Happy April Fool's Day, Houston!
It has been 9 years since I last wrote about it, and wrote a poem based on a prompt.
This is no joke, but a very serious, vey popular, month of the year for those with the creative spirit in them.
National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets, in 1996, as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The concept was to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our poetic heritage, and to poetry books and magazines. In the end, its founders hoped to achieve an increase in the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry in our culture.
National Poetry Month has been successful beyond all they could have hoped and has grown over the years into the largest literary celebration in the world.
I hope this post will encourage you to read poetry, and even write poetry of your own.
You may think you don't have it in you to write a poem, but you would be mistaken.
I discovered my own talent for poetry 17 years ago, and have been writing them ever since.
If I can do it, you can, too!
To get things started....This year marks the 12th Anniversary of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.
From the intro to an email he sent out way back in 2010...
"The Basics: I provide a prompt and sample poem each morning. Then, poets write their poems in response to the prompt. Poets from all over the world can (and have in the past) participate. There is no fee, no registration, no pressure. This challenge is all about writing poetry and having fun.
Those who have participated in the past have ranged from poets who have published multiple collections to writers who have never written poetry before. It's also included many poets who haven't written poetry in years. And many poems written for these challenges have then gone on to be published in poetry journals and magazines."
That last is even more true, today, 9 years down the road.
The First Prompt has been posted, and encourages one to "write a Morning Poem. Maybe you’re a morning person, maybe not. Your poem can be about a morning. Or it can be set during the morning. And those who’ve done this before probably already know that I have no problem with you interpreting this as a “mourning poem.”
Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want."
If you can't do a poem every day...try to spend the month working on, and then posting when done, a poem for each prompt, or as many as you can.
You may even choose to keep the links on hand for reference through out the year.
We all live busy lives, and in my case commuting by bike, or on foot, and bus takes up as much as 2 hours in my day, but you can do as I do, and bring a notepad along in case inspiration strikes, and you can write something down.
Today I wrote 2 poems (Well, actually, one of my cats did the other, for their own blog, hee, hee!)
So, without further ado...
A WALMART MORNING by Kiril Kundurazieff
I awaken in the morning,
Knowing what I need to do.
After breakfast and a shower
I grit my teeth, lace up my shoes,
And venture forth to Walmart for an hour.
To do some shopping, that’s my thing,
When few others do.
Before the afternoon and night
And the craziness they can sometimes bring.
What one sees, then, are often quite a sight.
It’s a solitary mission,
Alone with my list.
Up and down nearly empty aisles,
Except for Associates, with single-minded dedication,
Tackling their assigned tasks.
Apples, tomatoes, and lettuce, oh my!
Bread and bologna, and a dozen Knorr Rice Sides,
Milk, mustard, PB & J,
I think and I ponder…
Oh, what a lot of choices, I sigh.
TP and PT, soap and shaving supplies,
Cat food and Cat litter,
I spot my favorites with sharp eyes.
Resisting temptation, I hold fast to my list,
Heading to the register with it clutched in my fist.
While I pay with cash or card,
It’s not unusual to see other shoppers
Using the Walmart Pay App,
Or, realizing they forgot their wallet…
Letting loose with a heartfelt, “Oh, crap!”
Over at my cat blog...Sneakers the Texian Tuxedo encourages felinity assembled to get creative...
Her poem is called "My Human Doesn't Do Mornings Very Well".
NEXT UP: Poetry A Day Challenge 2: Crossing the Street
NOTE: I will add links to each of Roberts Prompts, below, as the days go by.
April 2: Prompt #2 - Today is actually a special day: Two for Tuesday! Pick one prompt or use both…your choice!
1. Write a worst case poem. What’s the worst that could happen?
2. Write a best case poem. Take the worst and reverse it!
April 3: Prompt #3 - Write an animal poem. The poem could be about an animal. Or it could just mention an animal in passing. Or include an animal in your title and fail to mention the animal once in your poem. Your poem, your rules.
April 4: Prompt #4 - Pick a painter, make him or her the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible painters include Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, or Pablo Picasso. Of course, you don’t have to go with the big names. You can use more obscure painters or more contemporary ones.
April 5: Prompt #5 - Write a stolen poem. And no, don’t steal anyone’s poem! But you can write about doing such a thing. Or stealing hearts, stealing time, stealing minds. Or steeling your mind (remember: I don’t care if you play on my original prompt). Steal away into a comfortable place to write and break some lines today.
April 6: Prompt #6 - Take the phrase “After (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.
April 7: Prompt #7 - Write a jealous poem. Maybe you’re jealous. Or maybe someone else is jealous of you–or someone else. Whether envious of another or suspicious of a partner, dive deep into this emotion today.
April 8: Prompt #8 - Write a lucky number poem. Some people have lucky numbers, some don’t.
Wherever you fall on the lucky number spectrum, you can still write a poem about the phenomenon of lucky numbers and/or luck in general.
April 9: Prompt #9 - Pick one prompt or use both…your choice!
1. Write a love poem.
2. Write an anti-love poem...or not!
April 10: Prompt #10 - "Write a lone poem. Perhaps the poem is about a solitary wanderer or person who just prefers to go it alone. Or a lone winner, lone wolf, or some other solo individual. Or alternatively, I’ll accept poems that are about loans or that are about being alone."
Flicka said: 3:30am best time to Wal-Mart shop!
Posted by: dianne mason | April 02, 2019 at 03:32 AM
I found myself walking the aisles with you, both wondering what I’d pick from the shelves and reveling in the feeling of near emptiness of a huge store.
Thanks for this shopping trip.
(NOTE: Comment originally posted on Poetic Asides blog in response to my sharing the poem there in a comment -- Kiril)
Posted by: BDP | April 02, 2019 at 04:37 PM
Great poem, glad you remembered to include cat food. :)
Nice to see a post from you.
Posted by: Ellen Pilch | April 02, 2019 at 08:13 PM