Poetry Challenge #68-Cup of Kindness
Nanny, my grandmother (born July 6, 1906), and her girlfriends gave each other tea or coffee cups as gifts. None of them had pockets deep enough to buy a whole set of china at one time. Nor did their ilk register for wedding gifts.
Nanny and her friends built their sets of “good dishes” piece by piece as budget allowed. (Nanny is on the right with glasses; one of her prized tea cups on the left.) On birthdays they would either give a cup in the recipient’s chosen pattern, or they would surprise each other with different cups. Nanny called hers “Friendship Cups.”
These cups are a few of Nanny’s remaining Friendship Cups. I display them front and center in my cabinet to remember her—and to remember my friends. You are welcome to use one anytime.
The cups in my cupboard seem empty, they are absolutely not. Each one, still today, is brimming with love and kindness.
This bulletin board kit is from Jannylovecolors.
It’s a bright spring day and “What the World Needs Now” was the last song on my local NPR station WLIW. That song!
What’s better way to germinate love than to fill a cup with kindness.
Poetry Challenge #68
Cup of Kindness
Think back over the past few months and recall a kindness someone gave to you.
What was that kindness? How did it make you feel to receive it?
With that in mind, fill a cup with a kindness of your own. To whom will you pass it?
Title your poem “Cup of Kindness”
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Nanny’s Cup
This cup is one of few remaining pieces from Nanny’s “good dishes.” The 1989 earthquake sent the rest flying.
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 8 years ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #370-Only Takes Two
Everybody’s doing it these days…
Poeming that is. It is April after all. And April is National Poetry Month. But…
But…even before April flowers reared their perky heads, grandboy Aiden’s 1st grade teacher at Osborn Hill Elementary, Mrs. Selter, has her students reading, sharing, and creating poetry. By the first of the month, each of them had published their own poetry collections.
Aiden with his poetry collection
Aiden’s poetry book includes poems written in many forms—and with illustrations!
BTW: April Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. https://libguides.xavier.edu/poetry poster from 2015 bears re-reading!
Mrs Selter had her students explore one form we hadn’t tried before. Inspired by them, Cindy and I gave it ago and were delighted with how fun it was. With his permission, I’m sharing the prompt and Aiden’s poem with you. Get ready to give it a go.
Poetry Challenge #370
Two Words is All it Takes
Some might argue that all it takes is one word to make a poem. If it’s the right word. “Dulcenea” for instance, practically became a whole song in Man Of Lamancha… So did “Kelly” in the sitcom Cheers. But that’s a stretch. Two words however…
Two-Word Poetry is a real thing.
Begin by choosing a theme.
For instance Aiden chose “Dogs”.
That will be the title.
Since these are two-word poems there are 2 ways to go about creating them:
1. Write a list of 5 or 6 words that come to mind when you think of your theme. These might be all nouns or adjectives or verbs.
Next to each word, write a word that modifies/compliments the first word.
OR
2. Write a list of two-word phrases that come to mind when you think of your theme.
And just like that you’ve created not one, but 5 or 6 poems today!
If you are in the mood for more, play! Rearrange your poems into pleasing patterns, or change the order to suggest a story, or escalate in tension. Or make them rhyme—especially if one of the words is orange.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Orange treats for the birds!
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge about 8 years ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #66-Blank in a Box
Porches all across America are heaped with boxes. Such tempting boxes. (Too tempting for some…) Ever wonder what’s inside those boxes? Let’s find out!
Pawetry Challenge #66
Blank in a Box
Imagine a mysterious box on your doorstep. What’s inside?
For today’s prompt, begin by filling in the blank: I found a ___________ box.
With that as the first line, compose a five-line poem of one syllable words about what’s inside that box.
Challenge yourself by creating a box-shaped concrete poem. For example, 5 lines of 5 three-letter words would look box-like, or vary the length of the words so each line is the same length.
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 about 8 years ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.