We just finished an entire month of poetry prompts, and whether your shared your poetry with us or wrote at all, I’m just so glad we got to share this space together.
This was really a gift during a month that got really busy for me—poetry is a big, deep breath we can take when things are chaotic around us.
I’d love to know how this experiment went for you. Did you enjoy getting a daily poem in your inbox? Did it help ease things? Ground you?
Did you start writing poetry again?
What does poetry mean to you, and how will you continue to incorporate it into your life?
I almost wish we could do this year round. I read things I didn't know I needed to read and I wrote things I didn't know I needed to write. It gave me a reason to slow down every day. I told my partner how much I loved it and that I plan to continue to do the one word prompts periodically just for myself, just to keep me writing again.
I absolutely loved this experiment. I loved the daily poem in my inbox and loved the creativity it brought to my writing. I loved the fun I had with the liminal space prompt, where I talked about Spirited Away--and the terror prompt helped me process the Texas school shooting. I enjoyed every poem, honestly! I've found myself thinking of words and writing poems in my mind. I never thought poems were my "thing", but I've really grown to love them this month. Thank you Kaitlin!
I already have plans to collect some of these poems from the month and others to have my daughter help me make a chapbook to celebrate pentacost on Sunday. She was born on a Pentacost Sunday and has a gift for crafts- this has truly been a blessing of a community :)
Writing and reading poetry was so grounding for me in a month steeped in grief.
To me, poetry means getting words out in a thoughtful and creative way that just would not make sense in an essay format. I'm reading 'In the Sanctuary of Women' by Jan L. Richardson and I love the blessings that she includes in her work. When I'm finished with her book, I want to read John O' Donoghue and Mary Oliver. Does anyone have any more poetry recommendations? I'd love to hear them!
I've been soaking in Mary Oliver's poetry lately— sooo good! I've really enjoyed reading poetry anthologies, such as "New Poets of Native Nations" edited by Heid E. Erdrich and "Living Nations, Living Words" edited by Joy Harjo. Kate Baer's work also comes to mind.
Beth Ann fennelly, Ted kooser (winter morning walks is stunning), Jericho brown (can be intense, jsyk), Aimee nezhukumatahil, and Anna Harris-Parker :)
I loved having the discipline to write and was amazed at how the words prompted me to write about things I was not even aware needed writing about. I am an occasional poet but had not written much in a long while - I loved how it inspired me to write again, mostly for myself but also finding the courage to share in this space too. I would love a word a month to keep us going perhaps as every day might be a bit too much... ?
I have written nothing except social media posts in the 13 years since finishing a dissertation, which totally eliminated my love of writing. The poetry on this page both by you and your followers, at least encouraged me to think about picking up a pen again. Thank you!
No writing on my end, but oh, how I’ve looked forward to each day’s prompt and Kaitlin’s poems…they’ve been like a cool drink of delicious water for a dry, parched throat (soul). And I’ve read the words others of you have shared, and given thanks for all of it. Poetry speaks sparely to the heart and marrow of the matter(s), and gifts us with so much more than the words themselves. The effect of good poetry is both ephemeral and eternal.
I really enjoyed the prompts. I got off track halfway through, and made a special place to come back to the unused prompts later. Poetry does help me slow down. It also helps me take a longer narrative and express it in a surprisingly succinct manner. I can also broaden the concept to make a poem for others to read for themselves, rather than just about me.
I write poems to ponder, to lament, to express wonder and joy. I have a special journal for encouragement poems. When I can't see a way forward, I start writing there, from some deeper, wiser, more compassionate place inside my own self, and the comfort I find can touch me so deeply. These are definitely poems I write more broadly, that might encourage others in a similar place.
I'm so glad you're going to return to them-- this is meant to be a space we can return to again and again, leave, come back, no pressure. Thanks for joining me!
I loved the poetry experience during May - thank you for sharing from your own heart and for everyone else who opened up to share their poems. I don't always write poetry - poetry seems to come when my soul is yearning to speak and when my heart is trying to remind me of something deep within. Some prompts took me immediately to a deeper place as something inside cried for expression. Others were a quiet acknowledgement of truth. Thank you each one and all.
Your word 'ground you' set my mind running. No, I would not say poetry is a grounding thing. Poetry is a connection to or from something much higher than my everyday life. We need this connection; we are hungry for this connection.
What does poetry mean to me? that I cannot find an answer. I remember my great grandfather left us with a handwritten book of poems, all in Danish. My brother and sister and I pulled this out of the bookcase every week. Going through the pages, wondering what he wrote. We did not know anyone to translate Danish. Now it is just a memory that disappeared after we all went off to college. Much like my father's photograph album of his Harley Davidson that he had in California during World War II. I do not know what poetry means.
First time doing poems. (Don't tell any of my old navy buddies ) I always thought they had to rhyme, and I was never much good at that. I am in awe of the pictures you all painted with your words and i thank you for letting me in the room.. i jumped in big time on each days prompt, (i especially liked frustration and eternity) Hope to maybe trade more stuff again. (Might start to scribble down words as they hit now that I know they don't have to rhyme)
I used to check social media first thing in the morning, but during the poetry month, I learned to slow down and reflect for a little bit right when I woke up, to breathe and give myself space. Even though I'm not composing poetry in the mornings now, I still have that space and it helps a lot.
I'm also happy with a number of the poems I wrote, and am starting to post them to my blog, along with photos I've taken that fit thematically. It's been a fun second project to tweak them and pair them with the photos. In short, this project opened up my creativity in a new way!
I thoroughly enjoyed this experiment! I wrote haikus for each prompt (although didn’t share) and reading through other’s words was such a gift. I really felt connected to humanity at a deeper level and all the feels that brings with it. Thank you for this lovely offering. ❤️
Today I went back to look at the prompts and am overwhelmed how beautiful it was to do. I have never written a poem before because like Chuck, when we were growing up that's what they taught in school. With your poetry and all the others, it opened something in me that I never knew was there. Thank you and everyone!!!
I almost wish we could do this year round. I read things I didn't know I needed to read and I wrote things I didn't know I needed to write. It gave me a reason to slow down every day. I told my partner how much I loved it and that I plan to continue to do the one word prompts periodically just for myself, just to keep me writing again.
I love how you expressed, "It gave me a reason to slow down every day." That's exactly how I felt. The words just poured out of me when I slowed down.
Yes!
Me too! I agree...I didn't know certain things needed to come out, and they did through these poems.
I absolutely loved this experiment. I loved the daily poem in my inbox and loved the creativity it brought to my writing. I loved the fun I had with the liminal space prompt, where I talked about Spirited Away--and the terror prompt helped me process the Texas school shooting. I enjoyed every poem, honestly! I've found myself thinking of words and writing poems in my mind. I never thought poems were my "thing", but I've really grown to love them this month. Thank you Kaitlin!
This makes me SO HAPPY Diane! Thank you for joining me in this!
I already have plans to collect some of these poems from the month and others to have my daughter help me make a chapbook to celebrate pentacost on Sunday. She was born on a Pentacost Sunday and has a gift for crafts- this has truly been a blessing of a community :)
I love this idea so much. I'm so glad you're doing it.
That is a really awesome idea.
Writing and reading poetry was so grounding for me in a month steeped in grief.
To me, poetry means getting words out in a thoughtful and creative way that just would not make sense in an essay format. I'm reading 'In the Sanctuary of Women' by Jan L. Richardson and I love the blessings that she includes in her work. When I'm finished with her book, I want to read John O' Donoghue and Mary Oliver. Does anyone have any more poetry recommendations? I'd love to hear them!
I've been soaking in Mary Oliver's poetry lately— sooo good! I've really enjoyed reading poetry anthologies, such as "New Poets of Native Nations" edited by Heid E. Erdrich and "Living Nations, Living Words" edited by Joy Harjo. Kate Baer's work also comes to mind.
Thank you! Added all of these to The List. 😊
Beth Ann fennelly, Ted kooser (winter morning walks is stunning), Jericho brown (can be intense, jsyk), Aimee nezhukumatahil, and Anna Harris-Parker :)
And Marie Howe!
Thank you!
I loved having the discipline to write and was amazed at how the words prompted me to write about things I was not even aware needed writing about. I am an occasional poet but had not written much in a long while - I loved how it inspired me to write again, mostly for myself but also finding the courage to share in this space too. I would love a word a month to keep us going perhaps as every day might be a bit too much... ?
I'll see what I can do about a word a month! :) So glad you enjoyed it
I have written nothing except social media posts in the 13 years since finishing a dissertation, which totally eliminated my love of writing. The poetry on this page both by you and your followers, at least encouraged me to think about picking up a pen again. Thank you!
No writing on my end, but oh, how I’ve looked forward to each day’s prompt and Kaitlin’s poems…they’ve been like a cool drink of delicious water for a dry, parched throat (soul). And I’ve read the words others of you have shared, and given thanks for all of it. Poetry speaks sparely to the heart and marrow of the matter(s), and gifts us with so much more than the words themselves. The effect of good poetry is both ephemeral and eternal.
Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed the prompts. I got off track halfway through, and made a special place to come back to the unused prompts later. Poetry does help me slow down. It also helps me take a longer narrative and express it in a surprisingly succinct manner. I can also broaden the concept to make a poem for others to read for themselves, rather than just about me.
I write poems to ponder, to lament, to express wonder and joy. I have a special journal for encouragement poems. When I can't see a way forward, I start writing there, from some deeper, wiser, more compassionate place inside my own self, and the comfort I find can touch me so deeply. These are definitely poems I write more broadly, that might encourage others in a similar place.
I'm so glad you're going to return to them-- this is meant to be a space we can return to again and again, leave, come back, no pressure. Thanks for joining me!
I loved the poetry experience during May - thank you for sharing from your own heart and for everyone else who opened up to share their poems. I don't always write poetry - poetry seems to come when my soul is yearning to speak and when my heart is trying to remind me of something deep within. Some prompts took me immediately to a deeper place as something inside cried for expression. Others were a quiet acknowledgement of truth. Thank you each one and all.
Your word 'ground you' set my mind running. No, I would not say poetry is a grounding thing. Poetry is a connection to or from something much higher than my everyday life. We need this connection; we are hungry for this connection.
What does poetry mean to me? that I cannot find an answer. I remember my great grandfather left us with a handwritten book of poems, all in Danish. My brother and sister and I pulled this out of the bookcase every week. Going through the pages, wondering what he wrote. We did not know anyone to translate Danish. Now it is just a memory that disappeared after we all went off to college. Much like my father's photograph album of his Harley Davidson that he had in California during World War II. I do not know what poetry means.
First time doing poems. (Don't tell any of my old navy buddies ) I always thought they had to rhyme, and I was never much good at that. I am in awe of the pictures you all painted with your words and i thank you for letting me in the room.. i jumped in big time on each days prompt, (i especially liked frustration and eternity) Hope to maybe trade more stuff again. (Might start to scribble down words as they hit now that I know they don't have to rhyme)
Y'all take care.
Yes, Chuck! No rhyming necessary! :) I'm so grateful for your presence here. It's a gift.
I used to check social media first thing in the morning, but during the poetry month, I learned to slow down and reflect for a little bit right when I woke up, to breathe and give myself space. Even though I'm not composing poetry in the mornings now, I still have that space and it helps a lot.
I'm also happy with a number of the poems I wrote, and am starting to post them to my blog, along with photos I've taken that fit thematically. It's been a fun second project to tweak them and pair them with the photos. In short, this project opened up my creativity in a new way!
Thank you again so much for hosting this space.
I love this so much! And you're right...opening the day with words instead of social media really creates a different space in us, doesn't it?
Absolutely! It's kind of stunning how much difference it makes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experiment! I wrote haikus for each prompt (although didn’t share) and reading through other’s words was such a gift. I really felt connected to humanity at a deeper level and all the feels that brings with it. Thank you for this lovely offering. ❤️
I love that you did Haiku throughout! Thank you for being here.
I enjoyed reading the daily poems. They were grounding for me; a time to pause, reflect & breathe.
I wrote a few times and it really primed the pump to do some more writing. Thank you.
Today I went back to look at the prompts and am overwhelmed how beautiful it was to do. I have never written a poem before because like Chuck, when we were growing up that's what they taught in school. With your poetry and all the others, it opened something in me that I never knew was there. Thank you and everyone!!!