Day 1 2025
Welcome to National Poetry Month! I’m
so glad you are here. This is the 13th year I have offered my
month-long poetry challenge in honor of “National Poetry Month.”
Just a quick overview:
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 around 80+ different ones over the years. This challenge is fun and easy – even kids can and do join in.
So, first, since new people seem to join each year, here are some basic things to know: I also host a private FB Poetry Month group; if you are interested in that, you will need to contact me and request an “invite.”
Also, all poetry shared within our
private FB group or in the comments on my blog or elsewhere on Social Media
remains the property of those who wrote it. Please do not use them elsewhere
without permission from the author.
Each day I will share instructions on how to write a particular style of poetry. Follow along and share your poems (if you wish) in our FB group, here in the comments or on social media, but please link back to my post here. (Info. on that in blue at the end of each daily blog post). Thanks!
I tend to be chatty and sometimes long-winded. I am trying to cut back on that. Life is busy-crazy (and that is one of the nice things about writing poetry; it helps us to slow down a bit). But let’s just get started. What do you say?
So, for DAY 1, let’s write a simple Japanese
poem. No, not Haiku, but we will get to that one. This one is a little
different. It’s called an Ukiah Poem!!
How do you write Ukiah poetry? Look at the spelling – it is Haiku spelled backward, BUT it has VERY SPECIFIC rules ~ this poem requires all three lines to have an ending rhyme and instead of being a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, it is a 7-5-7 syllable pattern.
This style of poetry was invented by Robert Ropars in 2009. It’s a “reverse haiku” in every sense. Not only did he switch the lines for the number of syllables, but he required that it rhyme since haikus are not intended to rhyme. There are no suggestions on subject matter, so you have a wide open field of what to write about today! Have fun!
Here is the format:
THREE LINES: specific syllable counts per line, and this poem needs to rhyme!!
The first has SEVEN SYLLABLES.
The second line only has FIVE SYLLABLES.
The third has SEVEN SYLLABLES.
AND – all three lines need to have an
ending rhyme.
(Those ending rhymes are what make this style tricky). Have fun!!
Oh,
and just a heads up: neither Haiku nor Ukiah poems are supposed to have titles – just let the 3 lines stand alone –
no further explanation!! So, NO
TITLES! Cheers!!
Use of punctuation is strictly
optional; use what suits you or use none at all.
~~~~
You may want to make use of this handy
little online free syllable counter if you want to be sure of your syllable
counts:
How Many Syllables - Free OnlineSyllable Counter
AND – here is a free online rhyming dictionary – it is very awesome and helpful if you get stuck:
Free Online Rhyming Dictionary
Feel free to share your poems in the comments here on my blog (ALL CREATIVE WORK REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR) or in our FB group, or directly on your own FB wall, or Instagram, or your blog, or just keep a notebook of your poems this month – whatever suits your fancy. We DO love seeing each other’s poems though.
However, if you do share it on your own social media pages, please do not copy and paste these directions, but rather just link back to this page. See additional conditions below. Thanks.
I found the limitations of this poetic form to be challenging. I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with. Y’all amaze me, but for what’s it’s worth, here are my UKIAH poetry efforts:
I’d like to be slim and trim
My prospects are grim
Since I don’t go to the gym
© 2020 Stephanie
Abney
Poetry month is now here.
We share thoughts so dear.
Let’s hope my details are clear.
© 2025 Stephanie Abney
Wow, that's kind of a lame example, but you
get the idea!!!
What strikes
your fancy? Silly or serious?
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
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