/r/POETRYPrompts

Photograph via snooOG

r/poetryprompts is a writers place to meet creatives, share your work, and get new ideas. Much like r/writingprompts but, with poetry!

WELCOME! We are a subreddit dedicated to inspiring people to write Poetry! Find a prompt that moves you and reply with a Poem, or submit a prompt yourself.

Rules and Guidelines:

  1. No low effort / joke responses
  2. Top level replies to a prompt must be poem responses
  3. Erotica / Offensive / 18+ Prompts must be marked NSFW
  4. Homework assignments are not allowed
  5. The moderators reserve the right to remove without notice anything we feel is harmful to the community
  6. No plagiarism
  7. No copy cat prompts
  8. Use the REPORT button to report a rule violation

Post Tag Definitions:

[PP] - Poetry Prompt
This is the most basic prompt. No restrictions - the prompter merely puts out a few things for you to be inspired by. What you create is up to you. This can include prompts that are just a word or phrase, but please expound on your idea in the body of your post.

[CW] - Constrained Writing
This is when a limitation (or forced usage) of a word, letter, etc. is put on the writer. This is also for specific poem types such as Sonnets or Haiku. You should, however, give the prompt more direction than just the constraint.

[EU] - Established Universe
For prompts that are based on existing fiction (AKA: Fan Fiction. eg: Harry Potter, Breaking Bad, Etc.)

[PM] - Prompt Me
When you want multiple things to write about, people respond with random prompts; you respond to them in the same thread. In order to post a PM thread, you must have responded to at least one prompt in the past. Only post these if you intend on responding to a few within six hours of posting, otherwise it will be removed.

[MP] - Media Prompt
The prompter gives a piece of media (audio or video) that inspires writing.

[IP] - Image Prompt
The prompter submits a striking image (or album of images) and the writers respond with whatever the image(s) inspired them to write.

[OT] - Off Topic
Not a Poetry prompt but /r/POETRYPrompts related? Use this.

Helpful Links
Reddit Comment Formatting
* Credit to /u/Raerth

List of Poetry Forms
* Credit to thepoetsgarret.com

Other Credits:
* Rules and Guidelines based off of /r/WritingPrompts
* Snoo created by /u/ArrightNowFellas
* Logo & Style Sheet created by /u/SurvivorType

/r/POETRYPrompts

7,161 Subscribers

9

r/poetryprompts - New Moderation - What To Expect

Hey everyone!

This subreddit has gone heavily unmoderated for a while now unfortunately.

  • Posts not relating to the subreddit theme
  • Mod Queue full of requests

And more has very obviously taken a heavy toll here and killed the community.

So what can you expect from here on out?

  • Active moderation (posts that aren’t related to poetry or prompts will be removed)
  • Open community posting, no longer will your posts or join requests have to sit in a mod queue. This is a big community killer.
  • New Post and User Flairs!
  • Incoming discord
  • Updated faq panel!

As of now it is just me moderating, but in the future I will be opening up moderation spots as the community becomes active again.

If you have any questions or requests please submit a mod mail and i’ll respond asap!

Thank you all,

r/poetryprompts moderation team :)

2 Comments
2024/10/19
03:55 UTC

22

Write a Poem about two or more emotions mixing, title your poem what you would call this new emotion.

15 Comments
2024/04/01
06:56 UTC

12

Write a Poem about Your Favorite Season (without mentioning the season by name)

12 Comments
2024/03/18
18:23 UTC

9

Try writing a poem about clouds :)

14 Comments
2024/03/13
21:35 UTC

2

Poem

B r i g h t e r D a y s A h e a d | 9

A Prayer

Father, help to know that You hold me in your hands.

When the circumstances don’t change, and I can’t comprehend

Help me to believe that all I do is win with You.

When my plans don’t fall through, that’s when Your work begins.

Help me to see that You are working things out for my good.

Even when I feel lost, and deception puts me in bad mood

Help me to hear, listen and trust Your voice

So, I can escape the surrounding noise.

Help me to remember your grace and faithfulness

Because, Lord, You remain the same even to the faithless.

Help me to walk in Your truth and always seek Your wisdom,

Because, in this world full of darkness, I want to live in Your freedom.

0 Comments
2024/03/12
15:55 UTC

5

Help

I have a prompt to give I am a Michelin starred chef looking to find ways to be more unique with my menu development and a thought was to have my tasting menus and coursed dinners to be written in the form of a poem but I am no poet the theme of this dinner is a stroll/ walk through the woods if someone can write a poem with this theme while somehow putting a descriptor or two in each section to hint at what the course would contain I would be forever grateful if this is against the rules please let me know I am new here!

9 Comments
2024/03/09
06:30 UTC

1

“Dear Me”

10 Comments
2024/03/05
12:42 UTC

5

Having trouble interpreting this poetry prompt; insight?

“You won’t tell people what you fear any of this says about you”

4 Comments
2024/02/24
01:02 UTC

2

Sins judgments sand micromanaging are BIG Sins

0 Comments
2024/02/17
01:16 UTC

11

Unlucky Staggered Rhyme Challenge

Write a 13-line poem wherein each line is only 13 words long, and the only rhyming words appear in numerical sequence in each line.

In other words: the first word of the first line rhymes with the second word of the second line, which rhymes with the third word of the third line, and so on until the 13th word of the 13th line. No other words in the poem may rhyme with these 13 words.

Prose poets: Sentences instead of lines.

Bonus Option: Make the poem about bad luck or superstition.

Acceptable Variation: syllables instead of words.

4 Comments
2024/02/01
18:13 UTC

15

prompt is kimo poem

9 Comments
2024/01/31
00:34 UTC

8

Another poeTRY prompt with options...

  1. Write anything about nothing. (Make it rhyme or not)

  2. Write a poem connecting the similarities between the micro and the macro.

  3. Write a poem about trying to convince yourself to finally write poem.

(I'm trying to participate more in this sub to encourage and inspire the creativity of poets who linger in the shadows )

9 Comments
2024/01/30
04:16 UTC

6

Prompt: Write a poem that has to be read facing a mirror

In Microsoft word at least; I was able to make two columns, one with a text box that I could invert and flip the text inside it.

Not sure how you would do this written or in another program but it was a very fun exercise!

1 Comment
2024/01/30
03:00 UTC

16

Calling all active poets into response to these prompts.

  1. Write a poem or whatever about your day today.

  2. Write poem or whatever about what you "wanted to be when you are a grown up"

  3. Write a poem or whatever about 2024.

6 Comments
2024/01/28
03:54 UTC

19

Prompt was "rejection"

I'm new to the group, so hope I'm doing this right

1 Comment
2024/01/25
20:18 UTC

4

The Prompt, to write a lilting ECHO form at the end of each line.

This variation was a development of a theme by Dorothy Mukherjee many moons ago; now barely recognisable. The original challenge to add an echo suggested by a Professor of English (Poetry.) I love the result and use this device a lot now.

Please show us one of your own verses (or a borrowed one),with an echo added; it is great fun.

LILTING ECHO ROAD TO HARMONY

A road that I will build for you, it grew

upon the dream that warms my heart. Will start

a way for you to walk upon, to swan

and dance among sweet daffodil safe until

virtue holds sway; not vice or ill. So will

goodness upon the World abound. You Found

no wilted bloom or leaf’s decay that may

the mind depress, or maim the spirit. Will merit

a place no life needs run wild-eyed, to hide

behind tall walls so fortified. No pride

of caste of faith, colour or creed; now need

harbour no grudge of consequence; from whence

mercy and love, as brooks do flow so slow

towards the point of innocuous sweet confluence.

In mist, distant beyond clear sight, is right

to where my view is dim and lost, so tossed,

my heart does float away, adrift does shift

my road wanders to left and right as slight

up hill, down dale, the way goes true, for who

amidst the space vacant and wide may stride

way down beside soft babbled brook, where rook

and thrush do drone as flute, baleful, so wailful

it does float away o’er windy wrath the path

of mountain’s track stray from its way, and may

go where spirit is free, to wander, and ponders

now my soul; surreal my memory. In revelry

of silence reigns harmoniously, such jovially

nature’s orchestral tunes, such sounds abound around.

6 Comments
2024/01/18
19:24 UTC

5

First

I lie awake and remember your laugh, oh so silent in the dead of night. Why am I remembering when I know you never felt right.

2 Comments
2024/01/15
05:31 UTC

14

My first poem

The person who hates me:

It’s happening again It doesn’t seem to come to an end.

My mind is telling me much more than words could ever try to, I feel like I don’t know who I am in a world full of people who pretend that they do.

I feel like my presence irritates my friends, when I tell them about it, they just cant seem to comprehend.

“How could someone hate you, you’re so kind” Little do they know that the someone who hates me, hides.

He hides behind my fake smile whenever I’m with friend and family He comes out whenever it’s night time and I just feel lonely.

I don’t know who I am, who is that person on my screen? I feel sick, like my whole body turns green.

But I can’t let my friends know, Because I’m the one they rely on when they feel so low.

So I’ll put my fake smile on once again and pretend to be fine, So that the person who hates me, isn’t the one my friends see when they’re longing for some help of mine.

0 Comments
2024/01/08
23:41 UTC

3

Partner poems

There was this really fun exercise where i did a partner poems in middle school. The gist of it is a pair of partners take turns writing lines, kinda like finish the story. What do you guys think about that? (Edited for typo)

3 Comments
2023/12/28
01:16 UTC

13

My favorite poetry prompt I’ve ever written about

My favorite poetry prompt I’ve ever written about is this:

Write from the perspective of the flowers in your front yard

I would love to hear what you guys would write!

11 Comments
2023/12/23
14:44 UTC

8

Sad poison, Sad poise. The story of a hero.

0 Comments
2023/12/20
10:13 UTC

2

Writing game, using quotes, sayings, and or phrases

Using quotes, sayings, or phrases you have to start the next phrase with the last word of the first phrase

A drop in the hole in the bucket listen careFully loaded poetic license and registration please pass the peas and carrot gold in rule by force the issue at hand n hand it to them peoples republic for which it stands alone star state your name please spay and neuter you pet peeves me off the rocker her world peace on earth to whom it may concern is raised by wolves in sheep’s clothes are optional screening process of elimination chamber of commerce act now and again and again but faster than the speed of light as a feather weight for me myself and I love you are who you’ve been waiting for score and seven years ago in a galaxy far away from my desk chair man of the bored out of my mind over matter of fact of life is like a box of chocolate factory farm E I E I OH what fun it is to ride in a one horse open slay all day after tomorrow never comes the bride of chucky cheese ball of wax on wax off with their heads underwater off a ducks back to square one two many many moons over Miami Beach by the ocean in the drop

6 Comments
2023/12/20
05:12 UTC

3

I’ll wait for you

It went from loving you to hating you It went from laughing to crying about you Oh, how I never thought you could hurt me But certainly you never cared for me how I sit around waiting for you to come back But you’re still laughing at the fact that I really did love you and yes, maybe I did fight back But all I wanted was apology was that so hard to do? But you know I still waited for you while everyone was hating on you I stood there, defending your name every second of the day And maybe I never got a thank you but I still really cared for you I sat there, hoping that you would text me but you just left me Maybe that was a sign of goodbye But I’ll still wait for you longer then I want too

0 Comments
2023/12/18
04:51 UTC

6

Blanche DuBois

I read A Streetcar Named Desire in school and the main character resonated with me but she was consider the antagonist and I felt I couldn’t have a conversation with anyone who would empathize with her the way I did so I wrote about it…

They said she was weak because she couldn’t take the world for what it truly was, But I think she was just like me.

She had moth-like way about her because she was written in white and followed the moonlight.

She symbolized a woman of purity, But white stains so easily and she was a woman of many burdens.

She lived a high life with parties and ball gowns, but she had killed a man and retreated to hot water to clean the blood off her hands.

She had a stained innocence.

But she was delicate and refined.

She was cultured in the ways of music and literature, but fell victim to the brutality of man.

And such a pity it was that she lost her sanity.

Had empty bottles on the floor as she sat in bed hugging her knees with wide-eyes and Varsouviana's melody in the background of the city.

Distant words of hatred and disgust followed by a bullet in her lover’s head,

But she was only a young girl.

She was sensitive.

Labeled a manipulative liar who desired men and sex to fill the void that gun had left.

And it was weak of her to create a world of perfection, But she was fragile and she loved magic.

Had a charm that was only 50 percent illusion and believed she could fool any man into a beutiful delusion.

She was decitful but she could use deception in the most graceful of ways. And i think of her every single day.

She was everything I hated and everything I loved. Light and dark, a shadow in reverse, a patch of light in a picture of pure darkness and beauty, she was just like me..

3 Comments
2023/12/14
23:28 UTC

14

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

0 Comments
2023/12/12
09:44 UTC

5

For the next generation

I just sent off a query letter to an agent for my next book. The agent seems right up my alley and will hopefully find the perfect publisher for my book. What kind of book, you ask? A children’s book, a picture book.

This, however is not the important part. The problem I had was finding the perfect rhyme scheme to make it work. “The Lady of Shallot” by Alfred Tynneson wound up the perfect fit and inspired some very nice edits. The greatest part of this was that the rhythm was as bouncy as Tigger from the Whinnie the Pooh books. For a kid’s book, this crucial.

So, what’s the prompt? Write a kid’s book. Make it funny. Give it a lesson. Give a hilariously wrong explanation to something mundane. Whatever. Write it so that you’re fighting the urge to bounce on your butt cheeks while scribbling/clacking away. Go research the kid’s books at your local stores and library.

If you don’t want to share it here because you want to try publishing it for real, check out SCBWI.org if you’re serious. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illistrators has great resources for publishing your little nuggets of brilliance for the wee ones. If you don’t want to share the story, please at least share the inspiration. Mine’s a ridiculous explanation about the zoomies cats get. Best of luck, you creative scribblers.

1 Comment
2023/11/12
22:48 UTC

5

About writing itself

And I'm up at 2:36am in the morning and without any pressure these words come to the surface, my mind unable to rest until I do something useful with myself. I feel elated for he loves me. And my hand has connected with a medium to communicate ideas through and I don't chase words the need to write arose on its own. And I know everytime I hear my literature professor talk it is what I was meant to do. If it wasn't written in the stars it is now. And I say I'm falling asleep as I type this you might think I'm distracted but I've never been more focused. And it's priceless that my mind can do this.

2 Comments
2023/11/10
01:44 UTC

3

Lalala

I am new to here I haven’t been no where Is this nowhere? I hear it’s where The gold of love is fair.

4 Comments
2023/11/03
04:30 UTC

2

The poetry kicked here is super unique.

0 Comments
2023/10/28
19:00 UTC

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