NaPoWriMo Days 1-3

April is National Poetry Writing Month! So I am attempting to write a poem everyday for the month of April, based on the prompt for that day. Here are the first three days:

Day One

The prompt for today was to write a poem based on a book cover. I chose the book cover of The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. Here is a picture for reference next to my poem for today:

The water babies

Golden koi fish swish between the lily pad fronds,

their pond a playground as much as a home.

For lurking beneath the dome of sunlight,

pale flesh flits and skitters below.

A wild child born under the night time

sky, abandoned alone

and unwanted; shoved cruelly

under water, the babies left to die.

But they became one with the koi,

boys and girls growing gills

and fins, finding freedom

and life beneath the surface.

Day Two

Today's prompt was to pick 5-10 words from a list, write a question for each word and then write a one line answer for each line. I chose the words elusive, river, longing, song, salt, miracle and here is the result:

As elusive as the clouds on a sunny day,

far after the ocean has begun,

flowers long since dead on the counter, waiting for sweet release.

The song is written in the right atrium of your heart

and salt can be found in the desert of the mind

while miracles happen when the spring flowers begin

to bloom and the grass turns green again.

Day Three

The prompt for day three was to find a short poem and then rewrite each line and replace each word with one that means the opposite. Instead of choosing a poem, I chose to use one of my favorite bridges from Taylor Swift's song "You're on your own kid. I included the actual lyrics first, followed by my rendition of the poem using opposite words. It was definitely an interesting result.

"From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes

I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this

I hosted parties and starved my body

Like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss

The jokes weren't funny, I took the money

My friends from home don't know what to say

I looked around in a blood-soaked gown

And I saw something they can't take away

'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned

Everything you lose is a step you take

So make the friendship bracelets

Take the moment and taste it

You've got no reason to be afraid"

- Taylor Swift's "You're on your own kid"

To sunshine burns from campfire pits,

I took your bone marrow, shivers, and dry eyes for this.

You crashed funerals and fed your body,

like you’d be destroyed by an imperfect slap.

The criticism was funny, you gave the money,

your enemies from foreign lands knew what to yell.

You ignored everyone in a dry cleaned suit,

and disregarded treasures they took away.

There weren’t books burned with bridges built,

everything you won was an elevator you didn’t take.

So destroy the enemy chokers

give the hour and feel it,

you have reasons to be brave.