Poetry Challenge #102 May Old Resolutions be Forgot
Depending on where and when you’re reading this, it’s either out with the old or in with a new year. Good tidings to you and your kin!
“Good tidings” I love that phrase. I always assumed “tidings” was some ye old sailor’s greeting, referring to the tides, as in, high tide, tide in, tide out…some cheery send off along the lines of “sail on my wayward son/they’ll be …”
I was wrong.
According to my Google AI Overview, tidings “comes from Old English tidung, meaning "an event, an occurrence, or a piece of news". It's linked to Old Norse tíðendi (events, news) and Germanic words for time, like German Zeitung (newspaper).”
Nothing whatsoever to do with the sea. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. And that’s exactly what this prompt is all about! So read on my wayward friends:
Poetry Challenge #102
May Old Resolutions Be Forgot
At the beginning of the new year, we all make those resolutions—with the best of intentions. The most common resolutions people make are: exercise more, eat less, spend more time with family, get organized, save money, learn a new skill.
Forget whatever you have resolved every other year…wipe the slate clean.
Write a poem of glad tidings for the coming year which includes one resolution.
It can rhyme…or not.
It can be short…or not.
It must contain some positive, hopeful, seaworthy feeling! Onward!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 8 New Years Days ago. We take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us by writing a poem, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.