Write a “Post” Poem for Robert Brewer’s Blog

Here’s my contribution for Day 6 of the Poem a Day Challenge. It draws from a strange childhood fascination–a small poster on a fence which I could read, but which seemed to make no sense at all. That fascination was, actually, an early manifestation of my interest in poetry–the multiple implications of words and the meanings that lurk among them.

2013 April PAD Challenge: Day 6 | Write a Poem a Day Until May | WritersDigest.com.

Post No Bills 

The sign

on the

construction company’s

temporary fence

said “Post no bills.”

I could read

all the words

as I skipped past

and I read it

over and over,

so seemingly

simple, yet holding

so little sense.

My parents

muttered something

about advertisements,

but what did

Brill Cream or Babbo

have to do with

posts or bills?

They must have,

I thought,

misunderstood me

again, and I mulled

what adult secrets could

be hidden so out there

in the open, among

little words.

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Write a Poem about a Soup Memory

Here’s a great poem about a soup classic, Campbell’s tomato at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. Click on the link below to read it.

Then, write a poem about your own favorite soup memory. It can be any variety. I can’t eat tomato, myself. It’s too acidic.

friday feast: a soup poem for starters « Jama’s Alphabet Soup.

Here’s mine:

Alphabet Soup

The kitchen table

is covered with

red-checked oil cloth.

Raindrops streak

down the window

over the sink.

Mommy is humming

as she stirs

the pot, then,

she ladles out

steaming ABCs.

A Three Wishes Poem

I enjoyed my day off writing. I spent it sorting out photos on one of my drives. I have many duplicates and a number of duds. Time away makes many things clear.
This morning a poem arrived in my email from a Linked In contact, Marek Wysoczynski. It was a Three Wishes poem.
Every year when I was teaching, I did a Wishes poem with my students, and it always produced great results.
This morning, then, write a Three Wishes Poem, a poem about wishes, or a poem cataloging every wild wish you can think of.
Here’s mine:

Three Wishes

I am five
beside a
shallow well
at a garden
where my
parents walk.
I step up
to the edge
holding three
bright copper
pennies, small
works of art
that could buy
waxed lips
or bubble gum
at the corner
store, but
I want more.
I want a carriage
for my dolls
to push them
down the sidewalk
so everyone
can see how
grown-up I am.
I want skates
so I can keep up
with my friend Jill.
I want a cuckoo clock
like the lady
across the street
who marks each
hour with magic.
Eyelids clenched,
I drop each penny in
imagining how
that single wish,
if fulfilled,
will make me
happy forever
and ever.
I am five
standing beside
a shallow well.

Linda Armstrong, 12/2/12. All rights reserved.

2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 8 : Poetic Asides • Page 2 • Writing Forum | WritersDigest.com

Robert Brewer’s poetry prompt today is brilliant. It could inspire a whole book.

Write an answer to a question or provocative statement posed by a dead poet. 

Isn’t that great? Because posting comments to his blog can be challenging (a nonsensical error message pops up), he is setting up a separate thread for each day’s poems on the WD forum.

Forgive me, but I am really proud of the one I came up with today! You can find it, and responses from other members of our community by following the link below. Don’t forget to post your own, too. I’ve posted my poem below the link here if you want to read it without clicking.

2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 8 : Poetic Asides • Page 2 • Writing Forum | WritersDigest.com.

Mar-ga-ret, Gerard Has Just Forgotten

Mar-ga-ret
the man has
been inside
too long
to remember
the joys
of running
barefoot in dewy
July grass
under the long
sun or swimming
in a mild pond
with laughing
friends who
don’t want anything
but fun. He
sees you crying
as leaves
fall down
and tries to stop
your tears
with a flood
of verbal invention,
but he even
makes your name
fall a syllable
at a time
like leaf-meal
flutter. Go ahead
and grieve, child.
Then, stand
outside, open
your mouth
catch snowflakes
on your tongue.