Poetry Challenge #181-Anthem in the Key of Life

March 3rd, 2021 marks the 90th birthday of our national anthem. Yep, although written by Frances Scott Key in 1814, and having been sung proudly—if off-key often— for than 100 years in between, it wasn’t until March 3, 1931, Pres. Hoover signed a congressional resolution officially declaring “The Star Spangled Banner” the official anthem of the USA.

And while we’ve been singing the anthem, and hearing it sung zillions of times—for sports enthusiasts I mean that literally, most recently by Lady Gaga at President Biden’s Inauguration: take a listen!—how often do we consider the words?

Poetry Challenge #181

Anthem in the Key of Life

In celebration of National Anthem Day, Let’s pick up where Frances Scott Key left off.

Choose a line of the Star Spangled Banner and use it as the first line of your poem.

Maybe the first:

Oh say can you see_________________

or the last:

…Home of the brave_____________

or any line in between.

…By the dawn’s early light______________

Let it begin a new anthem for yourself, the country, or the world.

Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes

Start Writing!

Don’t Think About it, just do it!

Oh, Say Can You…

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1777 days ago! We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. 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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