That's What He Is

He's a universal tool, 
good for so many things, 
but it's hard to figure out
how he operates. 

This Tool Is Easier to Figure Out

I wrote this in response to the PAD countdown prompt to write a universal poem. April is just around the corner, and I'm out of practice! Ugh. 

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His Name Was, Yes, I Remember

Today I’ll make a list
of all I need to remember:
read Breathing the Water, ex-
     ercise, write
essays about conception,
death & dying,
achieving success,
& a poem here
& there.
That rowdy teen
inside my brain
snoozed all day & night—
gave me a break
from distraction,
gave me a chance
to feel & smell my long-gone
wanton ways.
Oh, what was my truelove’s name
from nineteen-eighty-four?
Oh, yes, I remember,
but I can only share
when playing
truth
or dare.

  

[Based on the wish prompt from day four. My original poem is here: http://www.lindaghatton.com/2020/04/his-name-was-so-and-so.html#.XqRguGjYrIU%5D]

Now, What Was I Going to Do Again?

For today’s prompt, write a remix poem. That is, take one (or more) of your poems from earlier this month and remix it. Make a free verse poem into a villanelle. Or condense a sestina into a haiku or senryu. Or forget form. Just completely jumble up the words…or respond to the original poem(s). As always, have fun with it.

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Phyllotaxis Spirals

Plant

seeds
into earth,
cells divide, flowers
sprout, offer bees and peeps
abundant nectar. Unpicked fruit falls back to bed
in birthing dirt, feeds seeds, prepares for life, death, metamorphosis. That’s no fib.


[Author's note: I structured my poem using the Fibonacci Sequence. However, this poem does not line up right on a cell phone. The lines should show 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 13 words.]

Mother Nature's Sacred Geometry

For today’s prompt, write a nature poem. Could be nature like trees, leaves, grass, birds, etc. Or your poem could tackle human nature. Another possibility is to look at the nature of technology or the interaction of planets around each other and the sun. Or well, the nature of poetry! When in doubt, just see what happens naturally.

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Car & Driver & Hitchhiker

She hitchhikes rides

in your tire . . . d
mind
every night
as cotton t(h)reads
cradle your head,
the way she did before
you . . . drove her away . . .
You haven’t seen her
cruising around,
she’s too busy
hijacking sleep
from man-ifold drivers
who hit the skids
on delivering her
de . . . man . . . ds . . .
But she’ll keep hitchhiking
rides in your mind,
the way she did before
you . . . drove her away . . .

She Invites You to Take a Ride

We’re three weeks into the challenge now, which means “Two-for-Tuesday” day today. This is the one I break out every challenge (alumni know which one I’m talking about).

For today’s prompt:

1. Write a love poem and/or…
2. Write an anti-love poem. Because some folks just aren’t that into love poems.

* * *

His Life Purpose

He bubble wraps

your delicate heart,
converts cardboard
boxes into mythical castles,
weed whacks
the blues from your
weekend distractions,
provides air for your
imaginary guitar,
strums out grief
left behind
from too many
strings attached,
rolls you up like tissue-
papered love
notes, then settles
your heart
inside a glass jar.
He makes every day
an exotic vacation.
He says he does it all
for you.

He's My Little Swiss Army Knife

For today’s prompt, write a purpose poem. Many people like to have a purpose in life. Some folks do things on purpose. And yes, sometimes it appears there is no purpose to life’s events. Whatever drives you, I hope you’re able to pair purpose (or lack of purpose) with your poetry today.

* * * 

The Prize Who Reminded

If you love me, consider

me as five days
of rain that lit a fire
inside you.

If you love me, call
me a shipwreck
who inspired you to thrive
in an unfamiliar world.

If you love me, whisper
about how I fed you remarks
& verses for each meal
to nourish your soul.

If you love me, nest-
le up with me, call me
your little hummingbird,
defend my delicate wingspan.

If you love me, cradle
your mallet shaft,
percuss my vertebrae
with the skill of a marimbist.

If you love me, remember—
consider, call, whisper,
nestle, and cradle me
while I’m still by your side.

Please Keep Us Afloat

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The (blank) Who (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The Runner Who Walked,” “The Scientist Who Decided to Make a Monster,” “The Poet Who Loved Me,” and/or “The Teacher Who Couldn’t Learn.” If you’d prefer to write about a thing instead of a person, feel free to replace the word “who” with the word “that.”

* * * 

Crystalline Traces

—the forest,

     a Himalayan salt lamp, enlightens
          stray wanderers, detoxes
               stale lifestyles, promises
                    light on the other side—

[Author's Note: I based this poem on photo number four on the prompt page.] 

Can You See Your Future Inside Them?

For today’s prompt, write an ekphrastic poem. An ekphrastic poem is one that’s inspired by a work of art, whether that’s a painting, photograph, sculpture, or some other creation. I’ve included five ekphrastic prompts below. Look them over and choose one (or more) to prompt your poem today.

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