Poetry Challenge #110-Boston Creme Pie...Oh My!
What’s the deal with Boston Creme Pie anyway? It’s not “pie.” There is no crust involved—flaky, graham, cookie or otherwise. It’s cake. So why call it pie? In the same way Boston Creme Donuts don’t pretend to be something they are not. Why am I harping on Boston Creme Pie, now anyway. Because I have a hankering for something sweet. And…
… because the last time I was in Boston—determined to taste the original for myself— I went all over town to try to find a restaurant with Boston Creme Pie on the menu. stand out
The closest I came was the frozen-food section of a take-away shop.
That’s not all I have to say on the subject:
It is said that the Boston Cream Pie was invented in Boston—hence the name. More specifically, “In 1856, at Boston’s Parker House Hotel, French chef Monsieur Augustine Francois Anezin created this pudding and cake combination.” It was declared the official dessert of Massachusetts in 1996. (In case you need cause to celebrate, Oct 23rd is National Boston Creme Pie Day!)
Poetry Challenge #110
Boston Creme Pie . . . Oh My!
I don’t live in Boston or in Massachusetts. And I can’t say whether I love Boston Cream Pie. But from the looks of it, I think I might—I do love Boston Cream donuts—And looking at those yellow cake layers, that creamy custard y-pudding filling, the smooth chocolate icing. Yum!
What might the official dessert of your town be if YOU got to name it?
Write a poem describing your dessert. Make our mouths water just thinking about it!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Afterwards, celebrate with Boston Creme Pie! Here’s a recipe.
P.S. I looked it up. For what it’s worth, the chef who created the first Boston Creme whatever, baked it in a pie tin, so that’s why he called it a pie.
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 8-years of dessert 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):
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
Poetry Challenge #109-Dictionary Roulette
I love dictionaries! It’s an excellent way to procrastinate . . . and expand one’s vocab—always a good thing. Best, words lead to ideas…and actions! So grab a dictionary and let’s GO!
Here’s mine…show me yours!
If you don’t have a physical dictionary (Borrow a library copy or Go buy one!!! You should have one!!!), you can use a website such as m-w.com or dictionary.com and look for a list of words of the day.
Poetry Challenge #109
Dictionary Roulette
Yes! You can borrow my dictionary.
One of my favorite prompts when I get stuck with any writing is to take a dictionary, open to a random page, and write down the first word I see. Sometimes I roll three dice and open to that page. Sometimes I have someone pick a number between 1 and 948 (the number of pages in my favorite dictionary) and then another number between 1 and 68 (the average number of words on the two pages) and I find my word that way.
Using the Close-Your-Eyes-and-Point method, Roll-the-Dice method, Pick-A-Number method, find 5 words. Write a 5-line poem using all 5 words.
Pick 5 Words
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 almost 8 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) 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):
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
Poetry Challenge #106-Rock Lobster
World’s Lobster in Shediac, New Brunswick
This time of year, after months of dry heat and dry weather, I’m a lobster—literally
But in my mind, with my collar turned up and a towel wrapped around my head like a stiff beehive updo…
I’m Kate Pierson or Cindy Wilson of the B52’s
Guitar please: dur-dur-dur dah-dah duh-da-duh-duh Oooh-ahhhh….
Rock Lobster!
What comes to mind when you think of a lobster?
Is it the cola-guzzling lobster in Erin Moulton’s funny, heartful Tracing the Stars?
Diane Keaton’s lobster scene from Annie Hall?
Pilgrimage to the world’s largest lobster?
Or, like me, a rockin’ red lobster?
Poetry Challenge #106
Lobster Day
Drawing on that lobster experience (or one imagined), list seven words, one beginning with each letter of the word lobster.
Use that list to craft a seven-line lobster poem.
In addition, the poem might include: a sound, a smell, a location, a texture, and the word “ruckus”.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just get cracking!
* There is actually a National Lobster Day! (But why wait until Sept. 25th to celebrate?)
**Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more days ago that I can count. 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):
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
Poetry Challenge #105-Happy Birthday to You-Know Whoo ever!
Happy Birthday! Every day is somebody’s birthday! Who do you know who has a birthday coming up soon?
If it’s YOU then, according to A.I. Astrology, you are:
The zodiac sign is Aquarius (♒︎), the Water-Bearer, an Air sign ruling from roughly January 20th to February 19th, known for being innovative, intellectual, humanitarian, independent, and sometimes rebellious
Poetry Challenge #105
Happy Birthday to You-Know-Who!!!!
Can you write a poem to that person telling them why they’re special or what they mean to you?
Work on it until every word is exactly the one you want.
Do you want your poem to rhyme?
Do you want it to have a certain number of syllables on a line?
Is it a list poem or a story? You get to decide.
You can even give it to the person as a birthday gift!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Wouldn’t be much of a birthday without a song. Here Goes: YOU SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY by the Beatles
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 3200+days 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):
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
Poetry Challenge #101-Topsy Tervy Christmas
I don’t know about you but I am FREEEEEEEZING!
And I’m dreaming…already…of summer and winter’s just getting started. Imagine, December 21st -ish the shortest night of the year here in the North will be the longest day of the year in the South.
Speaking of the other side of the world: if we were in the Southern Hemisphere, instead of singing about “chestnuts roasting on a open fire” and “riding through a winter wonderland…” we’d be “sunbathers toasting ‘neath a bright orange sun” and “jet skiing through a surfer’s paradise.”
Wonder how much a ticket to Australia, Bora Bora…Jamaica maybe…
Poetry Challenge #101
Ode to a Topsy Tervy Christmas
Imagine turning this holiday season upside down.
Either by zipping off to the opposite side of the world and celebrating the holiday there—on Safari or a sunny beach somewhere south.
Or by upending your holiday traditions and doing things upside down and backwards.
Write a poem about it. Have fun. Be silly! Sprinkle in some holiday magic dust.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
The Kranks tried to do just that. Watch how that turned out…
*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):
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL
Poetry Challenge #100—One Hundred Reasons
This marks the 100th 7-Minute Poetry Challenge!
A 100-hand round of applause to those of you who’ve tried any—all—of the prompts.
(All the prompts are posted & waiting if you’d like to give them a go, or take a look back.)
Poetry Challenge #100
One Hundred Reasons Why . . .
If ours were a kindergarten class, we would each have brought a hundred of one ingredient: toothpicks, cotton balls, acorns, M&Ms ... and mixed them all up into some marvelous creation—trail mix or a wreath, a Fruit Loop necklace.
As our focus is poetry, let’s do it with words:
Using one of the following prompts, write a poem. And if you really want to celebrate create a 100 Word Poem!
100 Reasons Why I Love ————-
100 Things I Want to Do Before I Grow up——-
If I were making a 100 Memory Necklace it would include ________.
Set..
Don’t Go!
Congratulations!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 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.
Poetry Challenge #97-It's The Berries!
Berries! Silly me…I took a vow this past summer to only buy local produce. That was great during corn season, and green bean days and berry season and pumpkin season… but now what?
The Kingston Trio sang a song called “Raspberries, Strawberries” that you can watch here:
Poetry Challenge #99
Berries!
Which kind of berries are your favorite?
I love blueberries and strawberries—especially in a strawberry rhubarb pie.
I love walking through wild strawberries and smelling the sweet smell underfoot. And scratches are worthwhile for raspberries warmed by the sun.And right now, because the float and don’t spoil quickly and a gorgeous to look at, cranberries are tops.
What about you?
Write a poem about berries—any kind, any form. I bet it will be sweet!
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 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.
Poetry Challenge #98-Beach Time
Winter hit this week. It is FREEEEEEEZING! I know deep in my rattlin’ bones that I’ll get used to the cold (soon, please) even embrace wearing bulky comfy clothes to brave the outdoors—or, more likely, use the cold as an excuse to stay inside: Baby it’s cold outside!
Huntington Beach—my Beach Time then
But right now I am asking myself why did I ever leave home? Gidget take me back to HB! So bear with me, pull a flowered shirt on over your sweats and let’s head to the beach! Hey Moon Doggie, wait for me!
Poetry Challenge #98
Beach Time
Beach Time is way more than just a thing to do. It’s a mindset. And best, it’s way Cool! So let’s get beachy!
Begin by listing whatever comes to mind when you think of a day (or night) at the beach. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
Frothy surf, bikinis, surf boards, sand, shells, waves, orange sherbet sunsets, coconut and cocoa butter, Gidget & Jeff aka Moon Doggie
Now you try:
Fine! If “sand in your pants” is what Beach Time means to you, go with it.
Create a poem using a many of those beachy words as you can. Here’s a little theme music to get you in a beachy mood: Da-na-nah-na-nah-nah-na…WiPE OUT!
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 3 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.