Are you, by chance, wearing flip flops?

If you aren’t, you should be.

Why? Because the Wednesday after Memorial Day Weekend is officially National Flip-Flop day.

This glorious art is by Teri Virbickis. ***You can order prints!***

Flip-flops are called “flip-flops” because of the sound they make when worn. They are also called “slip-slops” for the same reason, and also, my friend Shona explained, “because they look sloppy.”

Other names for this “inexpensive footwear consisting of a flat base, typically rubber, and a strap with three anchor points: between the big and second toes, then bifurcating to anchor on both sides of the foot” are slippers, thongs, pluggers and double-pluggers, jandals, plakkies, tsinelas, and chanclas.

Flip-flop is also means to change one's mind or opinions on something, or to be indecisive and wavering between different positions—in other words to wiggle-waggle over one’s opinion in the same manner a flip-flop does on one’s foot—especially when wet. (Which came first? You decide.)

Poetry Challenge #72.5

Flip-Flop

In keeping with the theme, rather than give one solid prompt, here are a few. Choose the one that suits your mood:

1. Put on a pair of flip-flops and let them take your poem wherever they want to go.

2. Write a poem that begins one way and ends another.

3. Write a poem from the point of view of a flip-flop

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 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 at @kellybennettwrites

Poetry Challenge #72.5-Flip-Flop