What’s in the Garden?

He asked to be scattered
among her forget-me-nots—
now she finger-rakes
dust & dirt in hopes
of a rebloom—

For today's prompt, take the phrase "What (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "What Are You Doing Here," "What a Great Time," "Whatever You Say," and/or "What Kind of Poem Are You Going to Write?"

So make a decision: Is your "what" poem leading to a question or a statement (or maybe both?).

* * * 

At the Park

Things that fall
away—g-
               litter
sw-       -gs
      -in-
friend-
          ships—

For today's prompt, write poem using at least three of the following six words:

1. Bow
2. Lean
3. Park
4. Saw
5. Tear
6. Wound

For extra credit, use all six words.

Also, feel free to try actually writing a six-word poem if you want (no need to use any of the above words if you go this route, though you could go nuclear and write six six-word poems, each using one of the above words. Any takers?).

* * *

A Quickie

Eyes met / sparkled & gleamed

swept
           us 

                into
                      next meet

(but you
             don’t
                      need—
                               those deets)

For today's prompt, we have our third two-for-Tuesday prompt, which means you get two prompts, and they are: Write a love poem. Write an anti-love poem.

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Snakey Wakens

It’s that time of year
when sidewalks   slither to life,

They sneak through
their surroundings   make silent escapes,
stand their ground   practice
ambush predation   leave
joggers shaken
at the ankles   constrict airways
of the innocent.

It’s that time of year
when sidewalks   slither to life,

Watch your step.

For today's prompt, write a nerve poem. Some folks are nervous; others have some nerve; still others seem to get on everyone's nerves. We all have a nervous system, and well, my nerves aren't wracked worrying that everyone will figure some way to poem out of this prompt.

* * * 

The Silence of Grief

Broken only by the repetitive
song of a lone robin
reminding me—
life goes on.

For today's prompt, take the phrase "The (blank) of a (blank)," replace the blanks with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "The Beginning of a Story," "The Wrong Side of a Situation," "The Apple of an Eye," and/or "The Latest Excuses of a Continuing Problem."

* * * 

Funeral at Dusk

I don’t know why   my love
resides
     inside
that cubbyhole,
     if I’ll take it (or him)
     with me
     when I go,
if my love   can penetrate
the shade
that now remains,
     if I’ll survive
     this gloom
     he left
     behind.

 

For today's prompt, write a shadow poem. Some people are afraid of shadows (even their own), but others like to lurk there. There are shadow governments, shadowy characters, and well, just shade (which is super nice in Georgia during the summer).

* * * 

Misunderstood

She said she missed me, 
so I apologized. Teared-up my eyes
until she came outside, bow &
arrow in hand, took aim, made
me realize—
I’m no good at reading
people.

For today's prompt, write a forgive poem. The poem could be about forgiveness in general, or it could focus on a specific instance of forgiveness or grace. There are times when we are called upon to forgive others, and times when we ask others to forgive us. And sometimes that includes forgiving ourselves. Be forgiving as you poem today.

* * * 

Childhood Bedtime

something dripping
paper ripping
toilet flushing
teeth brushing
clock tick ticking
foot tickling
kiss on the cheek
school starts next week—
so giddy they can’t sleep
     oh to be young
                —again. 

For today's prompt, write a sound poem. On day six, we wrote poems that smelled; today, let's write poems that play off sound. This could be a poem filled with rhymes or alliteration, but it could also be about listening to sounds that are being made.

* * * 

Count, Measure, Label

Today I wore
no socks
to the mailbox 
when Pacific Northwest
earth 
squished between 
my toes.

Your letter is long
     overdue.
Rumor has it
you sent it last week
in 1983
when the average
monthly rent was $335
& there were
     no tents
on the sidewalk.

I've traveled the world
in your pocket, the stick
     long lost
from that worn-out
postage stamp (at a measly
     cost
of twenty cents).
 
Something tells me you lied
or lost it.
Me—easily 
forgotten like those
who’ve given up. 

Yet me?
I’ve not forgotten
     you—
I just can’t help
but focus
     now
on skyrocketing rent
that’s brought defeat,
made tents
the only option
     for some,
sleep,
a mailbox
& a stamp
all foolish treats.

For today's prompt, write a number poem. You can include a number in the title of the poem, or drop a number somewhere in the middle or end of the poem. Count sheep, poem by numbers, or share 10 ways to write a poem. There are any number of ways to come at this one.

* * * 

A Matter of Perception

—fun-size candy bars (small when you’re craving a king)
—the 8 oz. drink (big except when it’s 110°)
—your salary (small after deductions)
—slice of tuxedo cake (small if you’re dieting)
—the local gossip (small but thinks she’s big)

For today's prompt, write a small poem. Yesterday, you were tasked with writing a smell poem, but today, we're going small. The poem itself could be concise, but it could also be focused on something or someone small.

* * *

Incense(d)

That secondhand jasmine
you claim
is cool to breathe
ignites my coughs & gags
& makes me sneeze.

[Author's note: I actually love incense! ]

For today's prompt, write a poem that smells. Or at least, write a poem that involves the act of smelling or a scent of some sort. Could be the sweetness of honeysuckle, or the very unique smell of a portable toilet at an outdoor festival in the middle of summer. Something nostalgic, or something triggering. Let your nose guide you.

* * * 

What Are We?

A major highway
connecting two towns?
Two bones connected
by ligaments?

Are we one or are we two?

Are we
—a hose & sprinkler?
—a tile & grout?
—a shingle & tar?
—a company & its scandal?

No.
We’re more like
the Puget Sound: water & shore—
hard to tell
where one ends
                         & one
     begins,

a connection unexplained
     but that can’t be denied.

For today's prompt, write a connection poem. The connection poem could be technical, like a phone connection or an internet connection. But it could also refer to a romantic connection or one of a kindred spirit. As an INFJ, I naturally make connections (often grand leaps in logic) all the time; I'm just hardwired that way.

* * * 

Double Feature

I’m your low-budget
flick. You, there,
sitting in your cushion-
covered metal chair,
sucking on ice cubes
& corn kernels,
anticipating my end.
You, there, didn’t realize
I’ll live forever,
even when I’m dead.

For today's prompt, write a B-movie poem. Our family has a tradition of watching a B-movie every Saturday night. Some of them are kind of funny, some of them are so bad they're good, and some of them are just torture (until I inevitably fall asleep from boredom). And some of them have excellent titles like The Tingler, Kingdom of the Spiders, Teenagers From Outer Space, and The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-up Zombies.

For the purposes of this prompt, you could write a poem inspired by an actual B-movie, or you could imagine your own.

* * * 

Cliff’s Edge

On a twelve-hundred mile trek
     twice a year, 
my past nipping at my rear—

I’ve lost the ability
to know what’s below
the drop-               
               off

time’s running out
the bluff taller than I recall

Take a chance /
Don’t be a fool /
                L e a p . . .

For today's prompt, write a foolish poem. The poem could be about a fool, about being fooled, about fooling someone, or whatever other foolish direction you wish to take it. But don't fool with this prompt for too long; we'll have another one ready to roll tomorrow.

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