Don't You

For today's prompt, I want you to take the phrase "Don't you (blank)," fill in the blank with a word or words, and make that the title of your poem. Then, write a poem using that title. Example titles could be "Don't you forget to turn off the lights," "Don't you tell me what to do," and "Don't you laugh." There are many, many, many possibilities with this one.

Don’t you think?
Don’t you dare!
Don’t you want?
Don't you agree?

Don't you believe it!

No, I don’t!

Don’t you come in here!
Don’t you go there!
Don’t you watch that!

Don't you talk back to me!

OK, I won’t

Don’t you tell me not to
Because I will.

Don't you forget it.

Don't you just love it!

Spring

For today's prompt, I want you to write a spring-related poem. This will probably be easier for people (like myself) who live in the Northern Hemisphere, since spring is now in full swing in most places. When you're dealing with a subject as big as an entire season, it's probably best to focus in on something very specific and use spring as the background. But you do what you gotta do.

How to begin?
Begin with a seed
warm sunshine
rain
slowly awakening
It begins
the world is born anew

Renewal time
Growing time
waiting time
Spring time!

Farewell Poem

For today's prompt, I want you to write a farewell poem. After all, we are saying farewell to another wonderful National Poetry Month. Say farewell to this month; say farewell to a vacation spot; say farewell to a bad relationship; say farewell to work; say farewell to school; say farewell to saying farewell even. Hopefully, I won't be saying farewell to you; please stay in touch and let me know of your successes as we keep poeming toward the horizon.


I will never say good-bye
only au revoir
or “So Long”

Good-bye is so final
I don’t like it!
For we are friends
and friends, true friends
never part.

We will meet again
and it will be a joyous
occasion.
For we are friends, true friends
and we can never be separated

Good-bye does not resonate
with what we have.
Our friendship is more
like family
more than friends
something much, much more

So I will never say good-bye\
only au revoir
or “So Long”
or maybe “See you soon.”
Good night Sweet Prince –
Farewell!

April 29, 2009

For today's prompt, I want you to title your poems "Never (blank)" with you filling in the blank with a word or phrase. Then, write a poem based off your title, which could be "Never look both ways when crossing the street" or "Never blush in public" or "Never ever" or "Never write a poem with the word never in the title." You get the idea, right?


Never ____________

I am supposed to write a poem
and fill in the blank..
But you know I can’t think of a thing
that goes with never.

I could say Never again but there
is always a chance that it will repeat itself.
I could say Never go there but
as soon as I do that is just where I want to go.

My friends tell me Never trust that person
but I always want to see the good and trust
so I get hurt.
That is not fun but I don’t seem to learn.

Some folks say Never say Never
but there are things I will Never do –
Climb a mountain, dance the tango
write a book ( I suppose I could do that)
or win the lottery – (I hear you have to buy a ticket)

So while I have thought about several things I will Never
I guess the main thing is to write a poem.
I think I just did it.
"Quoth the Raven, Nevermore."

Never mind.

Sestina

For today's prompt, I want you to write a sestina. (Click here to find out the rules for sestinas.) So start figuring out your 6 end words and get writing.
But wait! Today is Tuesday, so you have one other option. You can write a poem about the sestina (your love, hate, frustration with, etc.).
Whether you decide to write a sestina or write about sestinas, remember to have fun. We're almost done!


A -rescue
B - magic
C - predict
D - house
E - computer
F - fathers

Last week I needed a rescue
It was going to take a lot of magic
and it would be hard to predict
if I could get off the roof of the house
I had my pocket computer
but did not have the numbers of my fathers.

Mother was married twice so I have two fathers
surely they would save me with a rescue
and it wouldn’t take any magic
but I could not predict
if they could find the house
after I dropped my computer

No one could predict
if I could even contact the fathers
and it was an enormous house
from which I needed a rescue
perhaps I could use some magic
to recall my fallen computer

I looked down to spot my computer
I was indeed in a predict(iment)
And I needed something besides magic
to get in touch with my mundane fathers
so at least one of them would come to my rescue
and get me off the roof of this damn house

This enormous big crummy house
where I had climbed to the top with my computer
and now we both needed a rescue
How will it end do you want to predict
will they come do you think, the fathers
or will it take some major magic


I began to conjure some minor magic
I inched slowly down to the side of the house
I looked below and saw them – the fathers
one of them held the computer
But no one could predict
If I would be saved and no longer need a rescue

For the-rescue didn’t need any magic
And you could not predict that a fall from the house
would cause the computer to signal the fathers


II

Not to crazy about this prompt but I finally did it. Whatever!
I got it written but will not try a sestina again - never!

April 27, 2009

For today's prompt, I want you to write a poem of longing. You or someone (or something) else should be pining for someone or something. Maybe a cat is longing to get outside the house. Maybe a teenager is longing to get away from his or her small town. And, of course, there's always the longing poem of love.
*****************************************************

I cannot tell you for what I long
it’s a secret
Having something to desire
is what keeps me going

but if I told you for what I yearn
you might think me silly
or foolish
or worse
you might laugh

So I will keep it close
in my heart
and maybe someday
it will be mine.

April 26, 2009

For today's prompt, I want you to write a poem involving miscommunication. It can be miscommunication between two people or misinterpretation of some sort. I will leave it up to you guys to deal with it however you want.

I guess I misunderstood
I thought you wanted to be friends
But your actions have proven otherwise
So, I guess I was wrong.

Friendship works both ways
It is a give and take
but take is all you do
I guess I am through giving

Goodbye.