Poetry Fishbowl Open!: ysabetwordsmith

Poetry Fishbowl Open!

The Poetry Fishbowl is now CLOSED. Thank you all for your enthusiasm.

Starting now, the Poetry Fishbowl is open! Today's theme is "pets and livestock." (Or more generally, animals in a close relationship with humans;

my_partner_doug and I talked about elephants this morning.) I will be checking this page periodically throughout the day. When people make suggestions, I'll pick some and weave them together into a poem ... and then another ... and so on. I'm hoping to get a lot of ideas and a lot of poems.

The linkbacks perk post is live, courtesy of

minor_architect. Click to read "The Picket Fence Committee" or notify her of linkbacks to reveal more verses.

What Is a Poetry Fishbowl?

Writing is usually considered a solitary pursuit. One exception to this is a fascinating exercise called a "fishbowl." This has various forms, but all of them basically involve some kind of writing in public, usually with interaction between author and audience. A famous example is Harlan Ellison's series of "stories under glass" in which he sits in a bookstore window and writes a new story based on an idea that someone gives him. Writing classes sometimes include a version where students watch each other write, often with students calling out suggestions which are chalked up on the blackboard for those writing to use as inspiration.

In this online version of a Poetry Fishbowl, I begin by setting a theme; today's theme is "pets and livestock." I invite people to suggest characters, settings, and other things relating to that theme. Then I use those prompts as inspiration for writing poems.

Cyberfunded Creativity

I'm practicing cyberfunded creativity. If you enjoy what I'm doing and want to see more of it, please feed the Bard. The following options are currently available:

1) Sponsor the Fishbowl -- Here is a PayPal button for donations. There is no specific requirement, but $1 is the minimum recommended size for PayPal transactions since they take a cut from every one. You can also donate via check or money order sent by postal mail. If you make a donation and tell me about it, I promise to use one of your prompts. Anonymous donations are perfectly welcome, just won't get that perk. General donations will be tallied, and at the end of the fishbowl I’ll post a list of eligible poems based on the total funding; then the audience can vote on which they want to see posted.

2) Swim, Fishie, Swim! -- Here is a progress meter showing the amount donated. At $150 you get a free series poem; at $200 you get an extra fishbowl featuring a poetic series.

$158 raised, first goal MET, $42 to second goal

3) Buy It Now! -- Gakked from various e-auction sites, this feature allows you to sponsor a specific poem. If you don't want to wait for some editor to buy and publish my poem so you can read it, well, now you don't have to. Sponsoring a poem means that I will immediately post it on my blog for everyone to see, with the name of the sponsor (or another dedicate) if you wish; plus you get a nonexclusive publication right, so you can post it on your own blog or elsewhere as long as you keep the credits intact. You'll need to tell me the title of the poem you want to sponsor. I'm basing the prices on length, and they're comparable to what I typically make selling poetry to magazines (semi-pro rates according to Duotrope's Digest).

0-10 lines: $5
11-25 lines: $10
26-40 lines: $15
41-60 lines: $20
Poems over 60 lines, or with very intricate structure, fall into custom pricing.

4) Commission a scrapbook page. I can render a chosen poem in hardcopy format, on colorful paper, using archival materials for background and any embellishments. This will be suitable for framing or for adding to a scrapbook. Commission details are here. See latest photos of sample scrapbooked poems: "Sample Scrapbooked Poems 1-24-11"

5) Spread the word. Echo or link to this post on your LiveJournal, other blog, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, StumbleUpon, or any other social network. The Twitter hashtag is #poetryfishbowl. Encourage people to come here and participate in the fishbowl. If you have room for it, including your own prompt will give your readers an idea of what the prompts should look like; ideally, update later to include the thumbnail of the poem I write, and a link to the poem if it gets published. If there is at least one new prompter or donor, I will post an extra freebie poem.

Linkback perk: I have a spare series poem available, and each linkback will reveal a verse of the poem. One person can do multiple links if they're on different services, like Dreamwidth or Twitter, rather than all on LiveJournal.

minor_architect has volunteered to post the verses this month, so you'll need to notify her of your linkbacks in a comment to her post, in order for them to count. "The Picket Fence Committee" belongs to the Monster House series and has 18 verses.

Additional Notes

1) I customarily post replies to prompt posts telling people which of their prompts I'm using, with a brief description of the resulting poem(s). If you want to know what's available, watch for those "thumbnails."

2) You don't have to pay me to see a poem based on a prompt that you gave me. I try to send copies of poems to people, mostly using the LJ message function. (Anonymous prompters will miss this perk unless you give me your eddress.) These are for-your-eyes-only, though, not for sharing.

3) Sponsors of the Poetry Fishbowl in general, or of specific poems, will gain access to an extra post in appreciation of their generosity.  While you're on the Donors list, you can view all of the custom-locked posts in that category. Click the "donors" tag to read the archive of those. I've also posted a list of other donor perks there. I customarily leave donor names on the list for two months, so you'll get to see the perk-post from this month and next.

4) After the Poetry Fishbowl concludes, I will post a list of unsold poems and their prices, to make it easier for folks to see what they might want to sponsor.

5) If donations total $150+ by Friday evening then I'll write an extra series poem after the Poetry Fishbowl, and post it for free. Everyone will get to vote which series gets a new poem.  Current donors will get to leave prompts. If donations reach $200, the perk upgrades so that you get a whole extra fishbowl for a poetic series, including a free poem. Everyone will get to vote on which series, and give prompts during the extra fishbowl, although it's likely to be a half-day rather than a whole day.

Feed the Fish!
Now's your chance to participate in the creative process by posting ideas for me to write about. Today's theme is "pets and livestock."  I'll be soliciting ideas for animals that live with people, alien or fantasy pets, familiars, interesting equipment for pets and livestock, ways that pets influence people, the effects of livestock on culture, places where animals may be found, historic examples of pets and livestock, and poetic forms in particular. But anything is welcome, really. If you manage to recommend a form that I don't recognize, I will probably pounce on it and ask you for its rules. I do have the first edition of Lewis Turco's The Book of Forms which covers most common and many obscure forms.

I'll post at least one of the fishbowl poems here so you-all can enjoy it. (Remember, you get an extra freebie poem if someone new posts a prompt or makes a donation, an extra series poem if donations reach $150+, and a series fishbowl if donations reach $200. Linkbacks reveal verses of "The Picket Fence Committee.") The rest of the poems will go into my archive for magazine submission.

meeksp

September 6 2011, 20:30:59 UTC 9 years ago

New comment

I'd like to see one from the point of view of a pet, about the human(s) they keep.

Poem

ysabetwordsmith

September 7 2011, 04:18:06 UTC 9 years ago

"Schrodinger's Human" is a free-verse poem that takes a look at the apocryphal television show Schrodinger's Heroes from the perspective of the cat. It's quantum physics, with kitty!

18 lines, Buy It Now = $10

siliconshaman

September 6 2011, 21:15:39 UTC 9 years ago

Are we pets to the gods?
Are we gods to our pets?

September 6 2011, 23:15:55 UTC 9 years ago

Scroll up to find the thumbnail for "And Have Dominion" under

minor_architect's prompt.

Re: Poem

9 years ago

jenny_evergreen

September 6 2011, 21:23:59 UTC 9 years ago

*waves at the references to Monster House pets* Monster House might be a great setting to help define exactly how one decides whether something is a pet or an independent entity, and what and where the lines are.

kelkyag

September 6 2011, 21:34:33 UTC 9 years ago

Heh. Yes. "It followed me home, can I keep it?" "It moved in without asking, and fixed the heating system. Should we let it stay?"

I'm going to guess that the radiator dragon is a pet, the gargoyles on the roof are more like barn cats, and the troll and the monsters in the closet and under the bed and the little old lady ghost are people/housemates. I'm not sure about the seeing eye gremlins -- people, or working service dogs? -- but we haven't seen much of them.

September 6 2011, 21:42:17 UTC 9 years ago

thesilentpoet wanted something about Fiorenza and ordinary animals, and it also touches on

haikujaguar's request for large animal vets. Of course, livestock is a vital part of a village and the local herbalist used to tend humans and animals alike. So "Farm and Field" is a free-verse poem about the chickens, cows, and horses of Fiorenza's village -- featuring some classic Italian breeds -- with a little about how this shapes human relationships as well.

42 lines, Buy It Now = $15

stryck

September 6 2011, 22:09:57 UTC 9 years ago

One thing that's fascinated me, recently, is the folks who raise "heritage" livestock - the original breeds that were kept before factory farming.

Icelandic sheep are amazingly hardy because they developed in a place where there's no ability to grow hay. Dorkings are a five-toed chicken breed that were kept by the Romans.

There are breeds that were developed for homesteads, like Delaware chickens, that are in danger of extinction because so few people bother to raise slower growing, hardy chickens on pasture anymore.

And then, what about the livestock that have been turned into pets? Bantam chickens used to be kept by peasants because bigger chickens could only be kept by nobility. These days, they're now used for show, or kept in tiny backyard coops in suburban areas.

Working dogs, like shepherds or terriers. Even the dachshund was originally bred to hunt borrowing animals.

September 6 2011, 22:17:03 UTC 9 years ago

Aw, somebody beat me to the working dogs. Though, I should have guessed. >.> Serve me right for spouting off without reading the other comments!

One of the things that gets to me about the ancient chicken breeds is that modern ones often don't get broody - they can't hatch their own eggs! The instinct was bred out of them because hatching eggs interrupts the egg-laying process. The result is a bunch of chickens that have no mothering instinct at all and a lot of human work with incubators.

Deleted comment

September 7 2011, 05:11:23 UTC 9 years ago

The Yasiluu description does specify canine assistants, but the Empire in general really doesn't do much for handicapped citizens. However, the description also states that the aduriyarf are messenger dogs capable of memorizing multiple destinations. So I came up with "The Dog Guides," a poem about service dogs in Affayasilith that are trained, not for an individual, but for the public. They take people a chosen destination, and are a popular tourist attraction as well as a practical service.

26 lines, Buy It Now = $15

wyld_dandelyon

September 6 2011, 23:31:37 UTC 9 years ago

Virtual pets.

Unusual pets--birds, snakes, lizards, tarantulas. I even know someone who kept a black widow most carefully caged until it died a natural death.

The process of domesticating a species.

I remember reading speculation that animals like goats or chickens could be genetically engineered to produce medicines in their milk or eggs. What if your pets were your medical lifeline?

September 6 2011, 23:49:52 UTC 9 years ago

The goats that are engineered to produce spider silk in their milk are both cool and creepy.

Would a witch have giant spiders that produce enough silk to weave?

miintikwa

September 6 2011, 23:58:38 UTC 9 years ago

What games do pets play?

(asked after watching my 8 lb cat attacking and playing with my 80lb dog.)

September 7 2011, 05:26:44 UTC 9 years ago

From this prompt I got the free-verse poem "The Games Pets Play," exploring the enertainment of cats, dogs, and birds. But there's one game they all play together ...

21 lines, Buy It Now = $10

eseme

September 7 2011, 00:27:52 UTC 9 years ago

I am watching this PBS documentary. So service animal is my prompt, and I do know it got mentioned before.

But this is just so amazing, about the dogs. The memorable quote for me is "The people think they are choosing their dog. But clearly the dogs are choosing their person."

http://www.pbs.org/dogs-eyes/

September 7 2011, 05:18:57 UTC 9 years ago

Scroll up to see "The Dog Guides," a different riff on the idea of service animals.

Re: linkback poem

my_partner_doug

September 7 2011, 00:40:58 UTC 9 years ago

To all fishbowl participants -- as of 7:36PM CDT, there are still two verses left to be revealed in "The Picket Fence Committee". Thanks to everyone who's linked to the fishbowl thus far -- two more linkbacks, be they on LJ or elsewhere, is all it will take to finish off a free "Monster House" poem for everyone to enjoy. Anybody able?

minor_architect

September 7 2011, 01:28:46 UTC 9 years ago

Thanks, Doug. I mentioned this on the perk post, too, hoping that would spur some more fine folks into action. :)

zianuray

September 7 2011, 01:07:03 UTC 9 years ago

I dreamed that a red-tailed hawk moved into my barn and would land near me and "talk" to me and even preen my hair. I was very happy until I woke up! I would like to know what else might have happened with this very sociable hawk, if possible.

September 7 2011, 05:38:00 UTC 9 years ago

From your hawk dream I got the free-verse poem "Hawk in the Night," describing the symbolism of hawks in different contexts.

24 lines, Buy It Now = $10

prompt

natasiakith

September 7 2011, 01:14:02 UTC 9 years ago

Link goes to a picture of my kitten. I hope that's ok. Otherwise it's 'Hey, look! I finally uploaded a picture of her!'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99329924@N00/6121879807/

Explanation: Some friends of my mom found a 4 week old kitten on a busy street. They showed up at our house with her at 3am, and I kept her. She likes to play "escape from the house."

Re: prompt

September 7 2011, 02:01:41 UTC 9 years ago

From the kitten prompt and "abandoned animal" by

kelkyag I got the free-verse poem "Trashcat." Some cats have a different reason for bringing things home...

10 lines, Buy It Now = $5

September 7 2011, 04:40:54 UTC 9 years ago

Sarah A. Hoyt mentioned being tired of reading about heroes riding a stallion into battle, particularly a fractious one that nobody else could ride. I thought, okay, not all stallions have horrible manners, and wouldn't it be cool to read about a mannerly one instead. The result is "The Peacehorse," a free-verse poem about a well-trained stallion who helped stop a war. And it introduces the Hipparchy of Pelip, a country ruled by horse breeders.

34 lines, Buy It Now = $15

Done for the night!

September 7 2011, 05:39:30 UTC 9 years ago

I'm wrapping up now. Thank you all for your enthusiasm.

laffingkat

September 7 2011, 05:45:39 UTC 9 years ago

Hmm, not sure I have much to offer in the way of prompts, but I linked earlier and will try to help with a donation.

How about lessons we learn from our companion animals? Ask for what you want. Enjoy the present moment. Take naps in the sun.

Well...

September 7 2011, 05:58:25 UTC 9 years ago

You came in after closing this time. However, I call your attention to the thumbnails for "What Matters," "And Have Dominion," "Salt and Pepper," "Trashcat," and "The Peacehorse" as touching on various aspects of learning something from animals.

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