WRITERS’ GATHERING RECAP

Postcards From Anywhere

Prose poetry prompt

Last night’s Scrittura Writers’ Gathering was sweet. Thank you for joining Connie Song, Vinitha Dileep, Wry Welwood, Mary L. Holden, Pablo Pereyra, and Audrey Howitt! I hope more writers will join the next one! We discussed experimental forms of poetry, both in form and in process. We talked about the differences between poems and prose poems.

Marilyn J Wolf’s helpful article narrows the definition even further, especially when referring to prose poetry in Scrittura.

Then Mary L. Holden had an awesome idea for our writing time. We all wrote a postcard poem: A prose poem that could fit on a postcard with the bonus feature: a sense of urgency. Below is what I came up with. I encourage everyone to try one.

My Dearest Brother, Greetings from Alaska! Yesterday was a beautiful day hiking. Except when I tripped over a root And fell face-first into the river. I was reminded of fly-fishing with you and Dad! What a disaster that was! I’ve had a few bear sightings. There’s one or two grumbling and rummaging around my camp right now. I can hear sniffing around my tent — Good thing I hung my food out of reach. I think there’s a cub. It is crying the most mournful song I’ve ever heard. And now — I wish you were here. There’s the silhouette of a standing grizzly. The bears — they’re starving. I think it’s finally time I told you a secret: It was me. I hid the fortune. I know you thought it was Dad. I was selfish. I’m sorry. It’s all yours now. All you need to do is look under the last —

Thank you for the fun prompt, Mary L. Holden!