poll dance: write? now? right now? nah, there’s always tomorrow

Dear Muse: How do I avoid listening to thee? Let me count the ways … reading blogs, reading books/magazines, eating, watching television, organizing something, socializing, cleaning the house, doodling, working, going for a walk, running errands, balancing checkbooks and doing intense exercise. It’s interesting to see our methods of procrastination in one list. Look [...]

Posted by Carolee on 06.03.2008 at 12:01 am// Tagged: Carolee, Dana, Discussion Thread, Jill, Poll Dance , , , , , , , ,


welcome to read write poem

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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read write poll

Do your new year's resolutions include poetry goals? (Choose the best answer.)

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participant-run journals, zines and sites


  • read write poem newsfeed

      "Adam Penna is on a roll. For nearly a decade, he’s written one poem every day, almost without fail. He writes for the love of poetry, believing that poems reveal truths that can easily be missed, and offer a way of connecting the universal human condition with individual experiences.

      Mr. Penna writes poetry because he believes it’s the best type of writing to distill the essence of a simple moment. Simply put, poems transform the ordinary into extraordinary, he said."

      Read the full article, which includes news about his *two* new books, published by different houses. "Success for an everyday poet" is written by Pat Rogers for The East Hampton Press & The Southampton.

      And visit Adam Penna's online poetry journal, Best Poem.

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      Have you visited The Page? It's a spot for gleaning bits of "poetry, essays, language, ideas."

      Cool content, and it looks good, too. Edited by Andrew Johnston, with contributions by Stephen Burt.

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      Dana and Jacob are at it again. If you are interested in learning more about The Seattle Poetry Brothel they are creating, visit My Gorgeous Somewhere for the scoop.

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      A new poem by Sean O'Brien, written in response to the latest phase of conflict between Israel and Hamas:

      Katyusha, Katyusha

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      One of our new participants, Lyn Hopper, will be using our writing prompts as a way to fulfill her personal challenge and be creative every day. Sound like something you'd like to do? I am sure you would be welcomed by Leah Piken Kolidas, the CED diva, into her creative fold.

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  • Read all newsfeed items.

  • 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 — pod

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Write two-word phrases with someone else. One person can supply the first word of the phrase, and the other person can supply the second word. Write your phrases down and each use some of them in a poem.


  • random
    writing tip

    Draw a Tarot card from the deck, and write down all the things you notice in the picture. Don’t get caught up in the symbolic meaning of the card. What do these images mean to you? Can you relate the images to your life in some way? Write a poem about your associations with the card.

  • random
    reading tip

    Pick up a book of poems you don't think you would be drawn to. This may seem like a silly (and not very pleasant) thing to do, but the writing could surprise you. If you really don't like it, try to determine and articulate why. In the end, you will be a stronger writer (and reader!) by knowing what you don't like and your reasons for not liking it.

  • random
    poetry quote

    Poetry exists as a body attempting communication. — Sam Hamill