Not a goddess, or a slice of chocolate cake.

Day 30- Write a poem employing extended metaphor to illustrate the experience of the last thirty days.




The last thirty days, I was taking a test

Some days, writing was easy

Other days, it was nerve-wracking

For I would worry that I couldn’t finish it on time, being busy

But with luck on my side, I managed to finish on time

Though I’m not too sure if I did some things right

In the end, it’s all been done

And this is the last poem, in this challenge, to write

I would say everything turned out just fine

And there was certainly something to gain

More exposure to the types on poems there are

And knowing how to switch about certain things

So here’s to you, the last poem, the last question on a test

It’s been fun while it lasted so

But now as Day 31 is about to arrive

Goodbye, I’m afraid I have to go.


 

Day 29- Briefly research a poetic form of your choice and write a poem according to the rules of that particular form.



 

Poetic form: Alliteration



 

His heart lifted

Higher and higher up

His hands holding his handmade headband

For her, he happily held on to that thought

How he would hand her his headband

How he would help put the headband over her head

Her favorite accessory, made from his own hands

How high-spirited she would be

That he spent some time on her

Her happiness was his happiness too

He loves her so.

 

Day 28- Visit a virtual art gallery and look around until you find a piece that intrigues you. Write a poem inspired by the artwork.


 

Artwork: Virgin Of The Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci


 

I’m here with you

We’re alone, but it’s okay

We’ll make it through this

We’ll have each other, come what may

And that’s all we need

Don’t be afraid, I’m here

Don’t be afraid, dear.

 

Day 27- Begin with the title “The Poem I’d Never Write.” Then, write that poem.


 

The Poem I’d Never Write


 

The poem I’d never write

Is about something that anchors me in the past

Hating and being hateful

Timidness and faith that couldn’t last

I was once a foolish child

Who thought I was in love

At the age of twelve and below

What was I thinking of?

An unhappy child was I

Misunderstandings with family and friends

I felt alone, all alone

Couldn’t wait for it to end

As days turned into years

I’ve grown stronger, and I know better now

Mistakes I’ve made turned into lessons

That made me less foul

For I learnt to be grateful

All that I have, I’ll cherish

For I want no regrets

When things and people slip away, and perish.

 

Day 26- Gather some magazines/catalogs you don’t mind cutting up and spend ten minutes flipping through them looking for words/sentences that spark your interest. Cut out the words as you go, and (at the end of the ten minutes) arrange the words to form a cut-out poem.

It’s a battle of worlds

Your heart and mind

If you want to be a hero

Do what you think is right!

 

Day 25- Write a poem that includes all of the following words: pistachio, ink, pebble, weather, varnish.


 

Sometimes when I’m upset

Or when I’m stuck in a rut

I would wish I was a pistachio

So that I could act like a nut

I could jump into ink

And leave some mysterious trail

For people to wonder about

I could dance with the pail

I would hit it off with the pebble

Since hey, we both rock

We would have fun whatever the weather

And maybe cuddle up in a sock

If we’re feeling helpful

We might even varnish the floors

Life would be so great as a pistachio

Having a cracked shell, and all.


 

Day 24- Write a poem that’s different in some way from anything you’ve ever written. Take a chance! Be wild!

How the poem is different: I’m going to set my phone’s playlist on shuffle, and the first five song titles that come out will be included in my poem.


 

First Five Songs:

1) Unusual You by Britney Spears

2) This Is How It Feels by The Veronicas

3) Metalingus by Alter Bridge

4) Sometimes by Britney Spears

5) Overprotected by Britney Spears

 

Sometimes I wonder if you realise

How it hurts to be

Overprotected and confined

So this is how it’ll be

I’ll fight fire with fire

And restrict you too

No more listening to Metalingus and your other rock songs

They aren’t good for you

I’ll keep you with me at all times

Disagree with your point-of-view

And when you can’t take it anymore

I’ll say, “This is how it feels.”

Unusual you

Better give me some space

Let’s take it nice and slowly

Life’s not a race.

 

Day 23- Write a seven line poem that begins with “it’s true that fresh air is good for the body” (from Frank O’Hara’s poem “Ave Maria”) and ends with “this is our body” (from Gary Snyder’s “The Bath”)

It’s true that fresh air is good for the body

So why do we pollute the air?

With the smoking, who are we trying to embody?

People need to learn to care

Before more problems arise for everybody

This is our world

This is our body.

 

Day 22- What is the first car you bought/drove/remember? Write a poem about it.


 

First car I remember: Subaru Impreza


 

I’m too young to drive

But this car’s in my mind

Not because it’s really special

Or anything too fine

It’s because of a person

It’s because of the name of the car brand

Subaru, like the Kanjani Eight member

(That’s a Japanese pop band.)

Subaru is my favourite member

I actually knew about him before I knew about the car

And that’s why that car comes to mind

Because he’s so impressive, Impreza!

 

Day 21- Choose one of the poems you’ve already written and posted as part of this challenge and re-order it in some way. You could rearrange the lines or stanzas or even words in a line. Think of it as a puzzle!


 

Poem chosen: From Day 6 (Write a poem of any length incorporating every word from your latest Facebook status.)

If I go to where we met tomorrow

Will I see you waiting for me?

Should I even really care?

I was just a stranger you could see

I’m wondering about you right now

Whether you feel the way I do

You’ve been in my mind all day

Was I in your mind too?

Re-arranged Poem:

You’ve been wondering

Will I care for you?

Could I feel the way you do?

If I mind whether I’m in your mind?

…

I was just a stranger-in-waiting..

Was I too..?

Should I even really..? Right now..?

Tomorrow, where we met..

See me go about all day..

.. To see you

You..

My..

..?

Day 20- Write a narrative poem detailing a specific childhood memory.

Childhood memory: Accidentally stepping on the tip of my cousin’s pencil while running around my Aunt’s house.

When my parents were at work

I was usually in the care of my Aunt

One memory that hurt

Still comes back to haunt

I was at my Aunt’s house, running around

Being a careless child, looking like a clown

The lights were dim, it was a quiet night

My cousin was laying on the floor doodling with paper and pen

He left his materials spread on the floor, much to my fright

I accidentally stepped on the tip of his pencil, then

I felt a sharp pain on the sole of my foot

It was so bad, tears blurred my eyes

My cousin looked on, not giving a hoot

While my Aunt yelled at him, and told me not to cry

Even now if you look carefully

You can still see the mark from the pencil, on my foot, to prove my memory.

Day 19- Imagine yourself doing any household task/chore, then write a poem using what you’ve imagined as an extended metaphor for writing.

 

Household task/chore: Ironing Clothes

 

The steaming metal surface presses against the material below

As thoughts come to mind on which way it should go

You can iron from the collar down

Or you can iron the other way around

In either case, the clothes will turn out spiffy and neat

Even though it wasn’t such an incredible feat

You did it on your own, so you should be content

Keep ironing and keep having your two cents.

 

Day 18- Write a poem without any end rhyme, only internal rhyme.

Tossing and turning as my stomach was churning 

I couldn’t sleep, I needed to eat

The bed felt bumpy, slightly lumpy

Was I going to be up all night? I wanted to sleep tight!

Forced my eyes to close, found a comfortable pose, started to doze

I dreamt of food, sushi that tasted so good

But soon I got a fright, I took an accidental bite

The sushi was filled with wasabi, as hot as it could possibly be!

My nostrils were flaring, I couldn’t bear it

Woke up with a scream, thank goodness it was just a dream.

 

Day 17- Write a poem that employs a rhyme scheme.

Rhyme scheme: Limerick (AABBA)


 

I applied dark red lipstick on my lips

And in my hair, some pretty clips

But my teenage daughter did frown

She said I looked like a clown

Because I’m simply “too old” to be hip.