purplepeninportland

In Want

Posted on December 4, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides #763 - Write a want poem.

"For this week's prompt, write a want poem. The poem could be about something you want, or that someone else wants. Of course, you can play off themes like "help wanted" or "wanted: dead or alive" signs and notices. And if something is in short supply, it is wanting. So there are a few different avenues y'all can travel for this one."

Something.
Anything.  
Even a piece
of bread to assuage
their hunger.  They
line up at food banks,
under egregious lack
of care.  Here?  In
the richest country
of the world, families
are starving.  Winter
enters, and warm clothing
is needed.  Who will
provide for them?

https://www.writersdigest.com/wednesday-poetry-prompts-763

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged families, lack of care, rich country, starving | Leave a comment

two haiku

Posted on December 2, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What Do You See?  #317

honeyed waves ripple 
birds hop on gleaming water
beach turned golden

twisted tree
shows off silver side
under sky of stars

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged ekphrastic haiku, golden beach, tree under stars | 8 Comments

Zero As Hero

Posted on December 2, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub:  Quadrille:  Zero
              (posted by Melissa)

"The History of Zero
Zero is both a number and a concept. It denotes the absence of quantity. “The earliest known use of a placeholder appeared in Mesopotamia, where the Sumerians used a slanted double wedge in cuneiform to indicate the absence of a digit. In Ancient Greece, the concept of nothingness was acknowledged but not recognized as a number.

The concept of zero developed in India. The earliest known example appears in the Bakhshali manuscript, a text discovered in present-day Pakistan. In the 7th century, astronomer Brahmagupta became the first known scholar to treat zero as a number in its own right, and he defined rules for arithmetic involving zero.” (Source)

Zero Mostel was
the first Mr. Bialystock
in Mel Brooks’ film,
The Producers, as
well as the first
Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof.

The phrase, “zero tolerance”
applies to violence, drugs,
and bullying in school.  It
also applies to hate– 
harder to prove.

https://dversepoets.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged actor, quadrille form, schools, zero | 14 Comments

A Roof Of Orange Flame

Posted on December 1, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Bloomings #570 - Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water

"Walt and Marie are both dealing with the consequences of high winds, water, and ice this week. Consider how these (or other) forces shape our world, affect our lives, and inspire your poem. Via our poems this week, let the elements speak."

Flames shoot up
in many neighborhoods.
Houses crumble.  People
find themselves homeless,
their belongings in a 
jumble outside in the street.
Others perish, unable
to be saved.  Fires
do not select locations
in which to occur.  No
place is immune.

https://poeticbloomings2.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged deaths, fires, homeless, homes burning | 2 Comments

Next Year

Posted on December 1, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 30

"For today’s prompt, write a next poem. I mean, whatever poem you write next will be your next poem, but it could also be about your next favorite movie or song. Or your next door neighbor. Or your next obsession. Or next worry. Or next whatever."

The next year always comes too soon
like a speeding train where sights are a blur.
I always feel unprepared with sense of doom–
what troubles might I incur?

Like a speeding train where sights are a blur,
nothing lasts long enough. More time is preferred.
What troubles might I incur
in a year which has not yet occurred?

Nothing lasts long enough.  More time is preferred
to become enthralled with seasons
in a year which has not yet occurred.
Birthday after birthday with no rhyme or reason.

To become enthralled with seasons
I must be embedded with each.
Birthday after birthday with no rhyme or reason.
I would rather spend my time at the beach.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-30

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged pantoum form, rushing by, Written for Challenge, years | Leave a comment

One Last Look At Your Face

Posted on November 30, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 29

"For today’s prompt, write a remix poem. Turn your haiku into a sonnet or your sonnet into free verse. Or take a favorite line from one of your poems and make it the title of a new poem. You can remix one of your poems from this month, or you can reach back further into your bag of poems. Also, not sure if I'm going to go this route today yet or not (check my example poem below), but I often like to mix several of my poems together into something new."

Meandered through beaches we strolled.
In woods, looked around each tree.
Did not find you.  Rain began; I left.
Sun opened sky to rainbow.
In violet arc I saw your face, and knew.

(Remix of Meandering sonnet to gogyohka)

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-29

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged remix poem, searching, sonnet to gogyohka, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

‘neath blue waters

Posted on November 30, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Sen-Hai Saturday #28

Written for:  Sen-Hai Saturday #28

black cave
tiny fish swim out
under the water

white sand like slate blocks
wee fish flow in turquoise water
under navy waistband

https://iwriteher.com/category/senhai/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged Haiku, sand, Senyru, underwater | 6 Comments

Family Gathering

Posted on November 29, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Friday Writings #205:  Food as Ritual

"According to the ancient wisdom of Google, “food as ritual means that the preparation, serving, and consumption of food are deliberate, symbolic acts that go beyond mere nutrition to express cultural values, build social bonds, and connect individuals to their heritage or beliefs.” Since I agree with the thought, and this weekend most people around my bit of the world are celebrating a holiday that involves a whole lot of cooking and eating and squabbling, I think that it makes total sense for today’s optional prompt to be “food as ritual”.

A way to gather family
is to invite them for
a holiday meal.  Careful
of seating–some avoid
meeting, and some are
not speaking.

Scents divine begin
to waft, and guests
begin to smile.  Have
a glass of wine, and toast
to health–stay awhile.  Do not 
fight over turkey legs;
they only come in twos.
Sweet potatoes are festive,
and healthy for you, too.
Homemade cranberry relish,
and stuffing so savory
almost round out your
plate, but wait, do not
forget a vegetable,
palatable to all, and
eaten favorably.

https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged at odds, family, food, holiday, scent | 8 Comments

What Holidays Have Meaning?

Posted on November 29, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 28

"For today’s prompt, take the phrase "What (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "What a Fabulous New Poem," "What the Heck Is That," "What I Meant to Say," and/or "What Ever." Let's figure out what today's poems are going to be, shall we."

A day on which we feel thankful
for the bounties of our lives.
Friends and family push strife
aside, for laughter's stronger pull.

Awake on New Year's–time to mull
over changes to help us thrive.
A day on which we feel thankful
for the bounties of our lives.

Veteran's day suggests a pall.
We think of those whose lives were rife
with killing, and paying the price.
Those still here worship a wall–
a day on which we feel thankful.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-28

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged appreciation, holidays, Rondel form, thankful, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Speaking Truth, No Matter Consequences

Posted on November 27, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What's Going On? - Words of Fearlessness or Courage

"The difference between courage and fearlessness is that courage is despite fear--it is not without fear.  I don't know if we can distinguish the two by appearance, because people can and do "put on a brave face."  And acts of fearlessness and courage can be miniscule and personal as well as large or out in the public eye.  

This week, write a poem addressing any aspect of courage or fearlessness."

Non-governmental people grouse
constantly about how prices
are rising, we are making enemies,
and we have a deranged leader.

Few of our congressional sect
are speaking out.  They are afraid
of reprisal, ruined reputations,
and false accusations.  But, they
are finally fighting those fears.
One person spoke her truth,
and left congress.  Two people
fought indictment, and won.
There are stirrings in the land,
and our movements are being felt.

https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged non-politicians, politicians, speaking out, stirrings, swallowing fear of consequences | 17 Comments

Last Sight

Posted on November 27, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 26

"For today’s prompt, write a meandering poem. The term "meandering" can be used as an adjective or noun and basically means "following a winding course" (or the act of doing so, for the noun). So I'll leave it up to each poet to figure out what a meandering poem means for you. Let's meander together."

Feeling melancholy, I meandered
through beaches on which we had strolled together.
The view of the waves was never grander.
You disappeared, and I want no other.

In the woods, I walked 'round hiking trails
and looked around each feathered tree.
'though a bright sun peeked through each branch, I failed
to glimpse your lovely face before me.

Rain began to patter down; I took my leave.
Quickly as it fell it ceased; brightness soaked land.
In azure sky, rainbow gleamed. Did eyes deceive?
Your face glowed in violet arc.  Was I going mad?

A smile, and then you faded–like daylight.
I knew you were truly gone, so glad for last sight.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-26

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged imagination, searching, sight, Sonnet, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Random Numbers

Posted on November 26, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics: 1,2,3 . . . Go!
              (posted by Mish)

"There are numerous ways to respond to the prompt. Here are some ideas to work with."

. Honour or highlight a number that holds meaning for you like a birthday, anniversary, meaningful event, personal milestone, the number of times you have done something or something has happened.
. Write of numbers in general (mathematical concepts such as counting, measurement, geometry).
. Use many numbers within your poem to emphasize another theme or message.
. How does a particular number makes you feel and why?
. Personify a number, taking inspiration from Harry Baker.
. Play with a nursery rhyme such as “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” and make it your own.

Three strikeouts equal a walk,
while four consists of two pairs.
Three and four are seven plus four
equals Seven/Eleven.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
she got five golden rings.
Oh my, all these numbers are so
confusing, I'm all at sixes and sevens!

https://dversepoets.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged confusion, imagination, numbers | 14 Comments

A Warm Feeling

Posted on November 26, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 25

"It's time for the final Two-for-Tuesday prompt of this year's challenge. Veterans of these challenges probably already knew what it was going to be after last week's Two-for-Tuesday prompt, because I always include it."

For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

. Write a love poem, and/or...
. Write an anti-love poem.

Loving is such a warm feeling.
Your lips curl up in a smile
like the happy face of a child.
My heart is ready for stealing.
Loving is such a warm feeling,

not only when you walk down the aisle.
Wish I could just turn a dial,
and love would provide a healing.
Loving is such a warm feeling,

like lying on a carpet of plush pile.
How I'd love to do that for awhile.
I know my head would be reeling.
Loving is such a warm feeling.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-25

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged dansa form, healing, loving, warm, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

rain falls

Posted on November 25, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What do You See? #316

rain falls from
the dark windows
of my eyes

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged ekphrastic poem, rain falling, sadness | 7 Comments

Gaining Strength

Posted on November 25, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday - Transformation
              (posted by Frank J.Tassone)

"The only constant is change. We are not the babies we were when we entered this world, any more than we are the corpses we will be when we leave it. Even as the Northern Hemisphere braces for winter, the Southern Hemisphere celebrates the coming of another Summer. We live in a state of constant flux, and any permanence we cling to is our own “private Idaho,” a delightful illusion, soon to shatter."

"Today, let’s bear witness to the power of transformation. Write your haibun about, or alluding to, transformation, however you perceive it!"

A thin child, who loved soup above all else,
my nephew craved anything sweet, and had a penchant 
for ordering huge meals in restaurants of which he ate 
only half.  He was shy back then.

In his teens and twenties he had problems with
depression, and addiction.  We worried constantly
about his health and state of mind.

Now my nephew is a highly respected nurse, and about
to become a father for the second time.  He is loving,
and caring to all.  I find it impossible to believe 
that he is turning 40 this year.

 
     bird seems helpless
     broken wing
     mends with care and flies off

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged changes, Haibun, hard times, nephew, respect, strong | 24 Comments

Champion of Mythical Beasts

Posted on November 25, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 24

"For today’s prompt, pick a living creature and write a poem. Your living creature could be human, of course, but also something as big as a blue whale or as small as Nanoarchaeum equitans. And there are no rules against picking living creatures that are fictional, like a luck dragon or Frankenstein's Monster."

The unicorn has one horn
with power to heal, grace born.

They say it has purity, 
lives in forest, hard to see.

Through horns they absorb sun's light,
on colored bodies of great might.

With eyes of purple or blue,
unicorns are true to you.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-24

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged color changes, Cywydd Deuair Hirion form, mythical facts, unicorns, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Bittersweet

Posted on November 24, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 23

"For today’s prompt, write a response poem. Originally, I was going to call this a rebuttal poem, which is still an optional (because a rebuttal is a type of response), but I didn't want to limit the prompt too much. Other responses could be positive, negative, or neutral...to people or other living creatures...or even to works of art (yes, ekphrastic poems)."

The move is on
my sister is leaving
me with just my dog.

As it draws closer
my heart beats faster
though I know she has no choice.

I have lived
in a multitude of places,
and can't face another move.

I think about emergencies
where I might need help,
but she will not be there.

I will have no family
to visit or talk to
except by telephone.

She will be happy there
with kids, and grand-kids
so I am happy for her.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-23

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged her happiness, relocation, sister, strangeness, triverson form, Written for Challenge | 2 Comments

The Masquerade of Night

Posted on November 24, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Bloomings #569 - Into The Night

"The night is a special time, holding many mysteries. Personal or communal, we all have a connection to the spark that nighttime offers. Write a poem about the night."

With sunset earlier 
in November's chill,
darkness makes
it's appearance.  Amber
streetlights assuage
the dark, as do moon,
if only a lunette, 
and stars.  Plaintive
cry of owls is heard.

Behind curtains, lives
are being lived–lives
that are private–in
an array of styles.
You look out your
window, and see a warm
glow from the house
across the street.
Maybe only the glow
of light is warm.

https://poeticbloomings2.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged behind closed doors, darkness, Night, streetlights | Leave a comment

At The Farm

Posted on November 24, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  The Sunday Whirl, Wordle #733

Words:  down, wee, stiff, chirping, out, treat, blushing,
        fit, horns, thistles, thick, moment

Thick, stiff, purple spikes
crown thistles.  Wee chirping birds 
await small black seeds for treat.
Down at the farmhouse, Mrs. Taylor
attends her prize blushing beauties–
tea roses.  In a moment she will
sound the horn for Mr. Taylor
to come out for lunch.  She tugs at
her apron which seems to fit more snugly.  
She wonders.

https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged birds, farm, roses, seeds, thistles, Wordle | Leave a comment

monochrome

Posted on November 23, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Sen-Hai Saturday #27

monochrome
blanket of blue/gray
stormy seascape warning

Mountain meets sky
shrouded landscape
spot of distant sun

https://iwriteher.com/category/senhai/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged dark, landscape, mountain, sen-hai | 4 Comments

The Last Smile

Posted on November 23, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 22

"For today’s prompt, write a memory poem. It could be a good memory...or a bad memory. A strong memory...or a fuzzy memory. Maybe a weird memory. One that is seemingly small, but that you find yourself turning over and over from time to time as if it might've been a bigger moment...if only. Just remember to poem, and you should be OK."

We sat in the glassed in main room.
Unused to it, you were distracted.
Your eyes looked like shadowy moons.

You only ate your food with a spoon.
How nervously you reacted
as we sat in the glassed in main room.

In the outside garden, roses bloomed.
I touched your arm; you pulled violently back
Your eyes looked like shadowy moons.

Was reading still something you could do?
I wrote I Love You in a heart, tapped it,
as we sat in the glassed in main room.

You mouthed the words, you smiled–I knew.
The joy I felt was ecstatic.
your eyes looked like shadowy moons.

It never happened again, this rare boon.
You became increasingly erratic.
We sat in the glassed in main room.
Your eyes looked like shadowy moons.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-22

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged moment of joy, nursing home, reactions, Villanelle form, Written for Challenge | 3 Comments

Y Is A Crooked Letter

Posted on November 22, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
Day 21

"For today’s prompt, take the phrase "Why (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "Why I Can't Get to Sleep at Night," "Why Can't Everyone Just Agree," "Why Ask Why," and/or "Why Do 6 Out of 10 Consumers Prefer Diet Soda to the Real Thing." So many whys out there to untangle and answer. I mean, why not?"

Mom used to say, Y is a crooked letter
if we continued to annoy her with our 'whys?'.
If annoyed enough, she would say, 'because I said so'.
When we heard that famous phrase, we knew it was time to stop.

If we continued to annoy her with our 'whys'?,
Mom would find something else to occupy us,
suggesting going outdoors, or playing board games.

If annoyed enough, she would say, 'because I said so'.
We would start Monopoly, but my sister always got bored.
Time to move on to the great outdoors for a bike ride.

When we heard that famous phrase, we knew it was time to stop.
If Dad was home, we'd ply him with questions,
to which he would answer, 'Ask your mother'.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-21

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged annoying, Mom's phrase, Trimeric form, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

The Flight

Posted on November 21, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poesy Perspectives - Wordless Wednesday

Move it, Marty.  It's almost sundown.

https://amanpan.com/category/wordless-wednesday/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged flock of geese, sunset | Leave a comment

Consuming A Horror Book

Posted on November 21, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
Day 20

"For today’s prompt, write an explanation poem. Let me explain, or actually, you should explain...in your poem. Your explanation poem could be interpreted as an excuse poem, perhaps, but it may also be like a set of instructions or directions. Maybe reasonings. Just please try to avoid mansplaining, or maybe play with that actually. I don't know; I can't seem to explain."

I truly intended to return this book
sooner, except I did not know what to say.
Here I am now, and you can see how it looks.
The whole corner is ripped out; thank my dog, Jae.
I am sure that the writer would overlook
damage, and see the irony here at play.
It is horror that Stephen King writes to hook
us in. How much money will I need to pay?

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-20

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged damage, ironic, library book, Strambatto form, Written for Challenge | 2 Comments

So This Is Brooklyn Through The Eyes Of A Child

Posted on November 20, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics: So This Is . . .
Ted Kooser, or Local Wonders
(posted by Jennifer Wagner)

"So, let’s dive into your challenge today, which is to use Ted Kooser’s “So This Is Nebraska” poem above for inspiration to write your own “So This Is (fill in the blank)” poem. Immerse us in your locale: country, state, city, neighborhood, beach, forest, coffee shop, restaurant, etc.—any place, and in any season, you choose. Give us lush detail, employ metaphor or personification or any poetic device to help us to experience it through your poem. You can riff off Kooser’s title if you wish, but it’s not required."

So many children of all ages,
everyone new to each other.
In this building of eight floors
friends were quickly made.

Our building of brick was part
of a housing project with scattered
play areas, and stone animals
between each cluster of buildings.

How we loved those hills
leading down to playgrounds.
We would roller skate or bike
ride, feeling like we were flying.

We played Iron Tag, Statues,
and Red Light-Green Light
until mothers called out, Dinner!
We had to cede our afternoon.

At the edge of our parking lot,
we anxiously awaited the ice cream
man, or the Chinese food truck.
There was even a mobile pizza wagon.

Forsythia flourished in early
spring, dotting the grassy
areas with dustings of gold.
Light jackets emerged.

We walked to a pool in summer
where my Dad taught neighborhood kids
to swim. There was even a cafeteria
that served limp chow mein on soggy buns.

I loved growing up at the time
that I did. Doors were not locked,
and neighbors were always on hand to help.
It was fun being a kid for as long as we could.

https://dversepoets.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | 16 Comments

Makes My Skin Tingle

Posted on November 20, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What's Going On?

"What Makes You Feel Most Alive?"

When my Muse is kind,
I find cascades 
of words that somehow
form themselves
into a poem with which
I am happy.

When I walk along
the hem of the ocean,
and find iridescent 
shells to scoop up,
and seagulls call,
and I hear a squall
erupting, I know
I am alive.

When I experience
something funny,
and I laugh until
my stomach hurts,
I am fulfilled.

https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged feeling alive, laughing, walk along shore, writing | 14 Comments

The Odd Girl

Posted on November 20, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challege
              Day 19

"For today’s poetry prompt, use at least three of the following six words in your poem (or use all six for extra credit):

. Bubble
. Dandelion
. Gibberish
. Gnarled
. Roiling
. Squint

They made fun of her
because she gabbed
gibberish, blew out
bubblegum, and squinted.
She loved to run
around the gnarled
olive trees in the yard.
It was rumored 
that her folks kept
a roiling pot of
dandelion wine
on the stove,
and gave it to her
to drink.  The rumor
was never confirmed.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-19

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged cruelty, girl, odd, rumors, Written for Challenge, written from words | Leave a comment

Sewn Up Future

Posted on November 19, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 18

"For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

. Write an optimistic poem, and/or...
. Write a pessimistic poem.

Half-empty glass crashes to floor in pieces.
Maid cuts her hand picking them up.
Hard to see on this drear day–sun ceases.
In his life there has been little luck.
His future is a wheel that is stuck.
The world is spinning out of control,
and he knows how he will wind up–
buried deep in a black ash hole.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-18

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged Huitan form, miserable, self-prophecy, Written for Challenge | 3 Comments

Without A Compass

Posted on November 18, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What Do You See?

Black-robed, he stood
in the center of
a windswept desert.
Gold light shone
above him, and a
shade of devil's
red below.  He did
not remember coming
to this strange
place.  He wondered
where he was headed.

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged confusion, desert, ekphrastic poem, man in robe, shades of color | 13 Comments

Backfired Hoax

Posted on November 18, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub - Quadrille #236 - 
Coaxing Is As It Does. (posted by lisa) "coax"

"I’ve been holding onto this word for awhile and am glad to finally get to spring it on you. In a weird bit of synchronicity I was listening to two DJ’s talking on the radio yesterday and they were giving opinions on a listener’s question. One DJ said, paraphrasing, coaxing someone to do something is one thing. Coercion is another. Two words and methods that sound and seem so similar, but they are different."

She thought it a hoax
to coax him into singing
at a karaoke bar.  He
was shy.   She plied
him with drinks,
As they chatted, he
became less self-
conscious.  Got up 
on stage, and sang
Proud Mary to cheers,
and a standing ovation.

https://dversepoets.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged hoax, karaoke bar, quadrille form, shy, singing | 32 Comments

Jealous Rage

Posted on November 18, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
Day 17

"For today’s prompt, write a trope poem. For those who don't know what a trope is, a trope is basically a common literary device. For instance, the movie Scream lists all sorts of horror tropes including how people who say "I'll be right back" are about to be the next murder victims. Another common trope in romance fiction is the enemies-to-lovers trope in which two characters who can't stand each other in the beginning and/or middle fall in love by the end of the story. So get tropey with your poems today."

A man who came from Alberta
was jealous of his girl, Roberta.
He caught her in bed
with his best friend, Fred.
Consumed by rage, he stabbed them to death on a Serta.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-17

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged jealousy, limerick, rage, Written for Challenge | 2 Comments

Phases Of A Leaf

Posted on November 17, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Bloomings #568 - Nuanced Nuisance

"We have written about sunrise and sunset. Highlighted the moon and stars. Everything beautiful inspires. What about mud, slush, fallen leaves … everything that is a nuisance could also inspire. Write a poem with that in mind. Muck and mire qualify."

Before cracked brown leaves
crinkle and crunch underfoot,
leaves of beauteous color 
surface 'round trees,
and on sidewalks.  They
embroider tree hems,
and provides paths
of gold and scarlet
to stroll through.  Enjoy
this gift of October
before it is snatched
away by November's chill winds.

https://poeticbloomings2.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged colors, crinkled, leaf phases, sidewalks, trees | 4 Comments

Miracle Underground

Posted on November 17, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  The Sunday Whirl, Wordle #732

Words:  spirit, vibrating, all, tragedy, despair,
        heart, calm, earth, presence, greed, strings, walk

The strings of her spirit
vibrated like a violin.  Such
a tragedy that no one alive
was present to see
this phenomenon.  She was
a calm, kind person.  She
gave all of her heart 
to people in need, but greed
of others who walked past
those in despair, saddened
her soul.  Now, only those
buried in the earth
could experience her 
miraculous movements.

https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged earth, kindness, phenomenon, Wordle | 2 Comments

Heard In A Graveyard

Posted on November 17, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
              Day 16

"For today’s prompt, write a possible poem. What's possible? What's impossible? Think about each end of this spectrum, and then, write a poem: A poem that's possible, or not. Your choice."

An old graveyard lays yonder
Saxophone Sam lies buried
Many visit his gravesite
Swear they see smoke, and hear tunes of clarity.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-16

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged Endecha form, graveyard, music, smoke, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Green Slime Leaks

Posted on November 17, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
Day 15

"For today’s prompt, write a monster poem. Monsters can be cryptids, kaijus, or mad scientists (because who is the bigger monster in Frankenstein, the monster or the doctor who created the monster?). Of course, monsters can also be a next door neighbor, possessed car, or man-eating shark. Have fun creating your monstrous poems today!"

Do
not
open
that locked door.
Green slime leaks from a
lurking, foul monster. Hear the roar!
Brave folks enter the lair, but beware, they don't come out.
I've heard he has red square eyes, and three heads. You'll be brittle bones after he devours you.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-15

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged fibonacci form, green monster, Roar, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Posted on November 16, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  SenHai Saturday #26


icy blue trail 
curves up snowy mountain
cabin bathed in light

snowy mountain view 
of cabin lit like photo
slippery winding trail

https://iwriteher.com/category/senhai/

Posted in Purple's Home | 10 Comments

The Picnic

Posted on November 15, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: dverse Poets Pub - MTB: The Rondel~circulating back
the Chaucerian way. (posted by Laura Bloomsbury)

Circling back to the 14th Century: Though we often associate the Roundel with Swinburne, his was a 19th century deviation because it is to Chaucer that we owe this poetry style, (as well as the iambic pentameter and the ‘rime royal’).

Thus we distinguish the Chaucerian Roundel from all other forms as well as from The Rondel and Rondeau. And by now you’ve guessed that our poetry today is to be written as Chaucer outlines:

Poetry Style:

13 lines
3 stanzas divided into 3 lines (tercet); 4 lines (quatrain) 6 lines (sestet)
rhyme scheme: A B1 B2/a b A B1/a b b A B1 B2
usually 10 syllables per line as iambic pentameter
As is evident from the above there are only 2 rhymes to the scheme, and once you have the first 3 lines, it repeats in two refrains so the poem is not too challenging!

'Twas a picnic under an old oak tree.
Impending shadow clouds loomed over our heads.
We ignored them, opened our chilled white wine.

Although the day seemed mellow, and easy,
seldom was there a day like this for us.
'Twas a picnic under an old oak tree.
Impending shadow clouds loomed over our heads.

We chose to shut out the auguries
of imminent rain with a building gust.
Suddenly clouds burst, we were forced to rush.
'Twas a picnic under an old oak tree.
Impending shadow clouds loomed over our heads.
We ignored them, opened our chilled white wine.

https://dversepoets.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged free time, picnic, rain, Rondel, threatening clouds | 12 Comments

How To Find Good In What You Hate

Posted on November 15, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Friday Writings - Why I Love/Hate . . .

"There is much to hate about the world we live in, and also there is still much to love.  Even in regard to one’s own tiny life, both surely apply.

Three things you hate (which may or may not be related) and tear them down, and/or three things you love and celebrate them."

   I hate:
   
1. People who think their political opinion is the only right one.
2. The feeling of overwhelming depression.
3. People who explain a movie to each other while you are watching
   it.

   I can see other ways to look at things:

1. It can be refreshing to hear someone else's point of view.
   The world would be quite dull if we all felt the same way.

2. After feeling depressed for a long time, I become bored.
   The light comes in when I start to come out of it.

3. There is no excuse for people talking in a theater.
   It might create ideas for a story or poem (while you are missing
   the film).

https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged depression, hate/love, people talking in theaters, politics | 14 Comments

Who Is Responsible?

Posted on November 15, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for: Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge
Day 14

"For today’s prompt, take the phrase "Who (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "Who Knows," "Who's Next," "Whosoever Says That Again," and/or "Who Writes the Poems."

"That way, the water is dusted with sleep." (James Schuyler)

Didn't I ask you not to do that?
It is simply not the right way.
You have to put the
detergent in the water
first, then the clothes. Is
that so hard to understand? And the books are dusted
with gray film. I don't ask much of you what with
your school schedule, but I think you need to get more sleep.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-14

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged Golden Shovel form, responsibilities, teenager, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Campfire Pumpkins

Posted on November 14, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poesy Perspectives - Wordless Wednesday

Pumpkins are always telling yarns.

https://amanpan.com/category/wordless-wednesday/

Posted in Purple's Home | 2 Comments

At The Wake

Posted on November 14, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 Chapbook Challenge
              Day 13

"For today’s prompt, write a dialogue poem. The poem could include dialogue between two (or more) characters. Or it could be "in dialogue" with another poem, whether yours or that of another person (in some challenges, I've called these response poems)."

Look at her!  
Who?
Sssh!  Pearl.  How dare
she wear that to a funeral.  
Doesn't seem so offensive to me.
Well, you're not the
deceased, are you?  That dress
is flowing like waves of yellow silk.
No one wears yellow to a funeral.
Oh, you're making a fuss over nothing.
Sssh!  She's walking toward us.
Hi ladies, how are you?
We're fine.  What a lovely dress!
Yes, Pearl, I think it's quite becoming.
Well, I'm going up to the casket.  I'll
see you both later.
Oh my, I hope one of those flounces
doesn't touch poor Nathan.
Nathan will never know.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-13

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged dialogue poem, funeral, gossips, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

Midnight in Shades

Posted on November 13, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  What's Going On? - Black or White

"Choose one color--black or white--and explore the depths of meaning the color has for you.  Write a poem that immerses itself in EITHER black or white, but not both.  Don't even mention the other color in your poem."

Inkblots. 
I was shown them,
and asked what I saw.
Butterflies, I said.
They all look like butterflies.
Odd, because butterflies
were bright, and cheerful.

I could not make out
one shape in my room
when mom turned 
the lights off.  I screamed.

For a while, I dressed
darkly.  Maybe I thought
black made me look mysterious.
Black had power, glamor.  It
was a place to hide.

I remember inkblots.

https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged black, dark rooms, dress, inkblots | 15 Comments

You Loved Me In Red

Posted on November 13, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 Chapbook Challenge
              Day 12

"For today’s prompt, pick a color and write a poem. The color could be the title of your poem (or part of the title). Or the color might show up somewhere in the poem. Or it might not be mentioned at all; instead, it might act as a sort of "spirit animal" or compass for your poem."

You came along in my forties.
I felt distressed in my forties.

When we met, our eyes were magnets.
I sensed a sadness in your forties.

How you loved when I wore red.
I wore my skirts short in my forties.

It was illicit, our affair.
I burned with passion in my forties.

We saw each other when we could.
Sometimes months would pass in our forties.

Ten years flew by; the building fell.
I see your face, as it was, in our forties.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-12

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged death, Ghazal form, past love, Written for Challenge | Leave a comment

cuddling

Posted on November 11, 2025 by purplepeninportland

What Do You See? #314


happiness and love
cuddling cute-faced koalas
munching on eucalyptus

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged ekphrastic haiku, koalas | 14 Comments

Plain and Simple Advice

Posted on November 11, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Asides November 2025 PAD Chapbook Challenge -                                           Day 10

"For today’s prompt, write an advice poem. The advice could be advice you've received from others over the years, or it could be advice that you like to dispense. My main advice with this one is to have fun with it."

Never leave a chocolate bar
in plain sight on a counter,
especially if your dog is large,
and can get paws 'a'round a wrapper.

A passing stranger smiles at you;
you're not sure how to respond.
Why not let a smile break through?
Perhaps you might form a bond.

Does your boss ask you out for a drink,
even though you both know he is married?
Are you flattered, and stop to think?
Think of all the guilt you'll carry.

https://www.writersdigest.com/2025-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-10

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged dog, guilt, Quatern form, smile, some advice, Written for Challenge | 2 Comments

Sax

Posted on November 10, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poetic Bloomings #567 - The Music In Me

"Music hath charms. Our lives are accented by music. Choose an instrument you play, would like to play, or you just love the sound of. Incorporate it into your poem."

Make my sax sing
in a smoky, dark
club down a flight
of stairs, where
musicians play
jazz.  Small tables
fill; clapping resounds.
If you listen to
my saxophone wail,
you might find yourself
in tears.

https://poeticbloomings2.wordpress.com/

Posted in Purple's Home | Tagged club, imagination, jazz, saxophone | 2 Comments

Contentment In An Old House

Posted on November 10, 2025 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  The Sunday Whirl, Wordle #731

Words:  echo, before, loop, years, hour, clock,
        footsteps, rooted, slips, stir, creaks, look

Old wooden steps
creak, echoing
throughout 
a 100-year old
house.  Clock chimes 
hour, as it has so many
times before, when
the house was filled
with footsteps of
children rooted
in laughter.

Time slip-slides
'round the clock
in a loop.  Old
man sits in his
worn recliner
looking at photos
of holidays past.
He stirs extra sugar
into his tea. His wife
is no longer there
to chide him.  He leans
back, scanning the pages,
a contented smile on his lips.


https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/