Poetry Challenge #120 Resolutionist’s Resolutions
Today, 1-1-2020 marks the #120th 7-Minute Poetry Challenge—that in itself is worth celebrating—as is this bright shining new year, new decade. As they sing in the song*:
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me.
Let’s celebrate by ringing in 2020 with:
Poetry Challenge #120
Resolutionist’s 2020 Resolutions
At the beginning of the new year, everyone seems to have the best intentions. The most common resolutions people make are: exercise more, eat less, spend more time with family, get organized, save money, learn a new skill.
One thing that helps people succeed with their resolutions is when they tell other people what those resolutions are. Therefore, we’re going to write a resolution poem. First, think of three to five resolutions you would like to make this year. Then write a couplet (two lines that rhyme) about each resolution. Finally, share your poem with a friend—and get the friend to write one too. Reread your poem (and your friend’s) at least once a month to remind yourself of what you’re trying to do. Good luck! And . . .
*Line from “Feeling Good” written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, sung most notably by Nina Simone
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1350 consecutive days—120 weekly shared 7-Minute Challenges ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) If you join us by writing a poem, 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 #119-Iridescence of Lights
“Tis the hap-happiest season of all,” the song goes.
converge, we are smack dab in the midst of the festivities. One way these holidays are celebrated is with lights! Lights! Lights! Lights!
Poetry Challenge #119
Iridescence of Lights
In celebration of the holidays, write an acrostic poem about your holiday traditions. An acrostic poem uses the letter of a topic word or words to create a poem.
1. Write the word “Light” (or another holiday-related word) vertically down the length of a page.
2. For each letter, write a related word or idea beginning with that letter extending out horizontally.
3. Take a few moments to refine your poem. Try adding or changing some words to add interest, rhythm or rhyme to your poem.
4. Select your favorite word or image to be the title of your poem.
Below is my effort entitled (predictably) LIGHTS!
“LIGHTS!
Luminous
Iridescent rainbow
Glimmering strands of
Holiday magic
Twinkling
Stars show the way home”
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) 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 #118-It's Getting Darker
Pretend I’m waving a ticking pocket watch before your eyes.
“It’s getting darker . . . darker . . .”
In a few days, Sat. Dec. 21st, it will be the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. That day will have the least amount of daylight. The good news? Days grow longer after that!
Poetry Challenge #119
It’s Getting Darker
In honor of the shortest day, write a short poem. Get your writing implement of choice ready and set your timer. Below is a 4-word prompt. Noodle over it a moment and then write as fast as you can. Ready?
I need a break…
Your poem might become a picture book, too!
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much;
just
Start
writing!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 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 poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #117-A Month of Holidays
Every day is a special day. If a day dawns in need of an excuse to celebrate I make a quick search. I delight in finding calendars that telling what each day is special for—more than 1500 a year and counting. Today December 11, according to nationaldaycalendar.com, is National App Day and National Noodle Ring Day.
Don’t miss your chance to bake this scrumptiousness-Baked Aneletti
I had no idea Noodle Rings* were even a thing!
Poetry Challenge #117
A Month of Holidays
No matter what the National Day is, December is a month filled with hustle and bustle and lots to keep you busy. Take a moment to write a poem and breathe! Get your notebook or computer ready and set your timer. Now consider the prompt below, and write as fast as you can. Ready?
Nothing shines like . . .
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
*Evidently, no one knows the origin of National Noodle Ring Day but it’s a day celebrated by making “the pasta dish which is formed in an 8 or 9 inch ring mold or bundt pan. Usually made from noodles, flour, breadcrumbs, cheese, eggs and other seasonings, this dish has quite a following. When baked the noodle ring is removed from the mold and served on a plate giving it an elegant appearance.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Try your skills with making a noodle ring thing and post with hashtag #NationalNoodleRingDay
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) 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 #116-Prompt Time
Contrary to popular believe, there is a sure fire cure for writer’s Brain Freeze. At first you might baulk. Complain. Resist ala Baby in Dirty Dancing. But it works . . .
Poetry Challenge #116
Prompt Time
Writing from a prompt pushes you to write fast and helps you free your mind. Get your notebook or computer ready and set your timer. Below is a one-line prompt. You can use the prompt as your first line, your last line, or a line in the middle. Read it and then write as fast as you can. Ready:
No one tells me what to do…
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) 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 #115-Knit Wits
Think “knitting” and an image of the “quiet old lady whispering ‘hush’” springs to many a mind. But that’s bunk. At last week’s VCFA Writing for Children and Young Adults Alumni workshop flashing, clicking needles were everywhere. Co 7-Minute Challenge creator, Cindy, is a big knitter. So am I, in my fashion. And in the same way, so are you.
Knitting is such a useful word. In the same way yarn becomes sweaters, wounds knit back together. Families are closely knit. Brows knit in consternation or contemplation. Thoughts knit together become ideas, just as words knit together can be poetry.
Poetry Challenge #115
Knit Wits
In Merriam-Webster speak, knitting is “a series of connected loops,” so that’s where we’ll begin.
Close your eyes and write down the first word that pops into your mind. One word. That word will be the title of your poem.
Next, quickly list words that you associate with your word. From that list, choose the best five.
Take a moment to reorder those five words into a sort of pattern that makes sense to you.
Classic Knit-One, Purl-Two pattern
Let’s use our wits to knit those words together to create a poem. For our first effort, we’ll use a simple knit one, purl two pattern. Consider those five words to be your “knit” stitches. The “purl” part of our poem will be modifiers. Let’s get knitting!
Write your first “knit” word. Below it “purl” two modifiers. Below that purl, write your next “knit” word, then “purl” two; continue in this knit one-purl two pattern until you come to the end of your word list. Just like that you’ve knitted a 10-line poem.
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than Thirteen Hundred (1300, yes I am celebrating) 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 poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #114-User Error
User Error is such a useful term. At one and the same time it blames and forgives: “Yes, I did it, but it wasn’t my fault.”
Such is the case with Wednesday’s prompt. After 113 consecutive weeks we totally dropped the ball. BONG BONG BONG…We forgot to post a 7-Minute Poetry Prompt. Onward:
Poetry Challenge #114
User Error
Think back on a time when you’ve had a system malfunction? A SNAFU? A mess up? A day, event, moment when you dropped the ball: BONG BONG BONG (If you haven’t ever had one on those times, make one up.)
Take a moment to dreg up all the miserable, embarrassing, nauseating, gut-wrenching details. Allow yourself to wallow in the misery for one more minute.
Write a poem about that time. Try not to rhyme. Not to spell correctly. Not to sound pleasant. Let it be harsh and raw—try breaking the lines in odd places. It other words: write a lousy poem.
End it with those two huge words: USER ERROR!
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than Thirteen Hundred (1300, yes I am celebrating) 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 poem in the comments.