Letters of a Voyage

This week's (or actually last week's, it's been a little crazy around here on account of workshop being run at second-job) prompt at Big Tent asked us to write a poem inspired by our favorite poem. Although it isn't my favorite poem, my favorite line of poetry comes from John Donne's Holy Sonnet XIV: "Knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend." It has always struck me as good advice about how to live well, so I used it write a sonnet comparing coming-of-age/entering the work force to storming a castle. The reference about tigers comes from the best advice I got heading off to college: "Smile, be yourself, and watch out for tigers." Thanks Gryff.

( Good Advice: How to Storm the Castle )

As always, there are other responses (and some of them awesome--look for the Dylan Thomas inspired villanelle) at Big Tent.