You know when someone says, “what’s your problem?” when it looks like you have an attitude? Yeah, I don’t really like that question and I’m sure you don’t as well. So instead of asking a question that doesn’t really help to solve anything, let’s ask what’s your poem? Since April is National Poetry Month, it’s the right to time to mine into the earth of ourselves and dredge up our innermost feelings into a poem. We all have something to say and although you may be thinking that poetry isn’t something you’re interested in writing, I ask you to think again. I find that poetry can be freeing when I sit down and write a few lines or a whole page. There is something in the form that allows me to be truthful, blunt, and sincere. A poem allows you space to be cryptic, eloquent, or anything else you desire.

A poem gives me a chance to have an encounter with a feeling, with an experience, with a wish, with an idea.

― Tracy K. Smith

One of my very favorite poets is Tracy K. Smith. She was named Poet Laureate of The United States in 2017, which is a highly esteemed position. She’s won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and many other awards. Yet it isn’t her list of accolades that makes me admire her but rather her words. Her poetry is poignant, simple in diction yet complex in thought. I found out about her simply because I wanted to know if there were any Black poets writing about science fiction and instantly her collection of poetry, Life On Mars, fulfilled my research. 

In addition to her quote about what poems have to offer, Smith has stated that “we all need poetry.” With this spirit in mind, get out your journal (preferably) or open up a new word document and start jotting down what this quote means to you. 

What is your wildest dream and what is your deepest fear?

The main question of this post is, of course, what is your poem? To answer that question, I think it would be helpful to tease out some of that creativity living inside of you. Therefore, more questions! On a piece of paper or on a new page of your journal, write down as quickly as you can (with little thinking to distract you) your wildest dream and your deepest fear. Once you’ve been honest with yourself and written down a word or statement, you will have written two elements that must be included in your final poem.

Your wildest dream and deepest fear could show up in your poem as a line, a word, or the whole concept behind your piece. The most important thing is to open your mind to see where these two aspects of yourself can take as you start to write your poem. 

When all is quiet, what can you hear in the stillness of your soul?

This is my final question and creative writing prompt for you to work into your personal poem. If you believe you have a soul, believe that it’s speaking to you as you write. What’s it saying? How does it feel? As you imagine all of this, what’s emerging in your mind? Write it all down!

Hopefully, by the end of this exercise, you’ll have either a completed poem or the start of one. Please share your thoughts or even a line from your poem in the comments. 

Enjoy National Poetry Month!

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Best,

Kai