Vermont poet David Budbill, author of seven books of poems, eight plays, a novel, a collection of short stories, a picture book for children, and many more works. His latest book is Happy Life, published by Copper Canyon Press.
This week's Write the Book Prompt is inspired by the work of today's guest, David Budbill. The following is one of David's new poems from Happy Life:
*
My Punishment
I get up before the sun,
make a fire in the woodstove,
boil water, make tea,
watch the dawn come.
Then I get back in bed,
under the quilt,
propped up on my pillows,
read a little, drink my tea
and stare out the window
at the snow coming down.
.
Oh, this lazybones life!
.
Others rush off to work while
I lie here in silence waiting for
a few words to come drifting
over from the Other Side.
No wonder I never make any money.
I am being punished
for having such a good time.
~ David Budbill
*
The prompt this week is to write a poem that conveys an aspect of your life that is joyful or pleasant, but also conveys the truth about an associated hardship.
Good luck with this exercise and please listen next week for another.
Music credits: 1) “Dreaming 1″ - John Fink; 2) “Filter” - Dorset Greens (a Vermont band featuring several former South Burlington High School students).
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