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 [...]


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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  • 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 — brouhaha

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Write a poem, then take out all the important words, leaving only blank spaces. Send it to one or more collaborators and have them fill in the blanks. All the variants could even be collected in a series.


  • random
    writing tip

    Shhhh! Listen. Write down whatever you hear, and make note of what you don't hear. Think about writing a poem based on the sense of hearing, rather than the sense of sight.

  • random
    reading tip

    Use a website like amazon.com to find out what other readers buy who like a book of poetry you enjoyed. Simply enter the name of the book, select it from the list of possible matches, then scroll down to the section “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” and see if there’s anything new there that strikes your fancy.

  • random
    poetry quote

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