Inspiration With spring on its way (perhaps not today in Chicagoland with a forecast of snow), you might be thinking of baseball, golf, gardening, long rides on the Harley. Write a poem about a sport or activity and its importance to you or in America …
Inspiration In my life time, I have had loves, friends, and habits that became (or always were) toxic. Sometimes I had the gumption to end it, and sometimes “it” ended me. So today, I invite you to write a break-up poem. Process This break-up poem …
Inspiration What do you carry? In a day, in our life, we carry a great many things in a purse, in a pocket, in a bag, on our shoulders. Write a poem about the things you carry (or do not carry). Note: This inspiration came …
A special thanks to Travis Crowder for inspiring us with verse days six through eleven. The poems crafted and shared here show the power of poetry to notice, remember, heal, and nurture community. Inspiration A Space of Meaning. I love the outdoors, as do many …
Inspiration: Emotional Memory I’m always haunted by memories, especially those associated with emotions such as grief, betrayal, and hurt. I know these are negative emotions, but part of healing is accepting and acknowledging their presence in our lives. Poem Process Choose an emotional memory. It …
Inspiration Today, we welcome Kwame Alexander’s poem “In My Closet, On the Top Shelf, is a Silver Box.” (Crush: Love Poems for Teenagers, 2008). Alexander’s poem serves as a mentor text to collect thinking. I love this poem because the short lines, divided with commas, …
Inspiration Poems from images. How do images evoke strong reactions? How can we turn those reactions into poems? I love to start writing from images. Pictures, especially ones with deep stories, compel my writing, both in my notebook and with my students. Poem Process Choose …
Inspiration What books have nudged you as a reader? What books have burrowed themselves in your heart and will not let go? Those books that linger are special and beg to be remembered. Books enter our hearts by first touching our hands. An activity. Trace …
Inspiration What words stand out to you in the texts that you are currently reading? What words seem to be encouraging you to collect them and mold them into something beautiful? Process Pointers Collect pieces from personal reading, such as individual words, short sentences, descriptive …
Inspiration The temperature in Chicagoland is warming up. Where do you live? Can you go outside? Yes? Perhaps today’s poem can be inspired by your neighborhood or literal (even figurative place) in the world. Go to the place. See if your sidewalk (or street, or …