Poetry Prompt Day 4: Poet: Be Gentle with Yourself

 

First – I wanted to give you another hearty "Welcome!" to OctPoWriMo2013. It is a delight to be writing alongside you for this unique poetic event in October 2013. Remember, you and your friends may join us at any time. Just hop in and begin writing… and then link up to your daily poem.

 

Second – I wrote a Poetry Writing Tip early in September that was titled "The Poetry Tip I Never Got (But Oh I Wish I Had)" with a theme that went something like this: “Be gentle with your poetic self and forgive yourself now for any perceived short comings lurking in the hallways of your poetry yet to be written.”

My hope is you will remember this – as I hope I remember this – during those moments of doubt which may pop up for some of us during October.

This brings me to our first opportunity to write together on the same theme: Be Gentle. Even more focused is Be Gentle with Myself (or you may use Be Gentle with Yourself.)

Some thought questions to get you started:

What does it mean to you to be gentle?

Who are some gentle people?

What animal is the most gentle?

How do you feel when you encounter someone who is gentle toward you?

Coupling with “I remember….”

I remember my gentle teacher…..

I remember my gentle heroine…..

I remember being gentle with….

Your personalized 'I remember'....

Sometimes I wish someone would show me gentleness by…..

Some of you will immediately begin to write a poem – this is fine.

Some of you will start with some free writing – this is also fine.

Some of you will sit back in your chair and look out the window, pondering – this is another example of a fine way to go about birthing a poem.

I encourage you simply to begin. Perhaps carve out fifteen minutes to read the poems others have posted (if it isn’t early in the day!) and then allow your gentle spirit to coax your pen, pencil or fingers on the keyboard to flow along with the words that want to be sculpted into your poetic take on Being Gentle.

 Some additional inspiration for you:

Quotes: “All those writers who write about their childhood! Gentle God, if I wrote about mine you wouldn't sit in the same room with me.”          

                                     Dorothy Parker

“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.”

                                             Emma Smith

Word Prompt: Gentle or Being or Being Gentle

Sentence Starter: The gentleness of touch reminds me…..

I look forward to reading your poetry, whatever theme you choose!  

                               -- Julie Jordan Scott

Share your poetry with us by linking up. Make sure you visit your neighbors one or two before and after. If you are last on the list go back to the beginning of the list. Have fun!

1.	Morgan Dragonwillow	19.	Anna Stewart	37.	Gentle by Annie
2.	Georgia aka Bastet	20.	zoe-rewritten	38.	Beth Camp
3.	Blooming Psycho	21.	Lance Smith	39.	Christine
4.	Philomel Chowdhury	22.	Rhian Williams	40.	Quinn
5.	Nimue	23.	Ankit Sharma	41.	Lilith Colbert
6.	viv blake	24.	Sahm King	42.	odhran
7.	Shah's Scribbles	25.	Sincerely Aishah	43.	Mark Jones - til it's too late
8.	alfred booth	26.	Prasad Kulkarni	44.	Kailynn- GingerSass
9.	Ron Potter	27.	Esther Spurrill Jones	45.	RLHughes
10.	Misky	28.	snlkc	46.	Jenna Amundson
11.	Samantha F	29.	Cara Valle	47.	Steph Beth Nickel
12.	Aavika	30.	Julie Jordan Scott	48.	Margit Sage
13.	yikici	31.	Nikita	49.	Jennifer Cunningham
14.	Freelancer	32.	Linda Roy - elleroy was here	50.	Shannon Curtin Mazur
15.	Payal Agarwal	33.	Beth Teliho	51.	Sunita
16.	Fida I	34.	Annis Cassells	52.	Meg on the Go
17.	Lady Whispers	35.	Andrea Moore
18.	Chameleon Soul	36.	Amy McGrath

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