Welcome to this first ever countdown to the April PAD Challenge!

Wow, I even got credit for the suggestion. Guess I’m going to have to play catch up as the usual epic Facebook fail, culling you friends posts, was in operation and I never saw the entry. I will post all the March  prompts here. And start a separate page for the combine April entries. I’ve made the date with a hyperlink so you can see Robert’s poem prompts and examples on his page.

Welcome to this first ever countdown to the April PAD Challenge! This was an idea suggested to me on Facebook by Mo Hurley, and well, it’s just a good idea with so many people locked indoors with little to do but read and write poems. So let’s get at it!

For today’s prompt, write a time poem. I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt in a time warp the past couple weeks—with a day feeling like a week (or even a month) and a week feeling much longer. So your poem can about that, or it can deal with time travel. Or write about being late, being early, or right on time. Heck, do a countdown. There’s no time like the present.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want.

March  23  Okay, I hope everyone had a chance to get their poem on yesterday. And if you’re just getting started today, no worries; there’s plenty of time to catch up!

For today’s prompt, write an escape poem. There are physical escapes from places like prison, work, and school. But people can also find mental and emotional escapes in music, exercise, and books. In fact, writing has often been an escape for me even as I face harsh realities. Let’s escape together today!

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want

March 24  For today’s prompt, write a persona poem. A persona poem is one in which the poet takes on the persona of someone or something else. Write a poem as if you’re a famous author or historical figure. Or take on the persona of a tomato, an ink pen, or even the coronavirus. This is a great opportunity to flex your empathetic muscles.

March 25  I hope everyone’s been having fun so far in this countdown to the challenge. I know I’ve been enjoying it. And now, we’re only a week from April!

For today’s prompt, write a short form poem. I’ve included a list of short forms below (just click on each link to learn more about them). But honestly, any poem with fewer than 10 lines, whether it’s a traditional form or not would work for today’s prompt. Also, if you don’t consider writing a form enough of a prompt, write about size (large or small) in your poem today.

Here are some short forms to check out and try:

• Clogyrnach. Welsh 6-liner.
• Dodoitsu. Japanese 4-liner.
• Lai. French 9-liner.
• Lune. American haiku.
• Nonet. 9-line countdown poem.
• Shadorma. Spanish 6-liner.
• Triolet. French 8-liner.

March 26  After today’s poem, we’ll be half-way through this countdown. April is nearly here!

For today’s prompt, write a quiet poem. I know many people with a quiet voice. While it may not come across online, I have a very quiet personality in group settings. Many of us may be living in very quiet surroundings at the moment. Of course, it’s possible your current situation is anything but quiet—feel encouraged to write those poems too

March 27 For today’s prompt, write a magic poem. Write a poem about witches and wizards—or magicians and illusionists. Craft a magical realism poem. Or write about the magic of making movies or everyday life and living. Of course, this is a great opportunity to write a magic 9 poem too.

March 28 For today’s prompt, write an elegy. An elegy is a poem written for someone who has died. For instance, Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!,” is an example of an elegy for Abraham Lincoln. Mary Jo Bang wrote “You Were You Are Elegy” for her son.

March 29 For today’s prompt, write a response poem. That is, write a poem that responds to another poem. Could be a poem by another poet or even your own from earlier in this challenge.

March 30 For today’s prompt, write a hope poem. In these odd, time-warped days, the world really could use a little more hope. So let’s share some today—even if it’s just the hope for the possibility of hope.

March 31 i Today is the final day of the countdown challenge, and tomorrow, we start the April PAD Challenge proper. The end of one challenge begets the beginning of the next.

For today’s prompt, write a cycle poem. There are no endings—only new beginnings, right? Well, that’s how cycles work anyway. For this poem, you can write about a cycle of life. Or you could write a poem that features a bicycle or tricycle. Heck, your poem could be about recycling. Have at it!

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want.

March 32. Aha! Gotcha. April Fools. Suffer them gladly.