the blue muse

If my life were a scrapbook
it would hold angst and laughter,
memories and monument,
pauses and portent.

If my life were a scrapbook
there would be glue, but no glitter,
colors running through the days,
small words pasted in the margins.

If my life were a scrapbook
you would see plain and pretty
mingled together on each page.

If my life were a scrapbook you would find
love and tenderness, empathy and turmoil,
rage and ritual.

If my life were a scrapbook I would cozy up by the fire
and flip through my pages with longing.

If my life were a scrapbook
you would focus on the shiny bits
pull them off one by one
and line them up
to create your own picture.

If my life were a scrapbook
there would be buttons
but no bows
bones and long rivers
and hawks would fly through my pages.

If my life were a scrapbook there would be no end
just dozens and dozens of beginnings.

If my life were a scrapbook I would
scream with loud colors and
whisper to saints in the darkness.

If my life were a scrapbook
I would hide by the cover
and watch as your smile drew sunset.

If my life were a scrapbook
the lines would be blurred,
the message would be lost,
and the end would reveal
the portal of midnight.

April is National Poetry Month

Poetry was the first creative love of my life, so I am
participating in the Poetry Book Giveaway being hosted by
Kelli Russell Agodon over at her blog, Book of Kells.

The first book I am offering is Living is What I Wanted
by David Ignatow.

The second book I am offering is Selected Poems of Anne Sexton,
because she has always been one of my favorites.

(Click on either of the images above for more info.)

If you’d like to be entered into the drawing to win one of these
two books, just leave a comment on this post by
April 30, 2010 11:59 p.m. EST and you’ll be entered!

If you do not have a blog, please include your email address so I can
contact you. I will be paying postage, so don’t worry about that.

I will be choosing the winners on May 1st, 2010.

Good luck!

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Posted by the blue muse at 10:35 am | Uncategorized | Permalink

Comments

Fantastic! Thanks for doing this!

Posted by: Andrew | April 13th, 2010 13:13

What a beautiful poem you’ve written..and I love Anne Sexton. Wonderful work!!!

Posted by: Marcie | April 13th, 2010 14:00

What a wonderful poem! And what a terrific way to celebrate National Poetry Month! Thank you for offering such a lovely giveaway. 🙂 Sincerely, Theresa

Posted by: Theresa | April 13th, 2010 16:13

I enjoyed the poem. Great giveaway. Thank you.

Posted by: Karen | April 13th, 2010 17:35

Excellent choices. I also love the name of your blog and the shade of blue. My new book had so many blue references throughout it that I went back and changed one or two to green! I do have an Ode to Blue, though. Thanks for participating!

Posted by: Susan Rich | April 13th, 2010 19:06

As always, I am inspired and opened by your words and work. 🙂

Thank you.

Posted by: Tracy | April 13th, 2010 21:36

[…] Poetry was the first creative love of my life, so I am celebrating by participating in a Poetry Book Giveaway over at my other blog, the blue muse. […]

Posted by: the muse at midnight | that's mrs. mediocrity to you | April 13th, 2010 23:05

this is such a great idea!!! please enter me, I love poetry.

shona
http://shonastudio.blogspot.com/

Posted by: shona cole | April 14th, 2010 02:27

I have the Sexton, but would love to enter for the Ignatow! I’m also participating at http://www.litwindowpane.blogspot.com

Posted by: Suzanne | April 14th, 2010 05:30

Count me in as well please!

Posted by: Joanne Johns | April 14th, 2010 20:30

I had forgotten how much I love poetry; I remember each April. Like a rebirth.

Posted by: Cristina | April 15th, 2010 13:19

and me too – i had no idea april was poetry month, but of course, what other month could it be? april is a new poem every day! xoxo

Posted by: Debi | April 15th, 2010 19:31

oooh, pick me! pick me!

what a lovely image.

Posted by: georgia | April 16th, 2010 07:32

Please add my name to your list and yours to mine.

Posted by: Diane Lockward | April 16th, 2010 10:25

What a lovely blog and I’m glad I discovered it through Kelli. I love your color series poems, along with the one you’ve just posted. Winning this give-away would be wonderful, if I was lucky enough!

Posted by: Valerie | April 16th, 2010 15:24

Please add me to your list! Thank you so much.

Posted by: Natalie T. | April 16th, 2010 16:46

Please enter me – thanks.

mollycspencer (at) gmail (dot) com

Posted by: Molly | April 16th, 2010 20:59

I’d love an opportunity to win. Please enter my name. Or consider my name entered! 🙂

Posted by: Jé Maverick | April 16th, 2010 21:50

Thank you for adding my name to the list for a chance at that book.

Posted by: Carl Palmer | April 16th, 2010 22:01

Beautiful poem with feeling! April brings promises of newness to life…
Enter me also, thank you.

Posted by: Linda | April 17th, 2010 06:34

Thanks for joining the giveaway. I’d love to be included in your contest.

Posted by: Sandy Longhorn | April 18th, 2010 18:03

Pick me, pick me! Kelley kjhbunny@yahoo.com

Posted by: Kelley | April 18th, 2010 21:01

I’d be happy to win one of these books — please include me in your drawing! And feel free to come enter mine!

Posted by: Evie | April 19th, 2010 08:48

Very cool of you, please count me in.

frogtown (at) gmail.com

Posted by: Frogtown | April 24th, 2010 13:48

Thanks very much for this opportunity!
Would make some great post-exams reading 🙂

you can contact me at,

lindsay.veenstra(at)gmail(dot)com

Posted by: Lindsay | April 24th, 2010 17:43

Please count me in too! Thanks!

Posted by: Nandini Dhar | April 25th, 2010 00:12

Your blog is beautiful…sheer beauty…or is it poetry in motion…
I found you through whollyjeanne…she never steers me wrong!

Posted by: Julie Daley | April 25th, 2010 08:25

This poem honestly touched my heart. You have quite a way with words, the way they light up and I could see what you’re feeling is wonderful.

~Rachael

I found you via Freckled Nest =]

Posted by: Rachael Bender | April 26th, 2010 18:24

Thank you so much for this opportunity – such a great idea! I produce the Vermont Poetry Newsletter & Poetry Event Calendar, so if I’m lucky enough to be a winner, I’ll give your site a mention! (Anne Sexton’s book, please.) Ron Lewis

Posted by: Ronald Lewis | April 27th, 2010 12:56

okay, my hat has now officially been tossed into this ring. and my fingers are crossed, and now i’m going to feast on some of your other posts.

Posted by: wholly jeanne | April 27th, 2010 16:54

me me!

Posted by: Tara Mae Schultz | April 28th, 2010 11:25

Please enter me into the drawing. Thanks!

Posted by: Kristin Berkey-Abbott | April 28th, 2010 20:54

thank you for your generosity!

boydst@plu.edu

Posted by: Sam Boyd | April 29th, 2010 10:13

Thanks for counting me in! 🙂

Posted by: Julie | April 30th, 2010 13:42