We continue through April 2020 which means more of...
You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.
So. Let's begin.
April 17, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 17
1) Instead of having a featured poet to start off, let's have a featured performer! Here is Tom Hiddleston reading 30 minutes of poems from the likes of Pound, Neruda, Larkin, Dylan Thomas, Mary Oliver and more.
2) TV TIME! It is time to watch/listen to some more poetry. Let's start out with Bukowski. We haven't had any Bukowski yet. Here's him reading his poem "Bluebird".
Since we listened to an actor reading earlier, now let's watch Michael Caine reading the Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" and reflecting a little on why he likes it.
And finally let's watch Mary Oliver reading her poem "Dog Songs"
3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:
"Mental Health" by Kai Carlson-Wee in Great River Review Issue 66.
"The Museum of Trees" by Susan Wardall in Cordite Poetry Review Issue 95 (Feb. 2020).
"Plums" by Jane A Wayne in Cumberland River Review Issue 9-2.
4) Go read all of the following three short poems that were published more than two years ago:
5) From the channel "Poems That Make Grown Men Cry" here's evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins reading AE Housman's poem "Last Poems: XL" and speaks briefly on why the poem means so much to him.
6) The time machine is set to April 1st, 2016 for this "Three Things" exercise. Easy peasy. Write that poem!
