May 2020
Author's Note: Some of you are familiar with this project, but in case you're not here's a bit of an
outline of the process. The poems are from a one-year-long project called POND. They are acrostics. Everyday, at
different times during the day, I would visit our pond with notebook and camera in hand. I’d jot down some notes,
take a picture or two, if a good photo op. presented itself. Then I’d head home and write a four-line acrostic using
the letters P, O, N, and D. The other caveat, which made the project so interesting and challenging to me, was that
I did not allow myself use any of my first words more than once. I needed a different P, O, N, or D word for every day.
I began the book on November 9, 2018 and completed it on November 8, 2019, without ever missing a single day.
5.7.19
12.56 p.m.
69 degrees
Pronouncements only about the air today,
overridden with bird song – Peter! Peter! Peter!
nattering Cheer-up! Cheer-a-lee! Here, here! Come right here,
dear! Drink your tea! Sweet, sweet, sweet, little-more-sweet!
5.13.19
10.31 a.m.
49 degrees
Pluviophiles rejoice at what will come this afternoon; it will
outdo yesterday’s torrential hours, as the brown pond
nullifies brilliant reflections for weak ones, frail as my hope for the
darkness of the pond’s sole keeper, the melancholy mallard and his solace.
©2020 John L. Stanizzi
Editor's Note: If this poem(s) moves you please consider writing to the
author (email address above) to tell him or her. You might say what it is about the poem that moves you. Writing to the author is the beginning of community at Verse Virtual.
It is very important. -JL