7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #123-Library Shelfie Day

What’s on your shelf?

Hooray! It’s Library Shelfie Day!

Observed every 4th Wednesday in January, (Jan 24, 2020) Library Shelfie Day was founded by the NYPL as a way to celebrate and share our books by arranging a few favorites or entire collections on a shelf.

Take a picture and share it on social media with the hashtag #LiibraryShelfieDay to share on social media. As we do, let’s observe Library Shelfie Day with a poem.

Poetry Challenge #124

Great First Words

 After you’ve chosen a few of your favorite books . . .

After you’ve arranged them into a social media worthy collection (and posted or not) . . .

Let’s use your collection to create a poem.

Write 3 to 5 of your chosen book titles on a paper. These titles will form the basis of your poem. How you arrange them is entirely up to you. You may choose to use the titles exactly as they appear or mix words and phrases around. Feel free to add words to improve the poem. Or change the form of the words. However, there is one rule: You must use every word from every title. 

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Here’s mine! Now, show me yours!

Here’s mine! Now, show me yours!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1380 days ago (who’s counting?) We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. 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.

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #122-Here's To Bagels, Hats & Bagel Hats!

Today, January 15th, is both National Hat Day and National Bagel Day. I’ve given some thought the matter and still, I have absolutely no idea what hats and bagels have to do with each other…except, of course, that everyone hungry/bagel crazed enough to be bageling on the streets of Manhattan in the winter chill is wearing—or should be wearing—a hat. Maybe you’ll have a better idea:

bagel hat.jpg

Poetry Challenge #122

Hat’s Off to Bagels, Hats & Bagel Hats

Think of words that have to do with either hat or bagel.

Come up with words to describe your pick, words you think of when you have one or the other, or words that bagels and/or hats bring to mind.

Now use those words to form a shape poem. Fit the words into either the shape of a bagel or the shape of a hat. Make it beautiful!

Einstein’s Bagels is a Texas fav.

Einstein’s Bagels is a Texas fav.

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1350 consecutive days—120 weekly shared 7-Minute Challenges ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) If you join us by writing a poem, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #121-Joy Germs?!

In the midst of cold-flu-ick-crud season everyone’s trying to stay germ free. But, there’s one germ I’m hoping goes viral:  The Joy Germ

Joy Germ 2.jpg

Celebrated every January 8th, National Joy Germ Day is a holiday created to remind people “that by being positive and treating people with kindness, we can influence those around us and pass that positive attitude on to others.

Joy Germ day was established in 1981 by Joan White of Syracuse, New York, in honor of her mother.  Here’s Joan’s prescription for observing Joy Germ Day: “Laugh, smile, be kind, inspire and spread the one type of germ that is good for everyone to catch!”

Joan White, Joy Germ Day’s Founder

Poetry Challenge #121

Joy Germs

What’s your Joy? Imagine you are a scientist in a happy lab concocting your own Joy Germ.

  • What would those ingredients be?

  • What’s your Joy?

  • What does it smell like?

  • Taste like?

  • Sound like?

  • How would you spread your Joy Germ?

Write a poem entitled Joy Germ

May a giant jar of jaunty joy germs rest gently on you and yours.
— Joan White

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 1380-ish 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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Kelly Bennett Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #120 Resolutionist’s Resolutions

Today, 1-1-2020 marks the #120th 7-Minute Poetry Challenge—that in itself is worth celebrating—as is this bright shining new year, new decade. As they sing in the song*:

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me.

Let’s celebrate by ringing in 2020 with:

Poetry Challenge #120

Resolutionist’s 2020 Resolutions

Resolutions list 2.jpg

At the beginning of the new year, everyone seems to have the best intentions. The most common resolutions people make are: exercise more, eat less, spend more time with family, get organized, save money, learn a new skill.

One thing that helps people succeed with their resolutions is when they tell other people what those resolutions are. Therefore, we’re going to write a resolution poem. First, think of three to five resolutions you would like to make this year. Then write a couplet (two lines that rhyme) about each resolution. Finally, share your poem with a friend—and get the friend to write one too. Reread your poem (and your friend’s) at least once a month to remind yourself of what you’re trying to do. Good luck! And . . .

Happy 2020.jpg

*Line from “Feeling Good” written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, sung most notably by Nina Simone

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1350 consecutive days—120 weekly shared 7-Minute Challenges ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) If you join us by writing a poem, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #119-Iridescence of Lights

hanukkah lights.jpg

And so it is this year as Hanukkah (Dec 22-30)

Christmas (Dec. 25),

and Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1)

kwanzaa-lights-candle-kinara.jpg

converge, we are smack dab in the midst of the festivities. One way these holidays are celebrated is with lights! Lights! Lights! Lights!

Poetry Challenge #119

Iridescence of Lights

In celebration of the holidays, write an acrostic poem about your holiday traditions. An acrostic poem uses the letter of a topic word or words to create a poem.

1. Write the word “Light” (or another holiday-related word) vertically down the length of a page.

2. For each letter, write a related word or idea beginning with that letter extending out horizontally.

IMG_8674.JPG

3. Take a few moments to refine your poem. Try adding or changing some words to add interest, rhythm or rhyme to your poem.

4. Select your favorite word or image to be the title of your poem.

Below is my effort entitled (predictably) LIGHTS!

LIGHTS!

Luminous
Iridescent rainbow
Glimmering strands of
Holiday magic
Twinkling 
Stars show the way home

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much; just do it!

Start writing!

happy-holidays.png

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 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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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #118-It's Getting Darker

Pretend I’m waving a ticking pocket watch before your eyes.

hypnotist.jpg

“It’s getting darker . . . darker . . .”

In a few days, Sat. Dec. 21st, it will be the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. That day will have the least amount of daylight. The good news? Days grow longer after that!

Poetry Challenge #119

It’s Getting Darker

In honor of the shortest day, write a short poem. Get your writing implement of choice ready and set your timer. Below is a 4-word prompt. Noodle over it a moment and then write as fast as you can. Ready?

   I need a break… 

Your poem might become a picture book, too!

Your poem might become a picture book, too!

Set your timer for 7 minutes

Don’t think about it too much;

just

Start

writing!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 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):

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