Farewell (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day 10, Farewell
Poetry & Photography

Write a poem about a farewell today: perhaps this image may bring back memories of loved ones who passed, or revive memories of those that departed from our lives. Or you could focus on the more mundane, but still powerful moments of your daily goodbye rituals, whether it’s a friend, partner, or member of your family.

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“Farewell, fair cruelty” William Shakespeare

Farewell

Farewell, good bye, so long
Everyone try to stay strong
Sadness, drama, comedy
Who said saying farewell was easy?

Farewell may be forever
But never say never
Our world is still round
And what is sometimes lost
Usually, can be found
After all, we are all bound
In this tiny part of universe
Our paths may once again cross
May we remember this verse

Farewell, good bye, so long
Consider life a song
Keep chanting and stay strong
Old friends may soon come along

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Graffiti Porvoo Style (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day 8: Graffiti
Poetry & Photography

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“It’s Porvoo style – whoomph whoomph, whoomph, whoomph – Porvoo style!”

Graffiti Porvoo Style

I’m spraying my graffiti
Where ever it fits me
On the walls of suburbia
Bringing a sense of hysteria
There is no mystery
Of who I am
Just read my life’s history
Come and catch me if you can

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Camouflage (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day: Day 9: Camouflage
Poetry & Photography

“Camouflage is a game we all like to play, but our secrets are as surely revealed by what we want to seem to be as by what we conceal.” — Russell Lynes

For today’s poem, take inspiration from camouflage — you may apply it in any way you like, whether you write about visual or social dissimulation, or focus on the way we hide our myriad emotions, actions, and reactions. What would be your ultimate smokescreen, concealment, or mask?

camouflage

“I need camouflage that works in such a way that when I wear it, you disappear.” Jarod Kintz

Camouflage

I need a good disguise
I really need to hide
From the prying eyes
So very hard I tried
To fit in the system
Trying each position
But now the resistance
Almost my mission
Is to get away
To disappear
I know it’s a cliche
I am facing
The final frontier
My heart racing
I am finally fading
My shell visible
Slowly trading
Becoming invisible
My camouflage
Now complete

camouflage

Beloved (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day 7: Beloved
Poetry & Photography

Something about the very word “beloved” causes a frisson in us. Out of the people that matter to you, who matters the most? Whom do you love, or whom have you loved more than anyone else? What does the word “beloved” summon up in your imagination? What songs, poems, stories, movies spring to mind? Who is your beloved?

Today, write a poem celebrating your beloved. It does not have to be a specific person — you could address an imaginary beloved from the future who’s waiting for you. You could take on the persona of a well-known mythological or historic character and address her or his beloved in your poem. You could create a new type of lover and beloved.

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“Every beloved object is the center point of a paradise” Novalis

Beloved

Mismatching socks and messy hair
Carefully watching, trying not to stare
Sitting in your favourite chair
Chewing on your meal without a care
My eyes fixed, I still feel the flare
Whom better with my life to share

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Upside Down or Opposite Day (Writing 101 Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day Six: Fallacy
Poetry & Photography

Unsound arguments. Failures of reason.

Today, let’s write poems that are wholly illogical.

Let’s see how miserably we can get reason to fail; both our reason and the reason that guides our readers.

Try not to consider this prompt as a call to nonsense but rather a call to use your good (creative) sense to arrive at firmly misconstrued ends. Surprise yourself!

Alternatively, make poetry from known philosophical fallacies. Make that straw man stand by a red wheelbarrow, put the genius of the crowd to the test, or tell the tale of a (tautological) tub.

“Poetry…where magic is supreme and where therefore things happen which realistically-minded strangers find difficult to understand.” – Robert Graves

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“This is not the rhyming song!”

Upside Down or Opposite Day

Chocolate as a dietary measure
Which can be the ultimate pleasure
To get the same effect
From this heavenly confect
You would by eating a carrot

Oh don’t listen to the parrot!

At least double the amount
No no you don’t have to count
Per each pleasurable bite
When enjoying this healthiest of delights

Chocolate is the answer
Never mind what the question was!

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Freedom (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day: Day 5: Freedom
Poetry & Photography

Freedom is a fundamental need. It is so powerful that nations go to war for it. People engage in both despicable and heroic deeds to gain it. In the name of freedom we suffer, make sacrifices, and attempt to perform miracles. For freedom we are willing to lose everything and risk our lives, since no life really is one without freedom.

What freedom means is open to interpretation, which is why it’s been a recurring subject in art. In today’s poem, share your take on freedom. While you’re at it, be fearless with your thoughts. Don’t hold back. Unleash your emotions and be honest with yourself. Uncensored writing coming from the heart often produces the most amazing read.

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“Life, Love, Liberty”

Freedom

Freedom is to be who you are without being ashamed
Freedom is to love someone without being blamed
Freedom is to walk home in the dark without being raped
Freedom is to say your thoughts out loud without being hated
Freedom is to choose whether you turn left or right
Freedom is to surrender without a fight

Freedom is,
To be who you are
Where you are
When you are
Let no one
Tell you differently

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4

Seconds (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day: Day 4: Seconds
Poetry & Photography

“Life moves very fast. It rushes from Heaven to Hell in a matter of seconds.” – Paulo Coelho

A new life sees the world for the first time. Simultaneously, another life takes its final breath.

A passenger that was supposed to board a plane was one second late. Hours later, the plane went missing, the passenger saved.

Unimportant as it may seem, a split second can change our lives in ways we can never imagine. So today, write about the basic unit of time, seconds. Reflect on those few seconds when a loved one was in a life-and-death situation. Relive the few seconds when you held your eldest child for the first time. Recount those seconds when you were waiting for big news that was about to change your life.

 

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“Even if it turns out that time travel is impossible, it is important that we understand why it is impossible” Stephen Hawking

Seconds

Heart beating
Time is running out
Only a few seconds left
For the ultimate request
Using a different route
Feels like cheating

Finally reaching
My own hideout
No time for rest
Only doing my best
No time for tryout
Parameter breaching

Safely in my blue box
Punching the clock
Time starts moving
Seconds removing
Going backwards
Against standards

They said
It couldn’t be done
But did I bet
And know I am gone
Back in time
Trying to find
…My future

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Sleepy Kitty (Writing 101, A Poem A Day)

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day: Day 3: Sleep
Poetry & Photography

Sleep: a world where our thoughts rule.

A place where reality is overshadowed by dreams.

A time when we transport our soul from the real world to the virtual.

For some, the hours we spend asleep, alone and in peace, are the best of the entire day; for others, whether haunted by nightmares or unable to fall asleep in the first place, not so much.

It’s time to think deeply about sleep. Dive into the pool of night and let whatever it is you find there take poetic form. (I hope this prompt doesn’t make an insomniac out of you!)

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“Sleepy Kitty
Happy Kitty
Purr, purr, purr”

Sleepy Kitty

Happy with my kitty
So I wrote this little ditty
Why don’t you sing along
To the tune of this familiar song

Soft kitty, warm kitty
Purring on my lap
Sleepy kitty, happy kitty
Why don’t I too take a nap

My little ball of fur
Listening to you purr
Life is kind of a blur
But this is how I prefer

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Reflections, Two

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day 2: Reflections
Poetry & Photography

On water, in puddles, in glass, in mirrors – reflections can clarify, blur reality, or fracture it altogether. They can serve up surreal images or a perspective that’s unexpected. Whether it’s street light-reflected raindrops or the sky distorted in a half-melted patch of ice, reflections are nature’s funhouse mirrors.

Reflections are not limited to non-living objects. Our bodies reflect our internal health and our clothes reflect our lifestyle. We also reflect internally upon our world, our physical state, or on ideas bouncing around inside our skulls.

Clear or distorted, in your poem today tell us something about the reflections you see — in the world or in yourself.

reflections-2

“Style is a reflection of your attitude and your personality” Shawn Ashmore

Reflections, Two

Through the looking glass
Reflections from present and past
Mystified images mirrored
In your mind’s eye forever

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Reflections, One

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Writing 101, A Poem A Day, Day 2: Reflections
Poetry & Photography

On water, in puddles, in glass, in mirrors – reflections can clarify, blur reality, or fracture it altogether. They can serve up surreal images or a perspective that’s unexpected. Whether it’s street light-reflected raindrops or the sky distorted in a half-melted patch of ice, reflections are nature’s funhouse mirrors.

Reflections are not limited to non-living objects. Our bodies reflect our internal health and our clothes reflect our lifestyle. We also reflect internally upon our world, our physical state, or on ideas bouncing around inside our skulls.

Clear or distorted, in your poem today tell us something about the reflections you see — in the world or in yourself.

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“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection” Winston Churchill

Reflections, One

Reflections on the walls
Reflections on the windows
The sunsets and sunrises
Reflected on each surface

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