NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo Day 10: Dear old Phoebe

Today, the challenge is to write a poem that starts from a regional phrase, particularly one to describe a weather phenomenon. You may remember one from growing up, bu if you’re having trouble getting started, perhaps one of these regional U.S. phrases used to describe warm weather will inspire you. Or you might enjoy these … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo Day 9: Things that make life meaningful

Here’s the prompt for Day 9: Our (optional) prompt for the day asks you to engage in another kind of cross-cultural exercise, as it is inspired by the work of Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer who lived more than 1000 years ago. She wrote a journal that came to be known as The Pillow Book. … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo Day 8: Connecting the dots

Here’s the prompt for Day 8: Today, I’d like to challenge you to think about the argot of a particular job or profession, and see how you can incorporate it into a metaphor that governs or drives your poem. This rather astonishing list of professional slang terms might help you get into the mood. Or, … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 7: What I want to gift myself

The prompt for the day is inspired by McKibbens, who posted these thoughts on her Twitter account a few months back:  What do you deserve? Name it. All of it. What are you ready to let go of? Name that too. Then name the most gentle gift for yourself. Name the brightest song your body’s … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 6: If…

Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem of the possible. What does that mean? Well, take a look at these poems by Raena Shirali and Rachel Mennies. Both poems are squarely focused not on what has happened, or what will happen, but on what might happen if the conditions are right. Today, … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 5: The tumultuous voices

Today’s prompt comes from a poem by Kyle Dargan, called “Diaspora: A Narcolepsy Hymn.” This poem is inspired by the work of others – in this case, the poet Morgan Parker, and lyrics from songs by Beyoncé and The Notorious B.I.G. The poem also partakes of one of the most difficult poetic forms, the villanelle. … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 4: I wish I hadn’t gone out

Today’s prompt, is inspired by Teicher’s poem “Son“. One thing you might notice about this poem is that it is sad, but that it doesn’t generate that feeling through particularly emotional words. The words are very simple. Another thing you might notice is that it’s a sonnet – not in strict iambic pentameter, but fourteen … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 3: Elapsed Time

Today’s prompt is based in a poem by Larry Levis called “The Two Trees.” It is a poem that seems to meander, full of little digressions, odd bits of information, but fundamentally, it is a poem that takes time. It takes its time getting where it’s going, and the action of the poem itself takes … Read more

NaPoWriMo 2019: Day 2: A hundred and one

Day 2 prompt is based on this poem by Claire Wahmanholm, which transforms the natural world into an unsettled dream-place. One way it does this is by asking questions – literally. The poem not only contains questions, but ends on a question. Today, we have been challenged to write a poem that similarly resists closure … Read more

NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 1: How to make a good parent…Are you one?

Once again it is that time of the year which we all poetry lovers eagerly await. Yes! It’s NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo month, when we write a poem everyday for 30 days on the prompt (optional) given by our dear Maureen 🙂 So, here we begin our journey today with the following prompt. Here’s how the prompt … Read more