Poetry Challenge #48-Can You Say “Hump Day”?
Lots of things have humps.
Hills have humps.
Whales have humps
Humpback whales are named for their humps. (Although this diagram doesn’t list it.) Why the name then?
When they breech and dive, these whales bend in such a way their backs hump.
Camels have humps too
—some one, some two—
T
The Hunchback of Notre Dame had a huge hump which caused him pain, shame & ultimately fame.
But when it comes to these humps:
None seem so steep as the hump in a week.
The humps in weeks are so notoriously steep…
(I need more beats, and some help, to make this poem complete.)
The Economic Times devoted entire columns to “Why is Wednesday Called Hump Day.”
(Try humping a stack of those magazines up a steep hill…)
Poetry Challenge #48
Can You Say “Hump Day”?
Quickly list as many different humps as you can. (Yes you can use the ones noted above.)
Write a poem about one of the humps you listed, or the hump itself.
And…since the reward following the long trudge up to the end of Wednesday is sliding through Thursday toward the weekend, bonus points if you shape your poem so it looks like a S-L-I-D-E.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Anne Weaver’s Pinterest page features columns of “Hump Day” pins, including this one by Mark Parisi, available at offthemark.com
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 3000 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #47-Can I Have a Word?
At a loss for words? Aren't we all sometimes--which can be a total drag if you're trying to scratch down some lines, Daddy-o...
The cool thing about words is. . .
they are free, available, reusable, recyclable . . .
There are many excellent sites for Words of the Day.
Thank you One Squiggly Line—a great website!
One way to collect words is by looking through the Dictionary. (That’s a book.)
Absurd Words by Tara Lazar is a funny-bone tickler of a book listing odd, unusual, ridiculous words.
(Hint: It a great kid-teacher-word nerd gift!)
And the trendy, hip thing to do—the way to stay current Daddy-O, is to use trending words. Here’s a few trendy words ala FluentU Language Learning. (The list was updated in September 24, so there might be even trendier, trendy words.)
Poetry Challenge #47
Can I have a word?
For today's stretch, what say we get hip, with-it, happening dude, by riffing off the trend!
First you need to collect a few words—at least five from any source that amuses you. (Stretch a bit and include at least one trendy word)
Now write a poem/story/something using those 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 at least 3000 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #45-Practical Magic
Magic! Do you believe in magic? I do.
How else do you explain the unexplainable?
For today’s prompt, let’s explore magic in a poetic form.
Which is infinitely more practical
(no extra ingredients or batteries required.)
Poetry Challenge #45
Pure Magic!
#1 Think a moment about Magic!
#2 Jot down words & images that comes to mind related to Magic!
#3 Use words from your Magic List to create a Pyramid Poem.
What's a Pyramid Poem?
A Pyramid Poem is a type of concrete poem. It starts with one word on the top line. The second line has two words, three words on the third line, four words on the fourth line, and so on.
The lines are centered above each other so they create a pyramid shape on the paper.
Pyramid Poems do not have to rhyme (but they can), nor do the number of syllables matter.
To create the shape, a pyramid poem must have at least 3 lines . . ..
If you are up for a challenge, try using the words "Pure Magic" as the second line of your Pyramid Poem! Abbra-ca-dabra!
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 at least 3000 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #44-Here’s a Neat Idea!
We all need ostrich days. Today is one of those.
Or as I like to say, “Poem on!”
Sometimes all you need to write a poem is something to get you started.
A number, a color, a word, a phrase, or a . . .
NEAT IDEA!
Playing in Mud is a Neat Idea!
Here are some neat mud play ideas
from Thimble & Twig
Crafting is another neat idea!
Here are some neat holiday craft ideas
from Best Ideas for Kids
Saying YES! to poetry is always a neat idea!
Poetry Challenge #44
Here’s a Neat Idea!
For this poem, begin with the phrase “Here’s a neat idea:” and write. You could be talking to yourself about something you’ve done or that you want to do. You could be talking to someone else about something you want them to do. You could be talking about something real or imagined. Whenever you get stuck, write the phrase again and see where it takes you.
Make a list of some things you’ve never done.
Try dividing your list into sections: things you’ve never done and never want to do, things you’d like to do but haven’t done yet, and things that seem impossible.
Write a poem using some of these. It could be a list poem or it could be about one of these things. Maybe it’s a wish poem of things you want to do.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Wait! I have another neat idea! Craft your poem in chalk…catch a wave!!!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 3000 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #43-It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s . . .
There are days when I really need a superpower. Today is one of those days. I'm thinking you might wish you were a superhero too, sometimes.
Since Wonder Woman, Cat Boy & Flash are taken,
Superboy, Hulk, and Dracula, too.
And even
Super Clown
has been claimed,
And Hermes . . .
well, he’s too busy making pocketbooks and shoes, to save anything,
we're going to have to create other...better! (Interesting at least) Superhero personas of our own.
Unfurl those capes, don those masks and let's do it!
Poetry Challenge #44
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s . . .
If you could be a Superhero what would your super power be?
Would you be a Spidey who scaled walls and swung from web? Would you be a super jumper or super strong? Could you make yourself invisible, super small or giant or green?
Just as Superman fears Kryptonite, every superhero has a weakness, what would yours be?
Best, how would you use your super powers?
Write a poem about Superhero YOU!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
This image is Tom Triumph's website image. He's an inspirational speaker. Since I borrowed his image, only fair to share his website.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2900 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #42-Let’s Get Physical
There is “something” in the way we move. The way our muscles, tendons, bones, joints, skin . . . work together to create movement.
If you're keen to see muscles in action click over to this video by Muscles in Motion. But not now! First exercise your poetics!
Watching someone move is one thing, describing what that movement looks or feels like is another.
People are sometimes likened to animals, machines, plants, geological formations.
Likewise, machines, animals, plants, etc, are sometimes likened to people in songs, stories, and yes, poetry.
Poetry Challenge #42
Let’s Get Physical
Watch or imagine someone or something in motion. The motion might be a big whole body movement like dancing, jumping, swaying, diving, tumbling, or it might be a movement as tiny as the blink of an eye or twitch of a baby toe.
If you’re game, get physical! Try replicating the motion yourself (nothing too dangerous). While in motion, pay close attention to each minute movement of your body. How do you feel? What do you feel like? Does that movement remind you of something? An eel? A kangaroo? An oil pump?
Now, write a poem in which you describe that movement by likening it to something else.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Let’s Get Physical Playlist:
Something In The Way She Moves by James Taylor
Something by The Beatles
Let’s Get Physical sung by Olivia Newton John
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2900 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #41-Phone it In
It's pumpkin time! The leaves are blazing! Apples are hanging! Blossoms are giving their last gasp.
If, like me, you are itching to get out in it, call whomever you must and play! Nature awaits. But…
"Let your fingers do the walking / so you can do the talking." (FYI that's a phonebook.)
The Challenge can't!
At the risk of sounding like a telemarketer: All I'm asking for is seven minutes of your time—Okay, maybe 7 and a half—and your phone number. Here goes:
Poetry Challenge #41
Phone It In!
For this challenge, write your phone number (including the area code) down the page, one number on each line.
That number tells how many words you need to have on each line. Zeroes are wild; you can have any number of words on a zero line.
Get rid of the numbers for your final poem and add punctuation if you need it.
Once you have a draft, add or delete words to make the poem better. (The numbers were just to get you started.)
Here’s an example by Cindy from phone number.
Visiting St. Gaudens on a warm, summer day,
I write about nature and man-made art.
I look up
and into the woods, and hear
birds call. Crows, doves,
chickadees, and a pileated woodpecker. I mark the early
fall of leaves
and know that soon snow will cover
the grounds, burying everything in a shroud of
winter.
Now it’s your turn. Ring-a-Ling-Ding!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Phone Home Playlist:
Operator by Jim Croce
Pennsylvania 6-5000 by The Glen Miller Band
Really Love to See You Tonight by England Dan & John Ford Coley
Image: Judy Holiday in “Bells are Ringing” my all-time fav. Watch this snippet!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2900 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 #40-Kodochrome
When I think back on all the @#$! I learned in college* a disturbing experiment I learned about in PR 101 floats up: Subliminal Advertising.
(Okay, yes, maybe it came to mind because I’m feeling a tad guilty and extremely bloated after devouring— by the fistfuls—more than my half of the movie popcorn last night.)
Raise our popcorn buckets to naughty James Vicary (who may have falsified results.)
Short History Lesson: This idea of Subliminal Advertising came from a 1957 study by James Vicary, a market researcher who inserted the words "Eat Popcorn" and "Drink Coca-Cola" into a movie.
“The words appeared for a single frame, allegedly long enough for the subconscious to pick up, but too short for the viewer to be aware of it.”
The subliminal ads supposedly created an 18.1% increase in Coke sales and a 57.8% increase in popcorn sales.” This 2011 article from Business Insider, however, reported that the results Vicary reported were falsified. But the idea of Subliminal Advertising, that images and words can and do subconsciously influence us, is widely regarded as true.
Assuming it is, let the mind-bending commence:
Poetry Challenge #39
Kodachrome
Begin with some Words of Wisdom: select a quotation or adage from a book, the wall, or the Internet—or make up your own. For example:
“The Chief enemy of creativity is good sense.”—Pablo Picasso.
”All cats look grey at night”—Ben Franklin
”The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.”—Steve Jobs”
In a blatant effort to subliminally impact readers—and maybe ourselves—let's hide those words of wisdom within the body of the poem. The trick is to insert the kernels of “wisdom” so deftly your reader doesn’t notice them. How?
Take out an unused piece of paper.
Working top to bottom, write the quotation down the center of the paper—one word to a line. As we are not creating an Acrostic poem, vary the position of the word on the lines.
Now write a poem around the words, thus "hiding" your message in a poem.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
My turn! Below is my not-so-subliminal message to YOU!
*Nod to Paul Simon’s Kodachrome (click and listen).
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2900 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 dang poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!
Want the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge sent to your email? 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 . . .