“A flinch of sky”—Prompts Inspired by Emma Bolden

Once again I am sharing a poem by Emma Bolden whose writing leaves me breathless and aching. I hope you like it “Postdiluvian” as much as I do.

For the first prompt, take an origin story or creation myth and make it your own.

For the second, blend two senses as the poet did in the lines “See in the distance the gray sound of a bird / without the gray bird.” If you experience synesthesia, anchor a poem or story with that phenomenon or reflect upon it in an essay.

The third prompt is to use the line “See we had lived so long in gleam” as a ghostline, erasing the line after you’ve drafted the poem or story and crediting the poet.

For the next prompt, write a poem or story using the following list of words: “flinch,” “iridescence,” “electric,’ “beasts,” “glint,” “abandon” “gleam,” “sore,” “wheel” and “world.”

The last prompt is to print out the poem and read it aloud, underlining the words that resonate for you and using those words to build your own poem or story. Btw, “Postdiluvian” was originally published in issue 32 of The Asheville Poetry Review; you can check out the entire issue here: https://ashevillepoetryreview.com/back-issues/issue-32/.

Bonus prompt: write a story or poem in which the water’s reflection breaks into a humming or soft pulling.

Good luck writing!

“Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table”—Prompts Inspired by Langston Hughes

I could not celebrate the 4th of July or the 250th. I am too ashamed of the harm we have done and are doing right now: building concentration camps, enabling genocide, removing aid to sick and starving people across the world and endangering the very land and water and all its inhabitants.

But we can build a better world for everyone and create a country that lives up to its stated ideals. If Langston Hughes who suffered injustices beyond my imagination retained hope in his lifetime, I can too.

For the first prompt, write about your place within America or the world. What future do you want to help create?

For the second, write about this nation’s birth in an essay or poem. What event or period embodies its founding?

The third prompt is to use the line “They’ll see how beautiful I am” as a ghostline. Remember to erase the line and credit the poet in an after statement or in your title after drafting your poem or story.

The next is to write a poem or story using the following list of words: “sing,” “brother,” “kitchen,” “well,” “strong,” “tomorrow,” “table,” “beautiful,” “ashamed” and “America.”

Bonus prompt: write about whatever this photo inspires.

Bonus prompt: write about taking the sentient skull of one of the Founders for a drive through modern America and answering his questions about what has happened since his death. What do you demand of him?

Mercy in Its Myriad Forms—Prompts Inspired by J. Sullivan

I am always fascinated by how differently people perceive kindness and how vast the distance is between intent and reaction in social interactions. J. Sullivan’s poem “Mercy” embodies these discrepancies in a clear narrative.

For the first prompt, write about a scene or a past event in which two people commit contrasting acts of mercy or kindness.

For the second, use the line “And I was about to leave you” as a ghostline, erasing the line and crediting the poet after you have drafted the poem.

The third prompt is to write about a time you attempted to save a creature and failed. Did the animal or insect understand you were trying to help? Did it cling to you or attempt to flee?

For the last prompt, write a poem or story using the following list of words: “garden,” “summer,” “praying,” “bright,” “fizzled,” “fingertips,” “save,” “pain,” “softly,” “surprised” and “mercy.”

This photo is of a luna moth I tried to rescue from a river. I am unsure if it had already drowned by the time I saw it floating on the water or if my movements and subsequent splashes are what ultimately killed it. Write whatever this photo or story inspires.

Good luck writing.

Golden—Prompts Inspired by Anila Quayyum Agha

Tonight let’s do something a little different. Rather than posting a poem for inspiration, I would like to share visual art that brought me joy. Years ago, I got to see the art installation “All the Flowers Are for Me” by Anila Quayyum Agha at the Peabody Essex Museum, and I was enthralled.

Here is the link to experience a short video of the installation: https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/anila-quayyum-agha-all-the-flowers-are-for-me. If you would like to read an interview with artist about a previous installation, check out this link: https://www.pem.org/blog/seeing-the-world-in-a-new-light.

For the first prompt, write whatever the photo or video of this installation inspires.

The second prompt is to write a poem about whatever art enlivens you—a painting, photo, song, movie, whatever form.

The third prompt is to read the interview (link posted above) and write an ars poetica poem, a poem about your writing, poetry and its purpose. If you want to learn more about the form and read examples, you can learn more at the website of the Academy of American Poets: https://poets.org/glossary/ars-poetica.

Good luck writing.