Our host, Jessica, lives in Chicago, Illinois where she teaches English. She is currently a teacher-consultant with the Chicago Area Writing Project.
Jessica offers these words of inspiration: “This winter, I was fortunate to see the Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. ” She was inspired by the lyrics of Grapefruit, in which a poem takes the form of instructions. Today, she inspires us to write poems on how to do something. You can read her full prompt here.
Lately, I’ve returned to the interlibrary loan system I used when I was in college to get books I want to read in my rural county in middle Georgia. I log in to my account, search the shelves across all the state libraries, and place holds on the ones I want in hard copy with my Pines System Library card. One simple click brings them across the miles to me – for free – where I pick them up and return them right across the street when I’m finished. It’s a frugal way to read anytime, but especially with retirement and a more limited budget as the next chapter. Also, our library offers free state park and zoo passes and theater tickets. If I want to listen, I can log in to Libby and get audiobooks too. This is the way to live, laugh, and read.
How To Enter The Next Chapter
get a library
card ~ reserve your books online
check out locally
Common Threads 
Sounds like your next chapter is set, as long as you have the most important card in your wallet – your library card!!
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Thank you, Sally!
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And I can’t wait for your May 30th event with Sarah Kay!! She is a gift to poetry. How does she have so many of her poems in her to just speak them?! Can’t thank you enough for slicing about her in March and mentioning she was coming to GA. So grateful she also came to MD. So glad I added the drive to my Thursday last week. So worth it!
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I’m thankful that you are giving me a great preview of her event. I can’t wait. Thank you, Sally!
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This a great set of instructions!
VerseLove has been a real challenge… so many talented poets and so many intriguing prompts! I did so much reading along with writing every day, tried to write comments, too- sometimes it was just overwhelming! I had many more thoughts and feelings than I could capture in comments. I am pretty sure I’ve read all your poems. Sorry I haven’t left comments every time, but I enjoy your poems and also learn a lot from you.
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Diane, no apologies needed! We comment and read when we can where life allows. I appreciate your poems and am so glad you are here in the space! Glad to be getting to know you better, friend!
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I love that the “checking out” is also sorta “checking in” too. What a terrific poetry prompt, and I’m heading over to the site to read and learn more – for sure, grabbing some inpiration!
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*inspiration!
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Thank you for reading and I agree – the prompts with the hosts this year are wonderful!
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THIS is a great sense of instructions. I am on a first name basis with my local librarians as it should be! You will rock this next chaper!
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I’m glad you shared this Kim, because the library loan system has been wonderful for me as well. And it’s free! I may ask (encourage) them about theater and symphony tickets. 🙂
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Kim, there you go! Good idea for your new chapter. I think this is good reading advice for all, as well. Love all the resources available at our libraries. Great poem and post.
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