Inspiration The temperature in Chicagoland is warming up. Where do you live? Can you go outside? Yes? Perhaps today’s poem can be inspired by your neighborhood or literal (even figurative place) in the world. Go to the place. See if your sidewalk (or street, or …
30, April 30th, Lines and Verses Borrowed
Congratulations! Inspiration: We have shared this virtual space for 30 days — 30 days of words, phrases, images, and lines borrowed from lives lived and imagined. Today, we’d like to encourage you to select a day from our 30 days on ethicalela.com and reread …
29, April 29th, Remembered
Inspiration: What is your ultimate goal in your life? Geesh, this is a big, deep question to which you may not be ready to respond, but imagine for a minute or two what you would like people to say about you years from now. How …
24, April 24th, Tanka
Inspiration: You are stranded on a planet alone for 700 years (not aging). What must the planet look like and do for you to be able to sustain a life alone for so long? With Summer vacation up-and-coming, today you may write a poem about …
23, April 23rd, Gratitude
Inspiration: Write a poem of gratitude: noun, the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Re-read someone’s poem that was brave, sensitive. Remember a book or story that felt like the author wrote it for you. Recall a classmate or teacher who …
19, April 19th, 9 Lines (a Nonet)
Inspiration: A nonet is a nine-line poem. A nonet can be written on any subject and rhyming is optional. The poem starts with a line that has 9 syllables in it. The second line contains 8 syllables, the third line has 7 syllables, and it continues to count down …
18, April 18th, Supporting Others
Inspiration: Have you ever noticed that friends can be a big help when you are frustrated or feeling like a failure? Why is that? Well, friends want to take away your pain, but positive words or saying “not everyone is good at X” are not always helpful …
19, April 19th, Visual Writing
Inspiration: Often poets use images, paintings, or photographs to inspire writing. Today, pick one of these pics to spark your poem (or choose your own image and link to it). Consider one of these ideas to get you poem-ing: Write the inner thoughts of a …
15/30, A Poem and 15 Middle School Verse Novels
I am 15 days into my 30 days of verse novels. The image of this post includes the covers of 15 great middle school verse novels that junior high students are reading right now. And there are many, many more. I will feature all of …
13, April 13th, Breaking-up (sweeties, not-so-sweet friends, or just sweets)
Inspiration (though you can write about anything): Write a break-up poem – names are optional. It might be a break up with sweetie, but it could be about breaking up with a bad habit. Your break up poem might be sad, but it can also be …