It's over. The last day of Poetry Month is here. It has been quite a ride. 

Write a poem that begins with or contains the following phrase. Fill in the blanks as necessary:


April ________ bring(or brings) May ________

Today's prompt is inspired, in part, by the Dear Me project and in part by the following video.

Write a letter poem to your past or future self. What would you say to yourself? What advice or wisdom would you share?

The classic love poem is the most tired old trope associated with poetry. Today's prompt seeks to challenge the love-stricken poet stereotype in a way that has probably been done before (many times), but that we'll pretend hasn't.

Write a poem that reads like a traditional love poem about someone you despise. Be sure tho make the poem as caustic and non-loving as possible.

An acrostic poem is a poem in which the beginning letters of each line spell out a word that has significance in the poem.

Write an acrostic poem about a subject of your choice. 

As you probably already know, April is National Poetry Writing Month and National Autism Awareness Month. It's also National Jazz Appreciation Month.

Write a poem inspired by or about Jazz music.

Some words get far more attention than others. Today's prompt will address some of those words.

Write a poem containing each of the following words.

Some people believe that you're not a real poet until you write at least one poem containing a reference to Bob Dylan. We respectfully disagree, but this idea did inspire us to post a bonus prompt.

Write a poem which refers to a song written by Bob Dylan. The reference can be a subtle(or not) as you like.

“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
       -T.S. Eliot "Philip Massinger"

"Imitation is suicide"
      -Ralph Waldo Emerson "Self Reliance"

"We dwell with satisfaction upon the poet’s difference from his predecessors, especially his immediate predecessors; we endeavor to find something that can be isolated in order to be enjoyed. Whereas if we approach a poet without this prejudice we shall often find that not only the best, but the most individual parts of his work may be those in which the dead poets, his ancestors, assert their immortality most vigorously. And I do not mean the impressionable period of adolescence, but the period of full maturity."
     _T. S Eliot "Tradition and the Individual Talent"

"Imitate me, children
I'll show you
to Nirvana's
melodramatic gates of
diving-board acumen. 
Extricating you from
banal Guantanamo"
     -B.S. Eliot "Invitation to Largess" 

Select a poet whose style you admire or a poem which you enjoy. Try to find a poet or poem that is very different from your own current style/comfort zone with writing. Write a poem emulating that poet's style or the style the poem was written in. Try to do so while adding your own personal touch to the piece.

"Most cliches are over used for a reason."
            -Nick Hale "In Defense of Cliches"

The prevailing thought in many circles is that one should avoid using cliches in one's writing. While avoiding cliches may be a useful rule of thumb, it can sometimes be the anchor that holds good writing back. There are some instances when a cliched word, phrase fits better than any of the non-overused alternatives. If the glove fits, you must (read, should) use it. Those who hold the "hipster," extreme anti-cliche attitude close themselves off to great options just as their counterparts on the other side of the spectrum do by insisting on forcing tired old phrases into their writing.

Some people stuff their writing with so many cliches they could have written Mr. Freeze's lines in Batman and Robin. Not only is their writing filled to the brim with cliches, but those words and phrases often stick out like sore thumbs. They feel contrived and unnatural. They are the reason why so many people are religiously anti-cliche.

Write a poem using at least three cliched words, phrases, topics, or situations in a way that makes them seem natural and not contrived.

What is a Portmanteau?

A word or morpheme whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms(Merriam Webster)

Who is Natalie Portman?

An American actress (Wikipedia)

What is a Natalie Portmanteau?

A person or character whose essence and name are derived from the blending of two more distinct people and/or characters.

Examples of Natalie Portmanteaus include Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger(A blending of Benedict Arnold and Arnold Schwarzenegger), Thomas Jefferson Davis(Thomas Jefferson and Jefferson Davis), and Jack Blackbeard(Jack Black+Blackbeard).

Write a poem about a "Natalie Portmanteau," a character created by blending two real or fictional people whose names share a common component. Feel free to use the examples listed above or create your own!