What is the role of poetry?

What do you think is the role of poetry in today's society? Is poetry just an archaic throwback? Is it a living and breathing part of our current reality? What roles do poets play in a world full of Internet, phones that can do everything but bake a cake, and cars that are "smart?" How can poets bring value to this modern age?

This is question that is long debated. And everyone seems to have a different idea. I come in on the John Lennon side of things:

Photo: John Lennon. Text: "My role in society, or any artist or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all." – John Lennon


I think the role of the poet is to be a mirror to society. To allow people to see what is happening. Giving observations, moving through the trickery of language to shake out meaning in what can sometimes feel like a meaningless world.

If you want to.

If that goal is comfortable for you.

 I can't tell you what to do with your poetry. I can only give you a suggestion or an idea. If during this next month's challenge, you're feeling stuck, look to the news. Look to your neighbor. Look to inside of you. Let your words be that mirror.

I thought about leaving a social commentary poem here for you to think about, but songs are just poetry with a beat. And Marvin Gaye's lament asking what's going on still feels apt today.

Let me know in the comments, what do you think is the role of the poet?

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Tamara Woods was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia, where she began writing poetry at the age of 12. She published her first poetry collection, The Shaping of an “Angry” Black Woman in 2014 and is working on her first fiction novel due out in winter 2016. She is the Editor of The Reverie Journal, a poetry publication. She also moderates #writestuff a weekly writing Twitter chat. You can find her on Twitter here. She works as a full-time freelance writer and doesn’t post nearly enough her blog PenPaperPad. She creates videos about books and writing on her YouTube channel. She is a hillbilly hermit in Honolulu living with her Mathemagician.

Drawing to a Close | OctPoWriMo Day 29

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. ~Seneca

I think this will be my final post for this month. I'm a bit sad that the month is drawing to a close. It feels like October just began to me. But all good things must end. In honor of the approaching end, let's write a poem about endings. Think about an ending that's happened in your life, and talk about the positive aspects of it. We always talk about endings in negative terms, but there's definitely occasions where the end was needed. Like when you quit the job that made you cry every morning, or you stopped smoking. Be bold and write beautifully fellow poets!

Tamara Woods was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia where she began penning poems after a boy broke her heart. She shares poetry, short stories and writer interviews on her blog, PenPaperPad. Her writing has been featured in Mamalode, In the Powder Room, and many others. She is the editor for The Reverie Journal, which released its first poetry collection early October. She also hosts #writestuff TweetChat where writers talk about writing every Tuesday at 9 pm EST. She is a hillbilly hermit living in Honolulu with her Mathmagician.

Poetry Prompt 17 - Are You Dancing?

“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.” ― Rumi

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Poetry Prompt:

What stage are you at in the above quote? Are you dancing? Write for ten minutes asking yourself the previous questions. 

Word Prompts:

Free

Middle

Bandage

Poetry Type: Cascade

I created a poem for this poetry type for the last A to Z challenge. I enjoyed playing with it and I hope you do as well.

The shackles binding her in place fell to the ground.

She discovered a freedom never felt before.

Smiling into the sun, she laughed and walked away.

She didn’t know her prison was her own making.

She longingly looked out over the horizon.

The Shackles binding her in place fell to the ground.

The door opened and suddenly she had choices.

Stepping out the breeze gently stroked her hair and face.

She discovered a freedom never felt before.

Now was her chance to be who she was meant to be.

She didn’t hesitate or think to look backward.

Smiling into the sun, she laughed and walked away.

Morgan Dragonwillow is a poet, author, foodie, urban gardener, and recovering perfectionist, that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of  #OctPoWriMo You can find her Playing with Words on her blog. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.

You can also find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompt 14 - Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

“Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks.” ― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Photo by Larisa Koshkina at PublicDomainPictures.net

Most of the time I don't have any clue what prompt I'm going to use. Today I started reviewing the photos on PublicDomainPictures.net and one thing led to another until I saw this photo and immediately knew what wanted to be here for the prompt. I love it when inspiration kicks in!

Poetry Prompt:

What is on the bridge between yesterday and tomorrow? Write for ten minutes focusing on that question.

Word Prompts:

Connections

burning bridges

Between

Sentence Starters:

The difference between then and now...

I stood on the bridge...

Morgan Dragonwillow is a poet, author, foodie, urban gardener, and recovering perfectionist, that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of  #OctPoWriMo You can find her Playing with Words on her blog. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.

You can also find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompts - For All the Loves You've Loved Before

The time is drawing near for the last day of OctPoWriMo and this poetry challenge. It makes me think of things in the past and when I think of things from the past I think of past loves.

When first falling in love there are the moments of joy and euphoria, being completely head over heals. When the honeymoon phase was over did you start noticing all the things that you used to love but now annoy the heck out of you or are they still endearing? Are you one of the lucky ones and your love keeps growing each day.

Poetry Prompts:

What phase of love are you in, before, during, or after? Are you dancing with euphoria or are you crying with despair at the unfairness of life and love?

Is your relationship one of passion and romance, playful and fun, or each of you doing your own thing?

Is your beginning love story one of magic or of fumbling awkwardness?

Did you have a relationship in the past that burned hot and fast, or did it grow over time?

Share your love journey through your words, through your poetry, dance with us on the page.

Word Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Love
Bliss
Consuming
Blind
Honeymoon

Feeling Words:

Euphoria
Joy
Bewildered
Annoyed
Grief

Congratulations to Alexis for winning an autographed copy of Wild Woman Waking! Congratulate her on Twitter @LexC666 

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Day 27 - Sleep and Dreams

"To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come..." 

          ~ William Shakespeare

I'm writing on a lazy Sunday afternoon and as I write this, my final prompt for OctPoWriMo 2014, I must confess - I am sleepy! I have been keeping a very busy schedule this month and have pushed myself harder (in many ways) than I have in quite some time. I find myself pausing, looking up mindlessly at the movie my husband is watching, and nodding off for a few moments. Once I'm done here, I shall listen to my body's call and take an afternoon nap. Let's let this feeling provide our inspiration for this Monday prompt.

The Prompt: Let's write about sleep. What does it feel like as you're drifting off or as you're returning to wakefulness? Do you dream vividly in color? Explore the physical sensations of sleep and dreaming in a freewrite and see what surfaces as the story to be told in your poem.

Word Prompts: 

• sleep (sleepy, sleeping)
• dream (dreaming, dreamer)
• nap
• awake
• insomnia

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~ 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.

Poetry prompt day 10 : A Poetry Collage ?

This is a last minute post so be prepared to get something really senseless as a prompt from me today :P

Just Kidding ! Lets get to work now.  so , Last month in one of the poetry tip posts , I wrote about collaborative poetry where 2 or more poets write a poem together.  As a further modification or a side track to this style , we have some poems that inspire other poems , often as replies to the original voice. On another group blog , we use to refer these poems as "Reply Poetry" .

We all have our favorite poems. Some from own blog , some from other's blog. I want you to pick those poems today , read and re read till you find your trigger in there. Write the poem , whatever is in your head - be it a continuation or an opposite voice to the narrator. Be it a comment on the voice of the original poem or maybe even a verse to wrap it around the original thought.

Please note , when you post your poem , please share the link of the original post too.
Or better , share the whole poem in the post .

Some of you , who are a little short on time [ like ME ;) ]  to search a favorite poem , pick one of the last 10 poems from your own blog and use it for the prompt.Or pick the poem that some participant linked to the post !!

This is one of my favorite poem from the poet I am in love -

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.