OctPoWriMo Day 8

Today's suggested prompt is, Breaking Boundaries.

For me October Poetry Month has always been a place where I crossed boundaries. The boundary from not writing to writing. From hiding poems to sharing them online. To try out new forms, shapes, styles of poetry. To share my heart instead of only my brain.

Each of us has boundaries they are not willing to cross. Boundaries keep us safe. But do we ever question which boundaries are still relevant? Which ones we might be able to do without, and still survive? Which ones we might be able to let go of, to help us thrive. What if some of the grass is indeed greener on the other side?

Art by A. van Son 

 

Poetry prompt

Today I invite you to explore one or more of your boundaries. It can be in form. It can be in content. It can be by crossing disciplines, like in this amazing poem inspired by choral music and a Swedish troll proverb. It can be in the delivery, by recording your poem. Or it can be by gifting your poem to someone, and sharing with them why they are the recipient of your piece.

Word prompts

unusual

improvise

connect

Poetry type

Diamante

or

Table poem

A table poem means using rows and columns to inspire, inform or shape your poem. I first started doing this when WordPress couldn’t handle the lay-out I had in mind for a poem. The table helped me to create a more fixed lay-out than WordPress allowed for. After that, I’ve written more of them because there’s something fascinating about it. The flowing or free form of a poem, being support by the straight and strict lines of a table... Here’s an example.

A radical poem

Kurt Schwitters Ursonate definitely crossed boundaries of what was called poetry at the time. Created between 1922 and 1932, it’s still radical. I was surprised to find this modern version fascinating to watch:

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Angela van Son has been an #OctPoWriMo participant since 2014. She is about to publish More than meets the I, a fascinating alloy of poetry and photography. Expect beauty, depth and wonder. 

Angela's poems have been published in Cold Mountain Review, Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal, Art Saves Lives International, and more.

As a coach she helps people change their life stories by getting things done, facing the rabbit holes of their choice and creating wonderful ever afters.