Welcome to Poetically Yours. Poetically Yours showcases poems by northern Illinois poets and a few from other areas. This week's poet is Jenny Bienemann.
Bienemann is a singer-songwriter and poet. In 2018, she published a book called "Haiku Milieu," a book in which she invited friends to select a poem and write a response to it.
A few years ago, her book "Sundays with Jenny" was released. She also recently published "The Comeback," a small haiku milieu book.
Bienemann shares haikus on social media and runs a website also named "Haiku Milieu." An email newsletter is sent each Sunday, inviting poets to submit their own haikus for possible publication on the platform.
Bienemann attended the WNIJ Poetically Yours poetry workshop on April 25. During this workshop, writers were given writing prompts. Bienemann's prompt was "Red Box Banquet Meal."
This is a haiku chain poem. Each stanza has the traditional haiku structure of five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the third.
Red Box banquet meal
who says you can't have it all
just heat and enjoy
Made for microwave
though, the oven can work too
just not air fryers
That is the first choice
that has been taken from you
for your convenience
The ingredients
you didn't choose those either
You only choose taste
now with the great taste
of all natural chicken breast
just not with chicken
How much would you pay
to make fewer decisions
Banquet wants to know
Convenience it takes
while pretending it's giving
is a charlatan.
Hey, if convenience
has constraints I didn't choose
it's not convenient.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
