Here’s another piece of my upcoming podcast puzzle: an expiring link that limits a response to 1000 characters for future listeners to submit an episode-inspired poem. Although I figured out the mechanics of providing such a link, five other challenges arose.
First, I didn’t know who submitted what unless the writer included his/her name. Some people naturally did that, whereas others didn’t. I warned a few before they submitted their piece and they identified their work.
Second, the link allowed writers to copy and paste their submission, but it didn’t preserve the poem’s format, so I had to “fix” them manually. I used my best guess. Yet, even among friendly poets, I may have unintentionally offended them with my guesswork formatting.
Third, once my podcast becomes popular, fixing poetry formats manually would not be scalable. I could hire a part-time person to handle poetry submissions, but would that be the best use of their time? After all, that particular aspect of the podcast is free, so the position itself isn’t directly sustainable.
Fourth, one friend submitted a delightful short poem, written by a famous poet, so I can’t put that one on the blog. That submission reminded me that I should have included another response area where poets could type their name in response to a disclaimer that what they’re submitting is their original work, which would actually solve the first challenge as well.
Finally, I came up with the brilliant idea that I’d run my podcast like a seasonal TV show. Meaning, I’d have all episodes in the can before launching the first one. After eight years of having a monthly deadline, there’s no way in hell I want to jump through those temporal hoops again. So, how to handle an “expiring” link when subscribers will have the chance to download all the episodes if they wanted to binge-listen to them all at once rather than listen once a week? Oh, I know, I’m not going to do this bit until the podcast has been around a few seasons and then I can revisit it.
Tenderness
2019 was a terrible year
In my personal world
And the world at large.
Tenderness is missing.
Something we search for in the midst of harshness, indifference, even cruelty.
How many times have I cried for tenderness.
As a child I cried for it. As a young woman.
And now As I’ve arrived at the door to old age, I find tenderness has been crying for me.
~ Grace Lightfoot Chairez
Cowgirl
She is a whirlwind cowgirl in the wild, Wild West.
She rides fast and unaltered towards her battle, her quest.
She keeps truth in her holster, and knocks dignity from her boot. She is shielding a treasure (Her mind is the loot.)
Destined for a lofty, pensive plateau,
She leaves a trail of inspiration wherever she goes.
The deserts are wide, and the journey is long,
But the hills on the horizon Prod the cowgirl on.
The white hat and the black hat, they fit her best
As she rides hard towards the sun In the wild, Wild West.
~Becky Rebecca
A Poem For You
Shall I be witty
Shall I be cute
Show you my heart
Or deny I’m a fluke
Shall I show you my humor
In meter and prose
Or make funny faces
And tickle your toes
Shall I sing you a love song
Seduce you with rhyme
Or show you my treasures
And remind you of time
Shall I brag of adventures
And the battles I’ve won
Or talk of my dreams
And the birth of my sons
Shall I show you my feelings
Reveal deepest thoughts
Or spin a web of deceit
And hide all my faults
Shall I tell you of visions
When I look in your eyes
Of a mother’s last breath
And a baby’s first cries
Shall I whisper of passion
And desires new flame
Or hold you beside me
Softly calling your name
Shall I tell you I want you
To have and to hold
Or pretend I’m indifferent
Stubborn and cold
Shall I ask the question
Down on one knee
Or let time roll by
And just let it be
Shall I tell you
I love you
I’m here till the end
What else can I do
You’re my best friend
~Jim Tenny