Day 5 2026 ~ “Free Verse Poems” for Easter and “30 Poems in 30 Days” #NationalPoetryMonth

 

Day 5 2026 ~ “Free Verse Poems” for Easter and “30 Poems in 30 Days” #NationalPoetryMonth

So, today is Easter. It can be a busy family-filled day for many. Let's just abandon all the rules (as some of you out there prefer to do anyway) and write a free verse poem about whatever you choose.

FREE VERSE is basically random, without any fixed metrical patterns of any kind, and while there is no need to rhyme, it’s totally fine if you wish to use rhyme, but there is no need to count syllables or to worry about much of anything – just let it flow.

I’m loving what y’all have been writing so far!! But today, I’m kind of tired, and when Easter falls in April, I usually just let you do a free verse. So far, I haven’t written anything for today. If I do, I’ll come back with an edit and add it in. And if you also are feeling too busy to write today, feel free to share any poem you have written in the past. Whatever works for you. So, for my examples today, I’m sharing two free verse poems I wrote in 2015. I've shared them before, but that's okay. I have shared “Hope” every year since because I love it, and I think it works well for Easter. The second poem is called “World Changers.” So, for what it’s worth, here are two free verse poems:

 

HOPE

Hope creates options.

It still can happen.

In fact, anything CAN happen.

Hope is what we cling to.

I hope I am doing enough.

I hope people understand the purity of my motives.

I hope my family will all be together in the hereafter.

 

Why do I have hope?

Because I believe what Christ said when He came.

I believe He really did die for our sins and that

through the atonement of Christ

and the power of the resurrection

I can be raised up unto life eternal with my loved ones.

That is what I hope for.

 

And because I have hope

. . . I keep trying.

 

                   © 2015 Stephanie Abney

 

  

I love this photo I took of Prescott Lake at a family reunion years ago.

 

 

World Changers

 

You can change the world.

The power is in you.

You can brighten someone’s day

With how you smile at them

And what you have to say.

 

You can change the world.

You need not write a song or paint a masterpiece.

Just acknowledge the person you’re with.

Give them your time and attention,

Whether young or old, rich or poor.

 

You can change the world.

Give someone some slack,

Share a kind word of encouragement

Get to know someone

Witness their life so they don’t go unnoticed.

 

You can change the world.

Do these things, and you may be pleased

At the joy that comes from being kind,

From being present with just one person

Or even with yourself

 

You can change the world.

Be kind, give another person value

By giving them your time and attention,

Especially if that someone is very young

Or very old.

 

And if you look around

At the end of the day,

Don’t be surprised if

The person whose world you change

. . . is you.

 

                            © 2015 Stephanie Abney

 

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work, and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they create them and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!

*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

 

Day 4 – How to write a “Tricube Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

Day 4 – How to write a “Tricube Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

We are off to a great start. I’m so impressed with the poetry y’all are creating!! I’ve seen wonderful poems posted online, mostly in our private FB group. (If you are interested in joining in there, contact me – you need permission to join). I’ve also seen poems elsewhere online as a result of this annual poetry challenge. I also am seeing 400-500 hits a day on my blog so I know a lot of people are trying their hand at poetry this month, even if they find the prompts from a Google search. Anyway, today we are writing Tircube poems.

Don’t let the simplicity of this poem fool you. It may be short, but the constraints of this poetry form make it very challenging.

It’s a mathematical poem, of sorts, created by Phillip Larrea.

TRICUBES!!!

Only three rules ~

• Each line contains EXACTLY three syllables.
• Each stanza contains EXACTLY three lines.
• Each poem contains EXACTLY three stanzas.

Just three, three, and three.

So we're kind of talking about 3 to the 3^rd power, three times, right? No other rules – rhyming is not needed, but it doesn’t matter if you end up rhyming either. BUT YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SYLLABLES – ONLY THREE SYLLABLES per line. Use whatever punctuation you want, or none at all. Up to you.

It’s surprisingly tricky. Here are a couple I came up with, but I’m expecting great things from y’all because every day, you participants never cease to amaze me, so let’s see what you can do with this. Remember, 3 syllables per line, 3 lines per stanza, 3 stanzas per poem. THE END – if you share a poem with 5 or 6 stanzas or more than 3 syllables per line, I’m sure it would be a nice poem - - - of some sort or another - - - but it wouldn’t be a “tricube.”

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES:

 

I marvel
How you grow
Precious one

 

Learning new
Things daily
With such joy

 

Stay little
But that’s not
How it works

                             © 2026 Stephanie Abney

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Tell me why
Fleeting clouds
Hide the sun

 

It might rain
Maybe not
Wait, a drop

 

Angry clouds
Make a fuss
Now I’m soaked

        © 2022 Stephanie Abney

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Tide rolls in
Squishy sand
Crabs run out

 

Castles built
Sunburned face
Time to go

 

Memories
Made today
Last forever

 

© 2022 Stephanie Abney

 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work, and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they create them, and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!

*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

Day 3 ~ How to write a “Grammar Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

Day 3 ~ How to write a “Grammar Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

I’m happy to see people jumping in to join us this year!! Welcome. Today we are going to write one of my favorites!! The teacher in me LOVES this poetry form. Cheers!

 This type of poem is simple but precise, as it reinforces different aspects of grammar. I have actually seen a few variations, but this is the format we will use today. Easy-peasy! This grammatical poetry form is five lines long. The specifics are as follows:

 

Directions:

Line 1. Write a noun for the subject (THIS serves as your TITLE as well)

Line 2. Write two adjectives joined by and to describe this noun

Line 3. Write a verb and an adverb to describe this noun in action

Line 4. Start it with like or as followed by a comparison

Line 5. Start it with if only followed by a wish

Remember: Most adverbs tell you how, where, or when something is done, and MANY (but certainly not all) adverbs end in “ly.” [quickly, carefully, early, happily, etc.] In other words, they describe the manner, place, or time of an action. In fact, here’s a link about adverbs if you are unsure. Some may surprise you: http://www.towson.edu/ows/adverbs.htm

 

EXAMPLES:

 

Some of my older examples of “grammar poems:”

Writers block
Infuriating and debilitating
Slowing me down temporarily
Like grease clogging up a drain
If only I had a very large plunger! 

         © 2014 Stephanie Abney

My kitty

Entertaining and curious
Laying on my keyboard lazily
Like the Queen of Sheba
If only she would nap somewhere else

             © 2014 Stephanie Abney

 

My Savior, Jesus Christ
Flawless and loving
Atoning selflessly
Like the perfect son of God
If only I can be found worthy

             © 2011 Stephanie Abney

Photo by Victoria Aleksandrova on Unsplash

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work, and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they create them, and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!

*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

  

Day 2 ~ How to Write a “Couplet Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

 

Day 2 ~ How to Write a “Couplet Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

Most years I introduce a couplet poem on Day 2 – it seems appropriate, that a couple of days into the poetry writing challenge, we should write a couplet. They are SO basic, it’s nice to address them early on in the month. Every poet should know how to write a couplet. It can be the basis of longer poems (such as a Sonnet or Ghazal). There are even several types of couplets, such as the Heroic, Elegiac, Chinese, or Poetic Epigram (if you are feeling ambitious or looking for additional challenges – feel free to look these types of couplets up and try them out – let us know if you choose one).

But, for the basic couplet, it is simply TWO lines of poetry, with the same beat (basically, that equals your syllable count) and ending rhyme. And that is as simple as it gets, and what we will focus on today – there are other views of what makes a couplet. I have included a bit of that info below in italics if you are curious.

HANDY TOOL: (even used a couplet to present it). LOL

And, so, before this month of poetry is through,
You may want access to this handy little tool!

Free Online Syllable Counter: https://syllablecounter.net/

Or the one I shared yesterday:  How Many Syllables

Day 2 will be fun and super easy. Here’s an example:

I carefully string thoughts along
Into lovely little word-songs.

                      © 2014 ~ Stephanie Abney

Although I’ve seen some totally random couplets, the dictionary definition of a “couplet” suggests that they consist of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter. The above example has 8 beats in each line, and the endings rhyme well enough. So ~

Another thing to remember when writing a couple is that those two lines really need to be able to stand alone, expressing a complete thought in two mid-sized poetic lines. The last words of each line should rhyme. It can be spiritual or silly or romantic or whatever suits your fancy – couplets are great to write for children or with children.

Some definitions insist that couplets require that each line must contain ending punctuation (making them "closed" grammatical units).

 

It is possible to string a bunch of couplets together to create a longer poem, but for today – just try creating one or more individual 2-line couplets. Oh, and a couplet can be about ANY subject. What’s on your mind? How about putting together a couple of thoughts on the subject, rhyme the ending words, and aim for the same meter on each line. What can you come up with?

 

Here are a couple more couplets (hee hee) that I wrote quite a few years ago, for what they’re worth (one is simple and sweet; the other is silly).

~ I was thinking about the Lord's tender mercies and came up with this:


I know the Lord is mindful of me,
And it makes me happy as can be.

                             © 2011 by Stephanie Abney

~ then, in a moment of frustration, I thought a little on "getting one's nose out of joint" and came up with this:

Writing this little assignment
Puts my nose out of alignment.

                               © 2011 by Stephanie Abney

Did you think of a couplet? Just look around, and think about an object or an emotion, and give it a shot!!

[Image by Pexels from Pixabay]

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright for to them as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work. 

Day 1 ~ How to write a “Naani Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

 Day 1 ~ How to write a “Naani Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days."

Welcome to National Poetry Month 2026!! This is the 14^th year I have offered this poetry challenge – “30 poems in 30 days.” Some of you have participated with me for many years. Others are brand new. I want to explain just a little bit about how this works for those who are new, and after that, I’ll explain our poetic form for Day 1. Cheers!!

There are many forms of poetry. Too many people claim they cannot write poetry, but I beg to differ. That is why I started this challenge: to teach others how to write a variety of poems with easy-to-follow instructions. So far, I have found more than a hundred different poetry “forms” and have featured most of them over the years. This challenge is fun and easy – even kids can and do join in. If life is crazy, skip a day or two, but try to jump back in as soon as you can!

Most of the poems we will do this month have rather specific rules. This is a good thing. They are a guide and can help you express yourself in the most unexpected ways, but then again, when you write poetry, you can also break the rules if it serves the poem. However, for the purpose of our time together, I recommend that you avoid breaking the rules. Following them will teach you several different ways to write poetry. You can always break them later, on your own.

Okay, let’s get started ~ this is a very simple poetry form that comes from India.

"Naani" is one of India's most popular poetry forms. "Naani" basically means an "expression of one and all." It was created by a well-known Indian poet, Dr. N. Gopi, the vice-chancellor of Telugu University. 

There are only TWO rules to this poem –

It is FOUR lines long, no more, no less.

And when you count up ALL of the syllables in ALL four lines, there should be AT LEAST 20 syllables and NO MORE than 25 syllables.

And there is no rhyming required, but of course, you are free to rhyme whenever you wish. Either way .  . .

Sounds easy enough, but accomplishing that may be harder than you think. 

Although no subject matter requirements are suggested, from everything I have read, Naani poems generally are about relationships, the current state of affairs, the human condition, and emotions. So, basically, you're wide open here. 

One more thing, the first line usually - but not always - states the subject of the poem.

I highly suggest you use that handy, dandy free online syllable counter ~ all you have to do is plop your entire 4-line poem into the box, click the "Count Syllables" bar at the bottom, and it will count them for you - remember you are looking to have at least 20 but no more than 25 syllables per Naani poem. Cheers! 

How Many Syllables - Free Online Syllable Counter

So, here are two examples I wrote for today:

Easter week,
I think of the Savior, 
And what He sacrificed for me.
May I be worthy of such love. 

        © Stephanie Abney 2026

I marvel as I watch
My grandchildren
Grow, play, and learn,
They bring me so much joy!

     © Stephanie Abney 2026

And here's one I wrote last year: 

Online contention,
Judging what you may not really know,
Pitting friend against friend,
Needs to stop.

        © Stephanie Abney 2025

Photo credit: I purchased this digital art print of the Savior by Doyle Welborn, owner of BigThicketEnterprise (Etsy)

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work, and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they create them, and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!

*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.

Day 30 ~ Let’s write a “Tetractys Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"

Well, this is it! Poetry Month is over. Thanks for joining me on this 30-day challenge. Y’all have written some impressive poetry. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Let’s end with kind of a cool poetry form. I’ve only used it twice before during poetry month. It’s called a Tetractys poem. It has some mathematical components to it if you want to write more than one stanza, so don’t just read the initial instructions and rush off to write one – read to the end and decide if you want to write more than one verse.

This poetic form was created by Ray Stebbing and consists of 20 total syllables (per verse). SO COUNT YOUR SYLLABLES CAREFULLY. It can be one stand-alone verse, OR several verses, with no need for a title and no need for rhyming (although you can rhyme if you wish), but must be arranged in the following fashion:

Line 1 ~ one syllable
Line 2 ~ two syllables
Line 3 ~ three syllables
Line 4 ~ four syllables
Line 5 ~ TEN syllables

So, that’s the basic outline, but things get more interesting than that! This could be a magical poem for you! The ancient Greek mathematician, Euclid of Alexandria, felt the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 were magical because they add up to TEN. And there are your first ten syllables. The final ten syllables all fall on the last line.

And that can stand alone as a complete Tetractys poem.

However, there can also be Double and Triple Tetractys poems, etc., simply by reversing the process.

Here’s an example of the form for more than one verse:

X
X•X
X•X•X
X•X•X•X
X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X
 
X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X
X•X•X•X
X•X•X
X•X
X

            (If you want a third verse, flip it again, etc.)

X
X•X
X•X•X
X•X•X•X
X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X•X

             

            (You can make as many verses as you wish, as long as each subsequent verse   
            is reversed from the previous one in terms of the syllable count).

 

Here are a couple of examples:    

Birds
Flying
Migrating
On a journey
Their ancestors have taken before them

 

And then, when the time is right, they head back
Flying again
To the place
They call
Home

 

Do
Humans
Search the Earth
Not quite content
Looking in all the wrong places for home

 

Then finding their way through service and love
Leading them where
Heavenly
Parents
Wait

                    © 2025 Stephanie Abney

 

Here’s one I wrote a few years ago:          

Love
As true
And sweet as
Ours can only
Grow with forgiveness, humor, and patience
 

                        © 2019 Stephanie Abney

 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they write them and especially as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work and the creative work of others.

Day 29 2025 ~ Let’s write some “Rainbow poems, 3 ways” (including new format: “When I think of . . . I think of . . .”) for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

Well, poetry month is drawing to a close. This has been my 13^th year running this challenge. Even though I only feature 30 poetry forms, one poetry format per day (sometimes it feels like more if that format has variations), there are nearly 200 poetry forms that I have come across in doing this. New poetry forms continue to be invented. IN FACT, I have invented one myself. And it will be one of your options today.

Two basic templates for writing about rainbows that school teachers often use are an Acrostic Poem, where you write the word “rainbow” down the left side of the paper, and each line must begin with the letter on the left. Or you can name each color in order and say something about the color or what it reminds you of, using either similes or metaphors. (A simile uses the word ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make a comparison, whereas metaphors use ‘is’ or ‘are’). I have a couple of samples from years gone by when I was teaching. And I also added the new form that I invented. It can be about anything, but I chose to write a poem about rainbows in keeping with today’s “theme.”                

 

Rainbow poems, 3 ways (including “When I think of . . . I think of . . .)

 

OK, the premise of my invented poem, “When I think of . . . I think of . . .” is that when you think of some things, they often make you think of something else. In this case, you’ll be listing various things that make you think of the SAME thing. In my example I list a number of things, with each line beginning with “When I think of ____” and ending with “I think of ______” that cause me to think of rainbows. See poem below. It can have any number of lines, but they all start the same: “When I think of ____” and then name the various things you are thinking of, but the ending of EACH sentence needs to remain constant, in this case, “I think of rainbows.” Your title will be whatever it is that you end up thinking of. (This poetry format was invented by Stephanie Abney, retired teacher and poetry instructor, in 2025).

 

<<If you wish to try out my new little format, it does NOT need to be about rainbows, that’s just what I came up today and it fit the theme I gave to today>> But, just feel free to use any subject and keep it the same ending subject with each line and state something different in the beginning each line, following the format, “When I think of”

 

                        I Think of Rainbows

When I think of new beginnings, I think of rainbows.

 When I think of a summer storm while the sun still shines, I think of rainbows.

When I think of hope, I think of rainbows.

When I think of children laughing, I think of rainbows.

When I think of the beauty of nature, I think of rainbows.

When I think of family and friends, I think of rainbows.

When I think of God’s love, I think of rainbows.

                                                 © 2025 Stephanie Abney

 

If you name each color, don’t forget your “ROY G. BIV” you learned as a kid: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

I’ve highlighted each color for clarity’s sake.

 

                A Rainbow is . . .

 

Red is strong, like the safety of your arms

Orange is exciting, like the dawning of a new day

Yellow is soft, like a downy new chick

Green is for growth, like a plant bursting through the dirt

Blue is forever, like the ocean

Indigo is spiritual, like the conviction to do what is right

Violet is peaceful, like a newborn babe looking into your eyes

                            

                                      © 2020 Stephanie Abney

 

Here is an example of an ACROSTIC Rainbow poem:

Reaching across the sky

Announcing God’s Promise

Is a glorious rainbow

Never again will He flood the earth

Blessings are waiting just

Over the rainbow

Wait and see

                             © 2020 Stephanie Abney

 

Photo is mine, © Stephanie Abney

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they create them and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!

*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.