World Poetry Day 2023 Writing Prompt
Always Be a Poet
Do it with heart and with flair
The magic of March is upon us Do you feel its vibes in the air? ‘Abracadabra’, create what you say Do it with heart and with flair
Greetings to all our Paper Poetry friends,
Yes, the magic of March fills the air, enervates our minds, tickles our souls and has our words spilling over with l’amour de la vie (love of life). Do you feel it?
For sure, we here at Paper Poetry feel it. We’ve been reveling in the magic emanating from the marvelous responses to Indubala Kachhawa’s Magical March — Abracadabra, I create as I speak prompt —
Please join us in thanking the wonderful word magicians for conjuring up an enchanting poetry potion for all of us to enjoy –
🤩️ Mia Verita for The Magic of Words 🤩️ Lubna Yusuf for Abracadabra 🤩️ Krystal for Playing the Sympathy Card 🤩️️ William J Spirdione for Abracadabra and Then It Happened 🤩️ Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar for Abracadabra — Scattered Pieces Are a Whole 🤩️ Priyanka Srivastava for The Homemade Love 🤩️ Jenine "Jeni" Baines for Create as You Speak 😍 Shereen Bingham for Magical Words 🤩️ Carolyn Hastings for Hocus Pocus, Honey ’N’ Crocus and Abracadabra Make It Happen
Thank you to Mia, Lubna, Krystal, William, Monoreena, Priyanka, Jeni, Shereen and moi for casting your magic into our lives. 🪄 💖
While we’re under the spell, let’s warm up our word-wands some more and celebrate World Poetry Day with a whiz-bang display of our out-of-this world, worded finery! 🚀
World Poetry Day March 21, 2023
Celebrating World Poetry Day 2023 ✨
UNESCO inaugurated World Poetry Day in 1999. Each year since then, March 21 has been the day to honour poetry and poets the world over and throughout history.
…in every culture and on every continent… poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace. UNESCO
In the spirit of linguistic diversity and freedom of expression, UNESCO encourages people to celebrate and promote poetry in any way they wish. For them, there’s only ever one theme and that’s poetry. Others, however, take on the mantle and issue an annual theme. This year, the theme that has emerged is –
Always be a poet, even in prose Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867)
It’s an oft-quoted quote that can be interpreted in any number of ways — very much like poetry. I’ve had a crack at it here with a twittle –
Write with heart and with flair said Frenchman, Charles Baudelaire Be poets even in prose style words into art so it glows
I have little doubt Monsieur Baudelaire would turn in his grave at the kitschiness of my twittle! But then again, I have one up on him — I dare say he wouldn’t even know what a twittle is! And in case you don’t either, here’s a link. 😉
Now it’s time to hand the reins over to you so you can do whatever takes your fancy with the prompt. 😊
Prompt Details
Theme: World Poetry Day — Always be a poet, even in prose (Charles Baudelaire)
Task: think about what the quote means to you as a writer. Share your thoughts and creativity in whatever way works for you, either by responding to the quote directly, or demonstrating it in your writing.
Note: If you’re making direct reference to Baudelaire’s quote, please provide a hyperlink to the source e.g. copy and paste this one — https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/4947-always-be-a-poet-even-in-prose
Form: any form is acceptable — poetry and prose in any combination, including prose poetry, haibun, poem and essay, poetry review, poet biography to mention just a few
Word limit: minimum 10 words
Title/subtitle/kicker: please use ‘World Poetry Day 2023’ as the kicker; your choice of title and subtitle
Tags: please use ‘World Poetry Day 2023’ and ‘Always Be A Poet’ tags when submitting your story
Image: minimum one image; maximum two images Please note: one of the images must incorporate a handwritten/handcrafted element in either paper or digital format in accordance with Paper Poetry’s submission guidelines. For example: a handwritten segment of your story, a decorative title, an illustration that depicts an aspect of your story, a digitally enhanced free-to-use image or personal photo that relates to your story.
Extensions: Please include a promotional link to this prompt and invite (@ handle tag) up to five other writers to join the prompt.
Number of submissions: unlimited
Exclusions: ChatGPT, you are not welcome here — you can take your vanilla-flavoured poetry elsewhere! 😜
Submission period: Thursday, March 16 (UTC-10hrs, Cook Islands 12:00am) — Friday, March 31 (UTC-10hrs, Cook Islands 11:59 pm) Yes, I know, World Poetry Day is a one-day event but we’re giving you 16 days to have fun with it! 😆
We welcome new writers to join the prompt. Please leave a comment requesting to be added as a writer and include your Medium @ handle; or email us at [email protected]
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May you forever and always be a poet,
