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.
Shapes
For adults:
Today’s prompt comes courtesy of my fourth-grade son, who suggested a poem about shapes. Specifically, he suggested shapes in nature, possibly because he will be working on a school assignment to find patterns in nature. You could choose to approach the prompt that way, or you could think of the shapes inside your home, or a memory of a specific shape. Or, if you’re so inspired, you could even write a concrete poem, where you arrange the words in a shape that is appropriate to the subject. For poems inspired by shapes, read “Circles” by Ann B. Knox and a series of shape-inspired poems by Eugene Guillevic (click the arrows to read through them). For examples of concrete poems, read “Sonnet in the Shape of a Potted Christmas Tree” by George Starbuck, “Pyramid” by Pearl S. Selinsky and “Fingers Remember” by Marilyn Nelson.
For children:
Think of a circle, a square, a rectangle, a triangle. Where do you see those shapes around you? Take a walk outside or inside your home, and take notice of the shapes you see. Choose one (or two or more) and write a poem about it. Where do you see the shapes? What does it make you think about? Does it remind me of anything else? How does it make you feel?
Shapes in Nature
Everywhere I look, I see geometry.
Rectangles in tree trunks,
with balls of leaves on top.
An oval rock, triangular pine.
Creek carving an “S” through grass,
where geese, like eggs with “S” necks,
chew on heart-shaped leaves.
About Alyce Wilson
