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Poetry Prompts

Monday Poetry Prompt: North, Return, Woman

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This week let’s write a poem with the words north, return and woman in it. This is another of those prompts where I randomly choose three words from a list of the top 1000 words in the English language plus a few of my favorites. Post your poems in the comments below.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.

Discussion

26 thoughts on “Monday Poetry Prompt: North, Return, Woman”

  1. Carla M. Cherry's avatar

    Compass

    As a girl, she learned
    runaway slaves
    looked to the North Star
    as guide.
    On her windowsill,
    like the axis of the earth,
    she would prop head on upturned hands.
    Gaze up at Polaris.
    Wonder, if she wandered nights,
    if it could escort her return home.
    As a woman, she learned
    it isn’t even the brightest of them.
    The other stars in the northern horizon,
    ensphere.
    Curtsy.
    Blithe,
    she has learned to mimic it,
    revel in her light.
    Be unmoved by other glimmers.

    -Carla M. Cherry

    Liked by 4 people

    Posted by Carla M. Cherry | June 28, 2021, 9:42 AM
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  3. JeanMarie's avatar

    OK, first of all, the picture is matches the words a little too much. Confess. You saw the picture then picked the words. Right? Secondly, why don’t we ever get fun words like Kit or Kaboodle?

    the women packed up their kits
    the camping trip was a hit
    they hiked the North Face
    no one fell out of place
    they returned home with confidence and grit

    Liked by 1 person

    Posted by JeanMarie | June 28, 2021, 2:33 PM
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  5. Chris Clarke's avatar

    I want to thank you for your indulgence on this one. I know the most of my poetry tends to be longer, but this one organically changed into a short story.

    I very much look forward to these Monday prompts, and let my creative side go wherever it wishes…and this time in a way I didn’t intend…
    ———————————-

    I saw her, this woman
    Just as the fog rolled on to the beach
    Sunbathers scatter
    In the suddenly brisk north wind
    Walking
    Bare feet in the wash of the sea
    Sand moist on her toes

    “What a wonderful afternoon for a stroll on the beach!” I said.
    ” The best” she replied.

    I turned to walk with her as she passed
    Dark black hair, straight and long
    Unruffled by the fresh breeze off the ocean
    A vision of beauty gracing the now cool, gray day

    I offered her my hoodie
    “… If your cold”
    She accepted it as I slipped it over her shoulder
    Although I could tell she really didn’t need it

    I didn’t count the minutes that passed
    As I accompanied her on her walk south
    When she stopped, I immediately knew that time together was over.

    She said “Thank you for the company.”
    Smiled, then turned back the other way.

    Not knowing what to say, I lurched
    ”Do you come to this beach often?”

    Turning toward me, further away than I realized, and said,
    ” Yes, it is one of my favorites! ” as she continued away
    Toes still walking in the water

    Almost as an afterthought I yelled
    “You can keep the sweatshirt!”
    “I’ll bring it back next time I’m here!”
    As the fog lightened
    Sols power now ascendant

    Back at my car
    All the sun worshipers walked the opposite way
    Umbrellas in hand
    To the sand
    Now hot from the blazing June sun
    as I daydream about the return
    of this lady of the sea

    Liked by 1 person

    Posted by Chris Clarke | June 30, 2021, 11:37 AM
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  7. Catherine Penafiel's avatar

    I only write haiku due to small talent and short attention span.

    Woman drives North with
    dog, possessions and returns
    To restart her. Life

    Liked by 3 people

    Posted by Catherine Penafiel | July 5, 2021, 7:53 AM
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