From Writer's Digest PAD Challenge:
Wow! So, we’ll be a third of the way through this challenge after finishing today’s poem. I’ve been super motivated by reading all the poems but also all the encouragement and kind words in the comments from poet to poet. Keep it up!
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The (blank) Who (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The Runner Who Walked,” “The Scientist Who Decided to Make a Monster,” “The Poet Who Loved Me,” and/or “The Teacher Who Couldn’t Learn.” If you’d prefer to write about a thing instead of a person, feel free to replace the word “who” with the word “that.”
Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt.
I just happen to have a children's poem that fits the bill.
ReplyDeleteThe Ballad of Sir Vivian Who Conquered Emmy the Scary
Outside the small town called Upper Great Snoring
which was just down the road from Throop,
lived a scaly green dragon who was always roaring
and stunk up the town with her poop.
The dragon, whose name was Emmy the Scary,
flew closer to Upper Great Snoring.
She unfurled her wings and dove oh so very
close to the roads with her soaring.
The townspeople screamed and feared for their lives,
they could not decide what to do.
They whittled their swords and sharpened their knives,
aimed their best but not one thing they threw
could penetrate Emmy the Scary's green hide.
And she pooped on her hill and the trees.
Not one could get close, because Emmy would glide
right past them, did just as she pleased.
"Who can help us?" asked Mayor Dame Alianora.
"Who can get rid of this plight?
Let us send out the word with the fauna and flora,
perhaps we can find us a knight."
Princess Vivian lived in Queensboro Hold,
a castle not far from the town.
She had no fear of dragons, she was brave and was bold
and eager to bring a beast down.
Her mother had raised her to be a great knight,
Sir Vivian practiced each day.
She wore armor, road horses and won every fight,
but she'd never been in a real fray.
Word reached the castle and Vivian heard.
She knew that this was her chance.
She wrote out a message and sent it by bird
then gathered her armor and lance.
She got close to the town, to the smell of the poop.
Then she saw the green dragon Emmy.
Yes, she truly was scary. She’d dive and she’d swoop.
It was only one dragon, not many.
Sir Vivian rode to the nest with her lance
and challenged the beast to a fray.
The dragon said no, there wasn't a chance:
she'd bellow and poop and she'd stay.
Brave knight Sir Vivian couldn't beat Scary
with her learned knightly skills of the fight.
But she never was one to sit back and tarry
so she did what she knew to be right.
She got even closer, climbed into the nest,
where Emmy the Scary stood proudly.
When Vivian neared, she stood and addressed
the dragon. She spoke up quite loudly.
"Why do you hate us? I am asking you please.
Will you stop with the poop and the roaring?
They just want live with the mountains and trees,
the people of Upper Great Snoring."
Emmy the Scary grew quiet and shifted,
showed Vivian what her nest held.
Three tiny dragons peeked out. She lifted
the babies, and boy, they sure smelled.
Emmy the Scary said she wanted her children
to be safe, to be fed, to be warm.
She buried them deep in the poop so that when
the rains came it would keep them from harm.
Sir Vivian rode on her horse with her lance
back down to the town and the mayor.
They’d deal with Emmy and took a big chance
since Sir Vivian would no longer slay her.
The town would help raise the little green dragons,
and build them a warm dragon coop.
And Emmy the Scary would pull a big wagon
so she could clean up all the poop.
Sir Vivian went back to Emmy the Scary
and presented what they had to say.
Emmy agreed, the poop she would bury,
and would roar only real far away.
The life of a knight wasn’t quite what she thought,
Sir Vivian knew in the end,
things worked out all right, just as they ought,
and now Vivian had a new friend.
I enjoyed that!
DeleteI remember this one from years ago on gotpoetry!
DeleteFun one, some wonderful rhymes there too. You've a great way with words...
DeleteThe Girl Who Stopped Biting Her Nails
ReplyDeleteA
childhood
habit scorned for
by adults. Embarrassing.
A painful mindless habit.
All
the years
growing older
still combating the habit.
Hiding hands - fingers - in shame.
Then
one day
the virus came
bringing death. DON’T touch your face!
The girl stopped biting her nails.
Oh my goodness, what an interesting idea! May it be so.
DeleteI'm amazed you were able to break the habit, even now. I can't seem to do it fully. Especially pushing my glasses up.
DeleteThe Girl who Did
ReplyDeletetrauma slowed her mind
she did some crazy things
it marked her naked
character with an X
mentally challenged
so they said because
she started fires
frying bacon
black ‘n’ bitter
she couldn’t organize
her thoughts
she ran the streets
in her underwear
attacked grown men
for slights she felt or not
the violent violation
that caused this malady
took ages to recover
now she wants
to Live, finally...
she found a job
she learned to cook
without a creating a blaze
started to practice
birth control and watches
her own children...
without help...
Good tale, and well done o the oung heroine.It takes guts to grow up.
DeleteSome might say she was living when she was running amuck. Or maybe in response to first word - trauma. Either way, watching your own children without help deserves reward!
DeleteA mini short story. Interesting. I agree that sometimes running amok is more interesting than a quiet life. We've both done both, and see the merits of each.
DeleteThe Daisy Who Didn't
ReplyDeleteOnce there was a contrary daisy.
When all the other daisies said
"Do" she said "Don't" and
When the mother daisy
showed up to see what
was the matter, the contrary
daisy stuck out her tongue
and said not only "Don't"
but "won't," and so it was,
that nobody picked her
and instead she got to go
to seed, making many, many
daisies that didn't, grow.
So be careful what
you ask a daisy.
She got to go to seed. LMAO. Cute.
DeleteI had fun. Hope you readers do too.
ReplyDeleteSilly daisy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, friends! it was a fun one to write.
ReplyDelete