Poetry Prompts Day 12-Tortured

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “tortured” in connection with love? At first, we might be inclined to think of those intense feelings we associate with loving someone so much it hurts. Young love is fraught with the feeling but as we age and mature does it grow in a different way? And if so, how?

Torture is defined as “the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain. “ But how often are we the ones inflicting pain upon ourselves in the course of growing or maintaining our relationships? Have you ever deliberately hurt someone you love and thereby tortured them, whether through passive aggression or a more vocal/physical action? Have you ever reacted in anger without thought how it would hurt someone else, especially yourself? And did you apologize or make amends?

Prompt:

Love doesn’t always go well. There are bumps and holes and even chasms we have to figure out how to get across or around lest we fall, or else stay where we are. The hard and painful parts of love are necessary for the relationship to grow. Explore the feeling of being “tortured” and how it is a necessary part of love.

Word Prompts:

Afflict

Excruciating

Torment

Agonizing

Distress

Alternately

Appease

Aid

Comfort

Heal

Soothe

Relieve

Suggested Form:

A Senryu is basically a haiku but it deals with human nature and emotions rather than only the natural world. For those of you wanting more of a challenge try the Terza Rima.

Song Prompt:

Merril Bainbridge-State of Mind

Make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments. Try to visit and comment on at least three different participants if you can. Thank you.

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. 

Day 10: World Mental Health Day

Do you know anyone living with mental illness? Chances are you do.

Today is World Mental Health Day first established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. It's a day to raise awareness about mental health issues through education and advocacy. One in four adults and one in five children will experience mental illness this year. (Resource: NAMI)


I live with the diagnoses of bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety with major depressive episodes. It impacts everything about my daily life. Today I encourage you to learn more about mental illness and help us eradicate the stigma associated with the diagnosis.



The Prompt: How are you taking care of your own mental health? How does mental illness affect your life?

Word Prompts: 

• mental health
• mental illness

Suggested Shadow Poetry Form: Ode or Acrostic

We have goodies! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo by Loud Images

~ Amy McGrath is a poet, fiction writer, artist, and student of life. She is working toward a new career as a Creative Arts Therapist where she hopes to share with others the healing power of the creative process. You can read her poetry and see some of her art on her blog - Poetry, Prose, Art, and Creativity. When she's not writing or making art, you can find her reading, listening to a wide range of music (even singing karaoke sometimes), or spending time with her husband Patrick and her two sons.