read write prompt #42: catch some words
by Jill Crammond Wickham
As writers it is important for us to read widely, look closely and be open to inspiration in all its many forms.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the words of other poets. No matter how many times I think, “I have got to bring a notebook along with me to the bookstore,” I never remember. I end up buying way too many poetry books (as if this were possible! Too many? Ha! Never!), promising myself I will go directly home and write the poem that popped into my head.
I do not mean filching someone else’s poem. No. No. No. Inspiration can come from a single word, even a title. I read “Summer Kitchen,” (Sandra Gilbert), just the title, and I’m off on a tangent of summer camp, mom and the aunts in the kitchen. “You ask me to remove my shoes … ,” the first line of a Naomi Shihab Nye poem, and I have ten ideas for a really cool poem about taking shoes off.
These two examples alone are a fitting tribute to the negative state of my checking account.
This week you do not have to buy a new poetry book (although, that’s never, never a bad idea!). You could pick up one you already own, or go to your local library. Bring a notebook. The first poem that sends your muse spinning is the one. Jot down the ideas, images, poem ideas that come to you. Do not linger. Catch them, and write a poem. If you crave excess, browse several books you have never seen before. Catch all the poetry ideas. Write a poem from your favorite — the one that follows you home.
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get the read write poem badge! 
Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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Oooh, this looks fun!! It’s like catching butterflies in a net!! Woohoo!! I’m so ready to catch words in my poetic net. =^-^= *bounces off*
A great book that always gives me a billion ideas is Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge’s “Poemcrazy”. Check it out!
Caught some words from Confucius . . . and Job.
Blessings all,
Linda
F IS FOR FOAL . . . AND FIRST RIDE, at THE MANE POINT
[...] was written for Read Write Poem Prompt #42: Catch Some Words. I actually had composed this early this morning, before I even knew about the [...]
I like Michelle’s Tuesday Title prompts at poefusion for exactly that reason…
Oh, and the idea of going with the poem that follows you home is spot on!
[...] August 29, 2008 One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the words of other poets. No matter how many times I th… [...]
Lirone, I think I would really enjoy Poefusion if I could decipher anything on it at all. I truly can’t make out a single word.
A blue background with dark blue text isn’t disability-friendly or even kind to people with any sort of vision problems. Black text on a white background is always the most readable, and bestest, site design choice. It’s a shame when design trumps usability.
Dana, I read poefusion on google reader. That solves the problem for me.
I was given a compilation of Bukowski’s poetry. In the book,” Run with the horses ” there were also some excerpts from his books. It followed me home also. Now it’s like a giant fly caught in a web, and the spider can’t seem to kill it, no matter how much of the body fluids I/it manages to suck out.
punatik.blogspot.com
[...] Read Write Poem prompt this week is to draw inspiration from a published poem; take a line, turn it into your own, [...]
Jill,
I have missed your commentary. Glad to be back here. I love Naomi Shihab Nye’s work. I watched the DNC all last week and I thought of you. You simply rock. Anyhoo, thanks for another great article.
[...] poem was written in response to two things: Jillypoet’s read write prompt (you can read others’ replies here), and a snippet of lyric from the song in this Brotherhood [...]
[...] Who Blog Recently, Poets Who Blog did a Lend-A-Line poetry project, which was inspired by Read Write Poem’s “Catch Some Words” prompt a few weeks ago (I participated in that one too, writing “Nightmare” for the [...]