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Poetry Breakfast

Serving a little poetic nourishment every morning. Start your day with our new expanded menu. Poems, of course, are our specialty. But we will also be serving a fuller menu that includes poetry book reviews to feed poets' and poetry lovers' souls.

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poetry prompts

Poetry Prompts 30 in 30 A Poem A Day

Poetry Potluck and Inspiration Buffet

April is National Poetry Month. We know many of you are trying to write a poem a day this month. So for our Inspiration Buffet we’re giving you a poetry prompt for every day.

You’re welcome to post your poems in the comments. Or, you can submit your poetry for consideration in our daily menu (we publish a new poem every morning). If you’d like to submit your work, visit our Submission Guidelines.

Poetry Prompts:

April 1:
Write a poem about the home you were born in. What would that house, building, room say?

April 2:
Write a poem about learning a new word for the first time. It could be a word you recently learned, one you learned long ago, or even one you taught to someone.

April 3:
Write a poem where you have a conversation with an inanimate object. Talk to it. And if you’d like, let it talk back to you.

April 4:
Write a poem about a dream you had recently. Dreams are a wonderful brewing ground for poetry.

April 5:
Write a poem about your neighbors.

April 6:
Write a poem from the perspective of yourself when you were a little kid.

April 7:
Write a poem sparked by your experience of waiting in line.

April 8:
Write a poem about the first thing you do in the morning.

April 9:
Write a poem about something you don’t understand, something that doesn’t make sense to you.

April 10:
Write a poem about not wanting to write a poem.

April 11:
Write a poem about the part of your physical appearance that you least like. And love it.

April 12:
Write a poem about fixing your bed.

April 13:
Write a poem about a power outage, about having no electricity.

April 14:
Write a poem about shopping for a gift for someone.

April 15:
Write a poem about having dinner out alone.

April 16:
Write a poem about getting lost while trying to get somewhere.

April 17:
Write a positive poem about someone you recently insulted or criticized. Find what is poetically beautiful about them and write about it.

April 18:
Write a poem about what you think is the worst part of your personality.

April 19:
Write a poem about visiting someone at the hospital.

April 20:
Write a poem an heirloom you have from someone who had died.

April 21:
Write a poem about something you recently wanted to say but didn’t say.

April 22:
Write a poem about your first car. If you never had a car, your first bike, bus ride, train ride…something that allowed you to travel on your own.

April 23:
Write a poem about something you stole.

April 24:
Write a poem about how people would see you if they didn’t see what you posted online and only knew you face to face.

April 25:
Write a poem about something you are not able to do but wish you could do.

April 26:
Write a poem about washing something.

April 27:
Write a poem about not knowing where someone you once knew is now and wondering where they are.

April 28:
Write a poem about laughter.

April 29:
Write a poem the home of someone you know who is no longer alive.

April 30:
Write a poem promising yourself something.

 

Photo by Alexandre Vanier.

International Women’s Day – Poetry Potluck and Inspiration Buffet 3/6/2016

Photo by Jane Lund.

This week our table reaches around the world. March 8th, 2016 is International Women’s Day. It’s not just a day for women to speak up, but for all genders to raise their voice for equality for all.

We’ve gathered plenty of voices for today’s buffet. Ones that certainly will inspire. And like every Poetry Potluck, we encourage you to post one of your own inspiring, equality promoting poems in the comments section.

We also invite you to visit www.internationalwomensday.com to learn more about how you can participate in this year’s International Women’s Day.

Here are some youthful voices from around the world in a short video from the World Youth Organization.

 

Next on the table:  “Daughters” by Lissie.

In support of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Lissie’s new song ‘Daughters’ is available for ‘pay what you want’ purchase from 1st – 15th March, with proceeds donated to charity: water. Click here to donate and get your download of Daughters – http://po.st/IWDfreeDL and help share the message with Thunderclap – http://po.st/IWDThund

 

Here, we have an amazing reading by Jihan Williams from International Women’s Day 2013

 

Lastly, a poem I wrote many years ago. I finally read to my mother a few weeks ago. With tears she told me, “you should try to get that one published. Don’t stop tying to get that one publish.” I’ll publish it here.

Out of a Quilt

Maybe the frost, or the notion of winter,
how we’d light the fires, burn the dead pines-
I can’t explain exactly why…

I wanted the leaves to crumble in my hands.
The breeze to chill my face, red, so I could run
to the cover of a quilt my great-grandmother
made, last century. I know she felt the same.
By the links, the chain, the little hand stitched
design. Winter was always a good excuse to
stay inside, to hide. And October was a welcome
to the calm, the quiet time.

But the sun is burning holes in my blanket.
The snow has let go and the wind is warm
wanting me to plant seeds, tend to the weeds.
April’s opening the windows and doors,
flooding the streets with bees and dreams
and birds breaking in their wings. While all
I’m wanting is a cold gray cloud excuse
to cover my hands in mittens again.

But what I get is a light rain reason that spring
gives me to go outside. And I know why. Not
with words or a pretty rhyme. It’s not something
that easily defined. Hands and Time. I know it
by my mother’s eyes as I walk outside, carrying
in my body and in my blood all her deepest dreams.

I shiver in the sunlight, worried by what the men
told me about what happens to a girl when she
gets old and the roomers they’ll tell if I spend
too much time outside, in my own mind.

I could have married into a place to hide,
but instead I’m standing bare handed,
half-way out in the front yard and I can
hear them laughing. One small flat foot
in front of the other. Hardly knowing why
I’m walking. Warmed only by the thought
that I am going to where my mother has
never been
and that because of her
I can.
– Ann Kestner

Well it’s quite a full inspiration buffet today. I’m hoping you’ll all be bring some wonderful dishes to the Poetry Potluck.

 (Click here to learn more about our weekly Poetry Potluck and Inspiration Buffet.)

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