Author Archives: Margaret

Poem a Day Challenge #16

Laurie says “go back.” I had to find a poem over 5 years old which meant I actually had to dig back to my ill-fated grad school days and find what I wrote my one and only semester at New College (it’s good to never throw anything out). It was surreal when I wrote itContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #16”

Poem A Day Challenge #14

Laurie wants us to turn a poem into a Madlib. She chose T.S. Elliot; I decided to go with William Butler Yeats. Running, running, in the expansive fieldThe child cannot hear the mother. Toys fall apart; her basket cannot hold; Mere existential despair is loosed upon the park, A red-hazed rage is loosed, and everywhereTheContinue reading “Poem A Day Challenge #14”

Poem a Day Challenge #13

Today Laurie asks us to write a letter to someone we don’t know. And while I don’t know her, I feel like I know her. Dear fellow mom in the Target lot: I see you on your phone like me, avoiding all of your tasks, basking in the silence like a lizard on a sun-warmedContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #13”

Poem a Day Challenge #12

Laurie’s prompt is again one I’ve never done before: a terza rima. My mind absolutely locked on this one, which is why I’m finally typing this out at 9:00 at night. I tried after I did my cursive practice – no luck. I did almost every chore imaginable because my mind did not want toContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #12”

Poem a Day Challenge #11

Laurie’s prompt is straightforward today: three cliches, a confession, and a cat. I’m feeling tapped outlike a boxer clinging to the ropes crying “Cut me, Mick! Cut me!” Monday morning bluesare the worst and I have a laundry list of chores as long as my arm. I spent a half-hour in my car watching TikTokContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #11”

Poem a Day Challenge #10

Laurie’s challenge today is one I’ve actually never done before, at least I don’t think…an abecedarian is deceptive…an “easy” prompt makes for a difficult assignment. This is rough and I’m still not there yet. My experiences with my son, with the idea of “acceptance” but without a culture that actually accepts anything that is non-conformingContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #10”

Poem A Day Challenge #9

Laurie’s assignment today: write a pantoum Liberties have been taken. I’m trying to be a little less rigid when it comes to form. It makes me feel uneasy when it’s not exact – like I’m a little girl who got caught and now stands before disappointed parents. 6:30am the alarm clock blares – Radio DJsContinue reading “Poem A Day Challenge #9”

Poem a Day Challenge #8

Laurie says: stop making sense. Kids these days with their yeets and fleeks. Am I chuegy? I’m probably cheugy. Most definitely cheugy. It’s not that I’m salty and I won’t simp for them (big yikes,I know, right?) but this is living rentfree in my head and hits a little different. No cap, I’m here toContinue reading “Poem a Day Challenge #8”