read write prompt #39: writing for months, writing for mouths

The Olympics begin in two days.
China’s central government in Beijing, despite its pledges and promises to be open to media and the Internet, has agreed to allow free access for only “some” Internet domains. And Tienanmen Square has once again become a political staging ground as people protest their forced dislocation to make way for [...]


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Read Write Poem is an online gathering place for those who love poetry — and for those who suspect that, with a little nurturing, they could grow to love poetry. Whether you are new to writing poetry or have been writing for years, you are welcome here. If you don’t write poetry but love to read and discuss it, this is also the place for you. Read more about the project.


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  • random
    poetry prompt

      A different word or phrase will appear here each time you visit the site or refresh the page. Your current prompt is — cutthroat

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Read a poem with a friend, and each of you compare notes about what you got from the poem.


  • random
    writing tip

    Stay grounded in detail. When you write, allow as much detail as possible into your poem. You can always cut back later. Try to build a poem in which the details do all the work.

  • random
    reading tip

    Savor the poem. Read it multiple times, slowly. You may even want to read small sections of it slowly, and give yourself a long pause after each to let the poem sink in. Read the poem at least once before you try to figure out its meaning or make any notes on it. Absorb the poem. Inhale its scent.

  • random
    poetry quote

    There is in you what is beyond you. — Paul Valéry