Poetry Challenge #74-I Am From . . .
A few years back, we shared a prompt inspired by the I Am From Project, celebrating our unique voices through poetry (my summation of the project, not the official word.). The project’s goal was “to create a national river of voices, reminding America that diversity is our origin and our strength.” I Am From Project invited us—all of us—to share our stories and rejoice in the experiences—different and the same—that make us, U.S.
Poetry Challenge #74
The Stuff of Me
Write a poem describing where you are from, your ancestors, roots, family, and or your own personal journey.
Begin with the words:
Where I’m From . . .
“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon
I am from clothespins,
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
I am from the dirt under the back porch.
(Black, glistening,
it tasted like beets.)
I am from the forsythia bush
the Dutch elm
whose long-gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
I’m from fudge and eyeglasses,
from Imogene and Alafair.
I’m from the know-it-alls
and the pass-it-ons,
from Perk up! and Pipe down!
I’m from He restoreth my soul
with a cottonball lamb
and ten verses I can say myself.
I’m from Artemus and Billie’s Branch,
fried corn and strong coffee.
From the finger my grandfather lost
to the auger,
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
Under my bed was a dress box
spilling old pictures,
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
I am from those moments—
snapped before I budded —
leaf-fall from the family tree. ”
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 3200 days ago and counting . . . 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 #67-Color Your World
Spring is coming to our village…finally! Colorful blossoms are popping up all around. An especially welcome site against the backdrop of winter’s leftover grey.
So, because we can, let’s lean into all that color!
Poetry Challenge #67
Color Your World
If you can, take it outdoors and look around the garden or neighborhood. (Or look around the space you’re in.)
Pick one color that pops out.
List as many things as you can see that are that color. Look again. Find one more.
Pick one or more items on your list and write about it/them. What is it? Where did it come from? Is it useful? Or beautiful? Or…
When you’re finished, try to cut 10 words from your poem. Play with your word choices to add better sounds, rhythm, or rhyme.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think 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 in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link below and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
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Poetry Challenge #231-Uncrank the Crank
Curmudgeon, crank, grump, sourpuss, bellyacher, grouse, crosspatch, malcontent, crab, grumbler, grump …Uncle Ted! Call um what you will, we all know one (maybe even are one…) the person who is chronically cranky, aka The Grouch!
Caroll Spinney was the original puppeteer behind Oscar and Big Bird:
Surprise! Today is Do a Grouch a Favor Day (Feb 16th). A day devoted to turning those grouchy frowns upside down.
Think of all the things you could do to try to make a grouchy person smile.
What might you give them?
What might you say to them?
What might you do for them—to them—to brighten their gloomy dispositions?
After his mom posted this Grumpy boy’s school photo it went viral. Click over to @today’smom for the rest of the story. But first…before you DO one thing more…
Poetry Challenge #231
Uncrank the Crank
Write a rhyming poem with things to try to make a grouch happy. Remember to smile!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #216-Hold the Pickles
Sandwiches are easy take-along foods and can be customized to any person’s liking. Dress them up with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions. Add condiments like mayo, mustard, pesto. Use your favorite cheese: cheddar, American, Swiss, provolone, muenster. And bread: white, wheat, rye, pumpernickel, sub roll. And just before you take that first bite, raise your sandwich high and cheer: “Here’s to the Earl of Sandwich!” because legend has it, we have John Montagu, 4th of Earl Sandwich to thank for the name because Montagu, known to be a rake and gambler, in 1762 once spent 24 hours at a gaming table and all he ate the whole time was meat stuff held in place with slices of bread to keep his fingers and the cards clean. Happy National Sandwich Day (Nov 3)!
Poetry Challenge #216
Hold the Pickles
Today, write a take-along poem. Each stanza will be 3 lines long.
The first and third are the bread and should be 8 words/syllables long.
The middle line is the filling and should be 5 words/syllables.
If you center your poem, it should look like a sandwich!
Make it a picnic and write 3 or more stanzas!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Hungry for more? Watch the short comedy by Daniel Inglese & Joe Coen
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #213-One Grey Matter Shake Coming Up!
You can train your dog. You can train your car. But, can you train your dog to sit in your car on the train?
Think about it . . .
Hurrah! The work-out has begun!
Today, October 13, is Exercise Your Brain Day. Because, when it comes to your brain, it’s use it or lose it. Research has proven that doing routine things—same ole’-same ole’ does not exercise our brains. And just like the rest of us, without exercise, our brains get flabby.
Here are a few suggestions for ways shake up the grey stuff:
Poetry Challenge #213
One Grey Matter Shake Coming Up!
For today’s prompt, let’s exercise our brains by writing a poem that is also a riddle.
Latex on!
Pens up!
Timer set! GO!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #211-Coffee? Tea? Or...
Coffee?
Latte? Americano? Cappuccino? Cold Brew? Espresso?
Why not? After all, it is National Coffee Day (Sept 29). While we’re on the subject:
Lore has it that in the 17th century, one Baba Budan, a Sufi Saint/Monk/Tourist, made the pilgrimage from India to Mecca, and while visiting the Yemen port city of Mocha, was served a drink called “Quahwa” which wowed him. So, even though it was illegal to take green coffee seeds from Arabia, Baba Budan hid 7 green coffee seeds in his beard and smuggled them back home to Mysore. He planted them, they grew, he shared the quahwa with friends, they grew some too, thus bringing coffee to India. Put that in your coffee mill and grind it!
Or… maybe, after all that, you prefer Tea?
Darjeeling, Earl Gray, English Breakfast, chamomile, mint?
or Hot Chocolate?
Raspberry? Mexican? with whipped cream? marshmallows? Fluff?
Rumor has it Starbucks Pumpkin Spice is back!
Poetry Challenge #211
Coffee? Tea? Or . . . What’s Your Pleasure?
Whatever you like to drink, it’s time to make up a new flavor. Write a poem about this flavor and give it a great name. Make us see it, smell it, taste it, and WANT it.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Once you've finished your poem, treat yourself to a cup of your creation and a movie. Here’s more about Baba Budan courtesy of Akara Coffee.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #209-Earth First
Think: Green
Think: Peace
Today, because it’s National Green Peace Day. But not just today. Think Earth First because it’s time. It’s long past time!
We can change and make changes to help our world.
AND because, if we consciously think “Earth” before we do whatever it is we have to do: before we go; before we toss; before we buy; before. . . before we ignore, we can change and make changes to help our world.
Poetry Challenge #209
Green Peace
There’s nothing quite like the color green, and everyone wants peace. For this poem, Today, think of as many words that can rhyme with green or peace and use them in a poem.
For an extra challenge, do not let the last words in lines rhyme.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Think Green Peace
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1990+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #206-AS If We Need A Excuse to Split
It’s Banana Split Day! Think of that chocolate ice cream drenched in chocolate syrup, the vanilla covered with crushed pineapple, and strawberry ice cream drowning in strawberry sauce. Imagine a perfect banana, split lengthwise down the middle. Picture the swirly mounds of whipped cream on each scoop, each with a maraschino cherry cushioned on top, their candied stems like smiles. Add a sprinkling of nuts and…Yum!!!
Anyone who’s called Banana Splits addictive might be onto something. Pharmacist David Strickler ,a.k.a. Doc Strickler, the “king of the banana split” a soda jerk at Tassell Pharmacy in Latrobe, PA, concocted the first split in 1904.
Poetry Challenge #206
Make Mine a Banana Split
What ingredients do you like best on your Banana Split?
Pick two or three of your ingredients and SPLIT them into syllables. (For example banana in syllables would be ba-na-na.)
Write a line that rhymes with each of the syllables.
Between the lines, repeat the syllable as many times as you want. Make it sound as good as it tastes.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1900 days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl): SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
