Host of the challenge: NaPoWriMo.net
Cinquain # 24: Almost Done
Soon now,
April will end,
And NaPoWriMo too.
I will miss writing a cinquain
Each day.
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April
National Poetry Writing Month is Almost Here
Hey, all you poets, psalmists, and songwriters out there, did you know that April is National Poetry Writing Month? Well, it is, and that means it’s time to focus on our meter, rhyme, and imagery. Maureen Thorson, of Washington, D.C., U.S.A., hosts a website devoted specifically to National Poetry Writing Month — along with a project she has christened NaPoWriMo. That project encourages participants to write a new poem every day for the 30 days of April.
Now, you can write any kind of poem you want — any form — any theme. Or you can visit her site every day to get a prompt from the project itself. The site also offers interesting material from a number of different poets, as well as links to other sites that are poetry specific.
So why not jump in and take part in NaPoWriMo this year. I generally participate, although I rarely manage to write 30 poems. But if we each write even 10 new poems in the month of April, just think how much creativity we’ve unleashed.
This year I’m doing something a little different. I love cinquain, and it is about the only form out there that is uniquely American-made. So this year, rather than follow the prompts on the NaPoWriMo site, I’m going to write a new cinquain for each day. I may borrow from the site’s theme suggestions, and I may not. We’ll have to see. But I hope a lot of you participate and post your links to your poems on the NaPoWriMo site.
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Oh My Goodness! It’s Almost National Poetry Month!
I cannot believe it. When I think about all the poems I wrote last April for NaPoWriMo, it seems like just last week. How can we be right at the door of the next National Poetry Month already?
Well, one reason it seems so recent, of course, is that I’ve just recently had a book come out that includes quite a few of those poems from last NaPoWriMo, so I’ve been working with them again fairly recently. But today it really hit me that I’m going to have to get my rhythm and rhyme on and get down to business again next week. NEXT WEEK!?!?!? YES!
Last year I was two days behind, so I had to work even harder to catch up, so this year, I’m going to be ready and waiting for April first. And while I’m at it, I’ll just add that I think we should re-christen that day anyway.
From now on we must not refer to April first as “April Fool’s Day.”
As of this post, I hereby christen April first “POET’S DAY.” We have a Mother’s Day, a Father’s Day, a Grandparent’s Day, a Children’s Day, a Veterans’ Day, a Secretary’s Day, etc., etc., etc. So it’s only fair that the world be given a chance to celebrate those rare individuals who lighten the soul, tantalize the senses, plumb the depths of the heart, and carry us away on meter and rhyme and figurative language. LONG LIVE THE POETS!
If you want to be ready for NaPoWriMo 2014, hop over and check out the preparations underway at the home site: http://www.napowrimo.net/
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NaPoWriMo – 2013 – Day 30 — ‘Adieu, Dear April’
For the final day of the National Poetry Writing Month challenge, I have departed from my pattern. Every other day that I wrote, I have followed the prompt faithfully. But today — especially since Maureen has made it clear that the prompts are merely optional suggestions — I have decided to ignore the prompt and write what I feel. It seems a fitting close to this challenging and inspiring week.
More than 2000 poets from around the world have taken part in this adventure, and I thank Maureen Thorson for working so hard and so faithfully to provide us this opportunity. I look forward eagerly to April of 2014.
ADIEU, DEAR APRIL
Dear April, I bid you adieu.
It has been great fun.
To play so with meter and rhyme,
Though no prize I’ve won.
Still, you’re the most challenging month;
You’ve stirred up my muse.
And most of the poems I’ve composed
I can put to use.
I’ve gone to great lengths to match prompts,
Called up gifts by command;
Stretched self to plumb depths still unreached
To create on demand.
So, April and NaPoWriMo,
I appreciate you.
And fondly, till next poets’ month,
I bid you adieu!
~
The Happy Wordcrafter 