Poetry Writing Prompts!

Spark your Imagination with Writing Prompts for Poetry

We are now embarking on a poetry unit. Over the break, get a notebook to keep just for your writing, and write 2 different entries. You can use the following prompts for muses or write about whatever topics you wish to write about. Not everything you write has to be a poem; you could write lists or freewrites. Just use your notebook to explore ideas, get inspired, record details, feelings, opinions, etc. around you and to help you become more observant, involved, creative thinkers and writers.

1.     Create a “persona” poem: write a poem from the point of view of a fictional character or a figure in history or current events. Think back to “please don’t take my air jordans” by reg e. gaines.

2.     Create a “found” poem from an Upfront article or your independent reading book (all words of the poem must come from the text, but you are free to organize them as you wish)

3.     Invent a new kind of poem with a specific format in terms of rhyme, rhythm, repetition, etc.)

4.     Write a six word memoir.  (Challenge: write one for each self defined “era” of your life or write one for your most important memories. Example: Fountainhair bangs blue shaved now grey.)

5.     Personify a color by writing a monologue, poem, or short story in its voice

6.     Write a poem from the perspective of a person you’ve gotten in an argument with.  (Challenge: Then write your perspective)

7.     Write a rant about something that drives you crazy

8.    Get inspired by a poem that you like. Take a line from it and use it as your first line, make allusions to it in your own poem, use the same structure, write about the same theme, or write a poem addressing the poet or narrator.    

9.         List 3 really cool, unique words nouns and 3 really cool, unique verbs that are new to you (from reading or from vocabulary from another subject), and write a poem.