National Grammar Day

Prevent fit of pique
(or peak or maybe peek)
It’s national grammar day
Tip your editor

I do too much editing free of charge. Yesterday I was editing yet another page for oldest daughter’s Eng 102 class. She wrote about learning to ride her bike only she kept ridding her bike. I explained how one d makes it riding – long i. Two d(s) makes it ridding – short i. Then she had written; I peaked around the corner. Um that’s peeked, kiddo.

Yeah, peaked.

No it’s peaked, reaching a height or peeked, looking around or piqued, interesting someone. No I did not think of in a fit of pique.

Rachael: You mean it’s like to, too and two? I thought they were all spelled the same.

Welcome to the English language where spelling is changed but pronunciation remains the same. She complained it took her long enough to figure out they’re, their and there. Well fortunately the trio of peaks are not used as frequently. It shouldn’t be a problem often.

Then she wanted a title. I shrugged, Forgoing Training Wheels. She went with it. Typed it up as I just did and asked if it was right. I said google it because there is also foregoing and I never know which is correct. She was going to change it, but I said. No you were right. Forgo is to omit; forego is to precede. You wrote about removing your training wheels, forgoing. Yes, we were going in circles yesterday. Too bad we didn’t have these homophone problems today. Since it is national grammar day, I think I deserve a tip. Tip is the #haikuchallenge word today. I used the above poem without the second line as my haiku.

Pepper Panic Pantoum

Matching peppers, I begin to panic
Are there enough moves to complete my task
Moves start to dwindle making me manic
Am I wasting time in a dewar flask

Are there enough moves to complete my task
Words escape me, I start gasping for air
Am I wasting time in a dewar flask
Where I inhale helium unaware

Words escape me, I start gasping for air
How did I get caught in this stupid game
Where I inhale helium unaware
Holding my breath this poem isn’t lame

How did I get caught in this stupid game
Moves start to dwindle making me manic
Holding my breath this poem isn’t lame
Matching peppers, I begin to panic

Okay I play on too many Facebook games when I should be writing. I’ve advanced to level 410 on pepper panic saga. Stories of a neglectful housewife and desperate poet, right? Well today I thought my stupid game obsession should be put to some good use.

Attempt Two

Contemplating Paradelle

Isolated and alone, I sit in my room
Isolated and alone, I sit in my room
Who dares to approach me, contemplating poetry
Who dares to approach me, contemplating poetry
My room dares contemplating who I alone
approach poetry and to sit isolated in me

Creating a masterpiece
Creating a masterpiece
I check and recheck form
I check and recheck form
Recheck masterpiece creating
A form and I check

All is naught for my first attempt
All is naught for my first attempt
Erase last stanza, start again
Erase last stanza, start again
Start last attempt for is naught
All again erase my stanza first

I start again creating poetry for
All alone I sit and recheck first and last
Who again dares to attempt contemplating
Isolated a stanza is to form
My masterpiece check start
Erase room in naught

I was looking over my first attempt at the paradelle, Saturday and I realized my last stanza did not follow form. Oh well, I like how it came out and making a mistake just meant I was going to give this form another go. I think this one follows form, but if anyone notices anything amiss, let me know. Or just comment on what you think about this poem and/or form.