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You've heard snippets from songs or proverbs, old sayings, cliches and the like. Well this exercise will give you a chance to be inspired by those favorite sayings and such... If you have no favorite proverb, a great place to start is JPiC's Random Quote system; We've a great assortment of fabulous quotes contributed by the entire JPiC Community! Anyway - moving on....

Examples:

• She's a brick house.
• Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
• One foot in the grave.
• A stitch in time saves nine.
• Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
• Someday my prince will come.

etcetera etcetera etcetera and etcetera....


The Exercise:

• Write a 20 line poem. Any format. Any rhyme scheme.
• The title of your poem must be the quote, cliche, saying, old song snippet, etc...
• The inspiration for your poem must be the quote, cliche, saying, old song snippet, etc...
• Choose any 6 words/phrases from the list of 20 below. They MUST be used in your poem:
  • apple cider --- purple hyacinth
  • silky mane --- vinegar
  • soda fountain --- vomit
  • cornrows --- buttermilk
  • amber rock --- cloud
  • vermouth --- kudzu
  • Grandma --- interupt
  • voice --- cardinal
  • needle --- kool-aid packet
  • races --- laudanum

The point of this exercise is so that you may be inspired by the daily mundane and work that essense into your poetry. You will most likely be surprised that such a saying or quote, whatever, could inspire you to write.

The benefit of this exercise will allow you to see that even though Writers Block may be next door - Wherever you are - you do indeed have your poetic skill, a pen & pad (hopefully) and the inspiration to triumph over...

Enjoy AND Happy posting!

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place


What have I gotten my self into?
I never should have left the group.
The setting sun casts my shadow
Upon the amber rock behind me
I hear a rustle from the brush ahead
My heart now races as I focus…
Now seeing what made the noise
The silky mane of a lion
Approaching slowly towards me
I scream out but can’t find my voice
One needle tipped tranquilizer dart left
My only way out is accuracy
Gun in position as sweat beads
Running into my eyes, blurring my vision
The beast picks up speed
Lunging into the air
Blocking out the sun, this hairy cloud
As I squeeze the trigger, my aim is true
Death lies inches from me
As vomit fills my mouth…

Riveting is absolutely correct!
Great write SCOTT - very enjoyable!
Thanx for posting it

Jacquii.

thanks for the comments ladies...gonna try another one...been in a slump lately, but starting to get going again...vacation last week took alot out of me and this is my long work week...but the challenges help...absolutely love the site...bringing my poetry to new levels

That's so funny that you have that book on here.. cuz in both of my creative writing classes at my community college we had to get that book and we did various exercises from it..

Yes! It's an AWESOME book! I've only read a few of the writing exercises thus far - but I'm sure there will be other Creativity Outlet posts inspired from Practice of Poetry.

So MS APRYL - are you gonna attempt the Inspired By A Cliche exercise???

Jacquii.

Barkeep, make me one of those purple hyacinth drinks
You mean a chrysanthemum?
Yeah, with vermouth and laudanum
You mean absinthe
Sure, whatever. I need to see what they saw.
You mean Dickens and Barrett and Hemingway? Why, to spark your creativity?
Yes a challenge was issued
I hate to interrupt your train of thought
but I’ve seen your stuff
you’ve been to the edge already
Why would you go back?
Just fix me the drink please
Haven’t you seen it all before?
I need to find my voice
I need to see what they saw
They are famous
But you did everything
but stick a needle in your arm
tell me what it was like
to smoke the finest hash
through your multi-chambered pipe

You mean when the walls
begin to breath and vibrate
and everything goes one dimensional
time stands still and you live
every breath and you are
convinced that you have opened
a window to your soul
you mean like that?
oh yeah, I’ve seen what they saw…

My goodness, Checkmate and Kit...you guys have set the bar way high! These are fabulous poems, and they catch your attention from the first line...wonderfully and creatively penned.

Great writes Gentlemen!!

Ms. J., I have that book...now whether I opened it, I can't remember...shall have to dig it out for sure now!

Nomad