Poetry Challenge #39-SMILE!
What’s the most popular emoji?
If you answered “smiley face” you win! In fact, in a recent list of the “150 Most Popular Emoji” some variation of the smiley face dominates.
What you may not know is:
Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963.
That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.
Don't smile...don't even move...
As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day®.
Harvey thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we. He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day®.
After Harvey died in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was created to honor his name and memory. The Foundation continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day® each year.
“A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.”
“A smile is a frown turned upside down.”
Most children get 20 baby teeth, 10 on top, and 10 on the bottom. After those fall out, adult teeth grow in.
How many teeth do most adults have—or start out with, anyway?
Thirty-two. This includes 8 incisors, 4 cuspids, 8 bicuspids, and 8 molars and 4 wisdom teeth*
With that in mind, here’s a prompt to chew on:
Poetry Challenge #39
SMILE!
What makes you smile? How do you feel when someone smiles at you? What are some different kinds of smiles? Or what does a certain someone’s smile look like?
With smiles in mind, write a poem. But not just any poem, let’s stretch really wide for this one. Using bright white toofers as inspiration, write a 5-line poem with an 8-4-8-8-4 pattern: The first line will have eight syllables or words (your choice); the second, 4; the third, 8; the fourth, 8, the last 4—On the subject of smiles
And if you’re feeling creative, turn your Smile poem into a concrete poem by arranging the words so they look like a smile.
After all: “Life is more worthwhile when you smile!”
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
“Smile: It's Free Therapy”—Douglas Horton. If that’s not enough reason to smile, here are 185 Adages about Smiles! Say Cheese!
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!
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All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
