Poetry in the Time of a Pandemic

April is National Poetry Month, and it’s a great time to take advantage of social distancing to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). The origins of poetry are tied to songs and remembering (Wikipedia), which is probably why poems can cut straight to the core of the writer and why they can evoke such strong responses in their readers. Poetry takes many forms, including haiku, sonnet, and pantoum, as well as free-form.

Use the month of April as a catalyst for your poetry. Here are some opportunities:

Haiku for a global pandemic is a Facebook page where you can express your hopes, humor, fears, and frustrations with COVID-19.

Poem a Day (PAD) Challenge from Writers Digest offers just what it sounds like – a prompt a day throughout the month of April to get you “poeming.” The countdown has begun, with daily prompts leading up to PAD. https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

The Academy of American Poets offers 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month. Tips include ways to celebrate in the virtual classroom, at home, and online.

Who are your favorite poets? Some of my favorite poets:
Karen Paul Holmes, https://www.karenpaulholmes.com/
David Kirby, https://davidkirby.com/
Katya Sabaroff Taylor, https://www.creativeartsandhealing.com/

What poetic structure do you gravitate towards in your writing? Although I usually write straightforward rhymes (ABCB), I also enjoy haiku. I even wrote a pantoum after taking a poetry class from Dr Kirby. Here it is:

Pantoum of the Opera
By M.R. Street

When all is done, the curtain falls
He makes his way through silent halls
Retreats behind a lifeless mask
More than this he does not ask

He makes his way through silent halls
A single kiss, a last goodbye
More than this he does not ask
A broken heart, but not to cry

A single kiss, a last goodbye
Retreats behind a lifeless mask
A broken heart, but not to cry
When all is done, the curtain falls
***

And here is a link to a photostory I created to go with a goku (train of five haikus) I wrote called Seasons of the Fox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8z_wSbl4fA

Wishing you wellness and poetic inspiration to get you through these times of solidarity and aloneness, day by day!