Prompt: Write a poem about a landmark. It can be a famous landmark (like Mount Rushmore or the Sphinx) or a little more subdued (like the town water tower or an interesting sign). SIGNPOSTS On the northside: grass clippings, popsicle sticks, Sunday newspaper circulars. On the southside: crushed soda cans, crumpled lottery tickets, church service … Continue reading Poem-A-Day Challenge: Day 5 →

Prompt: Pick an animal; make that animal the title of your poem; then, write a poem. CHICKENS The family pet is a precarious decision, like adopting someone you know will die before you and yours. We could not agree on a dog or a cat; the former too much like a third child, the latter … Continue reading Poem-A-Day Challenge: Day 4 →

Prompt: Take the phrase "The problem with (blank)" and replace the "(blank)" with a word or phrase. Make this the title of your poem and then write a poem to fit with or juxtapose against that title. THE PROBLEM WITH ADAM SANDLER Dick and fart jokes aren't nearly as funny on the fifth telling, and the sadsack … Continue reading Poem-A-Day Challenge: Day 3 →

Prompt: Write an outsider poem. You can be the outsider; someone else can be the outsider; or it can even be an animal or inanimate object that's the outsider. HEARTBURN She wears it on her sleeve because it does not fit in her chest, too full of life to be contained, much too easy to … Continue reading Poem-A-Day Challenge: Day 2 →

Prompt: Write an origin poem. It can be the origin of a word, person, plant, idea, etc. METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING Pen, pencil, paper, notebook, Moleskine, laptop, iPhone, quiet park, café table, noisy bar, bathroom stall, lower back, scarred wrist, broken heart... A poem is not truly alive until it is read out loud for someone else to … Continue reading Poem-A-Day Challenge: Day 1 →