HOME 1: write a poem about or set on a real street in your hometown (or avenue, road, lane, drive, alley, highway, cul-de-sac, etc… you get the point.) please try to mention the ‘street’ in either the title or the poem itself, in some way.

HOME 2: write a poem about a family member. this doesn’t have to be sweet.

HOME 3: write a poem about anything that feels like home to you. this can be a song, a person, an activity, or anything else that evokes a sense of belonging.

AWAY 1: write a poem about (one of) your favourite place(s)/ways to escape when you were a child. this can span from a playground, to an imaginary friend, to a country you vacationed..

AWAY 2: write a poem about an unfamiliar place you once found ourself at, without any prior planning or intention.

AWAY 3: write a poem about a time you had to go away — a time you had to leave something (or someone) behind.

COHESION 1: write a poem in any fixed structure. be as strict as you can! it’s a fun challenge. (e.g.: petrarchan sonnet, shakespearean sonnet, haiku, acrostic, limerick, ghazal, villanelle, sestina, pantoum). this DOES NOT include thematic structures (e.g.: elegy, ode, ballad, epistolary, pastoral). please include the fixed structure you chose in the description of your submission!

COHESION 2: write a poem about order, systems, institutions, organisation, or instruction.

COHESION 3: write a poem about a time you had to put something or someone (back) together.

CHAOS 1: write a free verse poem. no rhyme scheme allowed! (occasional rhymes are fine, just no set patterns).

CHAOS 2: submit a notes app poem. one you wrote in a moment of inner chaos; the type that catches you off-guard when you’re just looking for your grocery list.

CHAOS 3: write a poem about a time you destroyed something in your life. how did the act of destruction make you feel? what incited it? what was the aftermath?

LIGHT 1: write a poem about something light (a feather, a 2% alcoholic beverage, the sun… whatever!)

LIGHT 2: write a poem about a moment where something was brought to light for you.

LIGHT 3: write a poem titled a synonym of ‘light’ (delicate, thin, pale, ignite, bright, etc…) 

HEAVY 1: write a poem about the heaviest emotion or experience you’ve ever had.

HEAVY 2: write a poem about the contrast between physical and emotional heaviness.

HEAVY 3: write a poem about darkness (the other opposite of ‘light’) — and, if you want, how it relates (or doesn’t relate) to heaviness.

PAST 1: submit an old poem from a period of your life that you never thought you’d get past (but did).

PAST 2: write a poem about an experience that brought you back to your past (this can be in hindsight or you can write from the perspective of your past self).

PRESENT 1: write a poem about something or someone that makes you feel present.

PRESENT 2: write about the best intangible present you’ve ever received.

FUTURE 1:  write a poem that is a snapshot of what you want in your future — however near or far you wish (tomorrow or ten years from now).

FUTURE 2: write a poem composed of questions for your future self.

REGRETS 1: write a poem about something you thought you would regret doing, but ended up not.

REGRETS 2: write a poem about something you regret not doing or saying.

REGRETS 3: submit a poem you regret writing for whatever reason.

RESOLUTIONS 1: write a poem about a new year’s resolution of yours.

RESOLUTIONS 2: write a poem about a resolution (the end of, or a solution to, a certain situation) that you were unsatisfied by.

RESOLUTIONS 3: write a poem about a time you were resolute in something you believed in or wanted.

LOVE 1: write/submit a poem about or from the first OR last time you fell in and/or out of love. 

LOVE 2: write/submit a poem about love without using the word ‘love’. (maybe even try avoiding similes and cliche metaphors, since they are so often used to describe love.)

LOVE 3: write a poem about valentine’s day.

HATE 1: write/submit a poem about something or someone you wish you could hate.

HATE 2: try to write a poem where you describe something you hate in a positive manner. It can be serious or sarcastic.

HATE 3: write/submit a poem about the angriest you ever felt towards something or someone.

CRINGE 1: submit a poem you wrote during a period of your life you would consider to be cringe.

CRINGE 2: write/submit a poem to or about a past (cringe) version of yourself, perhaps with an appreciative tone.

CRINGE 3:  write a poem titled with a word that makes you cringe.

NOSTALGIA 1: submit a poem you wrote during a period of your life you are currently feeling nostalgic for.

NOSTALGIA 2: write/submit a poem about a place you often feel nostalgic about.

NOSTALGIA 3: write a poem about something you currently have in your life that you think will become a source of nostalgia later on.

PAIN 1: write/submit a poem about a “growing pain” you have experienced.

PAIN 2: submit a poem that you wrote with the intention of inflicting pain.

PAIN 3:  write/submit a poem that felt painful to put to paper.

PLEASURE 1: write/submit a poem about an experience of either giving or receiving pleasure (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.)

PLEASURE 2: write/submit a poem about something you find pleasing that most people do not.

PLEASURE 3: write/submit a poem about a small/simple pleasure you value.