Marion asks us to write a Memento Poem. The form was created by Emily Romano. A memento poem captures a holiday, anniversary, or meaningful moment held in memory.
The poem is written in two stanzas. Each of the two stanzas follows this syllabic pattern:
Line 1: 8 beats Line 2: 6 beats Line 3: 2 beats This pattern is repeated once per stanza, for a total rhyme scheme of a / b / c / a / b / c in each stanza.
My heart trembles in the current winds. Blood boils as anguish builds with the callousness of those bound by greed - in their tainted minds world governance by strength, force, power - care lacking, my heart aches.
Write a Nonet about the new year — 2026. How does this year feel to you so far? Are you hopeful, uncertain, energized, reflective? Have you set any goals or intentions? Are there resolutions you’re excited (or nervous) about?
Let your poem capture your thoughts, expectations, and emotions as we step into this new year.
Nonet Form: Line 1 — 9 syllables and then each line decreases by one syllable until you reach Line 9- one syllable.
I am but a cat or so they say... I am sophisticated in my stare.
"Oscar, stop that!"
Babbled nonsense.
"Why are you trouble, be kind to your sister for she is elderly?"
The human barks like a dog.
I try to show her, but her eyes are closed. Play is where it's at. Climb a tree, steal the yarn, run, jump...budump, budump.. It will set you free. You will whisper like a purr. She does not get it. -shoos me, ME!
"We need a break!"
Minion, whatever lady... (big yawn here) I lift my tail, strut on by.
The Skeptic’s Kaddish W3 Prompt # 192is given to us by Josie Holford. Josie asks us to write a poem (up to 20 lines) as a conversation, text thread, or inner dialogue. Let the two voices go back and forth — negotiating, hesitating, contradicting — but never quite landing on a plan. Play with repetition and everyday details to build tension and show who these people are. Slip in small observations that make the moment feel real. And when you get to the end… leave it unresolved.
Sunrise on my morning commute, Dec. 1, 2025, for the Weekend Sky #150
This sea that bares her bosom to the moon she ripples pink at sun rise. Is she but an illusion to make us swoon and whisper promise from our sleepy eyes?
Breathe deeply to our vision sense this sea that sets our heart afire. For she gathered moon without offence to let the day transpire.
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, before the sea becomes winter grey beg a wish, and a plea to let my heart sashay?
Sally asks us to Choose one phrase from William Wordsworth's “The world is too much with us,” and steal it—boldly and poetically. Weave the phrase into our own poem in any way we like; it should be recognizable, but the poem should be ours.
I felt the need to steal two lines (highlighted below):
The World Is Too Much With Us’ by Wordsworth
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;— Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
clapboard houses stacked upon a cliff wall residents clutch hope believe in the smaller generosities; a neighbourly natter, smoke in the chimney, soup on the stove
We are asked to choose one of three artworks, Pittsburgh People, Jeunesse Passe Vite Vertu! Horses in Dresden with PeopleStrolling and let it take you wherever it wants. Write whatever it stirs in you — a memory, a question, a scene, a poem. All images are open-use selections from the National Gallery of Art website.
James Crews, weekly pause, Invitation to Write: You might borrow my first line here, or even just the idea of it: “Believe in the smaller generosities…” Name those pockets of warmth for yourself, articulating what you trust in the most when the world around you starts to feel dark and cold.
The Skeptic’s Kaddish W3 Prompt # 186 is given to us by Dennis Johnstone. Write a poem consisting of three quatrains (12 lines total).
Your subject must be an unimportant, non-emotive object that carries no nostalgia, metaphorical uplift, or symbolic gravitas. It simply is.
Let the object speak in its own voice (1st person) or describe it with cool clarity (objective 3rd person). Avoid sentiment, life lessons, or moral turns. You may use meter, free verse, rhyme, or no rhyme: anything goes as long as the tone stays grounded and unvarnished. The object should remain exactly what it is, even at the end: no transformation.
Sgeoil 