Poetry Challenge #104-Prince Day
Do not ask me why: It’s not raining. The oldies station isn’t playing. And there is not a speck of glitter, wild hair, lace or feathered boa in sight. Still, for whatever reason, Prince’s* classic “Purple Rain” is stuck in my head…on replay.
Not the whole song either. Just the part everybody knows. And I do mean EVERYBODY. Sing with me:
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Blah-blah blah-blah la-la la-la in the purple rain...
“Prince’s definitive power ballad “Purple Rain” peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 on November 17, 1984 behind Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”. It was the title track of the album and namesake of a film in which Prince plays “The Kid” who has nostalgic yearning for a pure love.... Perhaps appropriately, it was the last song Prince ever played live, closing out his concert in Atlanta on April 14, 2016.”
Oh my word, we must have watched that movie seventy times (back then HBO featured movies for a month). But I digress:
Poetry Challenge #104
Purple Rain
If Prince could do it—and create a classic and make zillions in the process, then we can too. In the inimitable style of Prince:
Choose one concrete noun (Rain for instance, but not rain).
Choose one color (purple is off limits).
Put them together in whichever order pleases you. Use those words to begin a poem.
If you are feeling lazy, copy the pattern of “Purple Rain” (then you’ll only have to invent that last line.)
Hopefully the two words you’ve chose will fire up your inner the rock star!
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; do it! Rock OUT!
*And no it’s not his birthday. Prince Roger Nelson, aka “Prince” was born June 7, 1958, he died April 21, 2016. But his music lives on! 
Click to hear Prince tell why…I’m with him!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 8 years ago. We 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 poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #103-Back to Biz
Who knew going back to business as usual would be so soooooooo. Our youngest grand (far right, can’t dare say “littlest”) sobbed because he was having too much fun over the break, his brother Dylan (left in pic), who turned 11 on the 6th, was thrilled because he was looking forward to celebrating his birthday at school—they do make a big fuss. As for the other two???? And what about you???
Usual Suspects…or ???
Poetry Challenge #103
Back to Biz
Write a poem about the first day back . . . to whatever?
Work?
School?
Back after a lovely vacation?
First day back after a miserable one….
Are you excited/miserable/relieved? Does anything surprise you? What do you like best? Least?
Try writing your poem in couplets—two lines that rhyme.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
HappyTeacherHappyKids.com has a fab post with refreshing “back to biz” survival tactics. Click and read!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 8 years ago. We 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 poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link below and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
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Poetry Challenge #101-Topsy Tervy Christmas
I don’t know about you but I am FREEEEEEEZING!
And I’m dreaming…already…of summer and winter’s just getting started. Imagine, December 21st -ish the shortest night of the year here in the North will be the longest day of the year in the South.
Speaking of the other side of the world: if we were in the Southern Hemisphere, instead of singing about “chestnuts roasting on a open fire” and “riding through a winter wonderland…” we’d be “sunbathers toasting ‘neath a bright orange sun” and “jet skiing through a surfer’s paradise.”
Wonder how much a ticket to Australia, Bora Bora…Jamaica maybe…
Poetry Challenge #101
Ode to a Topsy Tervy Christmas
Imagine turning this holiday season upside down.
Either by zipping off to the opposite side of the world and celebrating the holiday there—on Safari or a sunny beach somewhere south.
Or by upending your holiday traditions and doing things upside down and backwards.
Write a poem about it. Have fun. Be silly! Sprinkle in some holiday magic dust.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
The Kranks tried to do just that. Watch how that turned out…
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 8 years 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 poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #100—One Hundred Reasons
This marks the 100th 7-Minute Poetry Challenge!
A 100-hand round of applause to those of you who’ve tried any—all—of the prompts.
(All the prompts are posted & waiting if you’d like to give them a go, or take a look back.)
Poetry Challenge #100
One Hundred Reasons Why . . .
If ours were a kindergarten class, we would each have brought a hundred of one ingredient: toothpicks, cotton balls, acorns, M&Ms ... and mixed them all up into some marvelous creation—trail mix or a wreath, a Fruit Loop necklace.
As our focus is poetry, let’s do it with words:
Using one of the following prompts, write a poem. And if you really want to celebrate create a 100 Word Poem!
100 Reasons Why I Love ————-
100 Things I Want to Do Before I Grow up——-
If I were making a 100 Memory Necklace it would include ________.
Set..
Don’t Go!
Congratulations!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 8 years 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 poem in the comments.
Poetry Challenge #97-It's The Berries!
Berries! Silly me…I took a vow this past summer to only buy local produce. That was great during corn season, and green bean days and berry season and pumpkin season… but now what?
The Kingston Trio sang a song called “Raspberries, Strawberries” that you can watch here:
Poetry Challenge #99
Berries!
Which kind of berries are your favorite?
I love blueberries and strawberries—especially in a strawberry rhubarb pie.
I love walking through wild strawberries and smelling the sweet smell underfoot. And scratches are worthwhile for raspberries warmed by the sun.And right now, because the float and don’t spoil quickly and a gorgeous to look at, cranberries are tops.
What about you?
Write a poem about berries—any kind, any form. I bet it will be sweet!
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 over 8 years 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 poem in the comments.
Poetry Challenge #99 Two Scoops of Gratitude!
Gobble Gobble Gobble! That’s what I’ll be doing tomorrow. Maybe you, too? Or maybe you’ve already enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast and will be going in for seconds…or thirds. Or your feasting is yet to come. Regardless of what you’ll eat, where you’ll go, what you’ll do, or whether you’ll celebrate alone or with other, let’s take a moment to reflect on reasons we have to give thanks. (For if you are reading this, then like me, you do have reasons.)
Spotted this rafter of turkeys strutting around our backyard. I shared on social, with a caption saying our B-Ball team “The Gobblers” was warming up, a friend wrote “you mean pre-heating!” Gobble-gobble!
Poetry Challenge #99
Two Scoops of Thanks
Write a poem of thanks. For? or To whom? is up to you.
The poem must be at least twelve words long—one word beginning with each letter of the word T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G.
Yes, it can be longer.
Yes, you can include words that begin with other letters, too.
Yes it can rhyme. . . No it doesn’t have to.
When you’ve finished, take a moment to polish your poem so you can share it—perhaps later, with pie!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for your support!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 3000+ 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.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl).
Poetry Challenge #98-Beach Time
Winter hit this week. It is FREEEEEEEZING! I know deep in my rattlin’ bones that I’ll get used to the cold (soon, please) even embrace wearing bulky comfy clothes to brave the outdoors—or, more likely, use the cold as an excuse to stay inside: Baby it’s cold outside!
Huntington Beach—my Beach Time then
But right now I am asking myself why did I ever leave home? Gidget take me back to HB! So bear with me, pull a flowered shirt on over your sweats and let’s head to the beach! Hey Moon Doggie, wait for me!
Poetry Challenge #98
Beach Time
Beach Time is way more than just a thing to do. It’s a mindset. And best, it’s way Cool! So let’s get beachy!
Begin by listing whatever comes to mind when you think of a day (or night) at the beach. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
Frothy surf, bikinis, surf boards, sand, shells, waves, orange sherbet sunsets, coconut and cocoa butter, Gidget & Jeff aka Moon Doggie
Now you try:
Fine! If “sand in your pants” is what Beach Time means to you, go with it.
Create a poem using a many of those beachy words as you can. Here’s a little theme music to get you in a beachy mood: Da-na-nah-na-nah-nah-na…WiPE OUT!
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 more than 3 years 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 poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #96: Hot Diggity Dog!
Mere days—days— after post baseball season and we’re already craving hot dogs. I’m serious (nitrates aside) we love hot dogs! Okay, maybe not me so much but, I love the bun. I love the relish. I crave sauerkraut. And what I really, really miss, is any excuse to say Hot Dog!
“Mimi, what’s for lunch?”
“How about hot dogs?”
“HOT DOG!!!”
Poetry Challenge #96
Hot Diggity-Dog
In honor of those lazy, crazy…tasty Hot Dog Days of Summer, let’s write a concrete poem. Concrete poems are words arranged in a shape to give extra meaning to the subject of the poem. Maybe the words form the branches of a tree or letters drip down the page to show rain. Sometimes there’s a surprise hidden in repeated words like the marshmallow in the concrete poem below created by Cindy*.
For this one step grab an old-school writing implement (aka pencil, marker, pen). Unless you’re a “Cindy”, it’s harder to create a concrete poem on a device. Begin by visualizing a hot dog. Now, to turn it into a concrete poem you can:
*Sketch the outline of a hot dog and fill it by writing hot dog hot dog hot dog over and over and over . . . until you are fed up with writing hot dog.
*Or, fill your hot dog outline with a poem about hot dogs or a hot dog memory.
*Or, draw a hot dog with words associated with hot dogs.
*Or, use letters as Cindy did by using hot dog part words to create an image. Use other words to dress up your hot dog. Do you like ketchup? Mustard? Onions? Chili? Sweet relish? Marshmallows?
Grab Your Marker
Get Set
Hog-Diggity Draw! (I do relish a good concrete poem…with mustard.)
#TheColombianHotDog trucks set up in Bridgeport & Norwalk, CT—close to the grandboys—HOT DOG!