Poetry Challenge #110-Boston Creme Pie...Oh My!
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, but I love Boston Cream Pie. Those yellow cake layers, that creamy 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.
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1260++ 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.
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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 1260++ 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.
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Poetry Challenge #108-Let's Hear It For Teddy!
“Wait! Where’s my Noy-Noy?”
Is it a coincidence that National Bring Your Teddy to School/Work Day and National Stop Bullying Day fall on the same day? (The Second Wednesday in October (Oct 9, 2019) I don’t think so. How many of us had a favorite Teddy—by “Teddy” I mean that bunny, stuffie, blankie, lovie, bear or otherwise you loved as a child? Mine was named “Noy-Noy.” All these years later I still recall times when it seemed Noy-Noy was my only friend.
Likewise, how many of us recall being teased about that beloved Teddy? Or having been shamed into leaving it behind? Bernard Waber’s Ira Sleeps Over immediately comes to mind.
For that matter, how many of us have discarded, lost, ignored, stuffed into a box, closet, attic, under the bed . . . that beloved Teddy?
What about Me?
Poetry Challenge #108
This One’s for Teddy!
Climb into your attic (metaphoric or otherwise) take out your beloved Teddy, dust it off and give it a big hug—in the form of a poem.
Begin by taking a moment to recall your Teddy.
What does it look like? What did it feel like? And more, what did holding it make you feel? Did you and your Teddy go on adventures together? Can you think of a recent time you wish you had Teddy?
Drawing on these moments, write Teddy a poem. Let your Teddy’s name be the title of the poem.
Give Your “Teddy” a mental (or real-time) hug
Set the timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Jack with his dragon from Deb Pilutti
Let’s Here it for Teddy Picture Book List:
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1260++ 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.
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Poetry Challenge: Hope Lives
Today marks the 18th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States. “The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. Additional people died of 9/11-related cancer and respiratory diseases in the months and years following the attacks.” The site of the World Trade Center “Twin Towers” is now the September 11 Memorial and Museum.
Poetry Challenge #104
Hope Lives
To mark this day let’s create prayer poems with hopes and wishes for children of today living in the post 9-11 world.
With sympathy and strength to all who lost loved ones in this and other senseless acts of violence. Sending love love, light and strength for a brighter, understanding, compassionate world.
Poetry Challenge #103-Back to School
Bennett’s 1st Day of 1st Grade (Jack, too)
School bells are ringing, schedules are made, new pens and pencils and notebooks full of blank pages fill bright, new backpacks.
Poetry Challenge #103
Back to School
Write a poem about the beginning of the school year—or the beginning of any school year you remember. Are you excited/scared/worried? Does anything surprise you? What do you like best? Least?
Ready for School!
Try writing your poem in couplets—two lines that rhyme. See what happens if you take two couplets and use the first lines from each and then the second lines from each so every other line rhymes.
Which poem do you like better?
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1200 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.
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Poetry Challenge #102-Worker's Holiday
Labor Day, called by some the “Worker’s Holiday,” is celebrated the first Monday in September in the U.S. and was signed into law on June 28, 1894, by President Grover Cleveland.
Up until that time workers in America (including children as young as five) toiled twelve hours a day, seven days a week to eke out a living.
Child Labor laws in other places???
Nowadays, thanks to the efforts of those early labor movement organizers, we Americans take fairer work conditions for granted.
Poetry Challenge #102
Workers Unite for Worker’s Rights
For the sake of this prompt, let’s pretend we are one of those early labor organizers, making up a chant for the Labor Day Rally.
According to Merriam-Webster, “a chant is a repeated rhythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a crowd.” Chants are short. (One or two lines at most), set to a definite march beat. Often they rhyme.
Hint: It might be easiest to find rhymes first. To that end list words that rhyme with labor, day, work, or others that come to mind when you think of Labor Day.
Ready, Set, March!
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 1200 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.
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Poetry Challenge #101-End of Summer
Sun Setting on Summer in WHB
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end. Long, sunny days are growing shorter. Nights are cooler. Trips to the beach or pool are less frequent (or maybe more…)
What signs tell you that summer is almost over? Back to school sales? The one branch of red leaves? Geese flying overhead?
What do you do to celebrate the end of summer? Take one last swim or hike? Bake (or eat) one more pie? Have one more campfire and roasted marshmallow?
One last swim…
Poetry Challenge #101
Ode to Summer
List some things you notice at the end of summer. Use the questions above to help you make your list. Think about activities that you try to do one more time or maybe some that you know are coming to an end.
An ode is a poem that celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea. It often follows a certain pattern of number of lines or number of beats on a line. It’s usually short and tries to capture the emotion of the celebrated item.
Choose one (or more) of the things on your list and write an ode to summer.
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 1200 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.
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Poetry Challenge #100-One Hundred Reasons Why . . .
Today 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 of 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 up into some marvelous creation—trail mix, a wreath or maybe 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__________
