Write a Poem Inspired by the Change of Seasons
Poetry Prompt #1: Write a Poem Inspired by the Changing Seasons
Over the next 30 days, I’ll be sharing a poetry writing prompt a day and trying to follow the prompts myself.
Prompt one: Write a poem inspired by the change of seasons. Share your poems in the comments, if you’d like. And check back later for my poem. Whether you use the prompt or not, remember to keep writing!
Merry Me, Happy You, A Seasonal Greeting
I wrote this goofy little verse about a hundred years ago. It comes back around to me every Christmas season. Thjis year, I thought I’d set it to voice, photos and music.
In first draft, the line that ends “festive parade” used to read “Santa parade.” I changed it because I’ve never actually seen a Santa parade, but the idea of one makes me smile. Cheers, joy, peace, and good health to you and yours.
The Eternal Summer Struggle, Me vs. the Mulch
It’s about this time of the summer when I wonder, “will I will ever tame this pile of mulch?” It seemed like such a good idea when I had it delivered this past spring.
Generosity
Thinking about the unintended beautiful consequences of entering the day with a generous heart. Like when you wake early to brew tea for your workday and end up giving the spring flowers a much-needed drink.
Hole in my canteen
Watering the flowers
With my morning tea
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 30
Challenge complete. As I wrote at the beginning of the month, I had no intention of completing or event starting this year’s poem-a-day challenge. But I’m sure glad that I did. I came into April with my poem tank empty. I hadn’t written one in months. I enter may with more than 30 new poems and many more drafts. Sometimes you get the challenge you need when you need it. The important thing is to keep trying, keep striving and keep moving. And that brings me to the last poem of the month: Write a moving poem. Here’s to April. Hello, May. Let’s keep moving.
Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you. —Satchel Paige
MOVE
Yesterday is an anchor
Weighs me down.
Tomorrow’s a wind beneath
My broken wings.
But which way will it blow?
I have today.
I have to get up,
Get off this couch.
I have to get up
And move.
Yesterday is no return
Even if I have the receipt
Tomorrow may be out of stock
There’s no way to know
I have today.
I have to get up.
We have today.
We need to get up
Off this couch
And move.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 29
Write a poem about “the last (blank).” Anyone have change for a dollar?
DISCONNECTED (THE LAST PAYPHONE)
All alone,
My last quarter,
This last payphone.
Dropped it in.
No dial tone.
All alone.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 28
Day 28, write a sight poem (and try not to blink).
BLINK
blink
It passed by.
blink
It's gone.
blink
It’s midnight.
blink
It’s dawn.
blink
The movie
blink
I’d like to see
blink
Is what I missed
blink
When my eyes
Failed me.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 27
Day 27, Write a Remix Poem. This prompt asks us to remix a poem from earlier in the month. I chose to remix my day 20 challenge poem. Remember that one? We were asked to write a poem using at least three of the following six words: 1. Content, 2. Double, 3. Guide, 4. Meet, 5. Pump, 6. Suit. I had so much fun. I couldn’t stop at one.
REMIX #1: ADVICE TO A NERVOUS SPEAKER
Know your *content*.
*Double* down on your talent.
Let your instinct *guide* you.
Wear your best *suit*.
Get *pumped*.
I’ll *meet* you backstage.
REMIX #2: ROADTRIP
*Double* down
Wear your lucky *suit*.
Let your instinct *guide* you.
We’ll *meet* out back
By the old *pump*.
REMIX #3: HOLIDAY DREAM
Our host *doubled* as our *guide*.
We *met* by the abandoned *pumps*.
His shiny*suit* reflected the sun.
When he spoke, his words confused me.
But I understood the *content*.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 26
Write a love or anti-love poem. May we all be loved the way LuLu, our little Shih Tzu, loves suppertime.
SUPPERTIME
To love life,
Like the little dog
Loves suppertime,
She dances with
Wild abandon.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 25
Day 25, write a response poem. This could be a response to a poem I’ve written earlier in the month or a response to someone else’s poem. This poem is a response to the haiku masters like Basho, Buson, and Issa, who have graced us with timeless poems. Thankfully, they knew how to avoid distractions.
UNPOETIC
Napping on the couch,
I missed the
Full moon
With a notebook
As my pillow, I slept
Though the sunrise
Earbuds firmly in,
I couldn’t hear the
Chickadee’s song
Checking my phone,
I missed the frog’s
Leap into the pond
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 24
Day 24, write a superhero or super villain poem.
LOST MAN
Unable to
Follow directions.
Often confuses
Left from right.
Has been
seen reading
A map while
Holding it
Upside down.
Makes stops
At F, G, L, and P
While trying to go
From point A to B.
His compass
Always spinning.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 23
Day 23, write a poem about a conspiracy.
SUNDAY MORNING
Snoring dog
Across my legs
And rain against
The window
Conspire to
Keep me in bed,
Covers over
My head.
Poem -A-Day, April 2022, Day 22
Day 22, write a poem about an Organism.
MOLD
Mold
I’m told
Is ever-so bold,
Growing in folds
In hot and cold.
Though I may grow old
I’ll never outlive all this mold.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 21
Day 21, write a sound poem.
ENCORE
“Croak,”
Bull-frog’s
Ballad
Until
“Splash”,
He exits
Pond right.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 20
Poem a day challenge, day 20, write a poem using at least three of the following six words: 1. Content, 2. Double, 3. Guide, 4. Meet, 5. Pump, 6. Suit.
Here are six small stories, each using one of the words.
Before-dinner dogs: A furry fury. After-dinner dogs: Placid *contentment*.
New *suit*, new shirt new tie. Ready for my day. What? Mismatched shoes!
*Pump* handle had a nasty ricochet. My first black eye.
If we’ve *met*, I’ll remember your face, But likely fumble your name.
*Double* socks. Double pants. Double shirt. Double coat. Double hat. Chicago winter.
Dead-end farm road. Old map *misguided* me.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 19
Day 19, write a there or not there poem. Another one possibly based on a true story.
(Another possibly true story)
CAR KEYS
My car keys are gone,
But they were just there.
Now I can’t find them
Anywhere.
For an hour I search.
Then before I despair,
I touch the cord
‘Round my neck
Where I’d hung them
With care.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 18
Day 18, write a “we (blank) poem. Here’s the finding the “whee” in your life.
THE THRILL SEEKERS
We ride our bikes
Down a steep hill,
Let go the handles
Throw back our heads
Hair in the wind
As we become
“Whee!”
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 16
Day 16, write a touch poem. August, it’s a mood.
AUGUST
Escaping heat.
In the pond,
Up to my chin.
Trying to stand
As still as
The surface.
Arms at my side,
Sun setting,
Orange cast
Across the water.
Touching bottom.
Feeling mud
And pebbles
Beneath my feet,
As tiny fish
Nibble my toes.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 15
Day 15, write a patience poem. This one is about my father, the most patient person I’ve ever known.
SUNDAY MEDITATION
My sister and I always
Ran late getting
Ready for church.
Dad waited patiently
On our back porch steps
Powder blue suit,
white shirt,
And neat tie
Never a raised voice
Or harsh word.
He’d just clip his nails
And work his cuticles,
Knowing by the time
He finished this
Sunday morning
Manicure we’d barrel
Through the backdoor,
Mom herding us
Into the station wagon.
Dad, the most patient
Person I’ve known,
And he had the
Best-looking
Fingernails, too.
