Why?

     A pantoum practice poem for my Poetry Writing class at Rogers State University during the fall 2015 semester. The keywords to use were "sadness", "loss" and "basketball".

An earthquake hit the world of basketball,

Proof of grim reality set in

When the Thunder traded Harden; 

The Beard we loved, that others feared, to Houston. 

Proof of grim reality set in,

That Oklahoma's team is also a business...

The Beard we loved, that others feared, was sent to Houston.

The betrayal of loss worse for morphing into a Monstar.

Oklahoma's team is also a business.

Shock and sadness increased as the seasons progressed;

The betrayal of loss was worse for turning into a Monstar...

"What if-?" and "Why?" will forever haunt OKC.

Shock and sadness have increased as the seasons progressed;

Our team's demise came that October night.

"What if-?" and "Why?" will forever haunt OKC

As SportsCenter highlights roll in slow motion. 

Our team's demise came that October night

When the Thunder traded Harden - 

As SportsCenter highlights roll in slow motion,

An earthquake hit the world of basketball.

Pantoum About Hockey

     This is called a pantoum; it's a type of poem that repeats itself a lot. This was a first attempt at using it, from my Poetry Writing course at Rogers State University. The keywords we were supposed to use were "ice", "cold" and "winter".

A flock of ducks skate along the ice,
The wind outside is whipping cold;
Communication's essential to the game of winter
Along the Minnesota/Ontario border.

The wind outside is whipping cold;
Sacrifices unnoticed are successes' key,
Along the Minnesota/Ontario border
Words may sting, but sticks break bones.

Sacrifices unnoticed at successes' key
Known to Coach Bombay, Joey Gladstone and MacGyver;
Words may sting, but sticks break bones.
In puck's play fans and photographers delight. Movie magic, too:

Known to Coach Bombay, Joey Gladstone and MacGyver,
Hockey, in the South called "soccer's cooler cousin",
In Puck's play fans and photographers delight. Movie magic, too.
Practice habits bring patience, skill, perfection.

Hockey, in the South called "soccer's cooler cousin",
Communication's essential to the game of winter
Practice habits bring patience, skill, perfection -
A flock of Ducks skate along the ice.