Poetry Challenge #246-Live Your Color!
Let’s talk nails: Chipped or groomed? Hands, feet or both? Painted or not painted? 4. Sassy or nasty?
If you fessed up to number 4. Then get with the program. Why? It’s National Nail Polish Day!
“Madge” soaked her client’s hands in green Palmolive dish soap, so when playing “beauty salon” we did, too.
Poetry Challenge #245
Live Your Color!
Nail Polish comes in so many colors. Take a look at some of their names:
She’s a Rocket
All Oar Nothing
Bloom Service
Tapped Out
You Crack Me Up
Peggy Sunburn
Artist Garden
Semi-Charmed
Sorry I’m Late
Cosmic Glitter
Just for Kicks
Find nail polish color names that inspire you, or use some of the above names to write a poem. Can you make your poem tell a story? How many colors can you use?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
As they say at Essie, “LIVE YOUR COLOR!”
The Origin Story: National Nail Polish Day was created by the brand Essie ostensibly to celebrate the nail-care season. But really to boost flagging sales. Essie polish has been around for 40 years as a favorite (so they say) of nail pros because they create “surprising shades.” The first National Nail Polish Day was celebrated in 2017 with the hashtag #EssieLove
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 #245-Tap Happy
When I was a kid, my friend Valerie sat in her room for hours playing one song over and over and over again on her record player. Replaying the song was easy because the record only had one song per side (and Valerie only owned one “real” record). We replayed it until we knew every word by heart, and then replayed it to sing along. The song, Mr. Bojangles, written by Jerry Jeff Walker, about a homeless guy in jail, with a dog who died, who’d let go a laugh, shake back his clothes all around and dance for coins, was the saddest song we’d ever heard. Can’t recall ever flipping that 45 to the B-side. Why would we? Mr. Bojangles, dance…
And that’s what National Tap Dancing Day (May 25) is all about. Tap, which has its basis in African and Celtic dance was developed by slaves in the early 1800s. After the Civil War, tap dancing was popularized after the civil War by traveling minstrel shows and vaudeville, where performers like Bill Robinson, the original “Mr. Bojangles,” made everyone want to tap dance.
“Ginger Rogers did everything he [Fred Astaire] did, but she did it backwards and in heels.”
Poetry Challenge #245
Tap Happy
Tap dancing is all about the beats, the sounds. In celebration of National Tap Dance Day (May 25th) let’s see if we can’t use the beats in words to tap out a poem. Choose a poem to revise. A free verse poem might be a stretch—or a fun challenge. For purposes of this prompt, a poem with an established rhythm might be easiest.
Read the poem to yourself. Now, read it again, but this time, tap out the rhythm of the poem by tapping out the syllables with your feet, a pencil or clap your hand. Tap softly for unstressed syllables, harder for stressed syllables. Listen to the beats of the rhythm you’ve created.
Interestingly even in Free Verse we will subconsciously write rhythmically. Iambic meter, for instance, that repeated soft-hard/stressed-unstressed beats as in “I am. I am. I am…” Shakespeare favored, is close to how we speak naturally, which makes it easier to remember (they say.) Coincidentally, it’s iambic meter is also the rhythm of the heart. Buh-bump.
As you read, are you tapping soft-hard? Hard-soft hard-soft? Hard-hard-soft? Or some other combination entirely. Whatever it is, set that rhythm in your mind and see if you can’t rework a section of your poem with an ear to making it more rhythmic.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it! Keep the Beat!
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-It's All Relatives
Call your brother! Text your cousin! Email Auntie Poopsie in Pookipsie… or pile into The Rattletrap Car and pay them a visit. Why? It’s National Visit Your Relatives Day!
National Visit Your Relatives Day (May 18th) encourages family members to stay connected. Our hectic lives make it easy to get so caught up in the busyness of today’s fast-paced lifestyle. It’s easy to fall out of contact with relatives. The observance reminds us to stop for a moment, take some much-needed time and visit those relatives we care about and have not seen or spoken to for a while.
“Gas up the old Ford, get out the road map
They got a head start about half a day ”
Poetry Challenge #244
It’s All Relatives
Write a poem about a gathering with relatives. It might be your actually relative—including crazy Aunt Pookie—or an imaginary gathering. Where would it be? What would y’all do? Say? Eat?
Add voice to the poem by writing it in the vernacular of the location. For example, if the gather is set on the Space Lab, sprinkle in space words or Martian speak.
For inspiration here are a few fabulous “Relative Gathering” books and Bonnie Raitt’s sassy tune: Papa Come Quick!
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 #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 . . .