Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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!

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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*.



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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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!”

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

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.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 14

Day 14, write a scary poem. Sometimes the “boo” is in the fear of the beholder.

NO BOO

The ghost

Opened his mouth

But couldn’t boo.

Maybe because

He was scared

Of you.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 13

For day 13, write a “how to (blank)” poem.

HOW TO BUILD A BOOKCASE

Some assembly required.

Some tools will be needed.

Some you will have. Some you won’t.

Some directions will be in small type.

You’ll need a magnifying glass

To read them. And after, you’ll

Still have no idea what they mean.

Some screws will be lost.

Some aspirin will be taken.

Some pieces will be left over,

They look important, but

You can’t figure out

Where or why they belong.

Some shelves will slant

Someone will notice.

And some trash pick-up day,

You’ll place the bookcase at the curb.

Then, somewhere find a store

That offers one already assembled.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 11

Day 11, write a power poem.

YOUR LOVE IS MY SUPERPOWER

I will be your superhero.

I will wear the cape.

I’ll outrace the bullet

And defeat the alien ape.

I’m not scared of zombies.

I’ll be sure to win the day.

The only weakness that I have

Is if you go away.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 10

Day 10, write a taste poem. Maybe it’s because I’m looking forward to summer and remember the joy with which Roy attacks the hose for a cold drink on a hot day. When it comes to happiness, dogs have it figured out. Keep it simple.

DOG FOUNTAIN

Hot August afternoon,

Nothing sweeter than

Water from the hose.

Roy, post hose drink. Mike Barzacchini photo.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 9

Day 9, Write a breaking poem. This one may have something to do with my love-hate relationship with stuff.

I BROKE IT

I broke it.

I bought it.

I glued it.

I kept it.

I hold it.

I embrace it.

I treasure it.

I can’t replace it.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 6

The day 6 prompt asked us to write a “blank in the blank” poem, and we fill in the blanks. I adapted this to a “blank on the blank” poem and wrote these lines, inspired by Susan.

WORMS ON THE SIDEWALK (RAINY-DAY GRACE)

After the rainstorm

She walks the neighborhood

Delivering earthworms

From sidewalk peril

To soil salvation

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day Challenge, Day 5

The first “two-for-Tuesday” poetry month prompt, write a sense or nonsense poem. Of course, I chose nonsense because sometimes that makes the best sense of all. This one is inspired by the beautiful Mila Kay.

BABY TALK

I delight in her

Gurgles and gasps,

Bubbles blown

With sweet breath,

Syllables tried out

For the first time

In random order,

The beautiful music

Of baby talk.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Poem-A-Day-Challenge, Day 4

Day four’s prompt, write a “catch-up” poem. It seems like I’m always trying to catch up to something or something’s trying to catch up to me.

CATCH

A falling star

That won’t fit in my pocket.

More flies than honey.

But who wants sticky flies?

A break,

Before it’s broken.

My breath,

While I’m still able.

Honestly, I’m just

Trying to

Catch up

To yesterday.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

Celebrate National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month starts tomorrow, April 1. How will you celebrate? Here are some ways I’m celebrating:

National Poetry Month starts tomorrow, April 1. How will you celebrate? Here are a few ways I’m celebrating:

Here are 30 more ways to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Here’s to a happy, creative National Poetry Month!

My National Poetry Month party supplies are ready.

My National Poetry Month party supplies are ready.

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