Posts Tagged ‘Muse’
Saturday, July 4th, 2020
It’s Limerick-Off time, once again. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same rhyme word. Then you post your limerick(s) as a comment to this post and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
I hope you’ll join me in writing limericks using HAIL or HALE at the end of any one line. (Homonyms or homophones are fine.)
The best submission will be crowned Limerick-Off Award Winner. (Here’s last week’s Limerick-Off Award Winner.)
Additionally, you may write themed limericks related to WRITER’S BLOCK, using any rhyme word. And of course I’ll present an extra award — one for the best WRITER’S BLOCK-related limerick.
How will your poems be judged? By meter, rhyme, cleverness, and humor. (If you’re feeling a bit fuzzy about limerick writing rules, here’s my How To Write A Limerick article.)
I’ll announce the winners on July 19, 2020, right before I post the next Limerick-Off. So that gives you two full weeks to submit your clever, polished verse. Your submission deadline is Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time.)
Here’s my Hail/Hale-rhyme limerick:
“Are you ailing? You look very pale;
Not your usual hardy and hale.”
“No, I think I’ll be fine,
Once I’ve guzzled some wine.
Seems I’ve just had my first taste of kale.”
And here’s my Writer’s Block-themed limerick:
My muse has, alas, gone on strike;
At best, it has taken a hike.
And I won’t say this twice —
I don’t want your advice:
Writing AIN’T just like riding a bike!
Please feel free to enter my Limerick-Off by posting your limerick(s) in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity on my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please email Madkane@MadKane.com Subject: MadKane’s Newsletter. Thanks!
Tags: Annoying Advice, Competition Limerick, Food Humor, Health, Kale, Kale Humor, Limerick Challenge, Limerick Contest, Muse, Poetry & Prompts, Writer, Writer's Block, Writing Prompts
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Behavior & Personality, Contests, Food & Drink Humor, Health & Medical Humor, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick Competition, Limerick Contest, Limerick Writing Contest, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Poetry & Prompts, Poetry Contest, Writing & Publishing Humor | 39 Comments »
Saturday, July 11th, 2015
I’d like the freedom
to not write haiku today,
but my brain insists.
*****
I am at the stage
where I like being on stage
with or without one.
*****
My near-rhyme rejects
turned limerick leftovers
find homes in haiku.
*****
I’m often impressed
by the drawing power
of unknown painters.
*****
Forgive and forget?
I keep meaning to forgive,
but I forget to.
*****
Your belief system
makes you feel superior?
Then it’s failing you.
*****
My muse goes yonder
as I wander in wonder
at time I squander.
*****
Spiders and crawlers
are welcome in my domain
if sent by Google.
*****
I should have prepared
for extemporization
but ran out of time.
*****
Music needs pauses;
I get restless when a piece
doesn’t have any.
*****
Tags: Absent-Minded, Art Humor, Google Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Muse, Music Humor & Verse, Time Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Art Humor / Verse, Haiku & Senryu, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Music Poems, Time Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 11th, 2014
Haiku On The Attack (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Haiku’s been assaulting my mind,
Mocking lim’ricks, who’re feeling maligned:
“Haiku’s pithy, sublime.
“Lim’rick’s frivolous rhyme!”
Begged my muse to crack wise — she declined.
Tags: Haiku & Senryu, Inspiration, Muse, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Haiku & Senryu, Limericks, Writing & Publishing Humor | Comments Off on Haiku On The Attack (Limerick)
Saturday, June 7th, 2014
It’s Limerick-Off time, once again. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
The best submission will be crowned Limerick Of The Week. (Here’s last week’s Limerick Of The Week Winner.)
How will your poems be judged? By meter, rhyme, cleverness, and humor. (If you’re feeling a bit fuzzy about limerick writing rules, here’s my How To Write A Limerick article.)
I’ll announce the Limerick of the Week Winner next Sunday, right before I post next week’s Limerick-Off. So that gives you a full week to submit your clever, polished verse. Your submission deadline is Saturday at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern Time.)
I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A fellow was trying to write…*
or
A woman, convinced she was right…*
or
We’re lost. You were s’posed to turn right…*
or
A man who believed might makes right…*
or
A gal was engaged in a rite…*
*(Please note that minor variations to my first lines are acceptable. However, rhyme words may not be altered, except by using homonyms or homophones.)
Here’s my limerick:
Limerick Rite
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A woman was trying to write,
But her right and left brains had a fight.
So her muse, unamused,
Feeling slighted, abused
And benighted took flight, just for spite.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity on my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please email Madkane@MadKane.com Subject: MadKane’s Newsletter. Thanks!
Tags: Competition Limerick, Creativity, Inspirational Verse, Limerick Challenge, Limerick Contest, Muse, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor, Writing Prompts
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Contests, Creativity Verse, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick Competition, Limerick Contest, Limerick Writing Contest, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Poetry & Prompts, Poetry Contest, Writing & Publishing Humor | 78 Comments »
Wednesday, October 9th, 2013
Not A-Mused (3-Verse Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Inspiration is gone — I’m bereft,
For I fear my dear muse has just left.
And my brain’s auto-rhymer
Is spent — the old-timer
Says, “Write something rhyme-free with heft.”
A serious verse that’s rhyme-free?
I’m sorry — that just isn’t me.
I don’t layer my verse
Or deep meaning disperse.
I’d rather spread light-hearted glee.
If you’re waiting for metaphor, stop.
And a simile simply won’t pop.
My verse just won’t hatch
Without rhyme — that’s the catch:
An unfertilized limerick crop.
Tags: Creativity, Inspiration, Muse, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Creativity Verse, Limericks, Writing & Publishing Humor | 18 Comments »
Saturday, June 2nd, 2012
Today’s prompt over at dVerse is “work.” Here’s what I came up with:
Poetic Fantasy (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Just imagine a job that would pay
Us to sit and write poems all day:
If that’s all that we did
For our buck or our quid,
Would we have something worthy to say?
Tags: Creativity, DVerse, Money Verse, Muse, Poetry & Prompts, Workplace & Career Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Creativity Verse, Limericks, Money & Finance Humor, Workplace & Career Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
The Onset of an Acrostic Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Oh my, don’t know where to begin —
Not a hint of a concept herein.
So where shall I start?
Eke out rhyme from my heart?
The trick is just write — in like Flynn.
(Inspired by onset over at Acrostic Only.)
You can find more of my acrostic limericks here.
Tags: Acrostic Only, Acrostic Poems, Beginnings Humor, Creativity, Inspiration, Muse, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Acrostic Limericks, Creativity Verse, Limericks, Writing & Publishing Humor | 22 Comments »
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
At Think Tank Thursday (Poets United), we’re asked to write a news-related poem. Now since my other blog, Mad Kane’s Political Madness, is devoted to mocking politicians and other news-makers via limericks, I thought I’d try a different news angle here:
Sleepless Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A woman was trying to snooze,
But was kept wide awake by her muse.
Stubborn rhymes kept invading
Her brain and upbraiding
Her: “Rise and go mock some more news.”
Tags: Brain Humor, Creativity, Inspiration, Muse, News Limerick, Rhyming Obsession, Sleep & Insomnia Humor, Sleeplessness
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Creativity Verse, Limericks, Obsessions Humor, Sleep & Insomnia Humor | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
Once in a while I like to experiment with a new (to me) poetry form. Today, its the framed couplet, explained in detail and illustrated over at dVerse by Gay Reiser Cannon. (The main rules are: 9 syllable lines, the first syllable of each line is accented, and both the first and last syllable of each couplet line rhyme.) Here are my two attempts:
The Quest
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Poetry and prose in fits and starts,
Knowing that my words can open hearts.
Writing’s daily challenge — must confront.
Light or heavy verse — I’m on the hunt.
Trying out new forms can lead the way,
Prying out the words I need to say,
Freeing up my brain and letting loose,
Keying into that which cuts my noose.
*****
The List
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Naming all the things that I must do.
Blaming times’s escape, when I do few.
Toting up the items left undone.
Noticing my list is missing fun.
*****
Tags: Creative Prompts, Creativity, DVerse, Framed Couplets, Gay Reiser Cannon, List Humor, Muse, Poetry Forms, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Chores Humor, Creativity Verse, Framed Couplets, Poetry Forms, Writing & Publishing Humor | 36 Comments »
Saturday, March 31st, 2012
DVerse prompts us to write about nightmares. Here’s my response:
A Poet’s Nightmare (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A gal had a frightening dream.
It featured her muse — made her scream:
Said her muse, “You must write
About terror tonight
And forever, cuz nightmare’s your theme.”
Tags: Creativity, Dreams Limerick, DVerse, Inspiration, Muse, Nightmare Humor, Sleep Poetry, Writers, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Creativity Verse, Limericks, Sleep & Insomnia Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 11 Comments »
Saturday, February 25th, 2012
One Single Impression and Amputated Moon prompt us to use elemental in a poem:
My Elemental Muse (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My muse is a force elemental.
It can come on quite strong, or be gentle.
When it’s gone, my mood’s black:
Will it ever come back?
Must I go about finding a rental?
Tags: Creativity, Inspiration, Muse, One Single Impression, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Creativity Verse, Limericks, Writing & Publishing Humor | 5 Comments »
Saturday, January 28th, 2012
I was browsing my GooglePlus feed, when I encountered this post by poet Tyler Lovelace:
I hate when the first verse of a poem writes itself just to tease you. Then you have to force a lot of the poem out.
I swear my muses are all teases and skanks.
Tyler’s post prompted me to write this comment:
Trimmed down, that could make you a good limerick first line:
“My muses are teases and skanks …”
Tyler immediately (and generously) said the line was mine, thereby becoming my non-tease, non-skanky muse.
Here’s my limerick:
Muse Amusement
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My muses are teases and skanks—
At their worst when my mind’s drawing blanks.
When they offer me rot,
Then I warn them, “Do not
Expect thanks for a concept that tanks!”
Tags: Creativity, GooglePlus, Muse, Social Media Poetry, Tyler Lovelace, Writer's Block, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Google, Limericks, Social Media Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 2 Comments »
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Thursday Think Tank invites us to write a poem about writer’s block. I was almost too blocked to write this limerick:
Blocked Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A gal was attempting to write
Something clever and witty, with bite.
But alas her poor muse
Went on strike — too much booze.
What a plight: All her verses are trite!
Tags: Booze Humor, Creativity, Liquor Humor, Muse, Thursday Think Tank, Writer's Block, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Creativity Verse, Food & Drink Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
One of my favorite poetry prompt sites, One Single Impression, has asked its poet-participants to propose word prompts for upcoming editions. I suggested the word “amuse,” which will be used next week, starting September 25th. Here’s a limerick and haiku I wrote for the occasion:
Amusing Verse … I Hope
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I try to amuse when I write,
In my quest to pen verse that has bite.
But sometimes my muse
Lets me down. Yes j’accuse!
I suspect that it does it for spite.
*****
Poetry prompt sites
inspire, amuse, bring friends,
awaken muses.
*****
Tags: Haiku & Senryu, Muse, One Single Impression, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Haiku & Senryu, Limericks, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor | 7 Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
We Write Poems has an against the grain prompt which asks how (or if) we manage to write when we just aren’t feeling creative. My three-verse limerick explains all … sort of:
To write humor when not in the mood
Takes a major adjustment of ‘tude.
If I’m still uninspired,
I tell me, “You’re fired,”
Or pretend I’m about to be sued.
Okay, none of this stuff’s really true.
When I’m blocked, I don’t know what to do.
So I shower or walk,
Read the news, turn on talk,
Absorb info, inviting a cue.
At long last something starts to take hold,
And a concept begins to unfold,
As I play with the news
Which teases my muse
In my quest for some comedy gold.
(You can find more of my writers block humor here.)
Tags: Comedy Limerick, Creativity, Humor Writing, Muse, We Write Poems, Writer's Block, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Creativity Verse, Limericks, Writing & Publishing Humor | 26 Comments »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Once again, it’s Limerick-Off time. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
So I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A woman was trying to write. …
or
A fellow was trying to write. …
Here’s mine. (It’s a three-verse limerick, but a standard one-verse limerick is fine, of course.)
Writerly Verse
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A woman was trying to write.
Ev’ry sentence and phrase was a fight.
She hated each line.
Too much whine. (Too much wine?)
And decided to call it a night.
She started again the next day.
But her muse seemed to be on delay.
So she showered and walked.
Inspiration still balked.
Though agnostic, she started to pray.
She returned to her screen with a curse.
Started typing for better or worse.
Tried to block her left brain,
Or her right, or the twain.
Then punched keys till at last she found verse.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity in my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, in the “Author” section just below my Limerick-Offs button. Thanks!
Tags: Creativity, Inspiration, Muse, Poetry & Prompts, Writer's Block, Writing & Publishing Humor, Writing Prompts
Posted in Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor | 37 Comments »
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
Epiphany (Tanka)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My muse teases me,
Awaiting epiphanies
That never arrive.
So I must go it alone,
Writing until I’m amused.
(Note: Tanka is five line Japanese poetry which pre-dates haiku and whose syllabic form is 5-7-5-7-7. I usually think of it as haiku plus two more 7 syllable lines. My Epiphany Tanka was inspired by the Writers Island epiphany prompt.)
Tags: Creativity, Epiphanies, Inspiration, Japanese Poetry, Muse, Tanka, Writer's Block, Writing & Publishing Humor, Writing Prompts
Posted in Creativity Verse, Poetry & Prompts, Poetry Forms, Poetry Rules, Tanka, Writing & Publishing Humor | 14 Comments »
