Today, I’m hosting the kickoff of #VerseLove 2024 at http://www.ethicalela.com, the website and writing community of Dr. Sarah J. Donovan of Oklahoma State University. Each day this month, we will be writing poetry together as we rotate hosting, celebrate writing together, and encourage one another. You can read the entire prompt below, but you can also read it (and the poetry of others) here.
Inspiration
I enjoy unlocking the puzzles of smashed-together-word hashtags and considering their power to make a statement. Like clever license plates and bumper stickers, hashtags can issue a call to action, proclaim characteristics, and identify members of a group. Today, let’s use them to introduce ourselves as we begin our #VerseLove journey together this month.
Process
Write your name vertically down the left side of a page. You can use your first name, nickname, or full name – your choice!
Place a hashtag in front of each letter of your name.
Jot a list of your hobbies, your passions, and any other aspects that you might use to introduce yourself to someone getting to know you. You can scroll through photos, Facebook posts, or poems you’ve written to help you think of some ideas.
Finally, use the letters to make a hashtag acrostic to introduce yourself to your #VerseLove family! You can #smashyourwordstogether or #space them apart.
We are your people. We can’t wait to get to know you better as we write and grow together.
#Cheersforthejourney!
Kim’s #HashtagAcrostic Created on Canva
Common Threads 
Mim,
I learned something new about you today: You like acrostics! I checked each hashtag to make sure. And if not for poetry, I would not know the other things. Maybe if teachers had students write more poetry they’d know them better and signal to students how deeply they’re loved by their teachers. I finished my poem and will share it later today.
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Glenda, that was always my first priority as a teacher – getting to know my students. I couldn’t recommend books for reluctant readers or make connections until I knew them as people first. Thank you for your observation about that! I’m so glad we are writing together this month! I always learn so much from you!
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