Tag: poetry

Mud Everywhere

Jane Leave a comment

46. Dirty: Write a poem about getting covered in mud.

https://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts/

Baking sun and burning rocks.
The water level’s low.
The water’s cool around our ankles,
The mud is squishy between our toes.

The boys have stripped down to their skivvies
I’ve rolled up my pants legs and dipped my feet.
They clamber over rocks and boulders.
I sit and watch them at their play.

Each pool has something interesting,
Every pebble is magical.
Each stick transforms into something wonderful
Every creature is an exciting find.

They’re caked from head to foot–
The mud and dirt stick under their nails.

But they’ve tasted freedom–
A freedom only found in summer.

Lookin’ Out My Front Door

Jane Leave a comment

34. Sounds: Sit outside for about an hour. Write down the sounds you hear.

https://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts/

Wind rustling through the trees;
Geese honking across the sky;
A cheerful little mocking bird!
A dog barking in the distance.

Airplanes overhead, coming in to land;
Traffic going by on the boulevard;
Someone mowing the lawn;
Music blaring out of a passing car.

Whirring of a bubble machine and
Shrieks of joy from my children.
Chalk scraping on the sidewalk.
Water spilling, feet in crocs stomping in the puddles.

“Mama?” I open my eyes. “I’m bored.
“Can we go inside now?”

The Found Poem

Jane Leave a comment

At first I thought this was dumb. I thought, “I’m not gonna do that. It’s stupid.” I thought about writing about three books that had a significant impact on me as a reader. But then I randomly opened a page of the book I am reading now, and so many wonderful words sprang out at me. So I changed my mind.

14. The Found Poem: Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a poem. Alternatively, you can cut out words and phrases from magazines.

https://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts/

A series of Haikus formed from words found on pages 294 and 295 of The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel (2020, Henry Hold and Company, New York.)

Walter is scoffing.
Everybody’s indifferent
Eyes on the gallows.

He never did thrive
To speak truth. Courtesy was
Always beyond him.

He wasn’t hanged; but
Anybody sad or lost
Is swimming upstream.

A Sonnet Called Hello

Jane Leave a comment

I’ve never made any pretensions at being a poet. I’m terrible with rhymes, and each attempt at poetry sounds stilted and downright bad. But here’s a stab at a Shakespearean style sonnet.

12. Greeting: Write a story or poem that starts with the word “hello” or other greeting.

https://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts/

Hello, may I have your name?
No, this isn’t she, this is her daughter.
Yes, our voices do sound the same.
Yes, I’m sure I’m not her.

Yes, you’re right; it’s true.
Many people have made the same mistake.
I look a lot like her, too.
No, no, you’ve no apologies to make.

Sometimes I remind myself of her.
Other times I want to rebel.
Often times people compare me to her—
Negatively or favorably, I can’t always tell.

And sometimes I think how nice it would be
For someone to mistake her for me.