February Poetry Project: Week 2 Prompts
We are nearly halfway through the 9th Annual February Daily Poem Project.For several years — in order to practice writing in community — my blog hosted a poetry project. We moved to Facebook in 2017 to accommodate the number of poets and writers who wanted to participate.2021 Theme: BodiesRead more about this theme at my Week 1 project post here.
Every day, a member of the project shares a prompt related to our theme. With their permission, I am posting those prompts here on my blog, for those who'd like to follow along with the project. Your daily task is to write a poem based on that day’s body-inspired prompt.IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PROJECT NEWBIES: The point of this exercise is to practice the habit of writing regularly, even if it’s just for one month.
DAY 8: Monday, February 8, 2021Prompt and photographs by Buffy Silverman (Shared with permission)I intended to share a snowy-snout for my prompt, as that's the body part that makes me laugh most these days. But I realized that might be too similar to Jone's gorgeous brown-eyed pooch [from Day 6], and there might be some in the group who are not canine inspired. So I'm offering an alternative--snow-covered tree skin if you prefer. Choose either one or both for your Monday inspiration. (I'm thankful to have had a reason to take my camera out on this frigid Sunday!)
For those of you following along, the second week's prompts are in this post. Feel free to post your poetic responses in the comments.
Are you thinking, "What is this poetry project of which you speak, Laura?" Read about this year's project here. And there is background on this project -- now in its ninth year! -- at this post.Ready for the next set of prompts?
DAY 8: Monday, February 8, 2021Prompt and photographs by Buffy Silverman (Shared with permission)I intended to share a snowy-snout for my prompt, as that's the body part that makes me laugh most these days. But I realized that might be too similar to Jone's gorgeous brown-eyed pooch [from Day 6], and there might be some in the group who are not canine inspired. So I'm offering an alternative--snow-covered tree skin if you prefer. Choose either one or both for your Monday inspiration. (I'm thankful to have had a reason to take my camera out on this frigid Sunday!)
DAY 9: Tuesday, February 9, 2021Prompt from Heather Meloche (Shared with permission)LUNGS.They are being watched/noticed/worried over by most everyone right now, but for me, they have been a central focus for a long time. My dad suffers daily from COPD. I also remind myself constantly to "Breathe, Heather. Breathe," so much so that I tattooed it on my wrist as a reminder. Write about lungs or what they remind you of. 
DAY 10: Wednesday, February 10, 2021Prompt from Matthew Winner (Shared with permission)
Shortly before our first real snow at the end of January, I walked down to get the mail and noticed a ball of feathers just behind our cul de sac’s bank of mailboxes. After grabbing the mail I turned around to get a more proper look. There, with one wing splayed out, was a finch, lifeless and looking no more assuming than a fallen leaf. I thought about grabbing a shovel and moving the bird to our back woods, but then the snow fell. Mercifully, that bird has been buried beneath a pile of snow ever since. Painfully, I cannot help picturing what’s beneath that small pile of snow at the end of my driveway.
This is the memory I’m passing to you today as you contemplate bodies.
DAY 11: Thursday, February 11, 2021Prompt from Molly Hogan (Shared with permission)
I first encountered this Richard Avedon photo at the Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine. The photo is of Andy Warhol and here’s a link to an article that gives the backstory.
DAY 12: Friday, February 12, 2021Prompt from Donna Smith with artwork by Donna Smith (Shared with permission)I had something else in mind and then my squiggle seemed to have a body of its own. A squiggle is an image that is created from a random black line squiggle I’ve made with eyes closed using Notes on my phone. (Here the line is in the mitten portion) Then I typically write a poem to go with it immediately. I have lots of them on my FB page.
Here’s my out of the blue prompt. As I see it there are at least two bodies here...maybe three? Take your pick!
DAY 13: Saturday, February 13, 2021Prompt from Margaret Simon (Shared with permission)
I am fascinated by the metaphorical use of Kintsugi, "the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold — a metaphor for embracing your flaws and imperfections."
In our bodies, the flaw or imperfection may be marked by a scar. In 1995, I had a herniated disc at C3, upper spine, that caused excruciating pain. I had surgery and all is well, but my neck is scarred. Most of us have scars, physical or emotional that have stories.I love this poem by Jane Hirshfield, For What Binds Us. "all flesh
is proud of its wounds, wears them
as honors given out after battle" But it's what she says about long love that touches me most.What stories do your scars tell? What secrets do they keep? How do you wear them?
For What Binds Us by Jane Hirshfield https://poets.org/poem/what-binds-usLaura also recommends Youtuber Nerdwriter's video essay on Kintsugi.
DAY 14: Sunday, February 14
Prompt from Kara Laughlin (Shared with permission)
CESAR is a series of portraits by Christian Berthelot, of children born via c-section, captured in their first moments of life. I've included a link to photos from the series, but please be aware that some of them are pretty raw.
Alternately--it's Valentine's Day, so if babies covered in vernix caseosa aren't your thing, you get a free pass to write a love poem.