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Challenge from Stacey Joy:  Write a family trait poem – – modeled after Sandra Cisneros’ “Hairs.”

Traits are randomly scattered through my family – – 
some are well-loved by everyone,
                soft grandma-hugs no one resists
others are avoided and even shunned
                barely tolerated, I’ll tell you
some stand at odd angles
                gaps of uncomfortable social distances
others stand stoically shoulder-to-shoulder
                in a steadfast show of solidarity and unity
some consider themselves high above others
                showcased with spine tattoos that proclaim things
others are falling apart at the seams
                held together by mere threads
some stick to their own homes
                rarely a rendezvous, while
others venture out
                wandering and visiting like dementia ward escapees,
                until they are found and returned home where they belong
some have unsung talents
                those obscure, never-made-popular voices that rival the famous
others drone on and on and on and on
                incessantly chattering about what isn’t mattering to anyone
some speak in ambiguous code
others tell it flat like it is – like it or not
some spill all the family secrets 
others disguise their own truths
              “asking-for-a-friend” style, never admitting anything
some are painfully shy and soft-spoken
others lead the charge and WILL NOT! be silenced
some are well-traveled
               have wined and dined and slept around with too many to count
others are pristine virgins
               untouched, undesirable as yet
all have a place in the concerted chorus –
some blending,
others transcending
                doing their best to cover those a bit off-key
unkempt books that fill my family shelves
some awake, vertical
others lazily dozing, horizontal
all waiting to be read and loved and accepted for who they are
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Challenge from Glenda Funk:  Write an Etheree poem.  10 lines, with each numbered line having that many syllables in it.

Morning Standoff

tail
wagging
beckoning
raising bottom
guarding his knot toy
chinning floor, front legs flat
cutting vicious eyes at me
daring me to move a muscle
growling an invitation to die
angels fear to tread in morning standoffs

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Challenge from Glenda Funk:  Write a Blitz Poem, using repeating ending words in paired lines from 1-48. Line 49 is the last word of line 48, and line 50 is the last word of line 47.

Hands of Tomorrow
Wash your face
Wash your hands
Hands that scold
Hands that hold
Hold each other
Hold our children
Children who write
Children who read
Read people
Read books
Books that inspire
Books that change
Change our world
Change our outlook
Outlook of reality
Outlook of hope
Hope that launches
Hope that heals
Heals broken lands
Heals broken people
People who suffer
People who pray
Pray for restoration
Pray for peace
Peace of mind
Peace of spirit
Spirit of humanity
Spirit of love
Love one
Love all
All who live
All who give
Give of your self
Give of your time
Time to talk
Time to listen
Listen to reason
Listen to hear
Hear our people
Hear their cries
Cries of sadness
Cries of joy
Joy for today
Joy for tomorrow
Tomorrow brings promise
Tomorrow brings unity
Unity of humankind
Humankind
Unity
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfOEd6VME6Y

Let’s make Mashed Potato Poems today! Take various lines from existing poems and write them on paper strips. Rearrange into the order you like best to create a whole new poem, and credit the original poets at the end. Here’s mine:

Carefree Days

The sky is big enough for all my dreams
As long as you know how to dream
I should like to rise and go where the golden apples grow
Where she has left her fragrance like a shawl
By the craggy hill-side through the mosses bare
And then my heart with pleasure fills
and dances with the daffodils
And all I ask is a cloudless sky with the bright sun burning
To fling my arms wide in some place of the sun
Shhh…..listen carefully, and you can hear
the crickets singing
Soon, there’s a comma of a moon.

(I borrowed lines from Pat Mora, Evelyn Wade, Robert Louis Stevenson, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent-Millay, Lilian Moore, Robert Frost, Robin Blackburne, William Allingham, and William Wordsworth).

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For the first day of National Poetry Month 2020, celebrate with a #hashtag acrostic.  Think of words or phrases that describe you and that begin with the letters in your first, middle, and last names.  Introduce yourself below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnE-gAMrqHw
#hashtagletmeintroducemyself

#kayakpaddler
#ilovedogs
#meditativewriter
#booknerd
#eagertraveler
#ratherbereading
#listensmorethantalks
#yinyangimbalance
#happieraftercoffee
#asksquestions
#yestonewchallenges
#naturelover
#experienceinspireswriting
#seeksadventures
#jumpsinfeetfirst
#overeatssweets
#hasabutterflygarden
#notashopper
#simplifiesthecomplex
#overjoyedonfireplacesnowdays
#nonfictionpreferred

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Challenge from Sarah Donovan:
Write a Credo poem – – a mantra about what matters to you.

#gottaSHOWUPunannounced
I see it in the old photographs –
   young minister at his desk
   writing
   books piled high
   baby in the middle
   wallowing in the books,
   chewing the pen
   two fully immersed
   in words, texts, pens, paper, creating,
   passion pumping through veins
    like ink through a fountain pen.
That baby was me. 
Literacy guaranteed.
But what about the Shunwells?
Who ignites their flames?
Because
knowing about basketball
writing about basketball
watching a basketball game
isn’t enough.
#gottaSHOWUPunannounced
#gottaread
#gottawrite
#gottaaccept
#gottarelate
#gottarespect
#gottainspire
#gottainfluence
#gottaencourage
#gottaembrace
#gottalove’emall
#gottagetinthegame
and get my arms around kids
#gottareframethatpicture
and perpetuate that legacy
#gottapickupthatfoutainpen
and revise the playbook
-Kim Johnson
Inspired by my father, Dr. Felix Haynes, and the greatest of the great at showing up unannounced – Kwame Alexander  – watch here:  https://youtu.be/LJvx6ZNYHVw
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Challenge from Jennifer Jowett: write a haiku about a nature-oriented Japanese word character.

I chose the Japanese character for fire, which looks like a K with a wayward eyelash off to the side of its backbone.

flames licking upward
providing warmth on cold days
and light on dark nights
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Challenge from Jennifer Jowett:  write an origin poem – what are your roots?

Waycross Welcoming

on Ware Street
in Waycross, Georgia
in the wee hours
of July 8
water breaks

hospital-bound
Felix heart-pounding cool
Miriam painfully excited
about the happy and
interesting journey ahead

drama-filled waiting room
Felix sweating it out
family gathered
1966-style:
NO DADS ALLOWED! birthside

new parents, driving home
humming
singing
praying
wondering
What are we in for?

beneath Plant Avenue
by the landmark Green Frog
I answered…
with an undeniable gas bomb…
they understood a little more

I was christened
with family tears of joy
Miriam as beautiful through birth
as when she left us in 2015
our mournful tears, deathside

welcomings, homegoings
different origins
little blips on the dash –
joys and sorrows
of consummation

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Challenge from Jennifer Jowett:  Write a poem in a strong voice, with what X might say.  Example:  What Cornonavirus might say, what a hungry dog might say, etc.

What an Introvert, Faking It for Her Husband, Would Say

I’m not going!
Why should I want to
eat a formal dinner with
a tableful of self-showcasers
I don’t even know?
Round tables of 12, you say?
Okay, fine.
If it means your job, then I’ll dig out
my black dress and pumps.
Ignore my cussing.

Those sequined evening gowns
are breathtaking –
simply stunning!
How stirring you dropped
a cool mil to
impress people you barely know.
And those stylish updos,
perfectly coiffed.
Let me savor all the
glittery berry shades
of fake nails at this table.
Ignore my squinting as your
glitz and bling blind me.

And those matching designer evening bags
and stilettos!
I should be so envious of all of you,
with my leather backpack, book,
Moleskine journal, and fountain pen.
You are clearly all first-place trophy wives
of the year.
No one comes close to
competing with you.
Ignore my fumbling to touch
my book
for oxygen.

Really, Evelyn?
Five minutes in and already
gossiping ?
I don’t know your
frienemies,
but I’m sure that while all
their husbands are cheating
and they seem to be so hurt,
you might should shut up –
or, find a caring friend
who’ll slap you some sense.
You might jinx yourself.
Ignore me while I inspect the
craftsmanship of this sterling relish fork!

Oh, Victoria!
You don’t say!
Your son is expecting again?
And they just moved into their
mansion in Vail?
Where he’s the Pediatrician
of the year for the country?
And your beautiful grandchildren
are in the finest private schools?
Wait – don’t tell me – they’re all
on Headmaster’s Honor Roll?!
Those little geniuses!
Hahahahaha, you think
they get it from you?
Ignore me while I scroll to a picture
of my ill-behaved Schnauzer.

What, Gloria?
A brand new Rolls Royce?
I’m so sorry your heart is
hurting because
they were two shades of gray off
from your heart’s desire.
Maybe next year.
Ignore me while I kick my husband under
the table and lock glaring eyes on him.

Indeed, Elizabeth. I’d heard you mention
that your daughter is THE decorating queen
and is dressing department store windows
in New York City as a side job
while she awaits word on her lead role
in a movie. You say she even
came in with her design team
and redid your house?
There is no way that you can imagine how
honored I feel to be sitting at the table
with one who holds the title of the most
elegantly decorated home in the world.
Ignore me while I sneak a few sentences
of my next chapter….

Those pictures of your anniversary cruise
to Italy are totally gorgeous, Pandora!
No way!! You mean you actually threw a coin in the
world-famous Trevi Fountain?
AND saw the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
I’m sure no one in this ballroom has ever
visited Italy in the winning way that you have.
Your moments outshine all of ours –
hands down!
Ignore me while I look at my phone screen
to see my husband and me smiling in Rome
before I go home,
choke him,
and nonchalantly finish my book.

How admirable, Lovey, that you
and Thurston
donated 10 million dollars
this week to help
those who are starving
and can’t afford
gala gowns and cruises!
Those destitute souls,
know-nothings who
cannot even take care
of themselves. And you.
Look at you, head tilted
at lost-in-deep-thought angle,
swept away,
fingering the petals of the centerpiece
as you crown yourself THE BEST EVER
in your daydream.
Ignore me while I write my annual
check to support public broadcasting.

I am truly thrilled to have met you all!
What? Christmas cards?!
Oh, believe me – I’ll be looking forward to the
Blessings of the season that you’ll sincerely
wish for me
as you share
all the successful accomplishments
of your year.
Ignore me while I jot key words
about tonight
so I can write a poem
for the 5-Day Writing Challenge
about why I’m glad to be
an officially diagnosed introvert.

-Kim Johnson