Welcome to NATIONAL POETRY MONTH 2021
Each day this month, we will post a poetry prompt from PSI President Deborah Petersen ~ her half of a conversation with you ~ as inspiration for your half of the conversation: your poetry.
If you would like to share your poems with Poetry Society of Indiana, please feel free to post them under the daily prompts on our public Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PoetrySocietyOfIndiana/ As always, poets, please remember that any poems posted in comments on Facebook's public pages may be considered as "published." If you would like to become a member of Poetry Society of Indiana, you can then join our private Facebook group page, where posted poems are not considered "published." Membership information can be found here: https://www.poetrysocietyofindiana.org/psi-membership.html.
A Conversation with PSI President Deborah Petersen:
How wonderful to know there is this special time of the year focused solely on Word Play! Whether you are a beginning poet or a seasoned wordsmith, we welcome you to celebrate National Poetry Month with us by using our daily prompts:
April 1: Let's begin on the right foot, so to speak, and play with our first prompt: An Ode to My Toes
April 2: PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts: Let’s hang out with a Master today: my beloved Shakespeare.
So, here is the charge:
April 3: Re-live This Day
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Day is done; gone the sun are the words to an old Girl Scout ditty. Take a moment and re-live this day and see what memories it brought. Was it just another sort of day? Was it a day of full blown remembering? Was it a day that brought tears, joy, or worry, or peace? What did you learn? What scents did you smell? How will you tell your friends or family about your life today?
Then, share this wonder that only you could experience in a poem that tells your story.
April 4: Favorite Tradition
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Traditionally, Easter Sunday was the first day of the year that girls & women were allowed to wear white patent leather shoes. Their wearing season lasted until Labor Day. Funny, the traditions we followed not knowing the reasons or the origins. Our Celebrations are filled with such traditions – family, faith tradition, culture – these special moments are replete in our lives.
April 5: Work Day
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
For many in our culture, Monday is the day to return to work after a weekend hiatus. Work is called the ‘grindstone’, the ‘9 to 5’, the …. (fill in the blank). Interestingly, I heard once that there is a tribe somewhere far from here that has no differentiation in its language between “work” and “play.” Now, there is a concept! So, let this week begin, let the work begin, let the writing begin of what your Work Day looks like, and how you spend this time away from play.
April 6: Day 6 falls on our First Tuesdays Members Meeting this month, so our prompt for the day was shared with PSI members in the meeting as inspiration to create a Collaborative Poem celebrating National Poetry Month. We'll share our Collaborative poem publicly on April 15th.
Please feel free to use our prompt as your own inspiration:
In the Spring, flowers like Lilies of the Valley, Tiger Lilies, Daffodils, tulips, and crocuses multiply every year, with their brightly colored blooms waving to the world. Every year there are more of them, right? Think of our poetry community like that ~ a garden of poets, “planted”/gathered together, spreading outward with new members each year, and think of our “blooms” as our poems “waving” to the world.
April 7 & 8: Dolce far niente & the Conduit (respectively)
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
One of my very favorite Italian phrases is: Dolce far niente and one that I honor frequently. Day 7 was meant to be this in practice, to enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing, or gifting yourself a pleasant idleness. One cannot help, while in this grace, that the senses relax yet become a bit more vibrant at the same time. We take in the world at a different level; we are keener with all around us; we hear and feel a cosmic melody in the silence. How can this not affect our poetry? It gives us cause to compose and share.
So, after this soulful “R and R” we become the Conduit, and this is the prompt for Day 8. What did your senses experience in the sweetness? What song was in the silence? How did your heart beat?
April 9: Shifting Sands (like when you stand at the edge of a body of water and waves wash over your feet)
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Odd weather day: questionable gray clouds in the west, brilliant sunshine in the east, winds blowing letting their presence be known from the south, and pixie clouds prancing in the north. Aaahhh, the Midwest in Spring! So, for today, let’s go somewhere else: how about the beach? Today’s prompt comes from our dear friend Alys. May your words today be awash in pleasantness….
April 10: (we took the day off!)
April 11: Limerick Selfie
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
I so enjoy a good laugh, especially, one of those that jiggle the belly and make the eyes tear! I look for reasons and situations to laugh every day. Now, one of the best laughs one can have is a good laugh at ourselves. What silliness did we enter? What unbelievable action did we do? Lately, I have not been hearing so keenly, as I did years ago, so there are times I think I heard something funny or off the wall, but, it was just my hearing gone astray. So, today, let’s get a good giggle going about ourselves. Compose a limerick using your name and ‘honoring’ the silliness and quirkiness of you. (Thanks, dear Sarah E. for this wonderful idea!) And, oh, giggle on……
April 12: Ode to a Kitchen Appliance
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
OK – the Secret is out: I AM A FOODIE! Yes, I am and I wear the moniker proudly! Everything is about tastes, scents, the process of preparing and creating a meal, the memories born and consumed at the kitchen table, etc. etc. etc. Even literature is ‘graded’ by how “absolutely delicious it is”. Maybe I am a sensate; no matter, I enjoy food and all there is about it. So, today, let’s give it its due. Create a poem (simmer, boil, roast, toast), an ode to a kitchen appliance. Each one is well-deserving!
April 13: Good Morning!
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
I am an early-morning riser – always have been. Because of this, I get to start off the day in deep appreciation before dawn. Folks who start the day later, seem to miss a few good things such as the bird concerto (starts around 5:17am in this area), the heavy dew on the grass, the ‘night clouds’ still sleeping on top of the earth (morning fog), and the rest of the world waking up from slumber. You can set your watch by the 6:12 am train that comes through the town I live in, and you know that the trash collector drives by around 6:16am.
So, take your coffee outside this morning. Breathe deeply. Look around. Sniff loudly. Listen. What draws your attention? What experience is there now that is not around at any other time of this day? What small joy comes to you and just has to be written about in today’s poem?
Good morning!
April 14: Musical Moments
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Song lyrics are poetry, too, and today’s poetry prompt comes from our dear friend, Alys: “Musical Moments”.
Consider:
April 15: Our Beloved Creatures
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
As I am sitting here pondering today’s writing assignment, outside my window are two rabbits in my backyard. Beautiful little creatures starting their day with their morning rituals as I am doing the same on this side of the pane of glass with my cup of coffee and slippers wrapped around my feet. We love our animals! Today, let’s wrap our thoughts around any small or large creature that has been a part of our lives and have brought us joy. What did they teach us with their rituals? How are we different having them in our lives? Today’s poem serves as a hug and thank you.
April 16: A Life Lesson
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today’s writing prompt just might take a wee bit of time. The topic is: A Life Lesson or something that tells the best advice you had ever received. What words of wisdom follow you, live in your shadow, resonate when needed? Have you been carrying this message for a very long time or has it just been recently that you were gifted with it?
Share your Wisdom. Pass it on….
April 17: The Blank Page
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Poet Adrienne Rich lovingly makes reference to “…the fear and terror of the blank page.” Today’s writing prompt may not necessarily lead to a poem, but it may lead to a list (and if you knew me, you’d know I am an avid list maker surrounded by post-it notes!). Think about your own fears and self-created hurdles that keep you from writing and letting the words flow. What are your stumbling blocks? What dries up the ink? What dragon needs slaying?
Then, jot down how to slay that dragon and keep this list handy when the terrors arrive.
April 18: haiku
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
There is a certain magic in the creation/birthing of a Haiku poem. This Japanese poetry style has so much enlightenment in its 3 lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Of course, it will include a reference to nature, it will use descriptive, colorful images, and tell a complete story in its terseness. Its beauty and magic radiate from its simplicity with a surprising depth. Here is an example Haiku I created decades ago to remind me of the highlights of this style:
HAIKU
NATURE OR SEASON
EXPERIENCE/EMOTION
PRESENT TENSE POEM
Haikus on a Sunday…how delicious!
April 19: A Poet with a Different History
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today, let’s step out of the comfort zone, the familiar. Do a wee bit of research and find a poet who is not of your culture/heritage. What are the concerns in this poet’s words? How are they spoken? What emotions are left behind? What are the phrases and images that appeal to you? What is it in this poet’s history that leads to need to share the story?
Develop a new friendship today. Write a poem back to the author you chose to study.
April 20: The Unexpected
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Funny thing — midwestern weather. Today, late in April, as the grape hyacinths and crocus and buds on the trees are all making their presence known, there is snow in the forecast. Snow. Unexpected snow. What does this teach us, here in the Midwest? How to be flexible? How to not get upset by the things we cannot control? How to be less surprised and taken aback by what life throws at us? We are humbled by our weather patterns and have our eyes set on tomorrow’s dawn.
What has been your most recent snowfall? How has the unexpected played out and given you cause? There is definitely a poem in that!
April 21: Hump Day. Wednesday.
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Smack dab in the middle. Between up and down, in and out, yes and no. Let’s not forget over and under, past and future, yin and yang. There is something of wonder here in the center of dichotomies: maybe the source of wisdom or groundedness, or, maybe the rumblings of confusion and anxiety. Nevertheless, it is here, whether we run to it or run away from it.
What is your Middle?
April 22: The Joker Is Wild
Like playing the Joker card in certain card games: anything goes, the Joker is wild, so today's prompt is to write whatever you want!
April 23: Day’s End
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
It is unbelievable that we are entering the last week of our time together. We have spent time outside, in the kitchen, inside, at work, at play, and at many times of the day. Let’s focus on the evening and those rituals and routines that put the bow on the present of the day. Do you find yourself reading, or, better yet, reading to a wee one? Final day events to check off the list before you can slumber? What is it about that last brushing of the teeth to put a period at the end of the day’s sentence?
Pay attention to the nightly routines. Maybe, glance at the moon and stars for an added attraction. Then, tell us the story in your poem for this day’s end.
April 24: Music and Poetic Inspiration
Today, Poetry Society of Indiana (PSI) hosts its annual Spring Fling conference, a day we share a little PSI business and a lot of poetry-related fun in mini-workshops and sessions. One of our sessions today is a 15-minute poetry-writing time that features four instrumental pieces arranged and recorded by two of our PSI poet members, George Wolfe and Sarah E. Morin. As the music plays, our Spring Fling registrants can create new poetry inspired by the musical notes, tones, melodies, and evocations. Today’s prompt includes the audio of the instrumental pieces: you can listen to one or all of them. Close your eyes and let the music flow into your creative soul to inspire your own poetry:
gabriels_oboe_with_organ_and_strings.mp3 Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Mooricone, from the movie “The Mission,” transcribed by G. Wolfe. George Wolfe soprano saxophone, Galit Gertsenzon piano, Robert Willey synthesizer and recording engineer.
earth_wakes_up.mp3 Music & Photographs by Sarah E. Morin; Sarah E.'s thoughts: When I walk in the spring, I am taken with the arrival of each new plant and color of the season. The photos capture the slow return of life as winter transitions to summer. The music reflects my contemplative mood as I hike.
liturgical_improvisation.mp3 Spontaneous Liturgical Improvisation, George Wolfe alto saxophone, Robert Willey piano.
flute_and_drum.mp3 Native American Flute& Drum, George Wolfe Native American flute, Robert Willey drum.
April 25: Walking
"Taking my morning constitutional" is an old phrase for going on your daily morning walk: walking as a health enhancer has been recognized for a very long time. When and where do you like to walk? Morning, afternoon, evening? Do you prefer walks on sidewalks or hikes through woods or fields? What do you get out of walking? How do you feel as you take your daily constitutional? How do you feel after it? Today's prompt is to write about anything to do with walking! Walk on, friends!
April 26: Favorite First Line from Another Writer
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
There are those wonderful times as you are reading another’s words, that you are awash in inspiration. You have to stop right then, and grab your paper and pen as the floodgates open. This is a beautiful moment as you are the conduit and your own message is being created. Today’s writing activity will start with one of your favorite first lines of another writer, and then, let’s see how and where the magic takes you.
Our friend, Chuck K. offers these: “If I could, I would.…”, “The morning dew….”, “The darkness drags….”
April 27 & 28: Time: Memory and Dreams/Desires
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today’s and tomorrow’s writing activities are a focus on Time. We began our month by diving into Shakespeare’s sonnets, the first group of which are on the topic of Time and Immortality. (Funny little habit that I have: when needing inspiration of a different sort, I keep handy these sonnets and read one or two to get the inner music flowing again!) So, let’s think about measurement of time, which ends up being measurement of a life. Today, focus on a Memory ~ this is time in the past. Tomorrow, focus on a Dream/Desire ~ this is time yet to come. What are these milestones in your particular life and how are they guiding you and creating you? Tell us your story, give us your art …. and, Thank You.
April 29: Awareness
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
As we come to the end of the month and to our final poetry writing assignments, I am hopeful that you found inspiration and tapped into your source of creativity. Each of our assignments has been focused on sharpening our senses, awakening our Awareness, and daring to tell the tale of a fuller life.
So, look around, pay attention: What am I Seeing? Hearing? Tasting? Touching? Smelling? What am I Thinking? Feeling?
In today’s writing activity, let the poem come to you and through you.
April 30: The Poetry Society of Indiana Annual Poetry Contest
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Thank you for joining in on our Writing Journey. This has been quite rewarding on so many levels. Before waving ‘Fare thee well’, I would like to share with you a wonderful opportunity: The Poetry Society of Indiana Annual Poetry Contest. You have created wonderful works this month, so, let’s take a next step. Find out about the guidelines and time frames here: https://www.poetrysocietyofindiana.org/psi-annual-poetry-contest.html.
Share your works from this month’s writing activities. Find inspiration everywhere. Pay attention. But, most of all, keep pen to paper for the Journey will continue. I have enjoyed spending this time with you……
Each day this month, we will post a poetry prompt from PSI President Deborah Petersen ~ her half of a conversation with you ~ as inspiration for your half of the conversation: your poetry.
If you would like to share your poems with Poetry Society of Indiana, please feel free to post them under the daily prompts on our public Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PoetrySocietyOfIndiana/ As always, poets, please remember that any poems posted in comments on Facebook's public pages may be considered as "published." If you would like to become a member of Poetry Society of Indiana, you can then join our private Facebook group page, where posted poems are not considered "published." Membership information can be found here: https://www.poetrysocietyofindiana.org/psi-membership.html.
A Conversation with PSI President Deborah Petersen:
How wonderful to know there is this special time of the year focused solely on Word Play! Whether you are a beginning poet or a seasoned wordsmith, we welcome you to celebrate National Poetry Month with us by using our daily prompts:
April 1: Let's begin on the right foot, so to speak, and play with our first prompt: An Ode to My Toes
April 2: PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts: Let’s hang out with a Master today: my beloved Shakespeare.
So, here is the charge:
- choose a Sonnet to spend the day with.
- Read it and all its footnotes (especially, if you have “The Riverside Shakespeare” tome);
- now as the sun scoots around the yard, read it again hearing the Middle English accents and pronunciations;
- let it set, have lunch, then, read it again drumming out the iambic pentameter of each line (ta-dah, ta-dah…5 times each line);
- read it later and emphasize the rhyme scheme (ABAB….);
- read it again and have a kaffeeklatsch with the Master ~ what was the meaning of this work? His message? The wisdom between the syllables?
- and then, finally, for dessert after dinner, read it again and savor its music, its delicacies, its gift, its complexities, its awe.
April 3: Re-live This Day
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Day is done; gone the sun are the words to an old Girl Scout ditty. Take a moment and re-live this day and see what memories it brought. Was it just another sort of day? Was it a day of full blown remembering? Was it a day that brought tears, joy, or worry, or peace? What did you learn? What scents did you smell? How will you tell your friends or family about your life today?
Then, share this wonder that only you could experience in a poem that tells your story.
April 4: Favorite Tradition
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Traditionally, Easter Sunday was the first day of the year that girls & women were allowed to wear white patent leather shoes. Their wearing season lasted until Labor Day. Funny, the traditions we followed not knowing the reasons or the origins. Our Celebrations are filled with such traditions – family, faith tradition, culture – these special moments are replete in our lives.
April 5: Work Day
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
For many in our culture, Monday is the day to return to work after a weekend hiatus. Work is called the ‘grindstone’, the ‘9 to 5’, the …. (fill in the blank). Interestingly, I heard once that there is a tribe somewhere far from here that has no differentiation in its language between “work” and “play.” Now, there is a concept! So, let this week begin, let the work begin, let the writing begin of what your Work Day looks like, and how you spend this time away from play.
April 6: Day 6 falls on our First Tuesdays Members Meeting this month, so our prompt for the day was shared with PSI members in the meeting as inspiration to create a Collaborative Poem celebrating National Poetry Month. We'll share our Collaborative poem publicly on April 15th.
Please feel free to use our prompt as your own inspiration:
In the Spring, flowers like Lilies of the Valley, Tiger Lilies, Daffodils, tulips, and crocuses multiply every year, with their brightly colored blooms waving to the world. Every year there are more of them, right? Think of our poetry community like that ~ a garden of poets, “planted”/gathered together, spreading outward with new members each year, and think of our “blooms” as our poems “waving” to the world.
April 7 & 8: Dolce far niente & the Conduit (respectively)
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
One of my very favorite Italian phrases is: Dolce far niente and one that I honor frequently. Day 7 was meant to be this in practice, to enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing, or gifting yourself a pleasant idleness. One cannot help, while in this grace, that the senses relax yet become a bit more vibrant at the same time. We take in the world at a different level; we are keener with all around us; we hear and feel a cosmic melody in the silence. How can this not affect our poetry? It gives us cause to compose and share.
So, after this soulful “R and R” we become the Conduit, and this is the prompt for Day 8. What did your senses experience in the sweetness? What song was in the silence? How did your heart beat?
April 9: Shifting Sands (like when you stand at the edge of a body of water and waves wash over your feet)
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Odd weather day: questionable gray clouds in the west, brilliant sunshine in the east, winds blowing letting their presence be known from the south, and pixie clouds prancing in the north. Aaahhh, the Midwest in Spring! So, for today, let’s go somewhere else: how about the beach? Today’s prompt comes from our dear friend Alys. May your words today be awash in pleasantness….
April 10: (we took the day off!)
April 11: Limerick Selfie
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
I so enjoy a good laugh, especially, one of those that jiggle the belly and make the eyes tear! I look for reasons and situations to laugh every day. Now, one of the best laughs one can have is a good laugh at ourselves. What silliness did we enter? What unbelievable action did we do? Lately, I have not been hearing so keenly, as I did years ago, so there are times I think I heard something funny or off the wall, but, it was just my hearing gone astray. So, today, let’s get a good giggle going about ourselves. Compose a limerick using your name and ‘honoring’ the silliness and quirkiness of you. (Thanks, dear Sarah E. for this wonderful idea!) And, oh, giggle on……
April 12: Ode to a Kitchen Appliance
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
OK – the Secret is out: I AM A FOODIE! Yes, I am and I wear the moniker proudly! Everything is about tastes, scents, the process of preparing and creating a meal, the memories born and consumed at the kitchen table, etc. etc. etc. Even literature is ‘graded’ by how “absolutely delicious it is”. Maybe I am a sensate; no matter, I enjoy food and all there is about it. So, today, let’s give it its due. Create a poem (simmer, boil, roast, toast), an ode to a kitchen appliance. Each one is well-deserving!
April 13: Good Morning!
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
I am an early-morning riser – always have been. Because of this, I get to start off the day in deep appreciation before dawn. Folks who start the day later, seem to miss a few good things such as the bird concerto (starts around 5:17am in this area), the heavy dew on the grass, the ‘night clouds’ still sleeping on top of the earth (morning fog), and the rest of the world waking up from slumber. You can set your watch by the 6:12 am train that comes through the town I live in, and you know that the trash collector drives by around 6:16am.
So, take your coffee outside this morning. Breathe deeply. Look around. Sniff loudly. Listen. What draws your attention? What experience is there now that is not around at any other time of this day? What small joy comes to you and just has to be written about in today’s poem?
Good morning!
April 14: Musical Moments
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Song lyrics are poetry, too, and today’s poetry prompt comes from our dear friend, Alys: “Musical Moments”.
Consider:
- a favorite song lyric and a memory associated with it or its message;
- a song that stays with you;
- a song whose lyrics say what you could not say.
April 15: Our Beloved Creatures
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
As I am sitting here pondering today’s writing assignment, outside my window are two rabbits in my backyard. Beautiful little creatures starting their day with their morning rituals as I am doing the same on this side of the pane of glass with my cup of coffee and slippers wrapped around my feet. We love our animals! Today, let’s wrap our thoughts around any small or large creature that has been a part of our lives and have brought us joy. What did they teach us with their rituals? How are we different having them in our lives? Today’s poem serves as a hug and thank you.
April 16: A Life Lesson
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today’s writing prompt just might take a wee bit of time. The topic is: A Life Lesson or something that tells the best advice you had ever received. What words of wisdom follow you, live in your shadow, resonate when needed? Have you been carrying this message for a very long time or has it just been recently that you were gifted with it?
Share your Wisdom. Pass it on….
April 17: The Blank Page
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Poet Adrienne Rich lovingly makes reference to “…the fear and terror of the blank page.” Today’s writing prompt may not necessarily lead to a poem, but it may lead to a list (and if you knew me, you’d know I am an avid list maker surrounded by post-it notes!). Think about your own fears and self-created hurdles that keep you from writing and letting the words flow. What are your stumbling blocks? What dries up the ink? What dragon needs slaying?
Then, jot down how to slay that dragon and keep this list handy when the terrors arrive.
April 18: haiku
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
There is a certain magic in the creation/birthing of a Haiku poem. This Japanese poetry style has so much enlightenment in its 3 lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Of course, it will include a reference to nature, it will use descriptive, colorful images, and tell a complete story in its terseness. Its beauty and magic radiate from its simplicity with a surprising depth. Here is an example Haiku I created decades ago to remind me of the highlights of this style:
HAIKU
NATURE OR SEASON
EXPERIENCE/EMOTION
PRESENT TENSE POEM
Haikus on a Sunday…how delicious!
April 19: A Poet with a Different History
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today, let’s step out of the comfort zone, the familiar. Do a wee bit of research and find a poet who is not of your culture/heritage. What are the concerns in this poet’s words? How are they spoken? What emotions are left behind? What are the phrases and images that appeal to you? What is it in this poet’s history that leads to need to share the story?
Develop a new friendship today. Write a poem back to the author you chose to study.
April 20: The Unexpected
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Funny thing — midwestern weather. Today, late in April, as the grape hyacinths and crocus and buds on the trees are all making their presence known, there is snow in the forecast. Snow. Unexpected snow. What does this teach us, here in the Midwest? How to be flexible? How to not get upset by the things we cannot control? How to be less surprised and taken aback by what life throws at us? We are humbled by our weather patterns and have our eyes set on tomorrow’s dawn.
What has been your most recent snowfall? How has the unexpected played out and given you cause? There is definitely a poem in that!
April 21: Hump Day. Wednesday.
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Smack dab in the middle. Between up and down, in and out, yes and no. Let’s not forget over and under, past and future, yin and yang. There is something of wonder here in the center of dichotomies: maybe the source of wisdom or groundedness, or, maybe the rumblings of confusion and anxiety. Nevertheless, it is here, whether we run to it or run away from it.
What is your Middle?
April 22: The Joker Is Wild
Like playing the Joker card in certain card games: anything goes, the Joker is wild, so today's prompt is to write whatever you want!
April 23: Day’s End
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
It is unbelievable that we are entering the last week of our time together. We have spent time outside, in the kitchen, inside, at work, at play, and at many times of the day. Let’s focus on the evening and those rituals and routines that put the bow on the present of the day. Do you find yourself reading, or, better yet, reading to a wee one? Final day events to check off the list before you can slumber? What is it about that last brushing of the teeth to put a period at the end of the day’s sentence?
Pay attention to the nightly routines. Maybe, glance at the moon and stars for an added attraction. Then, tell us the story in your poem for this day’s end.
April 24: Music and Poetic Inspiration
Today, Poetry Society of Indiana (PSI) hosts its annual Spring Fling conference, a day we share a little PSI business and a lot of poetry-related fun in mini-workshops and sessions. One of our sessions today is a 15-minute poetry-writing time that features four instrumental pieces arranged and recorded by two of our PSI poet members, George Wolfe and Sarah E. Morin. As the music plays, our Spring Fling registrants can create new poetry inspired by the musical notes, tones, melodies, and evocations. Today’s prompt includes the audio of the instrumental pieces: you can listen to one or all of them. Close your eyes and let the music flow into your creative soul to inspire your own poetry:
gabriels_oboe_with_organ_and_strings.mp3 Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Mooricone, from the movie “The Mission,” transcribed by G. Wolfe. George Wolfe soprano saxophone, Galit Gertsenzon piano, Robert Willey synthesizer and recording engineer.
earth_wakes_up.mp3 Music & Photographs by Sarah E. Morin; Sarah E.'s thoughts: When I walk in the spring, I am taken with the arrival of each new plant and color of the season. The photos capture the slow return of life as winter transitions to summer. The music reflects my contemplative mood as I hike.
liturgical_improvisation.mp3 Spontaneous Liturgical Improvisation, George Wolfe alto saxophone, Robert Willey piano.
flute_and_drum.mp3 Native American Flute& Drum, George Wolfe Native American flute, Robert Willey drum.
April 25: Walking
"Taking my morning constitutional" is an old phrase for going on your daily morning walk: walking as a health enhancer has been recognized for a very long time. When and where do you like to walk? Morning, afternoon, evening? Do you prefer walks on sidewalks or hikes through woods or fields? What do you get out of walking? How do you feel as you take your daily constitutional? How do you feel after it? Today's prompt is to write about anything to do with walking! Walk on, friends!
April 26: Favorite First Line from Another Writer
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
There are those wonderful times as you are reading another’s words, that you are awash in inspiration. You have to stop right then, and grab your paper and pen as the floodgates open. This is a beautiful moment as you are the conduit and your own message is being created. Today’s writing activity will start with one of your favorite first lines of another writer, and then, let’s see how and where the magic takes you.
Our friend, Chuck K. offers these: “If I could, I would.…”, “The morning dew….”, “The darkness drags….”
April 27 & 28: Time: Memory and Dreams/Desires
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Today’s and tomorrow’s writing activities are a focus on Time. We began our month by diving into Shakespeare’s sonnets, the first group of which are on the topic of Time and Immortality. (Funny little habit that I have: when needing inspiration of a different sort, I keep handy these sonnets and read one or two to get the inner music flowing again!) So, let’s think about measurement of time, which ends up being measurement of a life. Today, focus on a Memory ~ this is time in the past. Tomorrow, focus on a Dream/Desire ~ this is time yet to come. What are these milestones in your particular life and how are they guiding you and creating you? Tell us your story, give us your art …. and, Thank You.
April 29: Awareness
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
As we come to the end of the month and to our final poetry writing assignments, I am hopeful that you found inspiration and tapped into your source of creativity. Each of our assignments has been focused on sharpening our senses, awakening our Awareness, and daring to tell the tale of a fuller life.
So, look around, pay attention: What am I Seeing? Hearing? Tasting? Touching? Smelling? What am I Thinking? Feeling?
In today’s writing activity, let the poem come to you and through you.
April 30: The Poetry Society of Indiana Annual Poetry Contest
PSI President Deborah Petersen’s thoughts:
Thank you for joining in on our Writing Journey. This has been quite rewarding on so many levels. Before waving ‘Fare thee well’, I would like to share with you a wonderful opportunity: The Poetry Society of Indiana Annual Poetry Contest. You have created wonderful works this month, so, let’s take a next step. Find out about the guidelines and time frames here: https://www.poetrysocietyofindiana.org/psi-annual-poetry-contest.html.
Share your works from this month’s writing activities. Find inspiration everywhere. Pay attention. But, most of all, keep pen to paper for the Journey will continue. I have enjoyed spending this time with you……