint. Was it your idea? It was either yours or Grace's. The extra time you took made your poem very rich.

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  6. Linked in a poem.. I will get back later to read (those that were not also linked to OLN).. it's late now, and I have to go to bed.

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    1. See you here later then. I have to head over to dVerse OLN to read what I missed there. I'll be back and forth.

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  7. I finally thought of an idea for your excellent prompt, Susan! I will be making visits tonight. Thank you!

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  8. Well an idea came to me tonight ~ Thanks for the inspiration Susan ~

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    1. I suppose. From the poems I read today--including yours--there is also spirit that is not easily put into words. Only poetry can reveal it.

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  10. Love your example poems. Maya Angelou is a particular favorite of mine.

    Mine is up at: http://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/how-to-measure-success/

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    Replies
    1. Found it! I concur with the thought, and enjoyed the poem.

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  11. Thanks for the wonderful prompt Susan...I've linked up mine....hope it's appropriate.....

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  12. here you go susan...a little scribble from my notebook....

    success & accomplishment
    are odd bed fellows,

    success content being married
    to accomplishment
    (in truth,
    or not)

    accomplishment prefers the touch
    of those that have never
    met success

    at least not the way
    the world views

    spinning ever thru the uni-
    verse.

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    Replies
    1. And the "spin" is not the spinning without comment forever. Few of us are that humble--but maybe more of us are than I can imagine. Thank you for this fine poem

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    2. its not my best...i just had it playing in my head on the drive in this morning...i may see if i can work out the personification and extend it out a bit...if i post a longer version i will credit your prompt...smiles.

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  13. Sorry, I'm late ..very inspiring...but the obstacles in the way...~ Thanks for challenge, Susan!

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    Replies
    1. Then posting itself is another success. But truly, I check back until Saturday. Glad you are here.

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  14. beautiful poems.... never heard of Edwin before... thank you for the introduction I am no immersed in his poetry....

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    1. Yes. His surprise endings, his exposure of lonely and powerless people truly grips at a readers' heart strings. He's famous and little known, an odd contradiction.

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  15. This prompt is closed now. If you have a poem, please bring it to Poets United Poetry Pantry which is open every Sunday right here.

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