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Sheila M Duane's avatar

Rachel Hadas, my poetry mentor, taught me the value of formalism and wrestling my words into poetic forms. Here is my response to the prompt as a sonnet.

The Oracle in my Palms

I wanted to build a prophesy box

With an open space, a window to you

Without a barrier glass to see through.

To be touching palms on some equinox,

Full moon or half-moon. A paradox

between hands and moonbeams that tell fortunes.

Both lovely. Skin. Light. Only one is true.

Moon beam oracles move like ticking clocks.

But palm fortune tellers dance round circles

Around any light, around any doubt,

And push against misfortune day by day,

Whispering until the world is lulled

Soft, to my prophesy box and about

Their fortunes, your fortune, I tell and pray.

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

Oooh! What a great poet mentor/teacher you have had! I'm jealous! And this is so good - I love the sounds and rhymes throughout and how the piece moves as a sonnet. I love the lines "Both lovely. Skin. Light. Only one is true." And "Whispering until the world is lulled" and the way soft and box have that ah sound. Lovely work!

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Sheila M Duane's avatar

Prompted by your teaching.

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

My prompt, your imagination, your mind, your response, your craft, your art. Thank you for sharing with us all! Too often we do things and then they end up in a drawer.

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Sheila M Duane's avatar

Sending you lucky stars.

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

Thank you! Pink hearts and green clover to you!

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Pauline David-Sax's avatar

Sending love and strength your way, Emma!

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

Thank you, Pauline!

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Stephanie Kallos's avatar

The experience of going to a midday reading by Anne Lamott years ago when she was here in Seattle promoting HELP THANKS WOW was what led me to realize what my third novel was really about: prayer. I will always be deeply grateful.

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Pauline Kochanski's avatar

Sorry to hear you are dealing with a new diagnosis...does not sound good. I have been really busy as well with doctor visits post operative. Had a bit of a scare and still trying to find out what is really happening inside my brain...Ha!!!

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

So sorry to hear this! Scares are really hard. I get all freaked out when they scare me. And anyone in a white coat is scary to me! I will tell you what's happening in my brain next week - I'll find out Monday! Cannot wait! But long-term chronic illness is really hard. Like making room for a new roommate who I have to befriend and get to know. It's gonna take time. Feel better soon!

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