The Red Scare | Poetry Prompt

May 9, 2017May 9, 2017Tamara Woods Leave a comment

This month’s prompt is about the alleged ties to Russia. The past month, it seems like every other day there was another potential connection with the Trump cabinet and Putin. What does it all mean? What does it mean to you? Is it the true story? Is it a smoke screen? Is there more to this than we’re hearing? Are we focusing too much on those Russian ties?

You tell me.

I want your poetry. Dark, angry, heated, light, loving, a snarky grin, and a cheeky smirk: give it all to me! This is your opportunity to discuss these matters in a way, in a real way that we don’t often get to in the “real” world. There’s no attack here, no judgment. Only a bunch of poets putting their pen to paper to write about one of the most remarkable presidencies that I’ve ever lived through.

Tell me more.

Email your poems to thereveriejournal@gmail.com.

The best of your work will go to a collection for publication in 2018. After the first year is over. I know many poets procrastinate and are instead going to wait until the last-minute. I would encourage you to write as things are happening, even if there’s something that I don’t create a heading for, write it. And if there’s a heading that you think I should suggest and haven’t, send me a tweet @ReverieJournal or @penpaperpad.

Thank you and get to writing!

Syria | Poetry Prompt

April 12, 2017Tamara Woods Leave a comment

Before this prompt, the ideas have been fairly esoteric in nature. This month, I was waffling between the word I was interested in hearing more about. However, with President Trump’s position on the Syrian crisis, the refugee, and the response to the Syrian President Bashar Assad’s chemical attack against his citizens; I had to know, how do you feel? What do you think about this red line? How are you processing this? Do you agree or disagree with our actions in Syria? Give your thoughts a voice and share them.

Syria

One of the reasons behind this poetry anthology is to take a look at what’s happening in President Trump’s first year in the White House. Poets throughout history have evoked emotional responses and to keep track of the world’s happenings.

This is your opportunity to write something real. Be bold and unapologetic. And it will have the opportunity to be published as a statement about the first at President Trump’s first year. This will lean neither for nor against it. Each month I will offer you a different prompt for this activity. You can interpret any way you would like. But the roots of your poem should be with the 45th President of the United States.

A portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to a charity of our choice. The rest will go to the upkeep of this website. Some changes are coming in the future of The Reverie Journal, but we need money to make it happen.

Write your poem about fake news. Let us know if you’d like to submit for possible publication and let’s see what we can create.

Add your link in the comments section, or if you don’t want to add it to the comments, send it to me via email at thereveriejournal@gmail.com.

Beating the Big Bad | Poetry Prompt

July 25, 2016Tamara Woods 1 Comment

This weekend we were waiting on the islands for the hurricane to hit. Well it had been downgraded to a tropic storm, but with the potential for 50 mph winds and so much rain, the name isn’t really that important. Initially, we didn’t know anything was going on. We’d gone to watch Star Trek indulging in our nerdy side. I loved it and totally bought the StarTrek insignia cup. Afterward, I turned on my phone and my Math Guy’s mother had texted us to see if we were ok. Apparently, Hawai’i was a state of emergency from this tropical storm. Who knew?

(This was a reminder that it’s good to check in with local news on a daily basis, just to make sure you’re not in danger of being blown into the Pacific.)

We hunkered down in the house, grabbed delicious snacks with healthy choices for the next couple of days. And wine.

The rain and it blew most of the afternoon into the night. Our house didn’t see the worse of it and we mostly just read and played PokemonGo.

What does this have to do with today’s prompt?, you ask, your frow furrowed. Well fellow Poet, let me tell you today’s prompt:

Write a poem about when you expected something terrible- a big bad to happen- but instead was pleasantly surprised. Share your poems either through a backlink or adding your poem’s link to the comment section below.

Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

Happy writing!

Cycles in life | Poetry Prompt

June 27, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

This week at The Reverie Journal, I’m carrying over a poetry prompt that I wrote for Poets on the Page. I was thinking about cicadas and how much they are annoying and terrible. But also, the little amount of time they have actually above ground and living. Already their siren song that sounds like the soundtrack of a slasher film has died down around here. They rise out of the ground in droves to mate and then are gone for 17 years. Only living for four to six weeks.

Let’s write a poem about something that has a cycle. Which cycle and how often is entirely up to you. Use your creativity and let your imagination run wild.

Orlando Tragedy | Poetry Prompt

June 13, 2016Tamara Woods 11 Comments

Whenever there’s a mass shooting in the United States, I always want to write something about it. To give words to the emotions choking my throat. I never know what to say. I never know if it’s appropriate, or if my words are even necessary. So I stay silent.

Today, I want to give myself permission to write something about the Orlando tragedy and I want to extend that permission to you poets as well. One of the beauty of the written word is that we have the power to do with it what we will. We can comment on the beautiful as well as the ugly. I feel like today is the time to comment on the ugly.

There’s no specifics that you have to meet. Your politics do not have to meet mine. There are no expectations here. Just write.

Weathering the Storm | Poetry Prompt

May 23, 2016May 23, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

Remember when Howard Beale implored people to stick the head out of the window and yell, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” in the classic Network? The thunder rolling in the backdrop as voices were heard calling out their anger all over the country, punctuated the sound sharp cries of their distress. Without that rain and the thunder, the scene wouldn’t have had as much impact.

It wouldn’t have had as much impact without that rainy weather. In Alanis Morisette’s song, “Ironic” she mentioned rain on your wedding, which for some brides would be an absolute disaster. Others, may be tempted to kick off their heels and dance in the storm.

You’ve definitely seen the weather impact life events in your life as well. On a winter’s night when you’re curled on the couch with a cup of cocoa, the snow falling outside makes it all feel that much more cozy.

Let’s write a poem about weather impacting an occasion and making the moment that much stronger. Whether it’s more intimate, more secure, just more. Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

Smothered – Poetry Prompt

May 9, 2016May 9, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

In the United States, yesterday was Mother’s Day. A day where we celebrate the women who have raised us through gifts, hugs, and a promise to not have to cook together.

As the dayprogressed and I read through my Facebook feed (like you do), I noticed there were soooooo many people who have truly complicated relationships with the mother figure in their lives. Whether she is toxic, overbearing, not around, not alive, not enough, these relations are overwrought with potential angst. A hotbed of poetry fodder.

Write about a maternal relationship of sorts. Be creative and dig deep. Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

I hope you’re inspired and happy writing!

Some songs for a bit of inspiration: