Saturday, January 4, 2025

The Power of Words - Reena's Xploration Challenge #361 #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #insecurity #paperrobes @YvetteMCalleiro @YvetteMCalleiro.bsky.social


Hello, beautiful readers! I'm trying out another poetry challenge from Reena called Reena's Xploration Challenge. This week, Reena provided a couplet of Mirza Ghalib that, in English, translates to:

Whose crafty creation am I; the image implores - 
Every image stands enrobed - but in paper robes

The challenge is to write a piece inspired by the second line of the couplet. The line reminds me of so many teenagers that I teach, and so I decided to write about them. I chose to write a free verse poem about the fragility of ego.


(image created by Microsoft Bing Image Creator)

The Power of Words

there she stood
wearing a veil of fortified steel as armor
a glare of indifference shared with the world
but within
the whispered words around her
crumble her resolve
for her armor is nothing but paper robes

Would you like to write a poem inspired by this quote? Join us here.

Friday, January 3, 2025

W3 Prompt #140 - Ode Poem #beach #saltlife #ode #odepoem #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity @kaddish_s @YvetteMCalleiro @YvetteMCalleiro.bksy.social


Hello, beautiful readers! As #TankaTuesday has retired, I am searching for other ways to tap into creating poetry. Today, I've decided to try David's Wea've Written Weekly Prompt. His weekly challenge visits different themes and styles of poetry. This week, the goal is to write an ode, which is a poem that celebrates or glorifies something. 

I've chosen to write an ode to the beach because, as most of you already know, the beach is my happy place. I've chosen to write a free verse poem, which has no syllabic pattern.

(courtesy of @bdh2008-1 on Pixabay)

An Ode to the Beach

You are a wonder,
Always yet never the same,
Embracing the life within and around you,
Healing the body, mind, and soul of those who visit,
Calming, nourishing, refreshing.

You are perfectly imperfect,
Tumultuous at times with your rage and angst,
Releasing that which does not serve you,
Finding your way back to peace,
Your ebb and flow creating a serene rhythm,
Strengthening, transforming, dancing.

You are resilient,
Indifferent to the intrusion of your barriers,
Trod upon, sullied, and disrespected,
Forgiving those who do not value you,
Wiping away their memory with laps upon the shore,
Embracing, accepting, forgiving.

You are my hero.


Would you like to try your hand at writing an ode? Join us here.