Day 29 ~ Wishing Poems for #NationalPoetryMonth “30 Poems in 30 Days”

There are many ways to write a “wishing poem.” Most people are familiar with the childhood chant:

Star light, star bright,

First star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have this wish I wish tonight.

Today is “National Wish Day” in reference to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Our youngest son received a wish from Make-a-Wish when he was battling leukemia. He asked for a “freestanding woodworking workshop with electricity and power tools.” No one had ever wished for that before but his wish granters found a way. He spent many happy days in his workshop making all sorts of wood creations before he succumbed to his cancer.

 

Since there is no one set way to write a “wish poem” I’m just going to provide you with several links to examples of wish poems and let you pick and choose whatever works for you. Cheers!! (Sadly, tomorrow is our last day).

Here is the most typical form – each line actually starts with “I wish” until the very end and then you can create a concluding line or two – some people would consider this a “List Poem” and the jury is out on if it’s a “real” poem, but I say, why not? It expresses things the poet wishes (there’s our word!!) to share, so, it’s p-o-e-t-r-y!! Right?

This very quick YouTube tutorial will get you started:

https://youtu.be/AE42bMnQSls (“I Wish Poems”)

This one is actually an example of a “Hope Poem” which is kind of the same thing: (“I Wish for Peace”) https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/i-wish-for-peace

Here is a touching example written by a mother grieving the loss of her child: https://www.herfamily.ie/parenthood/wish-show-world-beautiful-poem-bereaved-mum-247211 (“'I Wish I Could Show You The World'”)

(“Poetry Prompt: Rhyming Wish Poems”)

https://banyanliterarymagazine.wordpress.com/2016/02/25/poetry-prompt-rhyming-wish-poems/

Best Wishes Poems (examples)

http://www.inspirational-poems.net/best-wishes-poems

So, these links should be plenty to get your creative juices going!! Whatcha’ got?

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 and the creative work of others.

Day 29 – Let's Write a 5 W’s Poem

Day 29 – 5 W’s Poem 

This is an obvious poem, but can be a sweet one, or a silly one, or a serious one, depending on what you fill in. This poem answers the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When & Why.

I suggest you go to the Instant Poetry Maker on this one (it will include your punctuation for you when you click on the box “Create My Instant 5W Poem Now!” button. 

(Tomorrow is our last day)

Here is the link: Instant 5W poem creator  (it also has an example)

Below is the one I wrote inspired by a Christmas I will never forget for so many reasons. Christmas was my mom’s all-time favorite holiday and we lost her to pancreatic cancer exactly one week before Christmas of 1998. I was in California all month with my mom, dad and sister. (The rest of the family joined us for the funeral and we buried mom 2 days before Christmas). Back in Mesa, while I was gone, BJ didn’t have any money but wanted to make me a gift. I collect nativities so he decided to make one, from scratch, without a pattern, except for the vision in his head. He had leukemia and was given a freestanding woodworking workshop with electricity and power tools as his wish from “Make-A-Wish” and so he set out to create the most memorable nativity of my collection of about 50 nativities. It is so precious, as was he. Two years later, BJ lost his battle with cancer too. I cherish every reminder of who he was, what he stood for and how he loved. This one is most precious.

Brian James Abney
Made his mom a wooden nativity,
In his "Make-A-Wish" woodworking workshop,
For Christmas in 1998 when he was 14 years old,
Because he loved his mom and she collects them.

                            © 2011 Stephanie Abney