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.
I’ve noticed that creatives, writers especially often have trouble sleeping aren’t able to sleep. Are our brains hardwired to ignore biological functions like sleep when writing wants to happen (or when writing refuses us)? Insomnia is such a persistent and unwanted bed buddy. It just won’t take no for an answer. Even though sometimes sleep is the time when those creative thoughts are more active.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Write a poem that somehow defeats insomnia. It could be something soothing that would lull the unaware to sleep, like he song below by the Dandy Warhols. It could be a duel where you are fighting Insomnia to reclaim your sleeping rights.Be creative and have fun with this. If you join in this week, let us know by backlinking to this post, or posting your link the comments.
Sometimes a piece of music touches us and inspires us in amazing ways, and while sometimes we let you find your own music to inspire you, today I have chosen a piece for you.
Lukas Graham’s song, 7 Years, travels through one man’s life and through an unknown future. I love the way he marks the passage of time with certain ages and specific things that were said to him at that age:
Once I was eleven years old my daddy told me
Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely
Once I was eleven years old
I will post the lyrics and video below for those that haven’t heard the song yet. I want you to let this inspire you. Think to a specific age, to your thoughts and hopes and aspirations as that age, to the advice given you then. Write about it.
Remember you have until Friday to submit your entry by either leaving it in the comment section below or linking back to this post. All entries will be considered for the second edition of the anthology.
Anthology submissions are open. Please submit here.
Write for Us submissions are also open. You can submit here for that.
7 Years by Lukas Graham
Once I was seven years old my momma told me Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely Once I was seven years old
It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure
Once I was eleven years old my daddy told me Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely Once I was eleven years old
I always had that dream like my daddy before me So I started writing songs, I started writing stories Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me ‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
Once I was 20 years old, my story got told Before the morning sun, when life was lonely Once I was 20 years old
I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure ‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major I got my boys with me at least those in favor And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later
Once I was 20 years old, my story got told I was writing about everything, I saw before me Once I was 20 years old Soon we’ll be 30 years old, our songs have been sold We’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roaming Soon we’ll be 30 years old
I’m still learning about life My woman brought children for me So I can sing them all my songs And I can tell them stories Most of my boys are with me Some are still out seeking glory And some I had to leave behind My brother I’m still sorry
Soon I’ll be 60 years old, my daddy got 61 Remember life and then your life becomes a better one I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once I hope my children come and visit, once or twice a month
Soon I’ll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me Soon I’ll be 60 years old Soon I’ll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me Soon I’ll be 60 years old
Once I was seven years old, momma told me Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely Once I was seven years old
It’s time for a new wordle! This week, I’ve taken words from one of our editor’s books, The Shaping of an Angry Black Womanby Tamara Woods. There is no set amount of words you have to use, and you can use any form of the word listed below (plural, past tense, etc.)
Here are you words:
drippings
splinters
fickle
barcode
articulate
quivering
accusing
lipstick
DNA
jail
witches
kiss
mimicry
I grew up in the church. Now, we I say I grew up in the church, I don’t mean we were there every Sunday. I mean that my grandfather was a pastor, and we were there every Sunday…and Wednesday night, and Sunday night, and Tuesday’s for youth group, and all summer long for all three church camps offered…for 18 years.
I literally grew up in the church.
One thing I always remembered was “Bring a Friend to Church” day. Did anyone else ever have that? It was a big deal for us. Our pastor would insist on us going out and finding someone new to bring along with us.
Now, 18 years later, I’m not a religious person, but I think there is value to bringing someone new with you to experience things you enjoy. It’s a new year and what could be better than trying something completely new, different, and hopefully, fun?
So your prompt is more of a challenge this week.
We want you to bring a friend to The Reverie.
I’m going to give you a fun wordle prompt below, and hopefully you will all find it inspiring and write something amazing for us! And then your challenge is to go find a poet you know, and bring them over. Have them tell us you sent them.
The person who refers the most poets to us, who participate in the prompt, will win themselves a guest post right here on this site. You can use it to share a new poem, to promote your own work or website, to talk about an upcoming book or publication you are working on…The possibilities are endless.
You have your challenge, guys and gals. Here’s your prompt:
1. dizzy
2. ruins
3. dedication
4. patchwork
5. smother
6. reverence
7. raspberry
8. time
9. fierce
10. squall
11. pale
12. heavy
13. gap
14. courage
We’re giving you 14 words to use in your poem this week, but you only need to use ten at least. Use all 14 if you can! You can use any form of the word, as well. Good luck and we hope to see lots of new people this week.
The Reverie 