April is National Poetry Writing Month, and many poets like to challenge themselves to write a poem a day. With that in mind, Wild Violet will be sharing poetry prompts each day: one geared towards adults and one for kids.
If you write a poem based on this prompt, feel free to share a link to your poem, or the poem itself, in the comments. Poems appearing in the comments are not considered published in Wild Violet, and you retain all rights to your work.
Celebration
For adults:
When is the last time you spent time thinking of the things you truly appreciate? What or who do you take for granted? Spend some time today thinking about it, and write a celebration poem, also known as an encomium poem, about those underappreciated people, places or things. For examples, read “Praise Song for the Day” by Elizabeth Alexander, “In Praise of My Bed” by Meredith Holmes, “Praise the Rain” by Joy Harjo and “Green Tea” by Dale Ritterbusch.
For children:
Do you like it when people told you that you did something well? Of course you do! But when it the last time you remembered to thank the people who make you smile? Or what about the things that make you happy? Write a poem today that celebrates a person, place or thing, using the following steps.
- Think about what makes you smile. Is it a person, like a sister, a friend, or even a stranger? Is it a thing, like your softest pajamas, or your favorite toy, or pizza? Is it a place, like a park or your bedroom? Choose one to write a poem about.
- Write down some thoughts about your subject. How would you describe them to someone else? What do you like best about them? What is special about that person, place or thing?
- Take your favorite thoughts and work them into a short poem. It can be serious or silly!
My Plaid Blanket
So soft it makes baby ducks jealous,
bright red as squeezed strawberries,
the perfect size for sharing
in cool evening, wrapping
two sets of toes, fluffy and snug.
About Alyce Wilson
