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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem focusing on prefixes and suffixes to denote states of being or actions and their relationships.

Red Letter Days

She's the red-tailed hawk sitting
    on the wire
      checking my seat belt

She's the redbird feeding
    at my window
       greeting me from Heaven

She's everywhere ~ reminding me
    in flashes of red
       that she's still right here

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem focusing on prefixes and suffixes to denote states of being or actions and their relationships. Red Letter Days She's the red-tailed hawk sitting on the wire checking my seat belt She's the redbird feeding...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily poem inspirations. Today's challenge is to write a poem with a philosophical or theological belief or wondering.

Eternity

eternity is
held in one moment, stitches ~
past, present, future

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily poem inspirations. Today's challenge is to write a poem with a philosophical or theological belief or wondering. Eternity eternity is held in one moment, stitches ~ past, present, future https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I'm writing my way through Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths, which I began in October Now, I'm on the final stretch toward the end of the year. Today's challenge is a one-word poem - and don't let it fool you. It can be a bigger challenge than any other kind. It can have a title.

Christmastime Joy

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I'm writing my way through Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths, which I began in October Now, I'm on the final stretch toward the end of the year. Today's challenge is a one-word poem - and don't let it fool you. It can be a bigger challenge than any other kind.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths this month, working my way through the writing exercises from cover to cover. Today's prompt is a two-line poem. At High Falls Campground There was better medicine in nature than in the 5 Covid prescriptions I was taking https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I'm reading through Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths from cover to cover this month, writing my way through the exercises. Today's challenge is a monostitch poem, or a poem of only one line. It can have a title.

Little Guy Max

who has the biggest personality on the campground?

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I'm reading through Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths from cover to cover this month, writing my way through the exercises. Today's challenge is a monostitch poem, or a poem of only one line. It can have a title. Little Guy Max who has the biggest personality on the campground? https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths from cover to cover, writing my way through the daily exercises. In today's prompt, a tiny poem is the inspiration. Writers compose a tiny poem in four to six lines - its conciseness of words is its criteria, and it could take many forms - the Haiku, the...

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I'm reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths from cover to cover, working my way through the writing exercises each day throughout the end of the year. Today's inspiration is to write a beatitude, a statement of wisdom, positivity, empathy, or possibility. Many times, these begin with the words Blessed be....or Praise be....or Let there be.....

I'm writing today to celebrate my son's necktie design that won the Save the Children art contest through Denny's restaurant back when he was in kindergarten.

Let there be Childhood Let there be childhood full of reading picture books that build healthy lives

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I'm reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths from cover to cover, working my way through the writing exercises each day throughout the end of the year. Today's inspiration is to write a beatitude, a statement of wisdom, positivity, empathy, or possibility. Many times, these begin with the words Blessed be....or Praise be....or Let there be.....

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I've been reading the book Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working my way from cover to cover with each of the writing exercises. Today's challenge inspires writers to create an Epic List Poem, considering how a list form can support your writing and purpose. Words can vary on a theme or move from microscopic to macroscopic. It seeks to expand your awareness.

My Epic Christmas List of Unwrappables

Togetherness

Memories
Health
Experiences
Adventures
Time
Coziness
Laughter
Moments
Hugs
Snuggles
Wet dog noses
Cheers!
Celebrations
Mealtimes
Love
Walks
Hikes
Kayak paddles
Campfire chats
Smiles
Tickles
Foot Rubs
Bath soaks
Milkshake sharing
Stargazing Nights
Promises
Dreams
Hopes
Singing
Dancing
Christmas Tree scents

Togetherness

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I've been reading the book Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working my way from cover to cover with each of the writing exercises. Today's challenge inspires writers to create an Epic List Poem, considering how a list form can support your writing and purpose. Words can vary on a theme or move from microscopic...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the writing exercises from cover to cover. Today's challenge is to write a coinage poem that defines a word. I looked back to the day that Margaret Simon challenged Open Writers at http://www.ethicalela.com to write etymology poems. Here is mine from that day: I defined the word Quirky.

 Meet Quirky  Quirky was born in 1873 to the adjective family tree, wrapped upside-down in a blanket different from all the rest ~ peculiar, off-beat, bizarre eccentric, outlandish and strange in an oddly appealing way, in the same year in the word hospital as bumfuzzled, capisce, and wordsmith. So wear the mismatched socks. March to your own beat. Be quirky!

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the writing exercises from cover to cover. Today's challenge is to write a coinage poem that defines a word. I looked back to the day that Margaret Simon challenged Open Writers at www.ethicalela.com to write etymology poems. Here is mine from that day:...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the exercises each day. Today's exercise is a found poem, which is written by finding words and phrases in other places - from books, magazines, anywhere! and putting them together in a new arrangement. I like to use discarded books and find poems on the page. Here is one from a page of Tom Sawyer, in picture form, rewritten on a purple tulip back in April 2022 when Open Write host Amy Vetter challenged our group at http://www.ethicalela.com to write found poems.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the exercises each day. Today's exercise is a found poem, which is written by finding words and phrases in other places - from books, magazines, anywhere! and putting them together in a new arrangement. I like to use discarded books and find poems on the...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the writing exercises each day, from cover to cover. Today's prompt is Imitation of Form, in which writers write their own versions of specific other poems. I'm going back to a prompt by Travis Crowder in the Open Write on http://www.ethicalela.com in April 2019 to share an imitation of form about one of my three Schnoodles today.

This poem models Christopher Smart's poem written in the 1700s, "For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry" (later mirrored by Mary Oliver in Dog Songs with her poem "For I Will Consider My Dog Percy").

For I Will Consider My Dog Boo Radley For I will consider my dog Boo Radley. For he was rescued from the grief of neglect and abandonment. For he was alone and starving and trembling in a crate in the back of a van. For his rescue name was Einstein because of his wild and matted hair. For he was chosen by Kim but bonded with Briar. For he was re-named Boo Radley because he spent time behind a closed door. For he is of the tribe of Schnoodle. For his Schnoodlehood is a mixture of French and German. For he is highly territorial about his pillows and blankets. For when he is picked up, his ears sag down, but when he is put down, his ears perk up. For he lives by a predictable routine of quirky habits and idiosyncrasies. For one of his favorite games is glove wars. For another of his favorite games is teasing keep-away. For another of his favorite games is pant-leg-tug-of-war. For he threatens wildlife ferociously but seeks protection from the ding of a cell phone. For he merely tolerates his rescued brother Fitz. For if he meets an admiring stranger he will chastise her harshly for cooing over him. For he has an angel harping on one shoulder and a devil pitchforking on the other. For when both of his humans are not home, his world gets tilted and he takes to his kennel. For he lies on the back of the chair and rests his head on his humans' shoulders to read their books and emails. For he licks his lips to request his bedtime drink from a bathroom cup instead of a water dish. For he punishes himself and assigns his own timeout in the kennel when he regrets his mischief. For he is the bed police, Mirandizing anyone who moves a muscle. For he keeps watch over his humans by night and sleeps by day. For he puts his nose out the car window and breathes the exotic air when we go on safaris. For he prances about the house like a show pony with his whale-spray tail. For he catches popcorn. For he gets tornadic zoomies indoors and rearranges all the furniture. For he breakfasts upon plain yogurt and graham crackers in bed on weekends, lying like the Sphinx. For he is now loved and cherished. For he rules the Johnson Funny Farm. -Kim Johnson

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the writing exercises each day, from cover to cover. Today's prompt is Imitation of Form, in which writers write their own versions of specific other poems. I'm going back to a prompt by Travis Crowder in the Open Write on www.ethicalela.com in April...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing my way through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is to write an aphorism about what poetry is or what it means to be a poet.

Poetry Is

poetry: wings of
butterflies, lilting, flitting
fluttering wordwinds

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing my way through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is to write an aphorism about what poetry is or what it means to be a poet. Poetry Is poetry: wings of butterflies, lilting, flitting fluttering wordwinds https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a Line by Line poem, which follows a specific direction for each line. Here is the process:

Part 1 Line 1 - Describe the sky Line 2 - write a sky simile Line 3 - change your mind about the simile Line 4 - describe something with a sound and smell Line 5 - describe that same thing by how it feels to touch it Line 6 - write a line about you and a field and the night Line 7 - write a line telling how you feel with an image Line 8 - using the line above as a starting point, compare this feeling/image to something Line 9 - expand on this simile/metaphor/comparison Line 10 - write a line using a horse, the moon, and the ocean Line 11 - describe how it would feel to be in a fight (without using the wordfight) Line 12 - describe paralysis (without using the word move or paralyzed) Line 13 - write a line using fire, a trumpet, and a wolf Line 14 - write a line using imagery from a dream Line 15 - what if that dream became a nightmare? How would the image change? Line 16 - what woulds would you speak to the nightmare image? Line 17 - what force would you have move through the nightmare image? Line 18 - End with the sky, echoing what you did in the first line but modified.Part 2  Revise the results until the poem is the way you want it to be. Stargazing through the stargazer window of my Little Guy Max, lit like a Christmas tree in the Heavens twinkling, but without strings and colors cloved oranges hanging on boughs smooth and scratchy moving through the darkened countryside fields, bursts of icy wind piercing my lungs a jolt of cold with sharp barbed edges under a full moon high tide with a Royal Lipizzaner Stallion resisting the undercurrent of sleep completely still, mesmerized a wolf struts across glowing embers to a jazz trumpet technicolor dream animation coming to life in vivid imagery - chasing Grandmother, with the big teethGrandmother, what big feet you have! Run, run through the night sky, Grandmother! Laser-fast! illuminate the night sky with meteor speed ~ your stargazing girl keeps watch!

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a Line by Line poem, which follows a specific direction for each line. Here is the process: Part 1 Line 1 - Describe the sky Line 2 - write a sky simile Line 3 - change your...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is to write a Prose Poem, which doesn't contain line breaks and mixes qualities of poetry and prose. I've done both in today's writing - going from prose poetry to a poem form in a process called Tumble Down poetry. I wrote this in February 2022 as I visited San Antonio, Texas with a new pair of shoes. Andy Schoenborn was the inspiration for this poem through the Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com.

My shoe prose poem:

I traded my fifteen dollar clearance Merrills I wore through Europe in 2019 for a more stylish pair of On Clouds when I went to San Antonio, Texas in February. They came with a whole new odometer, set at zero steps, ready to count miles like a new car. My running shoes years back were easier to tally the 500 mile lifespan in training runs and races - these, not as easy. They're my new traveling shoes. They have built-in air flow to let my feet breathe, and I can feel my breath-taken toes taking me to new places and enjoying the sights up through the mesh topscreens. Traveling shoes. There's nothing like them for seeing the world.


Travelin' Shoes

travelin' shoes -

odometer pair, clocking moments

as breath-taken toes

carry me to new places

walking on clouds

to see the world together

just me and my

travelin' shoes

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is to write a Prose Poem, which doesn't contain line breaks and mixes qualities of poetry and prose. I've done both in today's writing - going from prose poetry to a poem form in a process called Tumble...

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths and completing the writing exercises from cover to cover of this fabulous book that inspires all types of poetry. Today’s form is a…

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing through the daily exercises and prompts. Today's challenge is to write an "Ars Poetica," based on the poem by the Roman poet Horace around 19 BCE. This is a statement about what you believe poetry is, what a poet is, why you write, or how you or others should write. I'm thinking today of my Open Write group at http://www.ethicalela.com, and our presentation at the 2022 NCTE Convention in Anaheim, California: "Poetry is Not a Luxury."

Poetry Is

breathing through my pen
capturing moments in time
....not a luxury

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing through the daily exercises and prompts. Today's challenge is to write an "Ars Poetica," based on the poem by the Roman poet Horace around 19 BCE. This is a statement about what you believe poetry is, what a poet is, why you write, or how...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt inspires writers to write an ode about or an elegy for a person. On November 20, 2020, I wrote an ode to my childhood playground on the Sapelo River. Our family sold the property in McIntosh County, Georgia that had been a part of my life since I was a young child. I'm sharing that poem here today, once again. I'd shared the poem with my brother, one of the realtors, and at the closing, the new owners brought a framed copy of this poem that they planned to put up in the house; they shared an emotional closing on the property and on that chapter of our lives.

Ode to Sapelo River your marsh and river at dawn and dusk ever-changing palette of brilliant hues, whose back we scratched on novice skis, whose arm we tickled casting lines, nets whose oaks huddled family gatherings and sheltered peaceful togetherness you picked up the dinner check: deviled crab, steamed shrimp, fried fish and lulled us in a dock hammock as we listened for playful dinnertime dolphins your trees and river breezes brought cleaner air to clear the lungs the mind your heart our refuge from demands and deadlines well done, friend! now you're ready to fully embrace and care for a new family who'll take your empty shell and breathe new life into you you have so much more to give and you're long overdue for a makeover and the laughter of family flooding your veins we'll never forget the joy you brought us! so long, old friend! the memories live on....

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt inspires writers to write an ode about or an elegy for a person. On November 20, 2020, I wrote an ode to my childhood playground on the Sapelo River. Our family sold the property in McIntosh County, Georgia that had...

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I'm reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily prompts. Today's exercise is writing a Haiku, one of the most popular forms of poetry and one of my favorites for its brevity of form and economy of words. Modern Haiku writers often write outside the traditional 17-syllable form of 5/7/5 across three lines to include 3/5/3 or 4/5/4.......as Vaughn puts it, "very short/short/very short."

Haiku

how does one write
in just seventeen syllables
something so profound?

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I'm reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily prompts. Today's exercise is writing a Haiku, one of the most popular forms of poetry and one of my favorites for its brevity of form and economy of words. Modern Haiku writers often write outside the traditional 17-syllable form of 5/7/5 across three lines...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a ghazal, a poem written in at least five couplets, generally on lamenting or loving something on a theme. There can be abrupt shifts between couplets as well.

Here is a ghazal that I wrote back on July 20, 2020 when Mo Daley hosted our Open Write group at http://www.ethicalela.com. I'm sharing it again, thinking about the passage of time since I wrote this poem.

I'm Going Back!

since March 13th, we've stayed home: Covid 19
four months and one week later - today - I'm going back!

today begins a new chapter: 2020
new challenges and opportunities I seek - I'm going back!

we'll mask up and sanitize all the way to '21
cautiously distance and crowdsurvey peek - I'm going back!

will outings be safer in 2022?
surely by then we'll be past the peak - I'm going back!

my 5-year grant term will close in '23
I stand boldly with literacy, cheek to cheek - I'm going back!

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a ghazal, a poem written in at least five couplets, generally on lamenting or loving something on a theme. There can be abrupt shifts between couplets as well. Here is a ghazal that I wrote back on July 20,...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a Landay, a poem that is short with only two lines. The first line consists of nine syllables and the second line has thirteen. Often these deal with themes of war, suffering, love, nature, beauty, or death.

Last Breath

we circled you as you slipped away
held hands, prayed together as you drew your final breath

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the daily writing exercises. Today's prompt is a Landay, a poem that is short with only two lines. The first line consists of nine syllables and the second line has thirteen. Often these deal with themes of war, suffering, love, nature, beauty, or death.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem about a tragic event that you are trouble by, to speak truth and shed light or to share feelings about the way it impacts you.

Freak Accidents

freak accidents are
most troubling, those you wonder~
could we turn back time?

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem about a tragic event that you are trouble by, to speak truth and shed light or to share feelings about the way it impacts you. Freak Accidents freak accidents are most troubling, those you wonder~...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem about a significant loss. Echoes I used to call her ask for advice tell her about my day, ask about hers talk about dogs, kids, things she always knew the answers even before the questions...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem - a small one, between two and ten lines, that at first presents something dark, negative, and unwanted but resolves into something positive.

In memory of my friend and co-worker Tim Zellner, who died in November 2022

He fought the good fight
In the end, his cancer won
Now he's in Heaven

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and writing through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem - a small one, between two and ten lines, that at first presents something dark, negative, and unwanted but resolves into something positive. In memory of my friend and co-worker Tim Zellner, who died in...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and participating in the daily writing exercises. Today's challenge is to write a poem that is the opposite of the Resume and Part of Me poems of the past two days. Instead of defining ourselves through our experiences, this poem calls to define ourselves by what we are not.

Lack of Tact

Apparently, my
tendency to tell the truth means I'm "not tactful"

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and participating in the daily writing exercises. Today's challenge is to write a poem that is the opposite of the Resume and Part of Me poems of the past two days. Instead of defining ourselves through our experiences, this poem calls to define ourselves by what we...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem in which you choose something that may seem insignificant that is actually a big part of your identity.

The Roots

a baby in a cloth diaper
    pinned up
sitting in the middle
of a desk
surrounded by stacks of books
her father speaking
Greek and Hebrew roots
in his seminary studies

a love of books
   of words
     of language
       of learning
is rooted in those days
    back in Kentucky
       in 1966

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem in which you choose something that may seem insignificant that is actually a big part of your identity. The Roots a baby in a cloth diaper pinned up sitting in the middle of a...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem that addresses who you are, what you've accomplished, and what you might want to project about your hopes, dreams, and future. Today, it's about identity.

Adventuring Nonet

each day is a brand new adventure
packed full of the wonder of life ~
seize and savor each moment
praying, working, playing
giving thanks for our
many blessings,
abundant
riches,
gifts....

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today's prompt is to write a poem that addresses who you are, what you've accomplished, and what you might want to project about your hopes, dreams, and future. Today, it's about identity. https://ttgasia.2017.ttgasia.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/02/adventure-travel.jpg Giving thanks for the blessings of life!

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I’ve been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and working through the daily exercises. Today’s prompt is to take a fresh perspective on a classic theme of relationship such as love, …

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I've been writing through the inspirations in Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths. Today's challenge is to write a poem that uses questions in an interesting or unexpected way. Asking For a Friend is it okay if isolating with Covid is in a camper? a mini fireplace a tiny green Christmas tree three cozy Schnoodles a mug...

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I’ve been writing through the daily writing inspirations in Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths. Today’s exercise is to write a poem inspired by an advertisement that made you laugh, cr…

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing through the daily inspirations. Today's exercise is to write a poem that uses the imagery of cartoons to communicate a truth about our reality.

Truth

such simplicity:
a Charlie Brown Christmas tree
warms the coldest hearts

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and writing through the daily inspirations. Today's exercise is to write a poem that uses the imagery of cartoons to communicate a truth about our reality. Truth such simplicity: a Charlie Brown Christmas tree warms the coldest hearts https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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Special thanks to Two Writing Teachers at Slice of Life for inspiring writers!

I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily writing inspirations. Today's challenge is to have someone draw an abstract picture and then write about it. I chose a picture that one of my grandchildren drew as my writing inspiration. While they were visiting for Thanksgiving, we took them to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia to see the Fantasy in Lights as we sipped hot chocolate and rode the trolley through the park.

Winter Wonderland

winter wonderland
twinkling lights and joy flurries
Fantasy in Lights

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Special thanks to Two Writing Teachers at Slice of Life for inspiring writers! The drawing that inspired my poem today Saylor enjoys the lights and sips hot chocolate on the Fantasy In Lights trolley ride I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily writing inspirations.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily poem inspirations. Today's challenge is to write a poem with a philosophical or theological belief or wondering.

Eternity

eternity is
held in one moment, stitches ~
past, present, future

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working through the daily poem inspirations. Today's challenge is to write a poem with a philosophical or theological belief or wondering. Eternity eternity is held in one moment, stitches ~ past, present, future https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths lately and working through the exercises. Today’s challenge is to write a mathematical concept poem. Non-Formulaic there are no num…

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the exercises. Today's writing is a Library Poem - a poem that asks writers to turn to their personal libraries for inspiration.

Library Gifts

I'm paring you down
passing on your volumes to
broaden horizons!

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and working my way through the exercises. Today's writing is a Library Poem - a poem that asks writers to turn to their personal libraries for inspiration. Library Gifts I'm paring you down passing on your volumes to broaden horizons! https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been writing through Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths. Today's exercise is writing a poem about a beast we created, real or imagined. Lasting Impact I can't hang my foot off the bed. Because Jaws swims in circles all night. https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths and working my way through the prompts in this book. Today’s poem involves dropping a mouse – a completely unexpected twist &…

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Tammi Belko is our host today at http://www.ethicalela.com for Color Personality Poems. You can take a quiz to see your color type. We are writing poems about our discoveries. You can take your own color personality test here.

False Crimson OMG! I have become my mother who always wore red. I don't even like red except at Christmas and on teardrop campers. But here I am, a Crimson INTJ bold, direct, adventurous ~ out here killing it. Apparently I'm friendly at least on paper because the truth is? I'd rather be boondocking on a rural mountainside writing by campfire No other people around just my 3 schnoodles, the love of my life, and me in our camper a non-Crimson teardrop named Walden.

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November's Open Write - Day 6 - Color Personality Poems

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Tammi Belko is our host today at www.ethicalela.com for Color Personality Poems. You can take a quiz to see your color type. We are writing poems about our discoveries. You can take your own color personality test here. False Crimson OMG! I have become my mother who always wore red.

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Katrina Morrison of Oklahoma is our host today for Ethicalela.com's November Open Write, Day 5. She challenges us to write Ekphrastic Poetry, or poems about pieces of art. I chose a painting my father recently gave me by Margaret Keane, famous for her Big Eyes paintings (there's a movie, too). This one is entitled After the Storm. Special thanks to Two Writing Teachers, too, for giving writers space to share through Slice of Life.

Arkphrastic

pairs of every kind
must have felt fearful relief
when the door opened

after the great flood
a lone dove fluffs its feathers
we're finally here! under the rainbow hope painted in the heavens for fruitful futures elephants trumpet the platformed walk:arrival! just look at those eyes!

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November's Open Write - Day 5 - Ekphrastic Poetry

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Katrina Morrison of Oklahoma is our host today for Ethicalela.com's November Open Write, Day 5. She challenges us to write Ekphrastic Poetry, or poems about pieces of art. I chose a painting my father recently gave me by Margaret Keane, famous for her Big Eyes paintings (there's a movie, too).

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I'm hosting today at http://www.ethicalela.com/unphotographed/ with a prompt to write about an unphotographed moment.

Unphotographed Our Hosts

Kim Johnson, Ed.D., lives in Williamson, Georgia, where she serves as District Literacy Specialist for Pike County Schools. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, camping, and spending time with her husband and three rescue schnoodles - Boo Radley (TKAM), Fitz (F. Scott Fitzgerald), and Ollie (Mary Oliver). You can follow her blog, Common Threads: patchwork prose and verse, at www.kimhaynesjohnson.com.

Kyle Vaughn is the author of Calamity Gospel (forthcoming from Cerasus Poetry, 2023), The Alpinist Searches Lonely Places (Belle Point Press, 2022), and Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises (NCTE Books, 2018), and is the co-author/co-photographer of A New Light in Kalighat (American Councils for International Education, 2013). His poems have appeared in journals such as The Journal, A-Minor, The Boiler, Drunken Boat, Poetry East, Vinyl, the museum of americana (2022 Best of the Net nomination), and The Shore (2021 Pushcart Prize nomination). He teaches English and is the Director of the Writing Center at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Find him at www.kylevaughn.org / twitter: @krv75 / insta: @kylev75
Inspiration
In his book Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, Kyle Vaughn's resources are rich and plentiful for exploring various forms of poetry. I discovered his website, where I discovered his exercise Unphotographed. I began thinking of all the ways I use photos to inspire poetry.....and Vaughn reshaped my thinking about all the photographs not taken.
Process
To sharpen descriptive techniques and synesthesia in writing, consider a moment etched in your memory for which there is no photograph. Use sensory details to capture the photograph that doesn't yet exist - - and breathe snapshot life into a picture of words. Write an unphotographed moment, from corner to corner, whether Polaroid, black and white, sepia, digital, 35 mm with or without filters......whatever the effect. Step into the frame. Take our hands. Bring us to your moment.

Kim's Poem
Unphotographed Grief
your furrowed brow

thumb and forefinger cradling your chin

your lips quivering like her hand ~ unstoppable

teary eyes fixed on your shoe

on anything

on nothing

you in your chair

in the room

where she drew

her last breath

where her whispers linger

screams

laughs

cries

where there are no words

to hide the thudding drumbeat

of your broken heart

Your turn.

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I'm hosting today at http://www.ethicalela.com/unphotographed/ with a prompt to write about an unphotographed moment. Unphotographed Our Hosts Kim Johnson, Ed.D., lives in Williamson, Georgia, where she serves as District Literacy Specialist for Pike County Schools. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, camping, and spending time with her husband and three rescue schnoodles - Boo Radley (TKAM),...

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One-Word Poems are on the menu at the Open Write today at http://www.ethicalela.com/one-word-poems/
Our Hosts

Kim Johnson, Ed.D., lives in Williamson, Georgia, where she serves as District Literacy Specialist for Pike County Schools. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, camping, and spending time with her husband and three rescue schnoodles - Boo Radley (TKAM), Fitz (F. Scott Fitzgerald), and Ollie (Mary Oliver). You can follow her blog, Common Threads: patchwork prose and verse, at www.kimhaynesjohnson.com.

Kyle Vaughn is the author of Calamity Gospel (forthcoming from Cerasus Poetry, 2023), The Alpinist Searches Lonely Places (Belle Point Press, 2022), and Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises (NCTE Books, 2018), and is the co-author/co-photographer of A New Light in Kalighat (American Councils for International Education, 2013). His poems have appeared in journals such as The Journal, A-Minor, The Boiler, Drunken Boat, Poetry East, Vinyl, the museum of americana (2022 Best of the Net nomination), and The Shore (2021 Pushcart Prize nomination). He teaches English and is the Director of the Writing Center at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Find him at www.kylevaughn.org / twitter: @krv75 / insta: @kylev75
Inspiration
In his book Lighting Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, Kyle Vaughn encourages writers to explore the power of a one-word poem. He describes the process of distilling favorite poems or lines down to one word to create one-word poems. Orlando White says, "The process of writing a one- word poem on the page involves playfulness, along with the willingness to take risks with imagination -much like a toddler who scribbles letters for the first time on paper, using the crayon to draw what a word might look like, and creating language outside the boundaries of standard writing." ( Play and Imagination: On the One-Word Poem by... | Poetry Foundation) This form may seem simple at first, but it could prove to be one of the most challenging forms of poetry we ever write. Let's try!
Process
The interplay between the title and one word can provide context, illumination, and clarification, emphasizing the importance of title in poetry. The title can be as long as you wish. Write a one-word poem. You may choose to read a favorite poem and then let it simmer down to one distilled word, or you may write one without another poem driving yours. No need for rhyme scheme, either! 🙂

Kim's Poem
Books, Runways, and Conversations
Portals

Your turn.

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One-Word Poems are on the menu at the Open Write today at http://www.ethicalela.com/one-word-poems/ Our Hosts Kim Johnson, Ed.D., lives in Williamson, Georgia, where she serves as District Literacy Specialist for Pike County Schools. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, camping, and spending time with her husband and three rescue schnoodles - Boo Radley (TKAM), Fitz (F....

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This morning, a group of EthicalEla writers will be gathering at the NCTE green couch in the Anaheim Convention Center at 9:00 PCT to write. Some members of group are here in person for a presentat…

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Today at NCTE our Ethicalela.com writers' group presented a round table poetry session. poeming I'm sharing pictures writers writing side by side poeming their souls https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the writing exercises daily. Today's prompt is to write a poetry triathlon - a poem in 3 sections : writing after 1) running while your heartbeat is fast; 2) toying with a machine or mechanism; and 3) in the presence of water.

No Triathl

broken ankle folks
can't run - we can barely limp
our way place to place

we fight with the boot
velcro-twisted air pumped socks
cold toes in winter

warmth of epsom salts
soothing  achy ankle pain
please put my bath on

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing the writing exercises daily. Today's prompt is to write a poetry triathlon - a poem in 3 sections : writing after 1) running while your heartbeat is fast; 2) toying with a machine or mechanism; and 3) in the presence of water.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing his daily poetry prompts for the past few weeks. Today's challenge is to think of the opposite of a manufactured landscape poem and get to the roots of nature in a Reclaiming Our Environment poem.

At the end of the work day when I'm coming home to decompress, I check the mail down at the road and begin the slow crawl up the winding driveway to my house, through the oak grove to the dense pines that line both sides. And there is something I do every afternoon that lowers my blood pressure and pushes my reset button:

Windows Down

I put my windows
down, listen to the crunch of
under-tire gravel

then watch from the porch
as the leaves let it all go
to enjoy the ride

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths and completing his daily poetry prompts for the past few weeks. Today's challenge is to think of the opposite of a manufactured landscape poem and get to the roots of nature in a Reclaiming Our Environment poem. At the end of the work day when I'm coming home...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn and finding inspiration in his daily exercises. Today's exercise is to write a poem about something undergoing a transformation and take it from its beginning stage to its end. Collector paring down a life disposing of collections now minimalist https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn, and today's challenge is writing a poem about a manufactured landscape with human handprints. stargazing cultivated camp- sites: stargazers' sunset seats front-row fabulous! https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn, and today's challenge is writing a poem about what's in a filing cabinet. Truth In the back corner stained divorce papers hold the truth of your affair https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn. Today's exercise is to write a poem about a trinket. Carabiner Clips never too many, never enough ~ assorted carabiner clips keeping my car keys always clipped at the ready~ organized living! https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's prompt, Vaughn encourages readers to write a poem in which an image changes over the course of the poem. I embrace the brevity of short poems, so I chose a Haiku.

Fitting

fitting and having
a good fit are two wholly
different concepts

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's prompt, Vaughn encourages readers to write a poem in which an...

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I've been reading Lightning Paths by Kyle Vaughn. Today's exercise is a poem about cards, a game, or an event. I chose a Haiku to write about my favorite card game! Lone Hand one hand of euchre holding both bowers, all trump I'll play it alone! https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's prompt, Vaughn encourages writers to compose poems that describe epic journeys.

the food hasn't
been anything to
write home about

but the distance?
remarkable
on this journey
toward goal weight

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's prompt, Vaughn encourages writers to compose poems that describe epic journeys....

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's exercise, writers are encouraged to create poems about the invisible or the shift from visible to invisible, even as a metaphor. I'm thinking about tonight, when I will go outside and watch the Taurid Meteor Shower from campsite 109 of F D R State Park in Pine Mountain, Georgia. I can't wait to see the show!

Prime Time meteor showers night-sky visibility November's Prime Time

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's exercise, writers are encouraged to create poems about the invisible or...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Vaughn challenges writers to compose poems about space - filled or unfilled, outdoors or in, or how we make use of it.

In the Camper

unclaustrophobic
cloistered camper cubbyholes~
safe spaces to breathe

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Vaughn challenges writers to compose poems about space - filled or unfilled, outdoors...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's writing exercise, Vaughn asks readers to write a poem about a first, showing the feeling of the moment.

I cheered you, head first
drawing your first breath of life
seven pounds: pure love

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's writing exercise, Vaughn asks readers to write a poem about a...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's exercise, Vaughn challenges writers to write a poem using a variety of figurative language and forms of imagery to describe the setting so that the imaginary becomes the real through words.

First I Dreamed

First, I dreamed of her
red-trimmed white Little Guy Max
soul in a tear-drop

took a YouTube tour
birch cabinets, black counters
stargazing window

stand-up full wet bath
just enough for three schnoodles
two adventurers

un-gymnasium
seeking more cozy snuggles
more marshmallow nights

more fairy tree lights
fewer deadlines, more good books
more life in less space

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's exercise, Vaughn challenges writers to write a poem using a variety...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's writing is a poem with epistrophy. In the first stanza or section, the writer includes a message with hidden meaning or association using figurative language, and in the second, the writer turns up the concreteness a notch without blatantly saying it. It's like talking in codes and symbols.

2026

a cocoon
from workweek woes
weekend escape
fireside chats
roasting marshmallows
stargazing sighs
ready for weeknights
just like these

thinking: how amazing
to turn in the keys
smile, eat a slice of cake
stop setting alarms

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's writing is a poem with epistrophy.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today, Vaughn explains enantiodromia as the changing of something into its opposite, much like a shifting image.

Then and Now

Shaking schnoodle, abandoned, alone
scared, uncertain, vulnerable
caged, in the back of a van
awaiting adoption~
and look at you now!
half-human child
in control
fully
loved

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today, Vaughn explains enantiodromia as the changing of something into its opposite, much...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Above: Lake Hamburg from Campsite 18 at Hamburg State Park, early morning of October 30, 2022 after vapors disappeared

Below: A pond near the Johnson Funny Farm where I see steam rising each morning

On Lake Hamburg

wisps of steam
vapors on Lake Hamburg
rising, swirling, reaching Heavenward
vanishing into the fall trees
on the edge of the shore
light, ethereal, angelic

is that you over there,
waving from the distant shore?

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In poems that turn up, Vaughn explains, there is an ending that turn up to a higher level of consciousness or give a feeling of epiphany. In poems that turn down, on the other hand, there is a feeling of the reality of humanity in a grounding fashion.

Hawk on a Wire, or Mom?

is she seeking (with
visual acuity)
unsuspecting mice,

or is she giving
(all-knowing) from Heaven's realm,
heart hugs from above?

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In poems that turn up, Vaughn explains, there is an ending that turn...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In a layered metaphor poem, Vaughn explains, writers break down metaphors into more than one aspect or detail, exposing the layers of relationship or comparison.

Kasa, shortly after arriving at her new home where now belongs

Kasa

female bird dog with a gunshot foot
for doing what bird dogs do best-
she's a spooning foot warmer
a broken heart healer
a pleading charmer
life enhancer
my brother's
princess
now

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In a layered metaphor poem, Vaughn explains, writers break down metaphors into more...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's exercise, Vaughn introduces readers to the extended metaphor poem, in which a metaphor is described throughout several lines or stanzas.

Seeking Little Guy Max

one tiny teardrop
big enough for getaways
to recharge the soul

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's exercise, Vaughn introduces readers to the extended metaphor poem, in which...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's exercise is a Just Because poem, using two images that are illogical in a cause-effect relationship until explained in a poem that begins with the word because.

Just Because

because of your sock sorters
we make time
for more important things
than sorting socks
endlessly

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's inspiration is to depict your inner self with images that depict the states of mind or heart.

Missing Mom

Hawk on a wire
checking on my seat belt
fastened tight

Feeder birds at the window
assuring me
things will be okay

Dogs asleep in my lap
reminding me to
offer peace, comfort

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study …

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through th…

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's exercise, Vaughn encourages writers to write about an unexpected image such as a tuba to capture a reader's imagination with surprise. He references "Tuba" by Morton Marcus, but my mind goes straight to Billy Collins' "Irish Spider."

My poem today is inspired by the end of Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan - one of my favorite unexpected images! It still brings a tear and a message to live life fully and smell the flowers while we can.

Hooked

Will's little red coat
hanging on a wall hook,still do you smell flowers?

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's exercise, Vaughn encourages writers to write about an unexpected image such...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's exercise is writing a poem using a blend of senses that mix into a single experience such as mixing taste and smell (synesthesia). We're camping this weekend at High Falls State Park in Jackson, Georgia, where the senses are in the full swing of autumn.

Campsite 68

campfire smoke
clinging in trees the
flavor of marshmallows~
ethereal, ghostly swirls
this October night
leaves crunch
underfoot
dogs bark off in the distance
   conversation sparks laughter nearby
      music pulses the beat of the night
           around the bend
we warm our feet fireside
  warm our core
     drinking cinnamon spiced tea
       warm our hearts
          holding hands
            warm our spirits
               stargazing

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's exercise is writing a poem using a blend of senses that mix...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

In today's exercise, Vaughn challenges writers to listen to two contrasting pieces of music and compose a poem that deals with their dissonant nature. This morning, I chose to write a cento - a poem comprised completely of existing lines written by other poets/songwriters. I chose the theme of place rather than sound, and used the ten minute frame for writing, deciding to see what I could accomplish in only a short span of time. And I left it unfinished - because that's okay. Sometimes, having an idea of using four seasons in lyrics that take us to places we don't belong, and then come home to where we do belong doesn't result in the fully executed plan.

I'm okay with that. No one except me knows without my admission that this piece is yet unfinished. Poetry lets me move on anyway - and that is therapeutic!

Contrasting Music Cento

on a warm
summer's evening
on a train
bound for nowhere

there is a house
in New Orleans
they call The Rising Sun
and it's been the
ruin of many
a poor boy

welcome to the
Hotel California
you can check out
anytime
but
you can
never leave

country roads
take me home
to the place
I belong

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. In today's exercise, Vaughn challenges writers to listen to two contrasting pieces of...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's exercise is writing poetry from field recordings. Vaughn encourages writers to get into nature or out into the realm of life and write from observations.

Winterfoot

when I stepped from
the garage door
into the frigid morning
with my Hoka
on one foot
my booted broken ankle
with a thin black
low-cut sock
on the other
I realized
in that moment

I've got a case
of winterfoot

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's exercise is writing poetry from field recordings.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's challenge is Imagery of Sound poetry, in which Vaughn challenges writers to write a poem using sound images beginning with the words I heard inside.....focusing on volume, pitch, and those craft images that represent sound.

I heard inside
the smack of
your words

echoes still
bouncing
off my heart
through my soul

this empty chamber
hollow
echoing
     echoing
          echoing

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's challenge is Imagery of Sound poetry, in which Vaughn challenges writers to...

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Scott McCloskey, our host at http://www.ethicalela.com for today's Open Write, inspires us to write (Bad) Advice poems. I wrote mine from the middle of the coordinate plane - where I wish more people stood.

Lukewarm Advice From 0,0

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October's Open Write - Day 5 with Scott McCloskey

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Scott McCloskey, our host at www.ethicalela.com for today's Open Write, inspires us to write (Bad) Advice poems. I wrote mine from the middle of the coordinate plane - where I wish more people stood. Lukewarm Advice From 0,0 Neverbelieveanythingisas you thinkitis. https://padlet.com/kimjohnson66/cklonxzwd1xeyysz

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Today's host at http://www.ethicalela.com is Denise Hill, who inspires us to write American Sentence poems - Haikus not on three lines, containing 17 syllables. I've been thinking lately about how nice it has been not having neighbors for so long, but I think of the coming days as others edge close. My introverted heart aches, inspiring my seventeen syllables today.

seek solace and silence of sanctuary before all is shattered ~

I take long last looks before change sweeps away this haven I have loved

lament the languishing privacy, pure pleasure of quiet shelter

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October's Open Write - Day 4 with Denise Hill

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Today's host at www.ethicalela.com is Denise Hill, who inspires us to write American Sentence poems - Haikus not on three lines, containing 17 syllables. I've been thinking lately about how nice it has been not having neighbors for so long, but I think of the coming days as others edge close.

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Today's host at http://www.ethicalela.com for Day 3 of the October Open Write is Carolina Lopez, who inspires us to write "I've Been Writing this Since..." poems.

Carolina, what a compelling prompt today! Your devotion to your family is clear and unshakable, and I admire the commitment you have to your nieces. Your mention of mixed feelings about becoming an aunt and my memories of my earliest days of writing mingled to bring back some vivid color memories. Thank you for investing in us as writers today.
Writing in Crayons
I've been writing this
since i peeled that
red crayon

wrote r-e-d
in crooked letters
under K-i-m
in all my books
smiling proudly

I've been writing this
since I dreamed
I got a black Irish Wolfhound
named him Caesar

since we stood at the shore
where I taught him to howl
at the silver moon with a
tiny blue plastic toy wolf
that rested on his nose

since I stood behind his fluffy ears
blowing through the toy
like a birthday candle
that howled
that made him howl
that made me
laugh/howl proudly

I've been writing this
since Mom's Lewy Body
hallucinations
alerted us to the toddler
alone in the orange shirt
with no mother in sight
playing near the
edge of the street

(a pumpkin)

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October's Open Write - Day 3 with Carolina Lopez

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Today's host at www.ethicalela.com for Day 3 of the October Open Write is Carolina Lopez, who inspires us to write "I've Been Writing this Since..." poems. Carolina, what a compelling prompt today! Your devotion to your family is clear and unshakable, and I admire the commitment you have to your nieces.

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Anna Roseboro is our host at http://www.ethicalela.com for Day 2 of October's Open Write. She challenges writers to write about living in the small spaces between other spaces. I thought of the real and virtual worlds, which inspired a short Haiku today.

Layers

real and virtual
worlds collide ~ dressed from waist up
bottoms optional

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October's Open Write - Day 2 with Anna Roseboro

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Anna Roseboro is our host at www.ethicalela.com for Day 2 of October's Open Write. She challenges writers to write about living in the small spaces between other spaces. I thought of the real and virtual worlds, which inspired a short Haiku today.

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Anna Roseboro brings the Pantoum to us today! My husband and I do a lot of camping together, but on my last trip, I attended a session in a state park about the GirlCamper group and their workshops and meet-ups. I have been looking for a 1966 Scotty to restore and take on my solo writing weekends with my soul schnoodle. Cheers to Anna Roseboro for hosting today and motivating and inspiring writers always.

1966 Serro Scotty

I'm looking for you, 1966 Serro Scotty
I'll breathe new life into your old wheels
we'll hit the road, be best friends
when I find you, look out!

I'll breathe new life into your old wheels
restore your soul, rest in your embrace
when I find you, look out!
we'll blaze new trails

restore your soul, rest in your embrace
listen to the symphony of the trees
we'll blaze new trails
camping out under the stars

listen to the symphony of the trees
we'll hit the road, be best friends
camping out under the stars
I'm looking for you, 1966 Serro Scotty

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October's Open Write - Day 1 with Anna Roseboro

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Anna Roseboro brings the Pantoum to us today! My husband and I do a lot of camping together, but on my last trip, I attended a session in a state park about the GirlCamper group and their workshops and meet-ups. I have been looking for a 1966 Scotty to restore and take on my solo...

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's exercise involves writing a poem based on a painting or other work of art, diving into the rich description to evoke the mood, tone, or emotion present in the piece.

Take Me There

log cabin
  hygge,
     warmth of fire inside
aurora borealis against
    the Alaska night

the vast universe
playing for keeps

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's exercise involves writing a poem based on a painting or other work...

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through th…

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study …

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I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through th…

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's writing exercise focuses on Imagery of Time. Vaughn encourages writers to focus on an aspect of time in today's writing and create imagery in the piece.

Retirement

some say it's not
what you retire FROM~
it's what you retire TO,
not going home to
sit in your chair and
wait your turn to die
but getting out,
taking your turn to live

without having to set alarms
meet deadlines
be somewhere, dressed
and ready

......maybe it means restoring
a Vintage Scotty camper
paring down from the Outback
and embracing the simplicity
of fold-out windows
with three dogs
two coffee mugs
two spoons
two forks
two chairs
on a lake
next to a fire
reading
writing

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's writing exercise focuses on Imagery of Time.

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today's exercise is based on Wallace Stevens's Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. to inspire multiple points of view in sections about the different ways we see a particular thing. I broke my ankle a week and a half before Fall Break....so I spend a lot of time looking at this elevated, swollen, bruised, broken ankle. But I'm on the mend.

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Broken Ankle
I
a missed step
in an unlit stairwell
OH, SNAP!...SNAP! II nondisplaced fracture of lateral malleolus of right fibula and displaced avulsion fracture of right talus III a pair of crutches like Tiny Tim's ~God bless us, every one! IV a flashback fashion black boot like that ice boot on Mendenhall Glacier for dogsledding so I can pretend to be cold, mushing,Gee! Haw! V a shiny blue knee scooter (with basket) borrowed from Mrs. Bell (I got her a new blue bell) it's fast like a dogsled VI no pain meds for three days workers compensation: inhumane VII no housework no cooking no laundry just Netflix and Hallmark movies and The Great Alone set in Alaska VIII no fall break vacation to go hiking in the mountains at that cozy cabin I cancelled IX challenging showertime vulnerable nakedness ~what if I slip and fall again???~ ~and can't get up???~ X a temporary handicapped parking tag when you want to go nowhere anyway because you order even Aleve and hairpins and all your pretend dogsledding gear from Amazon XI a heightened sensitivity to open doors, assist those who need it when you are healed XII a renewed appreciation for freedom of movement XIII praising God that it wasn't much worse that you're still alive that your team is pulling you

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I've been reading Kyle Vaughn's Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I'll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year. Today's exercise is based on Wallace Stevens's Thirteen Ways of Looking at...