Paint Chip Poetry Prompt #40

It has arrived. The day when there are no new prompts in my Paint Chip deck. There are still unused paint chips, but no prompt cards. But have no fear. My dear cousin Ron already provided us with a suggestion for this week’s prompt and I’ve decided to use it.

The Challenge

What If There Were No Prompts? I guess we’ll find out, won’t we? And we’ll do it with these paint chip words and phrases: gingerroot, lacquer, Neptune, coyote, illumination, green light, and home base. Your challenge is to write a promptless poem using all seven of these words and phrases.

My Poem

I’ve written many poems without a prompt. Let’s see if I can pull it off with these oddball words and phrases that seem to have no connection on their own.

My Promptless Poem

Without a prompt I'll need a muse
for creative illumination

Perhaps a novel I've been reading
about bees and boys and a mean coyote
But if you've never read it too
you may not understand my words

Of all the heavenly bodies so bright
Neptune seldom inspires one to write
unlike the moon that's influenced
many a poet across the years

A child's game of green light
red light while standing at home base
might spark a nursery rhyme
but nary a serious sonnet or ode

Of all the spices in the pantry
gingerroot perhaps could produce
a savory bit of verse if balanced
with a little sweet date

Lacquer is no muse at all
without a prompt to guide it along
It might make tables shiny and bright
but it does nothing for words on a screen

Without a prompt it's plain to see
a poem could get lost meandering
from one idea to another

Your Turn

Okay, it’s your turn to ponder what it would be like if there were no prompts. Post your poem in the comments. Or if you prefer, post it on your blog and share a link in the comments.

Also, if you would be so kind, I’d love suggestions for future prompt themes. If I get a few, then I can throw them in a hat and pick one randomly. Otherwise I’m going to have to figure out something else for the next three months.