Poetry Challenge #243-The Fifth Dimension
“The Twilight Zone is a place that exists at any moment of time, of space or of mind.... but always when you least expect it.”
Happy Twilight Zone Day (May 11), a day obviously intended to be celebrated by ditching everything else and binge watching the vintage TV program, The Twilight Zone, created, written, and narrated by Rod Serling (which we all thought was “Sterling”). It premiered on October 1, 1959. Each episode was a story—sci fi, fantasy, suspense—which took place in “The 5th Dimension*”—the Twilight Zone. The show aired from 1959-1964. A spin-off is called Night Gallery.
“Do-do-do-do do-do-do-do do-do-do-do ”
Poetry Challenge #243
The Fifth Dimension
Your challenge, if you’re willing to go there, is to write a poem about something that can only happen at twilight, whether it be the twilight of the now, or the twilight of some other space or time.
And, as an homage to The Twilight Zone, see if you can’t add a suspenseful whats-going-to-happen tone to your poem.
For inspiration, dial your mind into the Twilight Zone Theme Song: do-do-do-do do-do-do-do do-do-do-do . . .
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
*Is this where the pop group “The Fifth Dimension” got its name? Will You Marry Me Bi-ill…
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #244-This One's For the Birds
Tweet! Tweet! Happy National Bird Day (May 4)! Why? It’s the middle of migration for many bird species. If you look closely, you may find a bird you’ve never seen in a tree or bush. Or you might hear an unfamiliar song.
Poetry Challenge #244
This One’s For the Birds!
Find a bird to watch for a few minutes. Describe it in a poem using lots of similes (comparison using like or as).
Its color is as ____ as a ____. It moves like a ____. Its song sounds like ___.
(If it doesn’t cooperate and sing for you, you can hear its song by searching on the Cornell website: allaboutbirds.org
You can also watch birds on the feederwatch webcam if you don’t see any near you.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
After poeming, treat the birds to a treat! Don’t worry if you don’t have a bag of bird seed around. Share fruit with them or bread crusts. In the photo below (pinched from Margarita Engel’s instagram: @margaritapoet) orange halves are popped onto a chain-link fence for a tasty feast. These oranges look whole and new, but you can also “share” gently juiced citrus and partially eaten apples. Some for you, some for the birds! They’ll Tweet you for it!
—This one’s for you, Adele Bennett (Oct 5, 1932-May 4, 2022).
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #241-Out of the Mouth of Babe
Batter UP! Today, April 27th is National Babe Ruth Day! A day set aside to honor and remember Babe Ruth, arguably the most famous baseball player of all time, in his 22-season MLB career (1914-1935, with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves), Babe Ruth held 56 records for the Yankees, some of which still stand today.
The first Babe Ruth Day was April 27th, 1947, when almost 60,000 fans crowded into Yankee Stadium to fete Babe Ruth. To read more about Babe Ruth and view a clip of his speech that day, click over to BabeRuthCentral, the website maintained by his family, that celebrates all things Babe!
Poetry Challenge #241
Out of the Mouth of Babe
Ninety-nine years ago, prior to the opening day game in the brand spanking new Yankee Stadium, the biggest, grandest, first-ever to be called a baseball stadium, Babe Ruth told reporters:
“I’d give a year of my life if I could hit a home run on opening day of this great new park.”
And he did! *
Today’s challenge is to write a poem about something you (or some imaginary you) would give anything to do.
Be sure to include what that “anything” is and be specific about exactly what it is you want that badly to do.
After all, if Babe could do it, why can’t you?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
And get ready! The House That Ruth Built, by Kelly Bennett, with illustrations by Susanna Covelli, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Opening Day at the original Yankee Stadium and Babe Ruth’s first home run in the legendary ballpark, is forthcoming from Familius, Spring 2023!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #247 Upsie-Daisy
Forget your troubles, come on, get happy…*
Why? Because it’s National Upsy Daisy Day (June 8)** a day “set aside to encourage you to face the day positively and to get up gloriously, gratefully and gleefully each morning.”
Upsidaisy
Ups-a-daisy Upsie-daisy
Upsy-daisy
Oops-a-daisy
Oopsy-daisy
Hoops-a-daisy
However you spell it, the term “upsy-daisy” dates back to the mid 1800s. (Maybe some nursemaid sometime said it to a child named “Daisy” while lifting her after a fall, and it stuck.) It sounds happy. Try it “Upsie-Daisy!”
“You find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile...”
There’s even an Upsy-Daisy Doll—who knew?
Poetry Challenge #247
Upside Down and Right Side UP
In honor of Upsie-Daisy Day write a five-line poem beginning and ending with the same line.
And, in honor of the day, try to include the word “daisy” in your poem.
When your finished read your poem from the top down and then from the bottom up. Which view do you prefer?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
*Judy Garland sang Forget Your Troubles in Summer Stock (1950, Saul Chaplin), Here’s a link.
**Stephanie West Allen created National Upsy Daisy Day in 2003. Her desire in creating the celebration was to “make humor, laughter, and a positive attitude part of the Upsy Daisy Day way.”
Upsy Daisy Day video featuring “Bring You a Daisy a Day” song written by Hank Snow.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #240-Take Two
Have you ever been told you look like someone else or you remind the speaker of someone? Have you ever said that to another person? Has anyone ever called you the wrong name? Chances are you’re not alone. Happy National Look Alike Day!
According to Michael Sheehan, an assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, who studies appearance variations and genetics, “‘You most probably have a doppelganger somewhere around the world,’” Sophie Chung reported in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of M2Woman. “‘There is only so much genetic diversity to go around.”
“If you shuffle that deck of cards so many times, at some point, you get the same hand dealt to you twice.”
Poetry Challenge #240
Take Two!
Watch people and see who or what they remind you of.
Write a poem paying close attention to details that make the reader see this person/people too.
Repeat one line at least twice in the poem.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
After poeming, celebrate National Look Alike Day (April 20th) by binging on Doppelganger Television. Buffy the Vampire Slayer went to Doppelgangland. In one Seinfeld episode, George dates a girl who looks “exactly like” Jerry. Profilers has a doppelganger episode. And supposedly there’s a 2018 series Dopplegangers. For more, check out digitalspy’s post of silly doppelganger TV. Chances like this don’t come around twice . . .
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #239-Scrabble Scramble
The game of Scrabble was invented by unemployed architect Alfred Mosher Butts during the depression. It was first produced and sold in 1948. Now, nearly a third of American homes own a game. And if you need an excuse to pull out and dust off your game—or click over online—every April 13th is National Scrabble Day. (I was so engrossed in a game I forgot to post…sorry…whoops a whole different game entirely.) Moving on:
Pick Your Letters—Any Letters!
Poetry Challenge #239
Scrabble Scramble
In honor of National Scrabble Day, let’s play: Draw 2 letters from a game of Scrabble, or pick the first 2 letters in an online version.
Use these letters as many times as possible in a poem about Scrabble, words, games, or keeping score.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
And now that you have the game out, convince someone to play!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #238-Ready Boots?
What the heck are you doing reading this? Don’t you know what day it is? It’s National Walking Day (The first Wednesday each April), the one day per year declared— by the powers that be and the American Heart Association—a day to “get out, stretch your legs, get your heart pumping” by taking a 30-minute walk.
So in the immortal words of Nancy Sinatra, “Are you ready Boots! . . . Start Walking!”
Poetry Challenge #238
Ready Boots???
First things first: Take a Walk. That’s the order (and your heart will thank you.)
Now, after rehydrating it’s time to pontificate. Close your eyes and mentally retrace your steps. Pay particular attention to the colors, the sounds, the smells experienced on your walk. Now, recreate the wonders of your walk in a poem.
Structure your poem to look like the path you walked. If yours was a steady forward-march down the sidewalk, then keep your lines the same length and a measured beat so the poem marches down the page. If it was along lazy ramble, then vary the line lengths so your poem visually rambles.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
*In the mood for more about Nancy, the “Icon of Cool.” Did you know Nancy Sinatra starred with Elvis in Speedway (1968); she was the first American to sing a James Bond theme song (You Only Live Twice in 1967); is half of the only father-daughter duet to ever top the Billboard 100 chart (Something Stupid); and sang about 10 chart-topping songs of her own, and has her own Hollywood Boulevard star!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #237-Ticonderoga Moments
The moment I learned it was National Pencil Day (every March 30), a scene from my all-time favorite Broadway Musical turned film Bells are Ringing (link is to the Broadway show) staring Judy Holiday and Dean Martin popped into my head. Jeffery Moss (Dean) is a playwright who procrastinating. Millie Scott (Judy) who works at Sue’s Answer Phone, and has stuck over to Dean’s apartment because he’s about to miss a deadline, relays her schoolgirl procrastination story ala the pencil sharpener:
“I’d sharpen down to the GUH and then to the ROG and then to the TI and then to the Tuh.”—Millie Scott in Bells are Ringing
Okay, so this little musical segue is my TICONDEROGA …keeping me from getting with the prompt (or rather “point”?)
Poetry Challenge #237
Ticonderoga Moment
In honor of National Pencil Day, find a pencil—Ticonderoga or not—and write a poem on paper. You can write about anything. Think about how it feels to write with a pencil.
Maybe you should try that more often!
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ 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):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .