Resort When the Baker Hotel died, no one ordered an autopsy or called the local mortician. They just left the carcass at the crossroads where it fell, bulging brickwalls, gouged eyes, empty sockets jagg’d with glass. On coffee break, the local doc doesn’t wonder if he could save her. Guilt dies without memory so don’t […]
What Can We Do Today?—Get Off a Catalog List
Often, we get catalogs we never signed up to receive. Or, we get catalogs we used to want and don’t want now. It’s simple to get off their lists—and doing so addresses several climate change game changers.
Day 16: The Deep-Downness
Today’s writing prompt is based on the poem Do the shells Today’s poem considers the deep-downness of things. What is retained within something, even when it is removed from its ordinary setting or becomes broken? Write a poem that explores some kind of deep-downness, whether it be in stardust or melting icebergs or even some […]
Do the shells
“Do the shells still hear the sea…” asks this poem about loss, memory, and being.
Papa is the sky
Papa is the sky
Mama is the air…
Day 15: You Are My Sun
Today’s writing prompt is based on the poem Papa is the sky Write a poem about your family, a group of friends, your co-workers, or even parts of your own self and roles that assigns some kind of natural phenomenon to each. In today’s poem, five-year-old Zoya very simply says that Papa is the sky, […]
Day 14: Guardian Technology
Today’s writing prompt is based on the poem Eve’s Second Garden In today’s poem, we see a couple using simple technology (teeth, a sotol stalk) to save and protect themselves from variables in their environment that are, rightly so, frightening. Write a poem about something in our environment that frightens people (or frightens you). Include […]
Eve’s Second Garden
Eve’s Second Garden Filled with succulents and spines that scratch her legs and break off inside, so Adam has to pinch her skin, then suck and bite the sliver, his teeth the only tweezers yet invented. Nothing requires much water. Five months drought each winter turns prickly pears brilliant purple before they die. Yucca shade […]
Petit à Petit L’Oiseau Fait Son Nid
“I used to dream of living in a garden,” starts this richly colorful sestina about love and wishes.
Day 13: Working Out a Question
Today’s writing prompt is based on the poem Petit à Petit L’Oiseau Fait Son Nid Even if you’ve never written a sestina before, today might be the day to give it a try. Because of the particular way sestinas repeat end-of-line words, they’re a great form for dealing with something you’re trying to work out […]
Father’s Day
The tree house he built, the smell of a grass fire’s smoke and vanilla, and camping. It’s Father’s Day in this poem about memories.
Day 12: Influences
Who has influenced your stance towards our natural world? This creative writing exercise will give you a place to begin, in considering your earth care influences.
