Story Time Friday, #NationalPoetryMonth edition – where @BenDitty finds a poem in poetry

This week, I’m letting Ben Ditmars take the reigns. I won’t talk his poem up too much. He’s capable of doing that himself…

I haven’t done many found poems. They are tricky and often come out forced having originated from other voices. But for National Poetry Month I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and help promote some poets in the process. So, please enjoy Dirt Road Embers.

Dirt Road Embers

by Ben Ditmars

Human beings are powder kegs
Electric lightbulbs burning out and
Waiting to explode; we carry on
Please carry me I’m broken
Caught between the gloaming
Wine-stained fringe existence
Broken places bleeding midnight
On a savage rose where
She is strong and I’m inhaling
Smoke through laughter
Birthing madness; nothing left
But pulse and sadness slipping
Into evening; we can’t lose.

Found poem composed from titles of: Dirt Road Dreams by Susie Clevenger, Nocturnal Embers by Helle Gade, Slinking Under the Electric Lightbulb by Adam Moursy, In the Gloaming by Amber Norrgard, Wine-Stained Parts and Dirty Talk by Adam Moursy; Dizzied by Chance: Poems of a Fringe Existence by Adam Moursy, Broken Places by Rachel Thompson, Savage Rose by Helle Gade, Inhale the Night by Ben Ditmars, Birthing Inadequacy by Natasha Head; Nothing Left to Lose by Natasha Head, Pulse by Natasha Head, Slipping into Evening by Amber Norrgard

And before you go, here’s a special bonus that Ben did. He recording himself reading this poem for you. And since I’m a big advocate of listening to poetry, along with reading it, I couldn’t pass up the chance to share it with you all. Enjoy

About the Author:

Ben is a bestselling author of gnomes, plays, poetry and more.  He was first published in his college publications the Cornfield Review and KAPOW.  Since then he has been featured in several online literary journals including: Flurries of Words, Samizdat Literary Journal, and Shine Journal. You can find his collections of poetry, plays, novel, and short stories for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Ben lives in Marion, Ohio and is currently working toward his Master’s Degree in education at the University of Findlay while substitute teaching. He hopes to instruct high school social studies full-time within the next year.

He loves historical documentaries and all things gnome.

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Soundcloud
• Amazon Author Page
• Smashwords Author Page

How to Submit:

For those who wish to be part of Story Time Friday in the near future, you can send submissions to the email address that I formerly used for review requests (but don’t anymore since I’m retired . . . don’t try to be clever and slip one in 😛 ): miztrebor88@gmail.com. Be sure to use the subject “Story Time Friday Submission” and send your piece as an attachment (.doc/.docx would be best). Any other questions, feel free to comment here or contact me through the blog’s contact form.

Hope to hear from some writers soon!