Category: Poetry Prompts

Tell Me How it Feels, How it Really Really Feels?

Poetry often deals with emotions: how we feel, what emotions an incident evokes, and too, how words—the placement of words, word choices/combinations—make us feel. But now, today, let’s go beyond those feeling and get really touchy feely.

Take out one of your already written poems. Don’t spend more than 30 seconds of your 7 minutes choosing—it’s not really about that poem, this challenge is about what feelings can do to/for that poem. When writing, we often focus on describing things through dialogue and action. We also often set the scene by describing what can be seen in a scene. However, we often overlook the physical, even though our tactile memories are strongest and reactions evoked shared. Try “chewing glass” for example.

Reread your poem, and ask yourself, “What does it feel like?” And by “feel” think literally: What does each image actually feel like? Is it rough? Squishy? Smooth? Glassy or sandy? Does it slosh?

Try changing/adding feeling words to that image to conjure those tactile feelings.

If your poem doesn’t seem to have a tactile feeling to it, can you add one? Even more, try adding a tactile feeling to every line.

Now reread your poem. How does it feel now?

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1400 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Happy Valen-Tendi!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Ever since St. Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II of Rome’s orders by secretly marrying couples, we’ve been celebrating Feb. 14th with hearts, flowers, romance and poetic gestures—including names plucked from a jar.

Let’s carry on the tradition with this week’s prompt. A Tendi is poem made up of four-lines where the first three lines rhyme and the fourth line is a refrain. If you have more than one stanza, the fourth line is repeated each time.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, try to use a refrain that might be on a Valentine. Something like:
I love you very much.
My heart belongs to you.
You are so very sweet.
Or use a saying from a candy heart:

Can you write a Valentine Tendi with three stanzas? Then, if you dare, send it to your Valentine!

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Cloudy with a Chance of . . .

Hold onto your hat! Your umbrella! Your snazzy two-button blazer! and grab your microphone! It’s National Weatherperson Day!

“This annual holiday commemorates the birthday of John Jeffries who was born on this day, February 5th, in 1744. Dr. Jeffries, a scientist and a surgeon, is considered to be one of America’s first weather observers. He kept weather records from 1774 to 1816. Jeffries took his first balloon observation in 1784.”—National Day Calendar

In honor of National Weatherpersons’ Day, forecast the weather in poetry. Write your poem in a Weatherperson’s voice (or channel Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy). Make your forecast factual or fantastical—creator’s choice!

For inspiration—and a few laughs—view these Weatherperson Out-Takes!

Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Alphabet Puzzles

Many forms of poetry are like puzzles—you try to fit the right words into a certain order or have the right number of beats/syllables on each line. Here are four poetry puzzles. Choose one to solve today and come back to this when you’re stuck for a topic some other day.

1) Can you use every letter of the alphabet in a poem? The letter can appear anywhere in the word and can be in any order.

2) For the next puzzle, you need to use a word starting with each letter of the alphabet in order. You can add other words between your words to help your poem make sense.

3) How about starting each line with a letter of the alphabet? How long a poem can you make that makes some sense?

4) Pick one letter. Can you write a poem using twenty words that begin with that letter?

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Library Shelfie Day

Hooray! It’s Library Shelfie Day!

Observed every 4^th Wednesday in January, Library Shelfie Day was founded by the NYPL (New York Public Library) as a way to celebrate and share our books by arranging a few favorites or entire collections on a shelf. Take a picture and share it on social media with the hashtag #LibraryShelfieDay. As we do, let’s observe Library Shelfie Day with a poem.

First, choose a few of your favorite titles…

Arrange them into a social media worthy collection and post it or not as you choose.

Then use your collection to create a poem.

Write 3 to 5 of your chosen book titles on a paper. These titles will form the basis of your poem. How you arrange them is entirely up to you. You may choose to use the titles exactly as they appear or mix words and phrases around. Feel free to add words to improve the poem. Or change the form of the words. However, there is one rule: You must use every word from every title. 

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

National Hat or National Bagel Day

Think of words that have to do with either hat or bagel. Come up with words to describe your pick, words you think of when you have one or the other, or words that those objects remind you of. Now use those words to form a shape poem. Fit the words into either the shape of a bagel or the shape of a hat. Make it beautiful!

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Joy Germ Day

In the midst of cold-flu-ick-crud season, everyone’s trying to stay germ free. But, there’s one germ I’m hoping goes viral:  The Joy Germ!

Celebrated every January 8^th, National Joy Germ day is a holiday created to remind people “that by being positive and treating people with kindness, we can influence those around us and pass that positive attitude on to others.”

Joy Germ day was established in 1981 by Joan White of Syracuse, New York, in honor of her mother.  Here’s Joan’s prescription for observing Joy Germ Day: “Laugh, smile, be kind, inspire and spread the one type of germ that is good for everyone to catch!”

Joy Germs

What’s your Joy? Imagine you are a scientist in a happy lab concocting your own Joy Germ. What ingredients would you use? What’s your Joy? What does it smell like? Taste like? Sound like? How would you spread your Joy Germ?

Write a poem titled “Joy Germ”

HOW TO OBSERVE Joy Germ Day:

Throughout the day, see how often you can spread the JoyGerm! Use #NationalJoygermDay to post on social media.

 “May a giant jar of jaunty joy germs rest gently on you and yours.”—Joan White National Joy Germ Day: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-joygerm-day-january-8/

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

New Year’s Day!!

At the beginning of the new year, everyone seems to have the best intentions. The most common resolutions people make are: exercise more, eat less, spend more time with family, get organized, save money, learn a new skill.

One thing that helps people succeed with their resolutions is when they tell other people what those resolutions are. Therefore, we’re going to write a resolution poem. First, think of three to five resolutions you would like to make this year. Then write a couplet (two lines that rhyme) about each resolution. Finally, share your poem with a friend—and get the friend to write one too. Reread your poem (and your friend’s) at least once a month to remind yourself of what you’re trying to do. Good luck!

And Happy New Year!!

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Holiday Acrostic—Lights

Iridescence of Lights

 “Tis the hap happiest season of all,” the song goes. And so it is this year as Christmas (Dec. 25), Hanukkah (Dec 22-30) and Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1) converge, we are smack dab in the midst of the festivities. One way these holidays are celebrated is with lights! Lights! Lights! Lights!

In celebration of the holidays, write an acrostic poem about your holiday traditions. An acrostic poem uses the letter of a topic word or words to create a poem.

1. Write the word “Light” (or another holiday-related word) vertically down the length of a page.

2. For each letter, write a related word or idea beginning with that letter extending out horizontally.

3. Take a few moments to refine your poem. Try adding or changing some words to add interest, rhythm or rhyme to your poem.

4. Select your favorite word or image to be the title of your poem.

Lights

Luminous

Iridescent rainbow

Glimmering strands of

Holiday magic

Twinkling 

Stars show the way home

Happy Holidays Y’all!

Christmas: https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/fun-interesting-christmas-facts-for-kids/

Hanukkah: https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/806884/hanukkah-facts-for-children/

Kwanzaa: https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/fun-kwanzaa-facts-for-kids/

Acrostic: https://poetry4ever.com/acrostic

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

It’s Getting Darker

In a few days, it will be the shortest day of the year. That day will have the least amount of daylight. The good news? Days grow longer after that!

In honor of the shortest day, write a short poem. Get your notebook or computer ready and set your timer. Then highlight the box below to reveal the prompt and write as fast as you can. Ready?

                        I need a break…