Poetry Challenge
2023 Challenge: write one new poem a day in April. I follow Stephanie Peterson Abney’s A Month of Poetry Challenge on Facebook to learn new styles of poems. I have to qualify this page and say that the ONLY time I write rhyming poetry is for this challenge — it feels forced and unnatural and I avoid it at all costs. That being said, for your enjoyment I present my 30 days of poetry!
April 1: Couplet
The book was supposed to last all week –
But the weather turned pretty bleak.
Not willing to deal with the snow
I let my reading time grow.
And now (I’m afraid to admit) a new problem arises
I need novels consisting of larger sizes!
April 2: -ing Poem
Spring
Drizzling
Dripping
Warming
Growing
Changing
Becoming
April 3: Naani Poem
Who do I intend to become?
When all is said and done,
let the tears wash away all
that is not me.
Day 4: Quatrain
I anticipate this writing a poem a day
Just like I did through all of high school.
Lately it feels like I have little to say.
“Just smile and nod” is the unspoken rule.
Words boil inside anyway
While outside, I try to remain cool
Pressure builds – I need out of this fray!
Pen and paper become the tool.
April 5: Windspark
I dreamed
I was a candy kiss
Warm inside your sweet baby mouth
Not caring I was melting
Slowly
Day 6: What If Poem
What if I had kept writing a poem a day all these years?
I might have honed my skills instead of needing to rediscover them.
What if I had used a theme to guide my thoughts?
I could have compiled them into a book.
What if I keep this habit for more then this month?
I would finally say what I need to say!
Who am I about to become?
Day 7: Pleiades Poem
Laundry
Loud complaining and eye rolling,
Lying on the floor in agony,
Longing to be doing ANYTHING else on a sunny day!
Labile behavior for a 40 something year old
Lady who is fully capable of just starting the darn thing . . .
Laughing under my breath when finished –
“Landsakes! It took two minutes to fold!”
April 8: Senses Poem
Light filtering through the aspen leaves making patterns on my skin
Damp soil, butterscotch, campfire smoke
Whispers of the secrets the leaves pass to each other on the wind
Sun warmth on the smooth surface of my thinking rock
Dutch oven raspberry peach cobbler lingering in my mouth
I think of John Denver singing, “Hey it’s good to be back home again”
April 9: Free Verse
April 10: 5 W’s Poem
The girl in the mirror
Is looking a bit . . . different . . . today
Grey in her hair, wrinkles by her eyes
I’m not sure when
Age started to creep in on her
Day 11: Tan-Renga
Day 12: Shadorma
Sweet Baby –
Who isn’t so small –
Calls me up
“Momma, I
Need you at the hospital.
Please, come hold my hand.”
Day 13: Cinquain
Classroom
Reading, writing
Discover something new
Daily hugs, celebrate their wins-
My joy
Day 14: Cinquain 2
Day 15: Synonym Poem
TOUCH
Handle, reach, feel, affect, move
Praying the lesson I taught helped you improve
Day 16: Pyramid Poem
Books
Stacked books
Stacked books tumbled
Stacked books tumbled slowly
Stacked books tumbled slowly after being touched
Day 17: Pensee
Winter
Testing the spring
This year, refusing to leave
April showers means no May flowers
Finally – Sun!
Day 18: Octopoem
Grey-blue walls provide a sanctuary
Against the winter storm raging outside.
My bedroom – the one that had been ours –
*wiped dry of tears and rain
Given a new coat to erase the wear and years
New bed, New nightstands, New lamps, Old rocking chair
No TV blaring Criminal Minds while he is passed out drunk.
Just me, a new book, a cup of coffee, and the calm.
Day 19: Waltmarie
Warm spring day filled with
Raindrops
Tracing invisible tracks on the windowpane
Falling
In drips to the flowerbed below.
Singing of birds stilled while the
Patter
Of my bare feet in the kitchen floor feeds
My soul
Day 20: Acrostic
Day 21: Tyburn
Coffee
Creamy
Dreamy
Trusty
Steamy
Morning wake-up creamy, dreamy, tip
Evening partner, trusty, steamy sip
Day 22: Nonet
Day 23: Rhyming
Day 24:
Day 25: Lantern
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