Surfing for Inspiration

Recently I’ve participated in a couple of online poetry challenges.  On Thursdays I usually head to Laura Purdie Salas’ 15-Words or Less Poems blog.   Laura’s photos spark interesting poems, and she’s generous and encouraging with her comments.  And a fifteen-word limit is perfect for my attention span!

I’ve also enjoyed the poetry challenges on David Harrison’s blog.  David often hosts U.S Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis, who serves up unique forms to get the writing gears engaged.   This week’s challenge was to write Tailgaters, which our Poet Laureate described as, “a couplet, a verse form (not original with me) that begins with the first line of a well-known poem, and follows with the poet’s own nonsensical second line in the same meter.”

I have to admit that I’ve never been to a tailgate party.  I’m not a football fan (almost all the football games I’ve attended were to watch my kids’ marching band.)  But writing tailgaters was a whole ‘nother ballgame.  Here are my contributions to the party:

Playing in this week's snow inspired a couple of poems, too!
Playing in this week’s snow inspired a couple of poems, too!

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
shake your booty on a pogo stick.

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
did rock ‘till midnight at the rave.

Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie,
couldn’t get a date in junior high.

What are little girls made of?
sugar and spice and no birth control device.

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
snatched an ipad to watch cats instead.

Little Boy Blue, stop blowing your horn,
the traffic’s atrocious, our nerves are all worn.

Do you enjoy other online poetry challenges?  Share them in the comments section.  Thank you!

Head over to A Teaching Life for more Poetry Friday posts.

 

12 thoughts on “Surfing for Inspiration

  1. Fun post, Buffy. So glad you’re making the poetry blog rounds these days! (And such a slightly wicked sense of humor you have, no?!) ;0)
    PS – What fun crit group retreats you all must have!

  2. Buffy, I love your contributions to the challenges on David’s blog! Outstanding “tailgaters” – love the image of monkeys huddled around an ipad watching cat videos. Hilarious. One would never know you’ve never been to a tailgate party. =)

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