On Thursday, my friend Matt Randles (also a writer) sent me the meme above and said, “Use any (or all!) of these words in your next poem.” Being an overachiever (at least, when I feel like it), I immediately decided I would try to use all the words in a poem. I’m not sure whatContinueContinue reading “Perfect Words”
Author Archives: mrteague
A Poem about Cheese
Sometime last fall, my son and I were playing the video game “Civilization VI,” which (as the name suggests) is a civilization-building game. Various junctures of the game feature quotes, and this particular fall day, the quote was from GK Chesterton: “Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.” I laughed aloud…typical Chesterton. But IContinueContinue reading “A Poem about Cheese”
No Rhyme or Reason
On A Wandering Minstrel’s Facebook page, I sometimes post poetry memes in between weekly blog posts. I was close to posting a meme about English words that are spelled alike but don’t sound alike when I thought of a poem from my book Event Horizon: “No Rhyme or Reason.” The lines of this poem end with wordsContinueContinue reading “No Rhyme or Reason”
Goldenrod—Mary Oliver
At a yard sale, my wife picked up New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver. I had heard of Oliver but hadn’t read much of her work. At some point between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I started reading. Oliver is quickly becoming a favorite poet. She is known for simple imagery, plain speaking, and a focus on nature. There isContinueContinue reading “Goldenrod—Mary Oliver”
Hell Is Multi-Tasking
The title of today’s post and poem says a lot about me and how I feel about multi-tasking 😉 It’s on my mind because I am, in fact, multi-tasking today. As I write, I am also roasting coffee, as well as making a list for the rest of the day. And this is as close to eternal punishmentContinueContinue reading “Hell Is Multi-Tasking”
Chasing Santa
Happy Christmas eve! Below is a poem from my first book, The Wind and the Shadows called, “Chasing Santa.” It recalls a Christmas eve from my childhood that, for me, suggested something more. I will leave you to read it, but ere I surf out of sight I’ll say, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all aContinueContinue reading “Chasing Santa”
Yule-icide
How did it get to be the week before Christmas? This year, I feel like every holiday (not to mention birthdays) snuck up behind me in stocking feet and yelled, “BOO!” There wasn’t time to prepare, decorate, buy things…only time to be startled and jump. Below is a poem I wrote last year during Christmas andContinueContinue reading “Yule-icide”
2 AM
I’d say most of my poems are finished within a week or two of starting them. I usually have several I’m working on at a time. Creativity is like a shark: it’s best if it keeps moving. So if I’m stuck on one poem, I can work on another and keep moving! Then there areContinueContinue reading “2 AM”
The Panther (Ogden Nash)
I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy light verse because a dash of humor brings perspective. At some point in our marriage (probably the first decade), my wife introduced me to Ogden Nash, and he has remained a favorite author of light verse. Light verse has found its way into all of my books, most recentlyContinueContinue reading “The Panther (Ogden Nash)”
Overthinking Nursery Rhymes
My son Evan is a thinker (I don’t know where he gets it from. Probably from his mother 😆). Last night, he read me the nursery rhyme, “The House That Jack Built.” Afterward, he said, “Well, what did you think?” I said, “I have questions: How could the dog worry the cat after being tossedContinueContinue reading “Overthinking Nursery Rhymes”
A Wandering Minstrel 