Influence & Inspiration

 "The music of my youth." This is how one of my friends described Aretha's body of work. So many of us -- Detroiters, Americans, and citizens of the world -- mourned the loss of "The Queen of Soul" these past two weeks. Fellow musicians and regular folks, all fans, she inspired, bolstered, and comforted paid tribute to her in words and song.

Though her music and voice always made me stop and listen or move to the beat, my favorite Aretha moment happened in 2015 at the Kennedy Center Honors where she celebrated Carole King by singing "Natural Woman." Tears rolled as I sang (off-key) and watched the communication between Aretha and Carole and between Aretha and the star-studded audience. President Barack Obama wiped a tear from his eyes along with me.

With her music, her leadership, her example to her family and community, the legendary Aretha Franklin defined an era in our history.

Today's Prompt:
By this time in our lives, we've all experienced a loss of someone whose presence or actions on a large platform have affected us. We may not know the individual personally, but he or she has inspired or comforted or taught us. We've also had family and personal friends whose lives have had an impact on our own. Write an ode to that person. Or, write a poem about how that person influenced or inspired you.

Word Bank:
Tribute
Inspiration
Legend
Presence
Model
Mentor

Video Prompt:

We would love to read your work, so please share your poem or provide a link to your website or blog in the comments below. Thank you, and happy writing.

 
Annis Cassells is a writer, poet, life coach, and teacher.  She divides her time between Bakersfield, California and Coos Bay, Oregon, where she conducts memoir writing classes for senior adults. She is a member of Writers of Kern, a branch of the California Writers Club. See Annis’s blogs at www.thedaymaker.blogspot.com and www.poemsbyannis.blogspot.com and her website at www.connectionsandconversations.com

Focus

Photo by Bobbi Emel Wilmoth. Used with permission.

Concentrate enough on one thing and the background becomes a blur. Sometimes that’s healthy and productive. Staying focused provides clarity and helps you accomplish tasks and reach your goals.

In 2016 I participated in Ellen Bass’s and Pam Houston’s "A Glint of Light on Broken Glass" writing retreat near Hope, Canada. No phones, no radio, no television, no Wi-Fi. With time dedicated to writing in the peaceful setting of the Inn at Lake Connamarra, I learned new techniques, sharpened skills, and wrote three new poems and a piece of flash fiction. Meeting accomplished writers and making new friends added to my perspective and growth.

  

Focus can be a positive distraction. In a lengthy MRI session, unable to move for an extended period of time, a golfer I know replayed whole rounds in her head. (Amazing how golfers can recall every stroke.)

Sometimes, being so focused is not helpful. All manner of things can be happening around you, and you never realize it. You just don’t see it because you’re preoccupied. I’m reminded of a friend who was shocked when his wife found someone else. He was so intent on his career, he neglected home and family.

Focusing on the negatives means you often miss out on the positives. Zeroing in on the positives can change attitudes, actions, and productivity.

The Prompt

Write your poem this week thinking about where your focus lies. How has staying focused affected your life? What sidetracks you? Consider what you have observed about the benefits and the damages from being focused.

Word Bank

Clarity  

Nucleus

Pinpoint

Purpose              

The main thing

Visual Prompt

Please share the link to your poem (or post your poem) in the comments below. And, if you're on Facebook, post it to Poets on the Page. We're looking forward to reading your work.

Annis Cassells is a writer, poet, life coach, and teacher.  She divides her time between Bakersfield, California and Coos Bay, Oregon. She is a member of Writers of Kern, a branch of the California Writers Club. See Annis’s blogs at www.thedaymaker.blogspot.com and www.poemsbyannis.blogspot.com and her website at www.connectionsandconversations.com

Poetry Prompts - Fantasy Land

I really feel the need to create an alternate world, a vision of what might be magical and beautiful and fantastic about being human. ~Shary Boyle

Poetry Prompts - Fantasy Land
Art by Morgan Dragonwillow

My five year old granddaughter and I started talking about what an 'Emily World' would look like. She said that everything would be made out of candy except the trees would be made out of Brocoli and the grass would be made out of Twizzlers.

If you lived in a fantasy world, what would it look like?

Word Prompts:

Fantasy
unusual
polka dots
moonbeams

Poetry Ebook Spotlight

Aggravated Felon - Poetry to Liberate the Soul by Wendy Grela-M'Poko

Description from Amazon:

In this collection of poems, Wendy turns an experience that should have broken her spirit, into one that ended up setting her free spiritually. In the mist of deportation the only thing that really understood Wendy was The Pen and Paper.

When Wendy started utilizing the tools at hand something magical happened. What started off as an escape turned into a passion. Using words to bring to life colorful experiences from delicacy and wonder, to pure heartache. Wendy's poems are fearless and leave nothing unexplored, no words wasted.

This diverse collection stands on no equal ground with anyone else’s works, and establishes her as an important poet needed for this generation.

Sunny is here to bring back poetry!

“POETRY IS NOT DEAD!"

Play with your words until you breathe life into them!

Share your links to your poetry in the comments below.

 

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a Bodywork transformer, dancing poet, motivator of words, magical instigator and creatrix of #OctPoWriMo & #PoetsonthePage. Collaborate with your soul and get your words on the page. Wild Woman Writing Retreat.

Yes, she is on Google+ too!

What Inspires You to Keep Writing Poetry?

Writing poetry is our life's blood; we eat, breathe, and sleep poetry. We share what we love about it, what inspires us, what turns our head, what captures our heart, and what motivates us to keep going, keep allowing our words to flow.

Inspiration for Poetry, photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures
by CC0 Community

I am a visual person, photos inspire me more than most things. When I am in the flow, I see something that inspires me, I take a photo, and then I write to that photo. It could be the color, the light, the object, the person, that captures my heart and translates to the page.

What inspires you?

What keeps me going, keeps me writing poetry? It is to understand life, to see it through the lens of my words, to see where they will lead.

What keeps you going?

Prompts:

What was the last photo you captured? Write for ten minutes about the photo. What emotion does it convey? What draws you in?

Word Prompts:

Inspiring

flow

capture
camera

Indie poetry book highlight:

inside my anxious mind by Ashley Martinez

Description from Amazon:

inside my anxious mind is a collection of poems, pain i've felt, the horrors of the world i've seen in the past two decades. saving my mental sanity, and urging all readers to protect theirs.

A Review by Eric M from Amazon:
Raw, unedited, unfiltered emotions. A book that is about the realest thing I have read in a long time. If you don't know Ashley by the end of it you will get inside her head and heart. You will get a sense of her journey through life and how everything she had gone through has taken her from surviving to thriving. Sign me up for the next one. 

Follow your words and share your link in the comments below and tell us, what inspires you to keep writing poetry? 

 

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a Bodywork transformer, dancing poet, motivator of words, magical instigator and creatrix of #OctPoWriMo & #PoetsonthePage. Collaborate with your soul and get your words on the page. Wild Woman Writing Retreat.

Yes, she is on Google+ too!

Poetry Prompts Day 2 - OctPoWriMo 2016

This year seems to have been a difficult one for a lot of people. I've read where several writers haven't written much this year, if at all, I certainly haven't. I've fallen into the void a few times and finally feel like I'm climbing out of it.

How did your first day of OctPoWriMo poetry writing go for you? Was it the first time you've written poetry in a while or do you usually write poetry, if not daily, often?

Photo Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net by Michal Spisak

Day 2 Prompt - The Void

Possibilities:

As writers, and especially poetry writers, I believe we dive into the void on a regular basis to find the words, to gain perspective, to hibernate and more. How have you used the void? What does, "the void" mean to you?

Write for ten minutes exploring the void.

Suggested poetry type: Kyrielle

Word Prompts:

depleted
clear
barren
drained
open

Music for your Muse:

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, where you find inspiration for your poetry is up to you.

During OctPoWriMo, if you want to make sure that we know you have written something new, comment in that day's post with your link to your blog and/or share your link on Twitter with the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo.

It's not too late, hop on over and sign up. =)  OctPoWriMo link up. Remember to tell all your poet friends and lover of words to come check it out by sharing the hashtag #OctPoWriMo across social media!


Peace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
Read, Dance, Write, Repeat.

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a writing rebel, foodie, urban gardener, recovering perfectionist, facilitator of magical circles and poet who (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. When she isn't working with clients, writing or dancing, you can find her encouraging and supporting her writing community at @StoryDam, #OctPoWriMo, #PoetsonthePage, and  Playing with Words on her blog.

Yes she is on Google+ too!

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OctPoWriMo 2016 Begins!

This is our fifth annual OctPoWriMo! Every year since 2012 you have joined us in everything poetry and we are so glad that you do. Of course every year we also have a few people join us for the first time as we have this year. If you are new to OctPoWriMo, don't hesitate to ask questions as we are more than happy to help you maneuver this poetry journey.

The people behind the curtain this year are, myself - Morgan Dragonwillow and Amy Phelps McGrath. We can't guarantee to get to every participating blog every day but at least one of us will try to get to your blog at least once a week

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, where you find inspiration for your poetry is up to you.

During OctPoWriMo, if you want to make sure that we know you have written something new, comment in that day's post with your link to your blog and share your link on Twitter with the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo.

Coloring in, Inspirations: A Coloring Journal. -MDragonwillow

Day 1 Prompt: Time

Possibilities:

Time is such a constant in our lives, racing the clock, wishing it would go faster or slower. Rarely do we get off the train of time and focus solely in the moment. What does time mean to you?

Write for ten minutes about an instant that time stood still, with as much detail as you can.

If you choose to, write a shape poem.

Word Prompts:

age

generation

stretch

shift

moment

Music to stir your imagination and connect to your muse:

If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time. =)  OctPoWriMo link up. Remember to tell all your poet friends and lover of words to come check it out by sharing the hashtag #OctPoWriMo across social media!


Peace,
Morgan Dragonwillow
Read, Dance, Write, Repeat.

Morgan Dragonwillow, author of Wild Woman Waking & Dancing within Shadow, is a writing rebel, foodie, urban gardener, recovering perfectionist, facilitator of magical circles and poet who (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. When she isn't working with clients, writing or dancing, you can find her encouraging and supporting her writing community at @StoryDam, #OctPoWriMo, #PoetsonthePage, and  Playing with Words on her blog.

Yes she is on Google+ too!

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Welcome Poetry Lovers!

Photo courtesy of the Quotes and Sites app.

We are happy to announce that we at OctPoWriMo have moved to Poets on the Page. We have decided to begin the new year with weekly poetry prompts.

Yes we will still be having our month long adventure in October!

But now we will also have weekly prompts on Monday AND we will also have a month long poetry adventure in April for NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month).

So join us once a week, once a month, and/or everyday in April and October!

You can write your poetry on your blog.

You can tweet your poetry.

You can Instagram your poetry.

And you can share your poetry (or poetry links) on the Facebook group - Poets on the Page.

Share your poetry with the hashtag #PoetsonthePage (I know it's long but the acronym is already being used by a band on Twitter).


Now for our first poetry prompt in 2016!

I recently read a quote on Wild Woman Sisterhood from the book, Who is Magic Babe Ning by Ning Cai who quoted Rachael Fallon yogini;

"Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place." 

This really hit home for me, it made me think about all of the conditioning from childhood, all of the shoulds and shouldn'ts, of who our family and friends think we are, of what society expects of us, and of course who we think we are.

I have often thought of who I would be without all of that. I even wrote a poem once about who I would be if I forgot everything, if I had amnesia, what kind of person would I be and who I would be without all of the attachments from the past.

How often do we think that we have to be better, do better, and become this better person? What if that wasn't it at all?

Poetry Prompt: 

Write for ten minutes asking yourself this question - What if you stop trying to be who you aren't, let everything that isn't you drop away, and embrace the real you?

Word Prompts:

direct
frank
candid
open

Possible Poetry Type:

Shadow Poetry - Free Verse or Free Form

Photo Prompt:

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net by Lisa Runnels

Music helps me to connect with my muse and spill my words to the page. Here is an epic music mix that will hopefully inspire you to dance your words into the world.

Experiment dancing and writing to this music and see where the words lead you.





We aren't fond of rules here at Poets on the Page. The only thing we ask is that you are courteous with your fellow poets, that if you leave a comment for us or on another poet's blog, you share the love and support that all poets need.

Be who you are, I believe in you!



******Updated on 02/26/2016. Corrected quote info to the book and author it came from.

Morgan Dragonwillow is a poet, author, facilitator and recovering perfectionist who uses music to connect to all things sacred. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of  #OctPoWriMo and #PoetsonthePage You can find her Playing with Words and dancing on her blog.

You can also find her on Google+

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Poetry Writing Challenges

Congratulations, you made it all the way to the end of OctPoWriMo 2014! It has been a wonderful journey this year from September's poetry tips through October's poetry prompts. Some of you have been with us every single day and some of you popped in when your schedule permitted.

You shared your poems - your heart, your life, your experiences - with us and they have touched our hearts. We have one last prompt for you and we look forward to reading your poems.

Poetry Prompts:

What have you learned from this journey? Did you stretch in unexpected ways? Did you take it easy during OctPoWriMo compared to years past?  Free write about your OctPoWriMo experience.

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts:

Poetry
Writing
Experience
Journey
Flowing
Sharing

Feeling Words:

Feeling
Love
Hope
Excitement
Gratitude
Wonderment



I want to thank you for participating in OctPoWriMo and I look forward to seeing you next year. Make sure you sign up to receive our posts in your email so that you know when we begin again.

Special thanks to the other contributors of OctPoWriMo who shared their creativity and love of poetry with us.

Julie Jordan Scott - You can find creating her literary themed mixed media art every day during November.

Amy Phelps McGrath - Will be participating in NaNoWriMo during the month of November and hopefully she will keep us updated on her blog about how things are going for her.

Tamara Woods - Will also be participating in NaNoWriMo but has decided to share her experiences through vlogs as she tries to stay sane during the challenge.

You can find me, Morgan Dragonwillow, sharing writing prompts and inspiration on Mondays and Wednesdays over on my blog.

It has been a pleasure and an honor sharing our love of poetry with you.

I will be announcing the rest of the winners of the Raffle tomorrow, Saturday.

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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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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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Poetry Prompts - Magic and Possibilities

I thought today we could lighten things up with a little magic and mystery. I'm keeping the poetry prompts short as well. Hope you are doing well and being compassionate with yourself on this poetry journey in this last week of OctPoWriMo.

Poetry Prompts: 

I choose to believe in magic, I think it makes life more interesting. Whether it is the magic of life, synchronicities, or another magical event, write for ten minutes about magic, possibilities and mystery and see where it takes you.

Do you believe in magic?

Have you ever followed synchronicities to see where they would lead?

Word Pompts:

Fascinating
Captivating
Enchanting
Magnetic
Irresistible

Photo Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Photo from PublicDomainPictures.net

Remember these are all only suggestions to inspire you to write poetry, feel free to follow your words wherever they lead.

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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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Poetry Prompt - A Challenge

Every year I challenge you to do a video of yourself reading or reciting one of your poems. Most of you have been too intimidated by such a prospect. I understand. This year, for today's poetry prompt, I challenge you to audio record yourself reading/reciting one of your poems - no video just audio. I audio recorded a poem today that I am posting on my blog with mistakes and all. I'm hoping that will help you have courage to record your poem.

Poetry Prompt:

Choose your favorite poem that you have written this month during OctPoWriMo and record it and share either on your blog or on Youtube.

I know the thought of recording yourself can be scary, I hope you will at least give it some thought.

If that is still something you don't feel comfortable with you can find more prompts to your liking down below or share one of your poems that has been inspired from another source.

Word Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Tantalizing
Adventurous
Audacious
Valiant
Spontaneous

Feeling Prompts:

Encouraged
Motivated
Provocative
Impulsive
Elated

Sentence Starters:

I can do anything I set my mind to...
When I think of...
I feel...

Last Friday's Winner: Congratulations to Meg Hammil for winning an autographed copy of Wild Woman Waking! Congratulate her on Twitter @thehachmom  

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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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Poetry Prompts: Writers Fully Writing

We are at the halfway mark for OctPoWriMo and it is that time when we take a look at how we feel about where we are in our writing - poetry - where we've been, and where we want to take it.

When I was thinking about halfway I found myself thinking about love and like the quote I created for the meme - there really isn't any way for love to be a halfway measure - you either love with all your heart, or the love isn't really there. Regardless of whether that love is for yourself or for someone else, you just can't do it halfway.

As in love, there are no halfway measures in writing, you're either writing or you're not.

Poetry Prompts: 

What comes to mind for you when you hear the word halfway? Are you a half empty or half full kind of person? Do you look at half the month gone with regrets or excitement for what is yet to be written? Do you believe love is an all or nothing, or do you believe that you can love halfway? Free write for ten minutes about what halfway means to you or any of the previous questions.

Image by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts:

Halfway
Middle
Stuck
Open
Love

Feeling Words:

Receptive
Loving
Attracted
Skeptical
Hesitant


Suggested Poetry Type from Shadow Poetry: Diatelle 

So how ARE you doing?

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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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Autumn poetry-OctPoWriMo Day 5

The wind is taking on a chillier bent. Leaves are rushing to change. People are having pumpkin flavored everything and the Halloween decorations are going up. It's that autumn time of year.

Fall is also the time for harvest when the fruit of labor pops up to nourish our lands. Sunlight shortens and the nights grow longer.

Autumn itself can symbolize the melancholy of change, growing older and even death. There's also the new beginnings that start as well- school sessions, sports beginning to play in the Fall, the fun of Halloween. So many options to chose from.

There's such a beautiful dichotomy of renewal and death. Poets have been using autumn for creative fodder for years. Some classics are John Keats: 'To Autumn' and Robert Frost: 'Gathering Leaves.'

Poetry Prompt:

Here's your challenge (if you chose to accept it): Write a poem influenced by your feelings about autumn. Do you see autumn as a beginning or the beginning of the end?  Chose at least three from this list of words below.

The words:
                              chill
                              renewal
                              death
                              rebirth
                              harvest
                              melancholy
                              aging
                              change

Day 5 is here! Are you ready to write?



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Tamara Woods was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia, where she began writing poetry at the age of 12. She shares poetry and short stories on her blog PenPaperPad, is a contributing writer for the online ‘zineLefty Pop and writes articles as a full-time freelance writer. She is editor for an upcoming poetry journal collaboration, and hosts #writestuff TweetChat where writers talk about writing. She is a hillbilly hermit in Honolulu living with her Mathmagician.     

Poetry Prompts Day 4 - Poetry Revolution

“The pen is mightier than the sword!”― Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There is power in words and how we use them. I often write poems about social injustices and needed social change. In this day and age there is plenty of fodder for it, women's rights, LGBT, racism in America, child abuse, sexual abuse, genocide, the Middle East, Religion, and I could go on. 

Many poets in history/herstory have fought for change through their words on the page, through their poetry. 

Here are a few I found on Poems of Protest and Revolution.

• Walt Whitman, “To a Foil’d European Revolutionaire” (1881)
• Paul Laurence Dunbar, “The Haunted Oak” (1903)
• Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “Protest” (1916)
• Carl Sandburg, “I Am the People, the Mob” (1916)

Women have been fighting for a place in poetry probably since the beginning of time. The poets that have predominantly been shared in history have been men and it is past time that the wonderful women poets are allowed to shine. To find those in Herstory, check out Julie Jordan Scott's Literary Grannies. 

Below you will find more recent women poets of our time.

One of the most influential Feminist Poets of this century, Adrienne Rich said, "The mother's battle for her child with sickness, with poverty, with war, with all the forces of exploitation and callousness that cheapen human life needs to become a common human battle, waged in love and in the passion for survival."

You can find the 10 Feminist Poets You Should Know here that include: 

• Maya Angelou
• Anne Waldman
• Carol Ann Duffy
• Margaret Atwood
• Lyn Hejinian
• Alice Walker
• Katha Pollitt
• Susan Howe
• Carolyn Kizer
• Marge Piercy

All poets with a passion for changing the world through poetry.

Poetry Prompts:

When was the last time you took a risk for something you believed in? How do you use your words? What are you creating in the world with your poetry? Choose one or all of these questions and Free write for ten minutes.

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts: 

Risk

Revolutionary

Reawaken

Reclaiming

Feeling Words:

Courageous

Energetic

Liberated

Spirited

Watch (and dance) to this video to help motivate your writing.






This is day four here at OctPoWriMo, how are you doing so far? Are you writing daily?

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

FIRST #OctPoWriMo WINNER OF WILD WOMAN WAKING - STEPH BETH NICKELS! Congratulate her on Twitter for winning! @StephBethNickel

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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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