2021 PAD Challenge: Poems from Days 1-5

As promised in my last blog post, here is the first set of poems I’ve written for the 14th annual Poem-A-Day Challenge as organized by Writer’s Digest. Even though every day has its own unique prompt, I am focusing on “travel” as an overarching theme because I’ve missed traveling so much this past year.

Day 1 PAD Prompt: Write an introduction poem. Introduce yourself, introduce a friend, or introduce a stranger. If you don’t wish to introduce yourself, consider writing a persona poem (a poem in which you write from someone else’s point of view). You could also introduce a problem, solution, or situation.

CHECKING INI greet you like a friendI’ve never metbut know so well –familiar already with yourconveniences and dimensions,amenities and deficitsas you know mine, vaguely,from the endless parade of others –unpacking and repacking,coming and going,leaving unique variationsof disarray in their wake.I won’t be so negligent.I swear it. I’ll leave you as neatlyas I found you – toiletries gathered,detritus collected, souvenirs corralledinto carry-ons, and plastic bottlesclustered near the trash canwith the hopeful guaranteeof reuniting someday,you and me,in that first blush of discovery –the heady freshness of expectation –alone in this hotel room, together.Poetic Form of Choice: Free Verse with Alliteration, Assonance, and Consonance© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 2 PAD Prompt: For today’s prompt, I want you to answer the question, “What does the future hold?” Then, make your answer the title of your poem and write your poem.

UNKNOWNI know not what the future holds.I only know today;And yet my mind so often dwellsOn where I’ll make my way.I dream of journeys far afield,Past hills and lakes and moors.What would I give? What might I riskTo rove those distant shores?To wander freely has a costI should too gladly pay;But I know not when that shall be—I only know today.Poetic Form of Choice: The Style of Emily Dickinson© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 3 PAD Prompt: Write a communication poem about different ways people can communicate: text message, letter, signs, and even speaking dialogue. Of course, there are other forms of communication as well because people love communicating.

WISH YOU WERE HEREAt the carvery on Coleshill’s High StreetI sit (pen in hand) tucked into a boothsculpting sentences onto cardstock rectanglesembellished with teacups or Westiesor the Queen (not quite smiling)while my hasty words fail to encapsulatethe affirmation, gratitude, joy I feelat returning to my home away from home.I’ll concede – postcards are passé, obsoleteas superfluous as sunscreen in Englandas slow as the post office queue.I might email you this evening(send a text in mere seconds)but neither of those can be affixed to the fridgeand remain on display as clear evidencethat I do (in fact) wish you were here.Poetic Form of Choice: Free Verse with Alliteration and Assonance© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 4 PAD Prompt: For today’s prompt, write an active poem. This can be a poem comprised of active (vs passive) verbs. It can also be about exercising, playing a sport, or keeping your mind active.

THE ROSE TREE RESTAURANT,BOURTON-ON-THE-WATERWe lounge at the round wooden table,its pine-green umbrella shielding us fromwhat sunshine slides through the clouds.Across the sidewalk and grassy bank,children wade and splash in the Windrush;mothers huddled by their prams gossip softly.We chatter, too – three friends, two of us sisters –trading tales after a lengthy separation withthe artless ease born of affection and trust.This lazy Saturday yields a feast of activity,none of it rushed or taxing, and I marvel athow doing next to nothing can mean so much.Poetic Form of Choice: Free Verse with Alliteration, Assonance, and Consonance© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 5 PAD Prompt: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The First (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The First Kiss,” “The First Day of the Month,” and/or “The First Time I Rode a Bike”

THE FIRST RETURNINGShe takes her first London taxi down Marylebone Road and drinks her first cup of tea on the Virgin train. She disembarks at the Birmingham Airport to hire her first car of the summer. She concentrates during her first half hour of driving on the left side of the road. She tags along with her host for her first visit to the ASDA Walmart in Minworth. She relishes her first excursion to Kenilworth and her first ramble along the Honiley footpath. She attends her first church service, exchanges first hugs with others, and joins them for her first Sunday lunch.mundane things becomemagical when returningafter an absencePoetic Form of Choice: Haibun - a combination of prose poetry and haiku. The prose portion describes a natural scene in an objective, detailed manner. The haiku portion (with the traditional syllable count of 5/7/5) reflects on what has been described.© 2021 F. E. Greene

It’s not too late for you to join in the fun! Follow this link to the Writer’s Digest website and see the details about the 2021 PAD Challenge.