I was browsing through our local used bookstore on a lunch break last week when, on my way out the door, a book caught my eye. Its title, Write the Story, glimmered in gold lettering down the spine, as if to plead: Hey, over here! See my sparkle? Take me home with you!
Already reaching for the doorknob, I changed course and went back to check it out. I expected a how-to on the writing process. Instead, I discovered the hidden treasure of a delightful writing challenge. Each page bore a titled topic with ten pre-determined (seemingly random) words to be used in the writing of a story.
The pages appeared to be blank except for one on which someone had penciled a story to satisfy one singular challenge and apparently moved on with life, abandoning the book and donating it to the bookstore, where it now rested in my hands. Treasure, indeed!
Poems to be written. Winter seeds of poetry, all scattered between the covers of one book. Destined for me, cast off like a stray no one else wanted, knowing all the while that a cultivator of words and writing would be most likely to pick it up, fall in love with it, take it home, and feed it.
I bought it and realized that other members of my small-group Stafford Challenge writers must have a copy. When we commit to writing a poem a day for a year, we all need a little prompting from time to time when the well runs dry or life gets too busy to think deeply like a poet. Once back inside the car, I turned on the heat and warmed up. I ordered three more copies online from the parking lot to send to Glenda Funk, Barb Edler, and Denise Krebs upon their arrival. Then I took a few snapshots to send them in the mean time.
Today’s title: In the Middle of a Long, Cold Winter
Words: opera, redeem, razor, lungs, grace, futuristic, tread, vest, powder, milkshake
In the Middle of a Long, Cold Winter
like that one lingering note
concluding a futuristic opera
treading frozen spring water
winter cleanses our lungs
razor-sharp alveoli icicles fall
sun breaks out in a crescendo
of seasonal transition
melting the white powder
milkshake from the mountainside
grace of its forgiving kiss
beckoning crocus, groundhog-like peepers
stretching up through frozen ground
ready to crawl out of bed
emerge from quilted slumber
shed their corm-sewn bud vests and
sing a new song
Common Threads 
WOW! I will admit, that seeing the prompt and then the random word list, I immediately thought no way – opera and milkshake in same story? But then you made magic with your crocus poem. You slice also shows what a giving person you are. “Others must have a copy…and I ordered three” Favorite line: as if to plead: Hey, over here! See my sparkle? Take me home with you!
LikeLike
Feeling the line “Winter cleanses our lungs” each time I go outside to attempt to shovel the compacted snow/ice that blankets the driveway. Brilliant tapestry weaving the words into a poem.
LikeLike
”white powder milkshake” is a clever metaphor! I love how random word lists push us to see things in a new perspective. I hope you are doing OK in the crazy winter storm. I have the poem version of this book. It was given to me by a student. I’m one of those who has tried one or two of the prompts and abandoned it.
LikeLike
Treasure indeed! Love the line “melting the white powdermilkshake”– who would have ever thought of that without a little nudge.
LikeLike
Kim,
I love the language of care you use to describe the book, as though it is a living thing to nurture. Lovely. Today’s prompts magical. I have two ideas marinating in my mind. I’m excited for my copy to arrive. 🤗
LikeLike