Dec
2
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 29
There are two options for today’s prompt:
Write an evening poem.
Write a day-time poem.
as evening descends
shadows spread into the field
kangaroos browsing
photo by Rachel Tropea, found on flickr
Dec
2
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 27
For today’s prompt, write a tribute poem. Write your tribute poem for anyone or anything you like–Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Harry Potter, etc. Have fun!
Spirit
aptly named
little rover on Mars
scientific exploration
even six years past her three-month lifespan
still continuing the mission
dragging one foot behind
unbreakable
spirit
Dec
2
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 26
For today’s prompt, write a good old days poem. Sometimes the good old days were actually good or not, everyone has a good old days poem in them (even if it’s someone else’s good old days story). So dig deep and pull it out.
heavy horses gave
companionship and hard work
replaced by cold steel
Dec
2
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 30
For this month’s final prompt, write an “against all odds” poem. I often feel like we have to fight against the odds, the elements, the technology, etc., to complete these challenges, but there are so many other scenarios that involve someone or something working against all odds to make something happen.
racing
against all odds
for triple crown glory
young horses pound the track, records
to break
Continued…
Dec
1
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 28
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Story,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new word or phrase the title of your poem, and then, write the poem.
dice roll determines
journeys and battles
adventuring quests
party dynamics
the story unfolds
Dec
1
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 25
For today’s prompt, please write a consumption poem. There are any number of things we consume as people, and even more if you think outside the human experience. Some are good, some not so much. But there’s so much consumption going on every single day that it’s a great topic for poeming.
freezing rain and sleet
hunters undeterred
in predawn blackness
start of the season
Black Friday Madness
Nov
30
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 24
For today’s prompt, write a gathering poem. The gathering could be a family gathering, but also about any other gathering–whether human or not.
squirrels gathering
hickory nuts not acorns
oaks have failed again
Another acorn shortage threatens the squirrels’ harvest this year, though the hickory trees are doing their best to make up the difference. Apparently, black walnuts are helping to fill the gap in some other areas as well.
Nov
30
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 21
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Whenever (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then write your poem. Example titles could be: “Whenever I write a poem,” “Whenever something good happens,” “Whenever never,” etc.
whenever it’s time for bed
always something else comes up
a news article to read
one more youtube video
poetry needing expressed
photographs need editing
checking online finances
some website code needs tweaking
web surfing for unique gifts
searching cyber trails for friends
just one more blog to visit
wikipedia browsing
blue glow of the internet
night-time procrastination
Nov
29
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 22
Today is a Tuesday (but not the last one of November), which means there are two prompt. They are:
Pick a fruit, make it the title of your poem, and write the poem. Example titles include: “Banana,” “Kiwi,” “Lemon,” etc.
or
Pick a vegetable, make it the title of your poem, and write the poem. Example titles include “Pickle,” “Potato,” “Asparagus,” etc.
like so many things
even a fruit prompt
reminds me of Tim:
six foot four kiwi
“The Alan Brough Song”
Nov
29
Still catching up. Hitting the prompts out-of-order as they’re just not speaking to me at the moment. Or my brain is still addled with tryptophan.
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 23
For today’s prompt, write a travel poem … You can come at traveling from any angle you wish, just be safe out on the roads.
traveling knitting
prevents snoring and sleeping
constructive hobby
lets me view the countryside
throughout the hours of road trips
Nov
24
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 20
For today’s prompt, write a best ever poem. Now, don’t stress out. I don’t expect everyone to write the best poem ever written–however, you’re allowed to aim for that if you wish. No, I’m asking you to write a poem about the best ever something. For instance, the best ever kiss, best ever dance, best ever party, best ever comeback, best ever moment, etc.
This is the true story of the first meeting between Darkfire and White Knight during a Mutants & Masterminds campaign several years ago.
Best Ever Superhero Meeting
Fire demon with a water phobia
Ice powers granted by a battle suit
Risking their lives for what they feel is right
Each responding to the warehouse alarms
Assuming the stranger is the culprit
Nova of flame erupts from the demon
Disipline fails her as ice surrounds her
In a cage he meant only to contain
Causing instead a fear-fueled blinding flare
Ensuing battle finally subsides
Mission delayed is resumed together
Establishing trust and understanding
Evildoers face a greater challenge
Team of superheroes joining forces
Nov
22
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 19
For today’s prompt, write a “suspicious minds” poem. When I assembled these prompts more than a month ago, I considered this one of my more unusual (and more creative) prompts… Anyway, I’m thinking there are a few ways to go with this prompt. One, write a poem in which the narrator is either suspicious of someone or is the actual one under suspicion. Two, write a poem that plays with repetition–as this song does. Three, write a poem that is a performance poem spectacular (as this song is here). Of course, you can always bend and blend the prompt as you see fit.
suspicion lingers
shattered trust slowly rebuilds
with loving patience
lengthy process to replace
past abusive memories
photo by Nisa Yeh, found on flickr
Nov
22
I left Friday to travel to Philcon, Philadelphia’s Science Fiction Convention. Road trips always derail my writing schedule, so here I am catching up again.
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 18
For today’s prompt, write an “it’s too late” poem. Nobody likes a quitter, but sometimes you have to “know when to hold them, know when to fold them…” There are times when it’s just too late, and today is the day to write that poem–before it’s too late, of course.
weekend vacation
packed, mapped, reservations made
still online dawdling
delaying until too late
caught in Friday’s rush hour snarl
Nov
18
Theme Thursday for November 17, 2011 – TREASURE
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 17
For today’s prompt, write a poem that reveals something. Maybe it’s something physical (like light revealing an intruder or pulling back a sheet to reveal a new car). Or maybe it’s something psychological, emotional, or spiritual. Today’s the day to reveal.
simple brown husk cracks
revealing treasure within
white coconut meat
photo by Flávio Jota de Paula, found on flickr
Nov
16
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 16
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Once Upon a (Blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.
once upon a horse
confidence and self esteem
seem second nature
photo by Kerri-Jo Stewart, found on flickr
Nov
16
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 12
For today’s prompt, write an excess poem. In today’s culture, there seems to be an excess of excess–even with the state of economy. From an excess of advertisements and political posturing to an excess of electronic gadgets and debt, there’s an excessive number of ways to attack today’s prompt.
an oxymoron
I can’t wrap my brain around
chocolate excess
photo by Aurore D, found on flickr
Caught up on the November Poem a Day Challenge!
Nov
16
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 13
Today is World Kindness Day. As a result…
The prompt for today is to write a kind poem. My interpretation of this prompt is that the poem should either be kind or somehow involve kindness in it–one way or the other. I suppose the poem could also involve cruelty–as long as there is some form of kindness somewhere. But if you feel the need to stretch the prompt, go for it.
random acts of kindness
showing a heart sincere
gentleness of the deer
bringing out love
Deer Totem: gentleness, love, and kindness
artwork by Cornelia Kopp, found on flickr
Nov
16
Playing weekend catchup!
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 14
For today’s prompt, write a deadly and dangerous poem. Or you could write just a deadly poem. Or you could write a just dangerous poem. Feel free to poem on the wild side today!
beware the Irish
seeking deadly adventure
down in Australia
avoid the snakes and spiders
they are not the thrill you want
Irish slang:
Deadly – Really good.
This does not mean something will kill you, it means that something is fantastic.
Nov
16
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 15
For today’s prompt, you have two options:
Write a love poem.
Write an anti-love poem.
love
you
despite
frustrations
misunderstandings
shared hopes and dreams are still stronger
than any annoyance or hindrance life throws at us
Nov
11
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 11
Today is 11/11/11, so today’s prompt is to write a poem involving math and/or numbers (I realize the higher you go in math the more abstract it gets).
Is this a cheat? The numbers are in the form, piku: 3 lines of 3-1-4 syllables.
wolverine
ghost
northern phantom
Nov
10
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 10
For today’s prompt, write a different perspective poem. There are a few ways a poet can tackle this one. First, write a poem from a different physical perspective–like from the top of a building or at the bottom of a hole or in the trunk of a car. Another possibility is to write from a different person’s (or animal’s or object’s) perspective–a tactic that has interesting results in fiction (think Grendel or Wicked). If you have an even different perspective on this than me, feel free to roll with it.
Some other prompts/memes played into the creation of this poem as well: Theme Thursday for November 10, 2011 – GOURD and The Thursday Think Tank # 74 – Winter. I tried squishing it into several different forms, before it finally fit into a double etheree.
snow
floating
early storm’s
pristine first fall
reawakens me
laughing child’s creation
reborn again each winter
to be a fleeting companion
in a world of snow angels and forts
but wait, something is different this time
I’ve branches for arms, and a snow belly,
but I’m too early, I’m on green grass!
my eyes are not made out of coal!
and where is my corn cob pipe?
there are leaves in my snow!
Halloween mischief
still in the air
trick or treat!
pumpkin
head
photo by pjmorse, found on flickr
Nov
10
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 9
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) or (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.
I am apparently still in a Halloween mood. I revised the title as “things that go bump in the night or my overactive imagination” was a bit unwieldy.
Trick or Treat
haunting
in the darkness
just around the corner
things that go bump in the night or
my overactive imagination
playing trick or treat with my mind
exaggerating sounds
twisting shadows
haunting
Nov
8
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 8
Here are the options for today’s “Two for Tuesday” prompt:
Write a paranormal poem. In case you’re unsure, click here for a thorough definition of the term “paranormal.”
Write a normal poem. I’m not sure what a normal poem is, but if you do (and you want to write one), go for it!
dancing will-o’-wisps,
broken dishes, slamming doors,
poltergeist chaos,
psi activity released
as adolescence erupts
Nov
8
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 7
For today’s prompt, write a “what won’t wait” poem.
time’s march will not wait
despite procrastination
deadlines approaching
whether or not I finish
expectations still remain
Nov
7
2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 6
For today’s prompt, write an addict poem. There are lots of possible addictions out there–some of them serious and some of them not so much
only one more page
let me finish this chapter
reading addiction
persuasion fails, sent to bed
flashlight under the covers
