30

Welcome to 30: a series of poetry prompts!

This is not a competition. There are no prizes. This is me challenging myself and inviting anyone interested in playing along to join in the fun.

This would work well as a poem-a-day exercise for a month, but in my case, I'm just taking them as they come. I already have poems that fit some of the prompts, so I'll be sharing those, as well as any new ones that are inspired by this exercise.

As I complete each prompt, I'll update this list to link to each poem. If you create something from any of these prompts (or all of them!), please share your work in the comments section!

PROMPT 1

Write a glorious poem. Synonyms: wonderful, marvelous, illustrious, celebrated, famous, superb, spectacular, lovely, delightful

Poem:

PROMPT 2

Write a darkest hour poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 3

Take the phrase “Tired of (blank)”, replace the blank and make that the title of the poem.

PROMPT 4

Write an apologetic poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 5

Write a private poem.

PROMPT 6

Write a lost poem, or a found poem, or both.

PROMPT 7

Write a poem with an occupation as the title.

PROMPT 8

Write a poem that hints at something. Something partially explained, beats around the bush, shrouded in metaphor or obscure language, foreshadows events to come, etc.

PROMPT 9

Take the phrase “Burn (blank)”, replace the blank and make that the title of the poem.

PROMPT 10

Write a teenage poem. From the POV of a teenager, about a teenager, etc.

PROMPT 11

Write a forgiveness poem.

PROMPT 12

Write a disaster poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 13

Write a quiet poem and/or a loud poem.

PROMPT 14

Write a hungry poem, either literal, or metaphorical.

PROMPT 15

Take the word “Anti-(blank)”, replace the blank and make that the poem title.

PROMPT 16

Write a brave poem.

PROMPT 17

Write a broken poem. Someone, or something that has been broken, literally, or figuratively.

Poem:

PROMPT 18

Pick a child’s toy, make that the title of the poem.

PROMPT 19

Write a poem that uses at least 3 of the following 6 words: con, flush, oxymoron, pass, rub, toxic.

PROMPT 20

Write a love poem and/or an anti-love poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 21

Write a protest poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 22

Write a praise poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 23

Take the phrase “I Can’t (blank)”, replace the blank and make that the title of the poem.

PROMPT 24

Write a salty poem.

Poem:

PROMPT 25

Take a line from a poem earlier in this month and make it the title. Quote an entire line, or phrase.

PROMPT 26

Write an ambitious poem.

PROMPT 27

Write a shaky poem and/or a sturdy poem.

PROMPT 28

Write a mood poem; set the mood, about a mood, etc.

PROMPT 29

Write a remix poem. That is, take one of your poems from earlier in the month and remix it. If it was originally free verse, maybe take a few key lines and turn it into a sonnet or villanelle. Or make small changes that remix the meaning of the poem.

PROMPT 30

Take the phrase “One More (blank)”, replace the blank and make that the poem title.