Kelly Bennett's Blog, page 65

Poetry Challeng #53-Shadorma Anyone?

Sometimes when you want to write a poem, it helps to use a poetic form. Poetry Challenge #53 Shadorma Anyone? The Shadorma is a six-line poem with a certain number of syllables on each line: 3/5/3/3/7/5. It’s said to have originated in Spain. It can be written about any subject, does not need to rhyme, and you can connect many together to write a longer poem. Here are two samples *Cindy wrote:

STRETCH YOURSELF!

1
Dr. King
used non-violence
to show us
another
way. He had a dream of peace
we still want...

Poetry Challenge #52-Hurricane Florence

As I type Hurricane Florence* rages. Although I am far from the storm, it’s the only thing on my mind. With each update on the storm’s path and efforts those in the storms projected path are making to prepare, worry mounts. If you are like me, your thoughts and energy are with those in the Southeast—watching, waiting, worrying. As we send our energy and light to all in the storm’s path, let’s focus our creative effort there with today’s prompt.

Poetry Challenge #52 Hurricane Florence Write a h...

Poetry Challenge #51-Remember When?

Remember When…

I wandered back to 54 Oregon Street--my grandparent's house. It did not look like this then--and it was much larger...wasn't it?

What’s the first thing you think of when you say that phrase?

Do you remember when you were seven? You had some money? You saw a movie? You ate a new food? So many memories! So many different poems you could write.

Poetry Challenge #51 Remember When? Pick one thing you remember. Maybe it’s the first thing that came to mind when you began reading this pos...

Poetry Challenge #50

“DON’T USE ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS TO PRETIFY YOUR PROSE!” The warning—BOLD & ALL CAPS—is issued at least once, in ever writing class. So much so, that it’s the title of a Writers’ Digest article expounding the excellence of Raymond Carver via his teacher John Gardner’s leaner-is-neater adverb and adjective-free prose.

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If "Ly" were a dog, this is him. Sad.

Following in Carver/Gardner's footsteps has let us to “cast a suspicious eye on these forms of speech because many times they add little t...

Poetry Challenge #49-Poem Stew

Back when Cindy taught at teen writing camp, one of their favorite activities was Story Stew. "We would call out an “ingredient” and one of the campers would supply it. When we had our seven words, we’d write a story or poem, trying to use each of the words. It was always surprising how different the stories were." Poetry Challenge #49 Poem Stew You can find ingredients for a poem stew yourself. If someone is nearby, ask them for the words in the manner of Mad Libs. Or find them in anything aro...

Poetry Challenge #48-It's Hump Day!

It’s Hump Day—WHOOOO hooooooooo.

If your hooooo, like mine, comes out less robust that’s per other days, even the Oxford Dictionary acknowledges how “Wednesday, regarded as the midpoint of a typical working week, is hump day and perhaps the toughest day of the week."

Getting up and over that Wednesday hump is such a widely shared high hurdle, there’s an International Hump Day Facebook page for folks needing  extra support. There’s even a song (and you know we love songs!) 

However, rather tha...

Poetry Challenge #47-Riffing Off The Trend, Daddy-O

At a loss for words? Aren't we all sometimes--which can be a total drag if you're trying to scratch down some lines, Daddy-o... Have no fear, help is here! There are many excellent sites for Words of the Day. Some of them include trending words as well—words that are the most looked up at that moment in time. For today's stretch, what say we get hip, with-it, happening dude, by riffing off the trend: Poetry Challenge #47 Trending Poetry For this poem, you need to collect five words and see what...

#46-Mining Poems

Give yourself a huge pat on the back! You deserve it! So do we! Making time for the Poetry Challenge--even a quick 7-Minute Poetry Prompt, is not always easy. What's more, while in the full-steam-ahead "creation" mindset focused on the next and the next . . . our past creations go by the wayside. Before we are completely obsessed with more, let's take stock.

Coming up long enough to see what's what!

Poetry Challenge #46 Mining Poems Every now and then, it’s a good idea to read over the poems y...

Poetry Challenge #45-Pure Magic!

Magic! Do you believe in magic? I do. How else do you explain the unexplainable?

For today’s prompt, let’s explore magic in a poetic form.

Poetry Challenge #45 Pure Magic! #1 Think a moment about Magic! #2 Jot down words & images that comes to mind related to Magic! #3 Use words from your Magic List to create a Pyramid Poem. What's a Pyramid Poem? A Pyramid Poem is a type of concrete poem. It starts with one word on the top line. The second line has two words, three words on the third line, four wo...

Poetry Challenge #44-A Neat Idea . . .

Sometimes all you need to write a poem is something to get you started. A number, a color, a word, or a phrase.

Poetry Challenge #44                  Here’s a Neat Idea: For this poem, begin with the phrase “Here’s a neat idea:” and write. You could be talking to yourself about something you’ve done or that you want to do. You could be talking to someone else about something you want them to do. You could be talking about something real or imagined. Whenever you get stuck, write the phrase aga...