DAY 1 ~ 5 W's Poem for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"

Yay! It’s the first day of April and this is no April Fool’s Joke – it’s POETRY MONTH!!! This is the seventh year I have run this poetry challenge here on my blog and on a Facebook Group called, “A Month of Poetry "30 Poems in 30 Days" April #National Poetry Month.”

Our FB group has several new members this year (and I hope more join as the month goes along) and some newbies may find this blog so I’ll just give a few quick explanations of what is going on here and then we can jump into our first poetry form of the month.

Why write poems? I love this quote: “Poetry can indeed change lives, which can, in turn, change the world.” —Richard Blanco, Academy of American Poets Education Ambassador. Join in on our challenge and I think you will agree!

“National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.” (from "poets. org" where more information and ideas about National Poetry Month can be found). 

“30 Poems in 30 Days” ~ starts on April 1^st because April is “National Poetry Month” ~ it’s fun and easy – even school-age kids can join in. I present a different poetry form each of the 30 days and give easy to understand instructions on how to write that type of poem, including an example or two or three. Then, following the instructions, you write a poem and then, if you wish, you may post it in the comments on my blog and/or post it on your FB wall (it’s lots of fun and if post your poem on FB, perhaps you could add the link to that day’s blog post in your first comment after your poem so others can see how to write it; I suggest putting it in the comments and not the top of your post with your poem because FB limits the number of people who see things when posts have links in them), post it on your OWN blog (but please do not just copy & paste “my instructions” onto your blog – I’ve been creating how I describe these for several years – true, there are not too many ways to tell how to write a haiku, but for many other poems out there, some instructions are better than others. Instead, link to that day’s blog post on my blog so others can find the instructions), and/or just keep a notebook of your poetry for yourself or give your poems away or whatever . . . one friend started doing this with me a number of years ago and has since written THOUSANDS of short poems, often including one or more each day as part of her journal. NO PRESSURE – if you can’t write a poem on one of the days – don’t – but come back as soon as you can and participate. It’s fun! OK, let’s get started!!

If you have been following along with me in the past, you are bound to see some repeats of different styles of poems. This is because many of them are just so fun to write and because new people joining us may not have seen them before. And each time you write a new poem, even in a form you have used before, it reveals totally new things. So, let’s start with a favorite poetry form called “The 5 W’s Poem.” It’s incredibly easy and super fun. If you’ve done it before you already know that and if not, you are in for a surprise.

The 5 W’s Poem

This is an obvious poem. It can be sweet, silly, romantic, or serious, etc., depending on how you respond on each line. Since you are basically just answering questions, it’s a very simple poem to start out with. 

This poem answers the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When & Why.

The only question of this nature that it does not address is “How.”

These poems have no need to rhyme, nor are the lines any particular length, meter, or subject. So, it’s a pretty simple poetry form to follow:

Line 1: Who (or what) is the poem about? 

Line 2: What action is happening? 

Line 3: Where does the action take place? 

Line 4: When does the action take place? 

         Line 5: Why does this action happen?

There is no need for a title to this poem because the first line tells what it is about and serves as the title as well as part of the poem:

EXAMPLES:

A certain 17 year old I know

Questions everything.

At home, at school, at church,

when he doesn't understand.

Because that's what people do who want to change the world.

                    © 2016 Stacy Johnson

                                      My children

                                      Laughing, wrestling, creating

                                      Tumble through the living room

                                      Every day after school

                                      Because they feel safe and loved

                                                                  © 2017 Kaci Carlson

  

Our loving Heavenly Father
Prepared a plan of Happiness,
In the heavens,
Before the world was,
So we could return and live with Him.

                   © 2014 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 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.