If you try to write a poem but have no prompt or theme in mind, the choice is too wide, and your mind flits about, trying to find an idea. If there is a prompt or theme it narrows your choices and gives your mind a track to run on. I used to think a prompt made poetry harder because of the restrictions, but I've found the opposite to be true. I don't say I've never written a poem without a prompt, but always there is an initial idea that starts the creative process.

So here are some poems and the challenges that inspired them. I hope you enjoy them, and maybe they'll inspire you.