My Pets Matter---A Poem About Something That Matters

By Carol Woolum Roberts

The following is a writing exercise from the book “The Writer as an Artist” by Pat Schneider.

This month, during National Poetry Month, I am participating in a 30-day journaling project through the Isolation Journals.  Each day I am working on an exercise about writing poetry.  Then I will share what comes from the exercise.  I can assure you these poems will be pretty raw and “first drafty”.  If I like what comes of the exercise I may work on them more, or I may not.  But I thought doing poetry exercises and writing some poetry this month would stretch me and my comfort zone.

Exercise 11

Form from Content

The most important exercise I know to begin to write a poem is to ask, What matters?  A poem must be about something that matters.  The answer often comes in the form of a picture.  Take it: that is your poem.  No matter how inconsequential the picture may seem, write it down.  Your mind has given you that picture as something that matters; writing, you will discover why.

Write until you have said what you want to say, and then break it into poem lines, seeing if there are words or phrases you can omit to make it cleaner, clearer, tighter.

My Pets Matter

Cuddling, purring, sleeping.

Stalking, hunting, touring.

My grownup life has always had cats.

Warming when cold.

Consoling when crying.

Fleeing when angry.

A weight against me during my evening slumber.

My Pets Matter

Running, walking, smiling.

Catching, barking, snuggling.

Dogs became a later grownup pleasure.

Keeshonds and Poms joined our family.

Walking to explore the world.

Smiles greeting me on return.

Affection during times of heartache and stress.

My Pets Matter

Currently, Cleo, Leo, Clark.

Cleo and Leo.

Buddies, kissing, snuggling.

Cleo and Clark.

Fighters, hissing, scratching.

Clark and Leo.

Brother cats from different mothers.

Cleo is the Keeshond.

Smiling, friendly, wants your attention.

Leo is the former neighbor’s cats.

Lounging, sunning, napping.

Clark was received by a daughter.

Touring, cuddling, hunting.

My Pets Matter

They aren’t just animals.

They aren’t just pets.

They are family….because….

My Pets Matter

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Do you want to try and write some poetry this month along with me?  Go ahead and try!!

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