I typically write short, somewhat melancholy poems. But typically is not always — some of my poems are long, others lighthearted, and every so often one really sneaks up on me and manages to be both.
A few years ago, Petra returned home from shopping and presented me with an unexpected gift — a fancy new pencil. She suggested it had potent potential as a dedicated poetry pencil, so I took her advice and sat down to give it a try:
New Pencil
This is your first word, pencil, and what a good word, "this". Multipurpose! Container of possibilities! Yes, you're doing fine, pencil, with your green paint and the bubblegum tongue of your eraser waggling up at me, ready to remove a smudge or two from the world. That's what they call a 'simile', by the way, new pencil — bubblegum tongue. No, it's not. That was actually a metaphor, but don't be embarrassed. You're new, pencil, and even I had to look it up again just now. It is, indubitably, an easy mistake to make. Also, let's never do "indubitably" again, okay? I don't think it's on brand for you and I, pencil, and I must say, so far we make a great team! I can't wait to spend the next few years excavating the poems buried in your lead. Oooh! I like that imagery! Well done, new pencil! Indubitably. Ha! I see what you did there! Yes, this is going very well. This will be fun. This makes me wonder, new pencil, what your last word will be.
(One fact about my pencil that sadly didn’t make it into the poem? It glows in the dark. 😱)
Though my poetry does tend to be short and cozy-sad, when I write fiction with Petra it tends to be much more lightheared and playful. We’ve been hard at work these past few months on both our upcoming rerelease of Manly Hero and in getting ready to publish the sequel, and I think it’s put me in a more playful mindset, which then got me thinking about this week’s poem. (If you’re curious about said playful fiction, there’s a nice sample of Manly Hero on Petra’s website.)
Thanks for reading,
~ A
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after months of doubt and sedition, there comes a day in which i enjoy being a citizen of poetryland..♥️ today is such a day because I read your poems.
Really nice! And pencils tend to be a good ally!