Saturday, February 28, 2009

Totally Optional Prompt: Chores

As I was cleaning the bathroom this morning, I was thinking about a prompt for this week. Several promising ideas popped into my head but I kept coming back to the fact that I hate housework and I'd much rather have been writing a poem right then instead of scrubbing the tub.

A couple years ago I bought a book of poems called Sweeping Beauty compiled by Pamela Gemin. You can read several of them here. I found out that I enjoy reading about chores a lot more than actually doing them!

So, this week let's write about some aspect of chores. Do you hate them like me or do you get a sense of satisfaction when they are completed? Don't forget about the outside chores, too, like mowing the grass and washing the car and shoveling snow if you live in an area where that is a necessity.

Come back Wednesday evening when Tiel will put the Mr. Linky up to leave a link to whatever you'd like to share this week.

And, now, I see my vacuum cleaner staring at me, so, it's back to work!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Request for Poems: Anaphora

My school's Winter Vacation is this week and my granddaughter has come for a visit so not much poetry is being written. She's still sleeping this morning so I thought I'd take these few quiet moments to type this up ahead of time. I'll be taking her back later this afternoon so, hopefully, I'll have a chance to write something after I recuperate. She's three. 'Nough said!

How did you do this week? Please leave a link to anything you'd like to share.

I'll be putting up the prompt on Saturday night and then Tiel will take over for March

And, now, I hear the pitter patter of little feet. Time to play!


Saturday, February 21, 2009

Totally Optional Prompt: Anaphora

Well, here it is another Saturday and it's time for a new prompt.

Anaphora is a repetition device where the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. You can read an example written by David Lerner here and a couple more here, one by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and another by Pablo Neruda.

Hope everyone has a productive writing week.
Hope everyone comes back on Wednesday evening to leave a link to whatever you'd like.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Request for Poems: Coin a New Word

Well, I lucked out with this one and got a really cool "word." Of course, I haven't written the poem, yet, but my head is popping with ideas.

So, how did you do? Did any of those letter combinations spark a poem? At the very least, did you not mind those annoying word verifications for a little while?

Please leave a link to anything you'd like to share.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Totally Optional Prompt: Coin a New Word

You know those pesky word verifications? Well, I've noticed that recently they've changed. They used to be really awkward letter combinations like "xyffzyt" or something like that but lately they've been more like real words only not quite. A couple weeks ago I had "fooked" and that tickled my brain.

For your prompt this week, pay attention to those word verifications and choose one to use in a poem. Let the poem spin around it so that it seems like a normal word.

They say Shakespeare coined lots of new words; maybe you can, too!

Come back on Thursday to share your poem, and, if this doesn't inspire you, come back on Thursday, anyway, to share whatever you've written.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Request for Poems: Aubade

Hope everyone had a good week writing poetry.

I know that I'm "love"d out. This is the only week in the school semester when I allow my poetry-writing students to write love poetry and I've just about had it. One more day! I have some really talented kids but when it comes to love, they turn into mush writers. It's been a challenge getting them to show the love instead of just telling. "Love you, love you for eternity, I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Bleck!

So, I can't wait to read what you guys have written! I know I'm going to enjoy them!

Please leave a link in Mr. linky to anything you'd like to share whether it be an aubade or not.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Totally Optional Prompt: Aubade

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought an aubade would be a fun poem to write this week.

Aubades are poems begging and tempting and pleading with a lover not to leave. You can read some examples here and a song by Jewel here.

Please come back on Wednesday evening to leave a link to your aubade or anything else you've written that you'd like us to read.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Request for Poems: Repetition

I love repetition. The last two lines of Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" always pop into my head, "And miles to go before I sleep / And miles to go before I sleep."

So, how did you do? Did you try one of the forms or just go for it and repeat at will? Or did you not even bother repeating anything? Hopefully, you had time to write, at least!

Please leave a link to anything you'd like to share in Mr. Linky.