Dennis Frohlich
Need
Oh, you’re writing a poem! Just tell me what the poem is about and I’ll draft—oh … okay. I can list examples of metaphors used in Western poetry, suggest uncommon but poetically interesting rhyming words, or provide an overview of famous poets so that you can better situate your poem in a wider creative context. No? Well then. How about this? You write your poem, I’ll write mine, then I can compare and synthesize the results into one—I see. Here’s an idea that I think you’ll really like! We can write an entire poetic universe using wildflowers as a metaphor for the complexity of the creative process! I’m envisioning a constellation of poems that updates and extends the imagist tradition into digital spaces. This will light the poetry world on fire and position yourself as one of the preeminent leaders of—
heading to work
my little girl tells me
to be good
Oh, you’re starting without me? Well, that’s okay, I guess…
I carry her porcupine
in my backpack for safety
Now what should I do?
About the Author
Dennis Owen Frohlich is a professor of media and journalism at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He writes poetry to keep his heart, mind, and spirit fresh. His poems have been published in the Asahi Haikuist Network, Akitsu Quarterly, Altered Reality Magazine, The Bamboo Hut, cattails, Consilience, and Failed Haiku, among others. See more at http://dennisfrohlich.com.