It's The 2025 Poem-A-Week Challenge Discussion Thread

[Bn2f]

Wow!
A pretty good week!

Welcome FidelityBoss! Hoping you continue and make it another week as did D K Moon and ItsKindaLikeLimbo.

I am personally a lazy poet writer in that I could never do this having to adhere to structure. Kudos to Angeline for starting this past week off not only with a terzanelle, but a f’in damned good one! The highest compliment I think I can give is enviously wishing I could do something someone else can do so well. I’m a sucker for most anything that pulls at the heartstrings and A Nostalgic Rebuild does just that. My favorite little bit of verse from this past week? How can it not be this gem from Tzara:
If Proust wrought truth in verse
her poetry's a church.

My last submission, Sugar Water Reflection, is a backwards repeating homage to one of my favorite music videos that I dare anyone to try and watch just once.

Keep the poetry up and going!

 

[Bn2f]

This week went by fast. Has it been a week? Kind of surprised more members have yet to take up the challenge. Maybe members are thinking that if they missed the first few weeks then the shipped has sailed. I don’t think that joining now or anytime would matter. I doubt anyone would be a stickler either and not want anyone else from adding their pieces. So jump in to anyone wavering - there’s plenty of room and welcome Lily Peg!

Literotica, last time I checked, has a ban on overtly political submissions. That ban does not apply here I don’t believe. This week I think there’s been 4 pieces submitted that seem political. It’s almost like something has been going on as of late that’s got some members inspired to write - go figure. I’m bad at keeping up with things of that nature and will make sure to check the news or stop by the political board and see if I can figure it out. Either way, the more submissions the better!

LustyScribe wrote a simply wonderful piece Sleepless. It flows so beautifully and I hope it gets more than just 1 read. My favorite line of verse from last week comes from MrMrsMrsMr Butterflies:
‘While we
lay hidden
in the tall grass
Our fingers
interwoven
in a rainbow’
Despite it being now winter, that’s just an image that is relatable. Well done!

My last submission: Sedona, Arizona has no particular meaning, it was a challenge to myself to come up with a piece within an hour. I failed. Lol, it took me over 2 hours. It’s still a record time for me. How do folks spit out lines with such ease? I’m envious.

Keep the poetry coming and the thread going strong!

 

[D_K_Moon]

I'm enjoying the Poem-A-Week challenge, I write bad poetry and it's nice to have a place to display it.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I'm enjoying the Poem-A-Week challenge, I write bad poetry and it's nice to have a place to display it.

Enjoying it? So, keep on keeping on.


It ain't that bad, really.

 

[Lily Peg]

*Whispers of the Night*

The candle flickers, scent so sweet,
Warm wax drips where fingers meet.

A hush of silk, a breath so near,
Goosebumps rise—desire, clear.

Cool air dances on fevered skin,
A spark ignites, a pull within.

Time stands still, the world unknown,
Lost in touch, in scent, in tone.

A whispered name, a lingering bite,
Drowned in the thrill of endless night.

...
Poem №3

Lovely sensuous prose

 

[Wonderer67]

How do folks spit out lines with such ease? I’m envious.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my experience is boom and/or bust.

There are times when I can’t seem to not write. A times when I will go dry for weeks at a time.

I got two done today. One of which I started several weeks ago and never finished.

At another, which I just wrote on the spot.

 

[Wonderer67]

@Lily Peg

Winter tale

There will be flowers in the morning
Crocuses budding by the thousands
Spread like a vast carpet of colour
Against the cold grey winter skies.

Such joy! Such a time for peace
So many waiting to return home
So many left bereft and forgotten
Such sadness lost in the frost

Love this poem. My wife was outside on Tuesday in the 20° cold. I noticed the snow bells poking up through the frozen ground.

Turns out just the sun’s warmth is enough to get them going!

The pussy willows are blooming right now. I think so are the witch hazel.

 

[Lily Peg]

Winter tale

There will be flowers in the morning
Crocuses budding by the thousands
Spread like a vast carpet of colour
Against the cold grey winter skies.

Such joy! Such a time for peace
So many waiting to return home
So many left bereft and forgotten
Such sadness lost in the frost

This is a poem that reflects the times and the unfailing seasons. A quiet peaceful beauty in contrast to the violence and tragedy of many innocent people's lives.

 

[LustyScribe]

MrMrsMrsMr posted an excellent work (Move Fast. Break Things.) that really captures the sense of madness and mayhem, the "shoot first, dodge questions later" atmosphere of today. Reckless abandon is great in bed or on the ski slopes; not so much when lives are at stake. Very well done.

 

[SpermFactory]

MrMrsMrsMr posted an excellent work (Move Fast. Break Things.) that really captures the sense of madness and mayhem, the "shoot first, dodge questions later" atmosphere of today. Reckless abandon is great in bed or on the ski slopes; not so much when lives are at stake. Very well done.

It’s funny what inspires good poetry, I wish I thought of it but noooo I was too busy examining my poetical factories hmmm some cost savings there perhaps? A poetical trade war hmmm…

Shoot First Doge latter! Love it.

 

[LustyScribe]

It’s funny what inspires good poetry, I wish I thought of it but noooo I was too busy examining my poetical factories hmmm some cost savings there perhaps?

Shoot First Doge latter! Love it.

I almost used the "doge later"!

 

[SpermFactory]

I almost used the "doge later"!

It's a great line! Thanks for coining it

 

[Bn2f]

What a week of participation!

We did not get any new members to welcome to the thread but, we see you returning goddessofglee, and almost everyone submitted more than one entry! Lily Peg turned in a whopping 7! I wasn’t too good at math so gimme a sec to make some calculations: 7 x 2025 minus the weeks already passed, carry the 6, accounting for the February leap year, divided by this cute squiggly line ~ that I have no idea what it stands for but felt it needed to be here to make me seem smart, all equals out to a whopping = 308 possible entries!

May I suggest, Angeline, that maybe every other new page added or so that you repost the link to comment to here as a reminder to anyone joining in and not seeing the first page and the rules. Just a suggestion.

The political themed submissions continued this week and I’m loving it! Wonderer67, your pieces are raw and deeply personal. I’m loving the crisp and clear, beautiful pics that accompany them as well. More of that is my request. I’m going to piggyback on what LustyScribe said to also recommend reading MrMrsMrsMr’s Move Fast. Break Things. Also, LustyScribe’s The One touched me most personally mainly because that’s the name my life partner put in my phone for me to recognize them calling . I think right here would be a good spot for me to put in a disclaimer that I probably should have put in from my first post on the comment side - these are just my musings and I’m not necessarily trying to highlight every piece, just 1 or 2 that interest me and a verse or two that appeal to me, ok? Everyone, as I’m happily seeing, are free to do the same. Heck, I think it would be interestingly cool if a member broke down a submitted piece line by line if they feel that it was difficult to compose, is underrated and didn’t get the deserved mention, or that members misunderstood what was written. All that said, I have to again go back to LustyScribe’s The One for the verse I enjoyed the most:
“My friend, beginning to end;
How would I cope, keep hope?
Why's the one who wants me
Most my dog, not my wife?“

I tend to over work and overthink the pieces I write. So my last submission Quitting was yet another challenge to myself to try and compose something in a short time and not stress or upset my brain with endless corrections. Poetry, again, for me personally, is therapeutic and I need to sometimes just let go of things. Quitting isn’t necessarily about quitting alcohol.

A great read of a week everyone! Keep the poetry coming and the thread going strong!

 

[Wonderer67]

I wrote the most Februaryest Day Ever three weeks ago. Just polished it off tonite during a slow moment. I wasn’t very happy w it it its initial draft.

I reckon I’m not too happy with much i write, but typically I’m like, “good enough - get it out there.”

This month was tough for me.

Happy March everyone.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I wrote the most Februaryest Day Ever three weeks ago. Just polished it off tonite during a slow moment. I wasn’t very happy w it it its initial draft.

I reckon I’m not too happy with much i write, but typically I’m like, “good enough - get it out there.”

This month was tough for me.

Happy March everyone.

I like what Jack London said about his stuff. He'd feel like he wrote something brilliant, and he'd stuff it in an envelope, sign it, and mail it off to a publisher. He'd feel like he wrote something half-assed, and he'd do exactly the same thing. He was the most popular and highest paid writer of his day.


FWIW . . . .

 

[Wonderer67]

I like what Jack London said about his stuff. He'd feel like he wrote something brilliant, and he'd stuff it in an envelope, sign it, and mail it off to a publisher. He'd feel like he wrote something half-assed, and he'd do exactly the same thing. He was the most popular and highest paid writer of his day.


FWIW . . . .

I don’t get so hung up on every little thing anymore. Mostly, I take an 80/20 approach - good enough.

I may sit on it for a bit to see how it feels, but w February ending, I thought “i better get this thing out the door.”

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I don’t get so hung up on every little thing anymore. Mostly, I take an 80/20 approach - good enough.

I may sit on it for a bit to see how it feels, but w February ending, I thought “i better get this thing out the door.”

I get it.


I'm waiting to post what fell off my fingers this morning.


I changed one word . . . .

 

[Wonderer67]

I am way behind and just catching up on the poetry thread now.

@butters love death a wheelbarrow. There is something about good equipment and tools that make them feel as reliable and helpful as a good friend.

You captured it perfectly. Great memories of tasks gone by and a mournful end. Perfect.

PS: we used our old wheelbarrow for a fire pit. Glad an animals getting refuge from it, but it could also be repurposed so you could see your old friend on chilly spring nights.

 

[Bn2f]

Howdy everyone! How do? It’s another week of the poetry challenge and I decided that this week I wanted to mix things up a bit, but first some minor housecleaning here on my part. My week of reviewing is not the normal Monday thru Sunday but rather Tuesday to Tuesday and sometimes Wednesday’s, like today, if I’ve been lazy and not been keeping up. All the poems I read and try to highlight are in between the poems that I have personally submitted and yeah, lemme repeat that I am lazy, and because I am lazy I’m also fairly positively, undoubtedly certain I’m not going to be motivated like some of you enthusiastic posters and submit more than 1 entry a week. Did I mention that I’m lazy? And lastly, I want to explain how I view this thread Angeline made for poetry discussion - I write here as if this is a personal journal entry. In my head, there’s no one here or anyone else reading these posts. Sure, I certainly see others posting and know that this may, on occasion, be read by some, but I’m simply explaining my approach. I’ll say again - poetry is therapeutic for me. My writing comes sometimes in spurts but almost always when I’m alone and by ‘alone’ I mean like when trying to sleep or at my solitary, mind numbingly boring job. I feel encased in a cell with a straight jacket on, whether by my small work space or the confines of darkness trying to envelop my slumber. My hands only are released to be free when the idea for a poem pops into my mind. Okay! Now on to the mixing things up.

I’m still going to highlight the submissions and verses but not this week. This week, I am going to instead start something I’m thinking of calling ‘What Were You Thinking’ or ‘WWYT!?’ for short. I’m not wedded to the title and may even change it to ‘IGQ’ for ‘I Got Questions!’ I dunno yet, still workshopping, ok? Feel free to put any of your ideas in the suggestion box at the end of this post. The idea for this is based on conversations I’ve seen and read between member Wonderer67 and others (yes, lol, I know what I just said on acting as if this is my own space). I am going to go back through the past, and maybe present, and highlight a submission and ask the question *WWYT!? And I figured I would start with a piece by the already mentioned member Wonderer67. (* Despite having a negative and condescending connotation, WWYT!? is not ever to be viewed in that way but more of a hook or an attention grab and, because I still view this as a personal journal entry - a reply is not needed or expected from anything I’ve highlighted from chosen member).

Okay, those are the rules so far, so here we go!

Wonderer67, WWYT!?
Your 2nd entry was this:

The delicate snow
Cupped in loving outstretched arms
A chalice for wrens

It is one of the few submissions that are here untitled. Was that intended or an omission? WWYT!? There’s a picture that accompanies this entry and I urge members to go back to page 1 to see because it is stunning! Which came first - the pic or the poem? WWYT!? Why is the pic of this particular section of the branch and not the whole tree? WWYT!? The white looks as if it were individual grains of salt placed upon the leaves rather than snow yet still delicate. WWYT!? It fits the criteria of a haiku but is so subtle that it can go unnoticed as such upon a first read. WWYT!? The 2nd line used a personification to identify the tree but the 3rd line switches to making it into an object with both working in opposition and inline seamlessly and beautifully together. WWYT!? What caused you to decide on the perfectly fitting word ‘chalice’ instead of cup or another syllable fitting synonym goblet? WWYT!? Haikus are a short read but not necessarily short in composing - how long of a time period did it take you? WWYT!?

A thank you to Wonderer67 for sharing a submission that has stuck in my head since this challenge started. Looking forward to reading and seeing more of your work!

A great read of a week everyone! Keep the poetry coming and the thread going strong!

 

[Wonderer67]

Howdy everyone! How do? It’s another week of the poetry challenge and I decided that this week I wanted to mix things up a bit, but first some minor housecleaning here on my part. My week of reviewing is not the normal Monday thru Sunday but rather Tuesday to Tuesday and sometimes Wednesday’s, like today, if I’ve been lazy and not been keeping up. All the poems I read and try to highlight are in between the poems that I have personally submitted and yeah, lemme repeat that I am lazy, and because I am lazy I’m also fairly positively, undoubtedly certain I’m not going to be motivated like some of you enthusiastic posters and submit more than 1 entry a week. Did I mention that I’m lazy? And lastly, I want to explain how I view this thread Angeline made for poetry discussion - I write here as if this is a personal journal entry. In my head, there’s no one here or anyone else reading these posts. Sure, I certainly see others posting and know that this may, on occasion, be read by some, but I’m simply explaining my approach. I’ll say again - poetry is therapeutic for me. My writing comes sometimes in spurts but almost always when I’m alone and by ‘alone’ I mean like when trying to sleep or at my solitary, mind numbingly boring job. I feel encased in a cell with a straight jacket on, whether by my small work space or the confines of darkness trying to envelop my slumber. My hands only are released to be free when the idea for a poem pops into my mind. Okay! Now on to the mixing things up.

I’m still going to highlight the submissions and verses but not this week. This week, I am going to instead start something I’m thinking of calling ‘What Were You Thinking’ or ‘WWYT!?’ for short. I’m not wedded to the title and may even change it to ‘IGQ’ for ‘I Got Questions!’ I dunno yet, still workshopping, ok? Feel free to put any of your ideas in the suggestion box at the end of this post. The idea for this is based on conversations I’ve seen and read between member Wonderer67 and others (yes, lol, I know what I just said on acting as if this is my own space). I am going to go back through the past, and maybe present, and highlight a submission and ask the question *WWYT!? And I figured I would start with a piece by the already mentioned member Wonderer67. (* Despite having a negative and condescending connotation, WWYT!? is not ever to be viewed in that way but more of a hook or an attention grab and, because I still view this as a personal journal entry - a reply is not needed or expected from anything I’ve highlighted from chosen member).

Okay, those are the rules so far, so here we go!

Wonderer67, WWYT!?
Your 2nd entry was this:

The delicate snow
Cupped in loving outstretched arms
A chalice for wrens

It is one of the few submissions that are here untitled. Was that intended or an omission? WWYT!? There’s a picture that accompanies this entry and I urge members to go back to page 1 to see because it is stunning! Which came first - the pic or the poem? WWYT!? Why is the pic of this particular section of the branch and not the whole tree? WWYT!? The white looks as if it were individual grains of salt placed upon the leaves rather than snow yet still delicate. WWYT!? It fits the criteria of a haiku but is so subtle that it can go unnoticed as such upon a first read. WWYT!? The 2nd line used a personification to identify the tree but the 3rd line switches to making it into an object with both working in opposition and inline seamlessly and beautifully together. WWYT!? What caused you to decide on the perfectly fitting word ‘chalice’ instead of cup or another syllable fitting synonym goblet? WWYT!? Haikus are a short read but not necessarily short in composing - how long of a time period did it take you? WWYT!?

A thank you to Wonderer67 for sharing a submission that has stuck in my head since this challenge started. Looking forward to reading and seeing more of your work!

A great read of a week everyone! Keep the poetry coming and the thread going strong!

Wow thanks! I’m really honored that the poem stuck with you. I’ll do my best to answer you.

It is one of the few submissions that are here untitled. Was that intended or an omission? WWYT!?
Purely an oversight. I thought haiku were not supposed to have titles, but what do I know.

There’s a picture that accompanies this entry and I urge members to go back to page 1 to see because it is stunning! Which came first - the pic or the poem? WWYT!?
The picture came first. It had snowed out that morning - a very delicate and lights now. But it was cold and so the flakes were more like ice crystals. I was working from home that day, and I was struck by how beautiful everything looked with that light dusting and the crystal like texture of the snow.

Why is the pic of this particular section of the branch and not the whole tree? WWYT!?
I take a lot of photographs, and there is just something about that view that struck me. It was close enough so that you could see the actual grains of snow. I don’t think a picture of it further back would’ve done it nearly the justice.

The white looks as if it were individual grains of salt placed upon the leaves rather than snow yet still delicate. WWYT!?
Snow has all kinds of different textures, and I was struck by the granular nature of this particular snowfall. And because it was so granular, it seemed to fill up the up-spread leaves of the azalea.

It fits the criteria of a haiku but is so subtle that it can go unnoticed as such upon a first read. WWYT!?
Someone had posted a few haiku above that and it’s such an easy and simple form that I decided to emulate them and go with it. The only thing I really know about haiku is that it’s 5/7/5 and that it should have to do with natural beauty or nature.

The 2nd line used a personification to identify the tree but the 3rd line switches to making it into an object with both working in opposition and inline seamlessly and beautifully together. WWYT!?
This was just totally random. I was just trying to write a quick haiku being as descriptive as possible and fitting into the format.

What caused you to decide on the perfectly fitting word ‘chalice’ instead of cup or another syllable fitting synonym goblet? WWYT!?
The second line was really just about a descriptor. It seemed like the azalea leaves performing cups, and the branches were upstretched arms.

I was just wordsmithing quickly, and trying to find a couple of quick synonyms for a cup. It came down to goblet or chalice and chalice seemed to have a lighter airy feel than goblet… which somehow felt heavier.

Haikus are a short read but not necessarily short in composing - how long of a time period did it take you? WWYT!?
It actually just took me about five or seven minutes. I guess I got lucky with this one!

 

[Bn2f]

How was the past week for everyone? My week was pretty awesome. I penned 3 new pieces and started on an additional 3 more as well! I’m just going to cheat and save them to snack on for later weeks when my brain becomes a desolate desert to ideas so I can pull out and make seem like I’m crushing this challenge!

It’s not beneath me to do some gratuitous ass kissing and if I didn’t mention this properly before then I will now! I thanked member butters for telling me about this challenge but I should have thanked member Angeline for creating both the challenge thread as well as this one that’s been bringing me joy from engagement. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I speak for everyone participating in giving you, Angeline, a sincere thank you for ALL OF THIS! Thank You!

Let’s keep this season of thanks giving going and congratulate Wonderer67 for being a great sport for replying to WWYT!? (Is that the title we’re going with? I see no show of objecting hands in my head so yeah!) and replying with a speed and enthusiasm that caught me a bit by surprise, but has me believing that WWYT!? wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Thanks again Wonderer67 for your post, poem, pics, and POV!

I’m going to try and put the last 2 weeks of submissions into a nice neat package, ok? Welcome back ItsKindaLikeLimbo! I don’t think we got any new members contributing but that’s ok member wat has got that covered by submitting, I count 4, 4! pieces in the past 2 weeks! And since I’m going backwards and catching up, there were more than one verses that tickled my fancy.

Tzara’s On the Process of Composition:
I sip some more tea
and wait for one bright image
to nestle here on my desk.

Yes! Perfectly said. This is exactly how ideas come to me!

LustyScribe’s The Unliving Room:
Alone at last in the living room
I hear the house heave a sigh
As if it feels my sense of doom
As if it senses time go by.

ItsKindaLikeLimbo‘s The Antelope Valley: An Ode:
Some of the best Parenthoods are not Planned.

And SpermFactory’s My first divorce scene
excluded a prenup:
It’s called method acting.
Lol. Just the gall to use that as an excuse made me giggle!

I know what you’re thinking but this isn’t a gratuitous suck up.
Check out Angeline’s: Hollywood, Florida 1960. And after reading that deep and somewhat religious piece, lighten your palate with The Art of The Meal by MrMrsMrsMr.

Ok, I’m caught up. Just one thing left to clean up. I do not have cancer. PHUCANCER is still very personal for this disease has taken from me too many loved ones to count and I decided on reposting upon hearing about yet another person having to deal with this terrible disease. Yes, fuck you to Hell cancer!

One last footnote: In addition to trying my best to read each submission, I also listen, too! I do love a song with a steady, thumping beat that brings up images of driving in a car and returning to a place or home. Wonderer67, I listened and very much liked the song An Ocean In Between The Waves. Hmmmmmm, maybe introducing a themed week dealing with a topic such as that could be a thing to do? . Nope, never mind that, this weekly thing is hard enough as is. We all know that In The Air At Night by Phil Collins is the greatest song ever to drive to - we ALL know this, right? I’ll be more than eager to step outside and settle this with anyone here disagreeing! …and by settling this I mean getting in a car and driving while playing the song. But since a love for music by eclectic musicians is literally my alt, I’ve got 2 recommendations for your ears and car to enjoy on a backroad or lonely strip of highway.

A great read of a few weeks everyone! Keep the poetry coming and the thread going strong!

 

[Angeline]

Thank you Bn2f for your kind words although honestly ass-kissing (gratuitous or otherwise) is never necessary. Like most of us here I just like being around others who value poetry and playing with words. I've been a moderator here since 2003 ( I know!), but I try to fly under the radar as much as possible. I think the forum works best when inspiration and poetry happen naturally. And the Poem-A-Week Challenge is proving that true. I'm so happy that a lot of people...and a lot of new to me people...are writing in that thread. That's good for all of us.

I'm interested in why you thought my poem a little religious (if I understand your comment correctly). I know we all bring our own experience and vision to what we read. For me though that poem was just a straight-up memory of daily visits to the beach with my grandfather when I was very young, a very fond memory for me.

Anyway keep writing when you can folks. The thread is very successful.

 

[Wonderer67]

Man, I couldn’t write shit for weeks. And this morning, I wrote three.

Knocked em out voice to text first driving to work.

Then over lunch, I shaped em into a few rough poems.

 

[Angeline]

Man, I couldn’t write shit for weeks. And this morning, I wrote three.

Knocked em out voice to text first driving to work.

Then over lunch, I shaped em into a few rough poems.

Good on you! All the crap going on in America is seriously screwing with my ability/desire/inspiration to produce poetry. I feel frozen with worry though I'm doing my best to stay in the moment, be rational and not doomscroll.

How are y'all coping. Anyone have advice?

 

[butters]

Good on you! All the crap going on in America is seriously screwing with my ability/desire/inspiration to produce poetry. I feel frozen with worry though I'm doing my best to stay in the moment, be rational and not doomscroll.

How are y'all coping. Anyone have advice?

pretty much this



I limit myself to exposure to the politics/news... enough I can see what's happening, but not so much it's overwhelming me. I'm fortunate enough to have the physical outdoors chores this time of year to keep me occupied: the breaking of the soil, the weeding/prepping, planning layout of the veggies, starting off seeds for growing on before planting into the rows—it's calming and keeps me grounded, distracted from the things I cannot change.

If you can't get out much, maybe there's something you can get involved with online to help others... I dunno, dya like knitting or something? There're always kids in need of winter hats or mittens and stuff. Or maybe take on some editorial work; immersing yourself in the work of others means giving your muse a break which just might spark its own resurgence