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Forums > Katharine Activities > Katharine 'Projects'
Subject: McPoetry Project Poem Thread
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Username: bcollan
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Member Since 2/14/2006
06/23/2006 10:00 AM Alert 
OK McPhans, about 15 of you have expressed interest in this project so far. That's enough to get started, but I expect many more of you to participate. Don't worry about not being a Poet Laureate! Noone will critisize your poems, and I'm sure Kat will appreciate and enjoy every heart felt one of them.

McPoetry Project summary:

Inspired by the wonderful poetry seen in this forum by Gary(katkrazy) and others, I am acting on a suggestion by willow and new member k8EfromPhilly in proposing a poetry project for Kat. Members would compose and provide original poems inspired by Kat and her music. The poems would then be printed, hand-signed by the contributors, and mounted in a bound book for presentaion to Kat. Possibly we could also make copies available as souvineers for individual McPhans.


So here's the rules:

-Poems can be of any type or length.
-Poems should be inspired by Kat or her music.
-No overt sexual content, foul language or other inappropriate/offensive references.
-Original poetry is prefered, but:
-You can dedicate someone else's poem or lyrics as long as you credit them.
-Or you borrow the structure of an existing poem or song if you change the words.
-You may submit up to 3 poems.
-The deadline for submitting your poetry is August 1.

Please use this thread for submitting and sharing your poetry. You may also comment on the poems here.
Please use the McPoetry Project thread for all other discussion.

Thanks McPhans and Happy Writing/Composing!
"She sings so magnificantly, it's just amazing" David Foster
Username: KatKrazy
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Member Since 5/17/2006
06/23/2006 4:35 PM Alert 
Dear Bill,

Once again, kudos on this project.

Perhaps you could get this thread to be a "sticky" that stays at the top so people will be able to find it easily. I'm guessing that it may often be quite a while between posts as people write/search.

Question: I know that I benefit from getting feedback (even the critical kind) and then go back and improve my work. Is this thread also meant for hearing people's reactions to the poems?

Bill, could you send me your e-mail address? Mine is: worksite@msn.com

Best,

Gary S.

Username: AI12345
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Member Since 4/5/2006
06/23/2006 4:42 PM Alert 
LOL! Is that my new Shakespearian name? ;)

I'll see if I can get back to my old poetry roots..just for Katharine..
You can call me Laurie..or L..or whatever it is that you would like to call me. These days, I answer to just about anything. :smiles:

A Proud Member of "The Laurs"

Katfia- "McQueen"..please people, it was given to me.
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Member Since 5/26/2006
06/24/2006 4:00 AM Alert 
Posted By AI12345 on 06/23/2006 4:42 PM
LOL! Is that my new Shakespearian name? ;)

I'll see if I can get back to my old poetry roots..just for Katharine..

There's a Katharina from 'Taming of the Shrew' (that has 'AI' Shakespearean parallels)...but it's probably better that you don't have a Shakespearean name, Laurie. Laurie is a much more American name--and even a Laureate gets looks of perplexment lately...especially in an age of subjective poetry.

I'm glad the deadline on this is August 1, so we can have time to craft something through the summer. I'm going to be busy through the summer too--but can always squeeze in sideline writing projects like this.

Since poetry can be so all-encompassing, some of our work could probably be publishable somewhere if it's not useable here. I tried submitting poetry to places like The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly a few years ago. But when it was rejected, I realized that the poetry they did publish was almost as bad as my own...at least through my eyes. I have no idea how they can establish what's truly great poetry when there's many, many great poets who never get published. It's one of the most subjective pieces of art ever. That, despite poems having an established sense of structure that's agreed upon in the literary upper ranks.

My own poem will probably reflect on the art of what Kat does, which is where I always go in a lot of my posts anyway.  But then, there's always the Mother Goose method, that would be worth trying as a satiric experiment.
Username: Trina
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Member Since 5/25/2006
06/25/2006 8:35 PM Alert 
Bill,
Did you get my email I sent? I wanted to discuss what would be the best format and illustrations for the project.

Thank you.

Trina
Username: groucho
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Member Since 4/4/2006
06/25/2006 9:02 PM Alert 
I had a thought of trying something really short and doing several of them, each with a theme of one song she did on idol. it may be about the song's lyrics, or something the song makes me think of, or maybe some way I think the song relates to Katharine's life.

I'm full of hazy ideas, but somebody else might want to give it a shot as well. Maybe I stole the idea from that letter somebody wrote incorporating all the song titles. Anyone EVER thought of a way to fit BHACT in there??

McHAIKU's (the syllabic scheme is 5-7-5, the theme is individual Idol performances)

ELLA'S BLUES
Step through the time warp...
All things old are new again...
Old song, sweet new voice.

RAINBOW
Singing of my dreams,
Hear the yearning in my voice--
Longing filled with Hope.
(Bad pun alert!)

DESTINY
Hold my hand. Tighter.
I can't do it by myself.
Help me to break free.

COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
You were there for me.
I never forget a friend,
And you were so much more.

(Sorry, I cheated on this one, it's 5-7-6 but it sounds better that way, and yeah, I kinda had a specific situation in mind with those last two.)

Come on now, those are short. If I get going I'll do a lot more than three.
Adding to the post.

SOMEONE TO WATCH
Thanks for lending strength.
I can do it alone now.
I’ll watch over me.

BLACK HORSE (WITH OVERTONES OF VOICE WITHIN)
Which way and what now?
My mind argues with itself.
My heart always knows.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY (A double haiku)
Talking to myself…
Nothing is impossible…
I know I can fly.
Say it aloud once,
Say it twice, and then twice more.
Belief makes it real.
katpedia.com - watch and listen to Idol, pre-Idol, and post-Idol McPhee performances all in one convenient location

"And everything around her is a silver pool of light... She makes you calm, she holds you captivated in her palm"
Username: KatKrazy
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Member Since 5/17/2006
06/25/2006 9:22 PM Alert 
Very nice, Groucho. Great concept and love the Haiku idea. (The person who wrote that other poem was called jillscottvn, I think.)

By the way, what if the last line of CROCS was just, "You were so much more"? I'm not sure you need the "And" and it preserves the scheme. (Or, "Who was so much more.") My two cents.

Personally, love to see more,

Gary
Username: bcollan
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06/25/2006 9:22 PM Alert 
Nice groucho! Haiku are like Dunkin' Donut munchkins- one isn't filling and doesn't quite make a doughnut. In this case I'd say maybe 3 or 4 Haiku could count as one poem.
"She sings so magnificantly, it's just amazing" David Foster
Username: groucho
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06/25/2006 9:53 PM Alert 
I posted an invitation to come over here and join us in the "in defense of Katharine" thread. We're all emoting about this now, why not try to put it down on paper? My head was buzzing until I finally wrote some of it out. It feels much emptier now. I mean better. Oh who knows... Oh lord, something's tickling around in there again. I have to go hatch it.

by the way, in case I never said it, I loved the bit about the little kid somewhere in the future being inspired by Katharine. I have to go back and reread those poems.
katpedia.com - watch and listen to Idol, pre-Idol, and post-Idol McPhee performances all in one convenient location

"And everything around her is a silver pool of light... She makes you calm, she holds you captivated in her palm"
Username: KatKrazy
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Member Since 5/17/2006
06/25/2006 10:49 PM Alert 
Thank you, Groucho. Now that we are planning to send our poems to Katharine, I've been revising a bit. Here is the current version of the poem you mentioned. Let me know your thoughts, please; I'm open to suggestions. Gary



The Beginning

I caught myself

dreaming again, unasked, on her behalf

in images set to swelling music.

Understandably, she was all applause in my ears,

all snapshots, rainbows, and tears

streaming, but sweet.

She’s lovely, she’s ours, I thought.

She’s like…a home among stars.

 

And then a clearer scene came to sight,

maybe a century ahead. My friends and I,

of course, all dead.

A photo hangs low on some bare bedroom wall.

Scared and red, a young girl breathes in long silence,

stroking Katharine’s warm face. Weakly,

in that future place, girl smiles, starts in singing.

I recognized the old tune

now beginning.




******************
Username: Trina
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06/25/2006 11:20 PM Alert 
Gary, you are truly blessed with a great talent!! I am working on one, and it is going a little better then what I thought it would. Katharine has a way of bringing out any hidden talents, I suppose...
Username: KatKrazy
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06/25/2006 11:27 PM Alert 
Dear Trina,

Thank you for your (always) generous words. I don't consider myself an expert (I actually have a good friend who is a REAL poet), but I would be happy to give you feedback on your poem (here or by e-mail) if you felt it would be helpful to your creative process.

Thanks again, dear.

Gary
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06/25/2006 11:34 PM Alert 
Gary,

Thank you for taking us inexperienced poets under your wing. You are truly thoughtful and I would like for you to read my poem when it is finished. I haven't completed it, and am a little shy about sharing what I have so far.

You have to toot your horn, because you definitely have a gift!!!
Username: KatKrazy
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06/25/2006 11:54 PM Alert 

Dear Trina,

Whenever you feel ready, feel free to send it to me at worksite@msn.com

Looking forward to reading it...and don't worry too much, I know what it's like to share writing (*trembles*), so I do unto others as I would have done to me.

Gary
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Member Since 3/1/2006
06/26/2006 1:16 AM Alert 
I have a rough draft of my first poem for Katharine. It is the first time I've really gotten into non-rhyming poetry. Please tell me what you think and don't hesitate to be criticul.


The rain hits the window with a harsh pitter patter
A chill fills the air as I struggle to find warmth
Then I notive you, in the rhythm the drops make
I am warm, no longer afraid of what lies beyond that door

I stand alone in a tall grass field, not knowing where to turn
The silence is too much to bear and I can't go on
Then I notice you, in the whisper of the wind, encircling me
I am free and have found my way, never to lose it again

Everything you do, every part of you, heals a wound
The echo of your voice saves a soul
The beauty of your smile pierces the heart and mind
And you are in everything


Let me know what you think!
KAT IN GLASSES!!!

*August 16, 2006 1:50 am...Mutt and I in the chat screaming our butts off...good times!!

Met Kat at the Kimmel show, February 7, 2007!
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Member Since 6/22/2006
06/26/2006 1:22 AM Alert 
I noticed you are a Carrie Underwood fan.  They are playing her pre-idol music right now at the following link.  Though you might enjoy!

http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/mini.cgi?membername=kenndawg316&clientType=&playlist=&odatrack=&odapos=&tm=1137610105610&tm=1137638462659&suppressPreroll=1
Username: groucho
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06/26/2006 1:51 AM Alert 
gary: The first thing I noticed, aside from just liking the idea portrayed in the second stanza, was the semi-hidden rhymes. They're in there, but the line lengths and the scansion is irregular, so they go more unnoticed than if they were sticking out there at the end of each line. It's kind of like you have the best of both worlds. also reminds me a bit of the way Old English poetry used to use alliteration and all kinds of internal stuff, the names for which I no longer remember. But mostly I just love your images. They evoke emotions, which is what poetry is supposed to do (to me) and they do it quickly and sharply and deeply. I'm wordy and it's hard for me to shut up, w hich is one reason why I play with forms like the haiku which literally forces me to get to the point.

PS  I added a couple of new haikus to my above post just to keep them all together. They're like a litter of puppies, they're little and like being close to each other. oboy my mind is going

Underwood fan: I love the last stanza, which I thought I had more firmly in mind but now I can't recall it word for word, but anyone who has ever needed healing probably cherishes the idea that they themselves can help heal others. It seems to go with the territory, because they understand the need, and how good it is to find someone who can help, or try to.  Paying it forward is a good feeling.
katpedia.com - watch and listen to Idol, pre-Idol, and post-Idol McPhee performances all in one convenient location

"And everything around her is a silver pool of light... She makes you calm, she holds you captivated in her palm"
Username: underwoodfan23
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06/26/2006 2:06 AM Alert 
Posted By groucho on 06/26/2006 1:51 AM

Underwood fan: I love the last stanza, which I thought I had more firmly in mind but now I can't recall it word for word, but anyone who has ever needed healing probably cherishes the idea that they themselves can help heal others. It seems to go with the territory, because they understand the need, and how good it is to find someone who can help, or try to.  Paying it forward is a good feeling.


Thanks! The last stanza is my personal favorite. About the second stanza, I think it might be a bit over the top...what do you think?
KAT IN GLASSES!!!

*August 16, 2006 1:50 am...Mutt and I in the chat screaming our butts off...good times!!

Met Kat at the Kimmel show, February 7, 2007!
Username: KatKrazy
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06/26/2006 2:21 AM Alert 
Dear underwoodfan23,

First of all, thank you for sharing your poem. I know it's not easy.

I think the poem is very cool: so heartfelt, so passionate, so devoted. From my point of view,
here are a couple of things to think about:

--Help the reader understand more about what makes Katharine so helpful, so special. Be a little more specific about
how she brings about these transformations in you. For example, from this draft we don't know that Kat is a singer.

--I know I'm asking a lot, but is Kat perfect in every way? Doesn't she have any human foibles or weaknesses?
What about bringing her down to earth just a bit?

--Stylistically, maybe find certain ways to avoid saying "I" sometimes. For example, "Standing alone" instead of
"I stand alone" or in place of "Then I notice you" something like "Then you are here". Actually, this is what you do
in the thrid stanza and I think it works better (not that you should completely remove the I).

--Finally, and probably most important, push yourself to find some new ways to express these wonderful, creative
thoughts. Is there a fresh way to get across the idea of chill filling the air or the oppressiveness of silence?
How can we talk about a beautiful smile so that readers might say, "I never looked at it that way"?

I hope you find these comments to be helpful and expressive of the poetic fellowship which I intend. Now I have
to go and see all the times I didn't follow this advice in my poems for Katharine.

Gary
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06/26/2006 2:28 AM Alert 
Thanks Gary! I really appreciate the advice! I will definetly take it! And, thanks for all the good stuff too! Much appreciated (notice how I didn't say that "I" appreciated it! LOL! That's early i