One of my favorite things to do is participate in National Poetry Month! I don’t consider myself to be a poet, but I love writing poems without the pressure of trying to get them placed. I leave that for my short stories and longer work. Poetry helps me unpack my emotions. Since I love this month so much, I’m sharing five prompts to get those words flowing! If you use them, please feel free to share your poems and tag us on your social platforms. No pressure, but we’d love to see what you come up with!
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1. Write a poem about the first time you experienced true love, and how it changed you forever. If you haven’t, imagine what it would be like.
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2. Imagine you’re a bird soaring high above a city. Write a poem describing what you see, feel, and hear.
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3. Write a poem about a memory you have of your childhood, focusing on a small detail that had a big impact on you.
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4. Write a poem about a journey you’ve taken, whether it was a physical trip or an emotional journey, and what you learned from it.
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5. Write a poem inspired by a work of art or a photograph that speaks to you, exploring the emotions and ideas it evokes.
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And don’t forget about the theme for the Black Fox summer contest: Secrets Unraveled (closing June 18, 2023)! It makes a great writing prompt for poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction!
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Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach with an MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a former English Professor and owns the FL-based writing studio, Writer’s Atelier. Racquel is also the co-founder and Editor at Black Fox Literary Magazine. She is the author of Holiday on Park, Letter to Santa, Christmas in Cardwick, The Write Gym Workbook, and The Writer’s Atelier Little Book of Writing Affirmations. Her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies. When she’s not working, you can find her watching Hallmark Christmas movies.
Prompt #2
Eagles
Have you ever seen an eagle fly?
Does he ever cry?
Does he ever let you pry?
Pry open his wounds and lie?
Does he wail about life’s lie?
No! He asserts his dominance
And flies into the night sky, free to pierce
Into the depth of the blooming abyss
That looms, subjugating suppliance
Into subservience to his presence.
Be that eagle in flight!
Choose freedom and fight!
Drowning in misery is never right!
Fly with the eagle and shine bright!
Prompt #4
Longing
The coddiwomple journey of life
Varies in destination and objective.
As a child you wish for speed and growth,
To be able to do all you can to become both
Fun, outgoing, refreshing, academic, physical
Even, so you can impress parents and all who’s amical.
As you grow, your need for acceptances
Flourishes as your entourage pullulates.
As your self-confidence and awareness are ingrained
Within you, the need for adoration is decreased.
The depth of the divine comedy of the journey
Is only as haloed as you stay true to you and what’s holy.
Thank you for sharing these with us!