Totally Optional Prompt: From Here to There

This week try writing a poem that begins with a strong word and ends with that word's opposite.

For example, if the first word of your poem is "beautiful" then the last word should be "ugly."

Hope to see you starting Wednesday evening about 7 EDT with any poem you'd like to share.

Happy writing!

Request for Poems: Death and Shoes

Here it is another Wednesday evening and it's time to share what you've written this week. Personally, I haven't written a thing as my muse has gone on vacation, I guess! But, tomorrow, I'm going to settle down, ride my bike to the beach, and, hopefully, the words will start to flow.

Just leave a link in the comments. Thanks.

Totally Optional Prompt: Death and Shoes

That's right: Death and Shoes!

Talk about death by writing about a pair of shoes.

Kind of morbid, I know, but I've actually used this prompt with my poetry-writing kids and the results have been great. One girl wrote about a pair of ballet slippers but it was really about her little cousin's death from cancer. And another boy used his grandfather's old boots to write a moving memorial about him and all the hunting trips they took together.

Sometimes, when we focus on the little things, we are better able to deal with the big emotions.

We'll be back on Wednesday evening about 7 EDT and we hope you will be, too, to share whatever you've written this week.

Request for Poems: Color

Show us your true colors!

Or anything else!

Just leave a link in the comments.

Totally Optional Prompt: Color

What color are you? Not your favorite color but write about what color represents your personality.

Are you as spicy as red spaghetti sauce?
As steady as green pine needles?
As lively as a tangerine?
As boring as chalk?

Tell us about yourself using unique color words.

Or not. It is totally optional, you know!

The request for poems will be up Wednesday evening at 7 EDT.

Request for Poems: Midnight

Sorry for the late prompt, TOPers: it was 106 degrees at my house yesterday afternoon, and computers don't like that kind of heat.

Linda and I will be retiring as the hosts of Totally Optional Prompts: her last month will be September and mine will be October. I think TOP's had a good run, and has accomplished some good stuff, but it's time for us to move on. So: if anyone, or several, are interested in taking over as host, let me know at tielansari AT gmail DOT com. Otherwise TOP will end October 31st. (Seems like the right date for it.)

Totally Optional Prompt: Midnight

Midnight. What might happen at midnight? Besides the date changing, a new day starting, a deal with the devil, the witching hour, a half-moon rising, clocks chiming?

Let us know, if you decide to follow this week's
Totally Optional
prompt! And if not, leave us a link anyway-- on Wednesday or Thursday.

Request for Poems: Planning/Spontaneity

TOPers, did you make a break this week with your usual way of doing things? Let's see the results!

Totally Optional Prompt: Spontaneity/Planning

This week's prompt is: Spontaneity. Or its converse, planning. Do you write off the top of your head? Or do you sit down and plan it out?

Whichever you usually do, try to do the opposite this week.

Request for Poems: Random stuff

TOPers, sorry, I'm late putting this up. Random links in the comments please!

Totally Optional Prompt: Some random stuff

For this week's prompt, try writing a poem about one, some, or all of the following:
black mice
durien sherbet
a rust storm
blinking lights

Or none of the above. After all, it is
Totally Optional
!

Request for Poems: Fireworks

OK, TOPers: let's see some brilliant links!

Totally Optional Prompt: Fireworks!

Yes, there were plenty here last night! But for this week's
Totally Optional
prompt, I'd like you to explore some pyrotechnic language.

Go for some really over-the-top images. Pull words you don't normally use out of the dictionary. Or use perfectly ordinary words in combinations you wouldn't expect. Grasshopper soda? Deep travel?

Come back Wednesday evening and leave us a link!

Request for Poems: Weather

Good? Bad? Ugly? What sort of weather did we have, TOPers? Leave us a comment!