Poetry Challenge #296-Refrain for Commenting
Every romantic worth their salt knows enough of Lord Byron’s poetry to spout “She walks with beauty, like the night” blah-blah-blah…that’s a prompt for another day. For today, May 17th marks the birthday of another poet in the family, the one who, in letters, addressed Lord Byron as “Dearest Duck.” Who might that be?
His wife of course! Anne Isabella Noel Byron, 11th Baroness Wentworth and Baroness Byron (née Milbanke; 17 May 1792 – 16 May 1860), nicknamed Annabella. According to Byron’s official Britannica biography, Lady Byron was “an unimaginative and humorless wife,” who bore (a daughter) and bored him. They separated after a year. Lady Byron, by all accounts much happier away from him, became a wordsmith and mathematician to boot! Who knew? What she wrote, we’ll leave to you to discover, for although dear Annabella is listed as a poet, we couldn’t find any of her poems. And so that, dearest ducks, is that!
Poetry Challenge #296
Refrain for Commenting
Pick a wise quotation from the list below or an adage you know. Use it as your title and write a poem that uses the line 3 or 4 times. You can use it exactly the way it’s written or you can change it slightly. You can embed it in the poem, split it onto two lines, or have it sit apart from the rest of your poem. However you use it, it will become a refrain. Use the repetition to get the sound you want.
Here are a few choices. Feel free to find others.
“Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.”
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
"Leave no stone unturned."
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
"Actions speak louder than words."
"Two wrongs don't make a right."
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
Now that you’re done, here’s Lory Byron’s poem, “She Walks in Beauty.” But don’t delude yourself into thinking it’s about Annabella—rumor has it the only reason they married was to squelch rumors that he was having an “incestuous relationship” with his cousin.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2500+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. 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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All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
