I’ve recently been feeling very uninspired when it comes to my writing. After taking several months of a break since writing last, I decided I wanted to challenge myself with some writing prompts. I’m taking advanced poetry next semester and wanted to kick start my creative process. These, of course, are not the greatest poems I’ve ever written by any means, but they pushed me out of my comfort zone. They are simply *very* rough drafts for potential future poems. I really enjoyed writing these, even if they aren’t the best. If you’re interested, go ahead and try these prompts out as well! They are all up to your own interpretation and it’s always interesting to see what things other people write using the same prompts.
Prompt 1 – Untouched Memories
The turquoise jar sitting on the shelf
Collecting dust,
Full of untouched memories
The seal has not been opened in years
I use my strength to grip the lid and pull it open.
The jar is full of our past together
Movie tickets to every film we’ve seen
Index cards with our fondest moments written
Blue heart confetti from the end of that concert from 2015
Memories that were forgotten
Tucked away in a jar
To be rediscovered later
Prompt 2 – How does the sky today make you feel?
Midday in autumn, November
The crisp air flicks at your nose
Turning your extremities pink and rosey
The green in the trees have disappeared,
Only warm colored leaves left to dance across the sky
Before landing on the cold wet grass below.
The sky is fogged, the sun only peaking through very softly
Hints of red illuminate the clouds above
My dog tugs at the leash in my hand pulling me out of the moment
I would give anything
To continue to stare at the sky for the rest of my life
Prompt 3 – Write about something that seems out of reach
Your laugh never leaves my mind
Always bringing a smile to my face even when you’re gone
Your eyes shining with the most interesting news you’ve heard
Or giddy with the things you love
Hearing your greatest passions, no matter how nerdy
Brightens my day
Our feelings for each other,
They’re strong
The only problem is
You left
I’m alone
Dealing with the intense feelings that I have
And knowing nothing can ever come from them
Because you’re 300 miles away
If only we had met sooner
Prompt 4 – Personify an element
Dipping my toe slowly into the water to test the temperature
As I prepare to jump in.
Taking my stance at the edge of the lake,
I tuck my arms together and shut my eyes tight.
I jump with all my power and splash into the freezing water.
The water grabs me tightly,
Wrapping its arms around my chest and
sucking the air right from my lungs.
Unable to breath through the pain of the ice
I desperately grab at the top of the water,
Trying to break through its grasp
and unwrap its fingers from my throat
The water suffocating every inch of my body
Prompt 5 – Write about a sleepless night
Where does your mind go? On those nights where sleep is unattainable.
Those nights where you lie in bed
The silence ringing through your ears like a bell
The darkness so loud it hurts to close your eyes
Staring at the emptiness that surrounds you
Suffocating your soul and leaving you breathless
Where do you send your consciousness on those nights?
Those nights where you can’t bear to be alone with yourself
Where all you want to do is sink into your mattress and no longer exist.
The most desirable thing is sleep, and it’s the one thing you can’t achieve.
So, tell me. Where do you go?
Here are some additional prompts I found for anyone interested!
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Comparing and Contrasting Personalities
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Saying Goodbye to Someone
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What Does Silence Feel Like
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A Single Lined Poem About Someone You Used to Know
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Favorite Color
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Moonlight
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From Your Pet’s Perspective