Day Seven

Hello, everyone! Today marks one full week of NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo. I hope you are settling into your poetry-writing groove.

Our featured participant today is Smoke words every day, where the multiple-viewpoints poem for Day Six could be called “Five Reasons to Put Down Your Phone Already.”

Today’s interview is with Li Young Lee. Lee’s first book of poetry, Rose, is a staple in creative writing courses. You can learn more about Lee here, and read a number of his poems here.

Finally, our prompt for the day (optional as always) comes to us from Elizabeth Boquet of Oaks to Acorns. In keeping with the fact that it’s the seventh day of NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo, Elizabeth and I challenge you to write a poem about luck and fortuitousness. For inspiration, take a look at Charles Simic’s “The Betrothal” and Stephen Dunn’s “The Arm”. Need something more? Perhaps these instructions from Elizabeth will get you going!

Create the following lists:

1. List 1 – 3 random objects. (Smaller tends to be better.)
2. List 1 – 3 random but specific locations. (Think in the cookie jar, or under my seat…)
3. List 1 – 2 objects you’ve lost and a few notes on their back-story.
4. List 1- 2 objects you’ve found and few notes on their back-story.

Now, choose an object from List 1, a location from List 2, and connect them in a poem with ideas from Lists 3 & 4 and Voilà! A fortuitous poem! As an example of a finished “fortuitous” poem, here is Elizabeth’s own “State of Grace”.

Happy writing!