When the TELL(HER) Summit scheduled for April had to be cancelled, plans changed for Azure Antionette, the Maya Angelou of the Millenial Generation, and international best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert.
It was National Poetry Month. Azure Antoinette issued and managed a #tellher1for30 poetry challenge to instagrammers with Elizabeth Gilbert’s help. The challenge was simple:
- Share a poem every day for 30 days.
- Write your own or share one written by another poet that has meaning to you.
Reading, Writing, and Reflection
What else would a properly isolated poet (like me) do but get social and take on that challenge? A productive month of writing ensued, and joining this community of writers made me feel a bit less isolated. The poetry others shared was amazing.
I didn’t write a poem a day, but I shared one every day. More importantly, I wrote every day. I generated ideas for an upcoming poetry contest. I even penned a poem in memory of my grandmother, who sadly passed in April.
Breaking Bread
I also made batches of dough and baked bread—practically a #bakeit1for30 level, perhaps 15 to 20 pounds of flour in bread. Making bread became meditative, and eating it rather Epicurean. I found a poem in that activity, Breaking Bread, which Elizabeth Gilbert herself kindly liked. It’s a Minute form, so named as far as I can discover because it only takes a minute to read.
What’s helping you stay safe and sane in these unusual times? Wherever you are, I hope you are healthy and find some peace and joy in your part of this alone/together journey.
Lisa K – Kamolnick Kreative
Breaking Bread
I gather four ingredients—
expedience
and patience roll
inside a bowl.
Those yeasted, salted, watered flours
will rise for hours—
I’ll ruminate
for two to eight.
Whatever shall my two hands make?
Prepare to bake …
a dozen rolls?
Baguette? Two boules?
It’s all the same, when done and said—
I’m breaking bread.
See more excerpts from my 30 days of poetry.
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