Sol Magazine's
Poet Laureate 2005 Edition
© 2005 SOL MAGAZINE
http://www.sol-magazine.org


HONORABLE MENTION

Warner D. Conarton
Zephyrhills, FL, USA

Warner D. Conarton

Warner D. Conarton was first published in 1936 in the Willow Street School’s Anthology in Lansing, Michigan; his was the only kindergarten entry.  For the past three or four years, he has published much work in dozens of anthologies and literary magazines, some at Sol Magazine, where his poetry has several times been selected for the honor of Editor's Choice.  He has been a member since 2000.  In his words, “I write because if I didn’t, I would be somebody else and not as pleased with myself.”
EDITORS’ & JUDGES’ COMMENTS:    Ah, what a breath of fresh air this poet brings! Charming, fresh approach to writing that puts the fun back into poetry.  Assonance with alliteration throughout create delightful passages and whimsical, yet meaningful, ideas and images often hyperbolically expressed.  Warner D. Conarton's poetry has a laid-back and appreciative-of-all-around-him quality. Even the small things take on worthy proportions under his care. Tenderness, irony, and spell-binding metaphors are woven throughout his poetry.

Dandelions
 
When I was a child there were dandelions
Yellow... yellow... yellow...
with claw-green
leaves

to laugh and smudge girls'
chins with
or blow and watch the wingéd seeds
lift away like angels.

Dandelions were spring... and assured
Yes - the world was still alive
Yes - Yes
and would go on and on-

-As each downed angel
lifted its slim giraffe neck
and
sucking sky
and earth
spread to duplicate the sun.

When I was a child there were dandelions
-bursting like green balloons
on hairbrush lawns

shouting
yellow...yellow... yellow
mocking grown-ups, intruding
to kiss each child's eyes
with sunshine kisses.

When I was a child, there were dandelions
-show me dandelions now.
Show me-
Show me dandelions.

© 2005  Warner D. Conarton

COMMENTS:  The childlike quality of this poem communicates the narrator's nostalgic longing for simplicity. Vibrant use of repetition, especially in the challenge of the concluding stanza.   The poet has used vivid images metaphorically, which add a delightful magical quality to the poem as it reflects the world as seen through the eyes of a child.  Delightful!  The nostalgic tone and fresh, vivid metaphors transport the reader back to childhood and cause her to say with the poet at the end of the poem, "Show me dandelions!"
 
sitting still by pond
motionless while life resumes
bug on tip of nose

© 2005  Warner D. Conarton

COMMENTS:  Quaint vignette written tightly, yet not taken too seriously. A hard combo to beat!  Creates a strong visual connection.  Humorous and surprising slice of life where stillness is interrupted by intruding life!
 
viewing dirty streets
frog on window quacks like duck
cleansing rain comes soon

© 2005  Warner D. Conarton

COMMENTS:  Whimsical snapshot portrayed in excellent form.  Paints a clear scene.  This poem shows one of the cycles of life, dirty then clean then.  The poet writes with a touch of distracting irony that causes the reader to smile.
 

Navigation --