Rain and Recommendation—Prompts Inspired by Ilya Kaminsky

So I haven’t been reading nor writing this month in spite of good intentions. I hope you all are doing much better on the Sealey Challenge than I. I have high hopes for next week though!

Since my attention span is short and Sunday is for small poems, let’s turn to another of my favorites by Ilya Kaminsky.

For the first prompt, use an image or scientific fact or natural phenomenon to be your letter of recommendation in a short poem. Let your final line or stanza make the bridge.

The second prompt is to use the lines “yet I believe / against all evidence” for a ghostline for a poem or story. Remember to erase the line and give credit to the poet. Or use these lines as your title instead, again crediting the poet.

For the third, write a list poem of what has eaten you; provide fractions or percentages. What remains?

Bonus prompt: write a conversation between this fish and the centered moss-covered stone in a poem or story.

Good luck reading this month and writing! Have fun!