Poetry Challenge #31-Hello Earth, It’s Me!
Ever looked at a tree and it was looking right back at you? Maybe even winking?
Or maybe wandered through a whole grove of trees…
In Yoga, the Tree Pose is a balance pose to build strength and focus ones energy. It’s easy… for anyone under three feet tall, that is!
If you’re personal tree doesn’t have a face, you can buy one of these online.
Poetry Challenge #31
Hello Earth, It’s Me…A Tree
For this prompt, you’ll need a clean sheet of paper (kind of ironic, isn’t it) and something to write with (a No.2 pencil perhaps).
We’re going to create a shape poem about a tree. But not just any tree, the tree you’d like to be.
FYI: “A Shape Poem is a type of poetry that describes an object and is shaped the same as the object the poem is describing.”*
#1: Imagine Yourself as a Tree.
#2: Ask yourself what kind of tree are you? What do you look like? What’s your name?
#3: Draw a picture of YOU _____________ the Tree. As this is only a 7-minute prompt, make it a quick sketch (you can always embellish later).
Above your tree sketch, add the title:
Hello Earth! It’s Me ___your name here_____ the Tree.
Now, with You the Tree in mind, doodle words, phrases, questions, all around your tree’s roots, trunk, branches . . . add leaves, vines creatures.
And if you feel inspired, use those words to pencil a poem about You the Tree.
Or, heck run outside an hug a tree, climb a tree, hang your poem from a tree!
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 2870 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 #30-Just Plain Loopy
Ever feel like you’re just chasing your tail?
Here’s a cute “Pup chasing his tail video”
Maybe instead of trying to stop the best solution is to do like the dogs do. (Truth is, the answer to many of my frustrations lies—sits-stays-rolls over—in asking “what would a dog do?” And so . .
Round and round and round we go!
Poetry Challenge #30
Loopty-Loop
In a loop poem, the last word of a line becomes the first word of the next line and so on until the last word of the poem which should be the first word of the poem.
Here’s an example Cindy made up:
Read a book,
book a plane,
plane a board,
board a train,
train a dog,
dog-ear a page,
page my doctor,
doctor the soup,
soup up the horse,
horse around time,
time for a walk,
walk home and read.
Here's one I came up with:
Dance eyes closed, head back
Back and forth, side to side, slide, knees high,
High on sound waves thumping
Thumping thumping to your heart beating
Beating out the tune with head, your hips, your feet
Feat of daring, proud, with love. . .
Love the sound, love the moves, love
Love the way you feel,
Feel the love. Dance.
Now you try it. Can you write a loop poem of at least seven lines?
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 2870 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 #29-Name Name Bo Bame Game
Who says poetry has to be serious? Not me. Not today.
Have you ever played The Name Game? It’s a jingle really. And was a popular 1964 song by Shirley Ellis, a rhyming game that creates variations on a person's name.
Shirley Shirley Bo-Berly
Banana-fana fo-ferly
Need a little more to get with the beat? Listen to the song: “The Name Game” and if you’re in the mood sing along.
Now that we’re all warmed up, get your “Shirley” on:
Poetry Challenge #29
Name-Name Bo-Bame
Start with your name, ala “The Name Game.” How?
Repeat your name twice, stick a "bo" in the mix, finish by changing the first letter of your name with a B. Like this:
Kelly-kelly bo belly
Now, using that as the beginning, write a rhyming poem by changing the endings of other words so they rhyme, too.
(If you're stuck start by making a list of words that end with the same sound your name does: belly, swellie, jelly, ellie, smelly, umbrellie . . . ) Feel free to make up words, too. After all, this is your poem!
Sound hard? Maybe . . .
Sound fun? YES-YES BO-BES!
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 2870 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 #28-Like a Light Bulb
What's Say We Try Something New!
Imagine writing a biography or a memoire—or maybe a roast—in four lines! Impossible? POW! Mind blowing!
Let’s try.
Poetry Challenge #28
UP For A Balliol!
The balliol is a four-line poem that has two pairs of rhyming couplets (a couplet is two lines). Each line contains four beats (which you can get by writing eight syllables).
Balliols are usually funny and about a person.
The first couplet includes the person’s name.
The second talks about what they do or who they are.
Here’s an example:
Inventor Thomas Edison
had light bulb moments in his den.
He lit the streets so all could tell
’twas one o’clock and all was well.
Now It’s Your Turn!
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 2870 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 #27-Here Comes the Sun!
On my side of the planet, it’s full-on summertime!
But . . .
That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sunny.
Nor does it mean, as the face on this little poopsie shows, that wherever you are —outside or inside—is summer or summery.
“Moods are like light bulbs, sometimes they just burn out—even LED.”
Truth is truth: We may not always be able to change the lightbulb. We may not be able to change the season. But sometimes, with a little luck and determination, we can change a mood. Let’s try!
Poetry Challenge #27
Here Comes the Sun!
Move to a brighter spot, somewhere you are either in the sun, or where you can witness the effects of sunshine.
Or, if it’s really gloomy wherever you are, turn on a bright light.
Don your sunglasses and shade hat, turn on some music. (A “Here comes the Sun” playlist is below.)
If that’s not enough, add sprinkles to your coffee and put on disco clothes—Get your sunny on!
There! Now you are ready!
First: Brainstorm a list of words that rhyme with sun.
Now: Using the words from your list, write a sunny poem entitled "Here Comes the Sun!"
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
What do you know…It worked!
Okay, yes. There is a time lapse between the “Sad Bennett” and “Happy Bennett” photos…a year, a haircut, a cooler “swimming pool” and hose with the nozzle cocked and ready, but he’s sunny now!
Here Comes the Sun Playlist:
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2870 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 #26-Take IT Away!
Quite often we use too many words to get our point across. Blah…blah…blah.
Filler words are like food—if we give some away, the calories don’t count!
We do the same thing when we write.
“Filler words” are the ummm and like and well and wah-wah-wah….the space holders we click when we’re thinking.
Unlike when we talk, when it comes to our writing, we can go back and cut the fat.
Time to put our poems on a diet!
We’re going to do some math today. Do I hear a yeah?
Don’t worry…it will be simple.
Just do one step at a time!
Poetry Challenge #26
Take it Away!
Pick one of your poems. Count the words in the poem.
Divide that number by 4 (round up if it’s not even).
Take away (delete!) that many words.
Set the Timer for 7 Minutes
Ready! Set!
Subtract!
Reread your poem aloud. How does it sound?
If you’re game: See if you can’t take away even more words…. say 10% more.
For more on Filler Words, maybe way too much more, here’s Smart Blogger with “298 Useless Filler Words that Rob Your Writing of Its Power.”
The best part is, that ummmm, along with the words come, like, suggestions for better choices. I know…just…well…
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**Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 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 #25-Double Dog Dare You . . .
When it comes to “don’t dos” I’m like a bull in a ring and that’s the red flag. It’s almost impossible for me to resist doing what I’m told not to do.
And yes, that does make me a lousy at word games like Password and Taboo.
As hard as it is for me (and maybe you) to resist using a word or phrase on purpose, it’s fun to try.
As having fun with words is the purpose of these 7-Minute Challenges, for this prompt we double dog dare you to put on your logologist’s hat.*
Say what?
A lipogram consisting of writing paragraphs or longer works in which a particular letter or group of letters is avoided. In its easiest form, a writer avoids using uncommon letters like X, J, Q, or Z. Or avoids words with “ing” or “ed” endings.
More difficult lipograms avoid common letters like A, T or E—E being the most common letter in the English language.
If you think avoiding using E is tough, consider this: Ernest Vincent Wright wrote an entire 50,000-word novel, GADSBY, without using the letter E.
Below is an excerpt.
“So this small town of Branton Hills was lazily snoozing amidst up-and-doing towns, as Youth’s Champion, John Gadsby, took hold of it; and shook its dawdling, flabby body until its inhabitants thought a tornado had struck it. Call it tornado, volcano, military onslaught, or what you will, this town found that it had a bunch of kids who had wills that would admit of no snoozing; for that is Youth, on its forward march of inquiry, thought and action.”
James Thurber’s The Wonderful O is a fairy tale about an island where the letter O was banned.
Poetry Challenge #25
Double Dog Dare You to Drop the E!
Begin with a poem you’ve already written.
Revise it by deleting every “E” word and replacing it with another word, if necessary.
Or, if you’d rather, revise it using only “E” words.
Or, if you’d rather not mess with one of your existing poems, try writing an entirely new poem without the letter “E”.
(And no fair intentionally mis-spelling words to avoid using “E”, that’s cheating.)
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
*We have award-winning author/VCFA faculty advisor Tim Wynne Jones to thank (or curse) for this prompt. Tim shared his passion for logology during a VCFA lecture one summer long long ago, in a world far far away.
And if you’ve caught the lipology bug, enjoy Michael S. Hennessey’s University of Cincinnati Lipogram Poetry Worksheet!
The example, on the left, is one Hennessey shared.
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**Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 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 #24-Poncho and Lefty
This lone cowpoke is trying to decide which form to use: “Sonnet?….Haiku?….or should it be a ballad?”
Sometimes it’s fun to write a poem on a topic; sometimes it’s fun to try to use a form.
We often use a form when it feels as though a poem is wandering around or getting wordy.
Forms force you to pay attention to the number of syllables you use or to a rhyme scheme.
A fairly easy form is the ballad.
Poetry Challenge #24
Ballad of ____________________
Try writing a ballad of at least two verses.
A ballad usually has four lines in each verse with an ABAB rhyme scheme (every other line rhymes). It also has a strong rhythm. Lines alternate between four and three beats.
If you aren’t good at hearing beats, use eight syllables on one line and six on the next. Remember you can always write a ballad (or haiku or acrostic.)
Ballads are great to set to music if you are musically inclined! So if you’re having trouble finding that next line, hum a few bars.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
Ballads for inspirations Playlist:
“Pancho and Lefty” by Townes Van Zandt, sung by Willie and Merle
“Yesterday” by the Beatles
“Edelweiss” from Sound of Music by Rogers and Hammerstein
After poeming, you enjoy Townes Van Zandt telling a story of “Pancho and Lefty” on TexasHillCountry.com
But now, sit back and enjoy as Grandboy Dylan strums “Edelweiss” on the streets of NY. If the video link won’t work, view the clip on Kelly Bennett Books YouTube Station
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge at least 2800 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 . . .