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.