- Free courses
- How to write a story
- How to write a novel
- How to write poetry
- How to write a script
- How to write a memoir
- How to write a mystery
- Creative journaling
- Publishing advice
- Story starters
- Poetry prompts
- For teachers
- Writer's shop
Poetry Ideas and Creative Writing Prompts
- Rain, snow, or a storm
- An animal you think is beautiful or strange
- Your parents or children
- How a kiss feels
- The house where you were born
- A smell that brings back memories
- Being a teenager, becoming an adult, middle age, old age
- Feeling lonely
- Getting lost
- Marriage or divorce
- An imaginary friend
- Life in the future
- The hottest, coldest, or most exhausted you have ever felt
- Having a fever
- A new version of a fairy-tale
- The shapes you see in clouds
- A horoscope
- A fragment from an unusual dictionary
- A shopping list
- A magic spell.
- One of your parents
- Your child (real or imagined)
- A historical figure (You will have to do research for this one.)
- A very old person
- An athlete who has just lost the big game
- The most popular/unpopular kid from your school
- An inanimate object in your home.
- Listen to a piece of music and write about the images that it brings into your mind.
- People-watch, eavesdrop, and write about your observations and imaginings.
- Sit in a park and close your eyes. Notice all of the sounds and smells. Write about them afterward.
- Keep a notebook next to your bed and write down your dreams at night to turn them into poems later.
- Make a list of words you think are unusual, then try to use them in poems.
- Watch an animal and write a poem about what it looks like and what it does.
- Smell different spices in your kitchen and write about the memories that they inspire.
- Look through old family photographs and choose some to write poems about.
- Go on a "field trip" -- a museum, the zoo, a greenhouse -- to hunt for poetry ideas.
- Get inspiration from books on an area of science or history that interests you.
Keep the poetry ideas flowing
- Click here for more poetry prompts .
- Click here for advice on how to write poems .
- Click here for short story topics and ideas .
- Click here for a list of CWN pages with poetry prompts .
"Both courses I have taken have with Creative Writing Now have been amazing. Each time I have learned something new. The one thing I love, you take everything apart and give examples." - Katlen Skye
"There is so much to learn, and had I not done this course my writing would still be at the starting gate." - Josephine Webster
"I really have learned many things that have changed the way I think about writing. I've taken many college, even Masters level writing courses, and must tell you that I have learned much more from your courses than I have from any of those classroom courses." - Prue Prentice
"This course is amazing – definitely the most beneficial class that I have taken." - Kimberly Daroogar
"Thank you for all the material in this course. I have learnt so much." - Jacqueline Tasik
"I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the lessons and feel they were very helpful in introducing new ideas and perspectives to my writing. I am sure I will go back frequently to review them for reference during many of my future writing projects. Thanks again!" - Jenny Jacks
"Thanks very much for this course. It's been really helpful and well-explained. I look forward to any more courses you run." - Robin Gott
"I'm learning so much. This course is amazing." - Karl Tobar
"Thank you so much!! You're always there... The course is great. You are always looking forward to the next lesson like a good novel!!!" - Nuria Alberti
"Thank you for a course that builds writing skills with direction to excellence. Everything was included, possibly more than college courses can offer." - Janett Lee Wawrzyniak
"Must say I'm SOO glad I opted into this class, it's been eye-opening on many levels." - Courtenay Schurman
"I will add the comment that I love this course, I have taken it several times. The first time I took it was after a time I had stopped writing for several years, and the course really re-ignited my writing spirit!" - Mary Ellen Hancock
"This was the best course I’ve taken. It allowed me to enjoy the experience of writing." - Jeff Killian
© 2009-2023 William Victor, S.L., All Rights Reserved.
Terms - Privacy - Returns & Cancellations - Affiliate Disclosure
Nadia Colburn
Align your story ®
- About Nadia
- Upcoming Events
- Poetry of Attention: Online Poetry Course
- Write From Your Center 31 Day Mindfulness Writing Course
- Align Your Story
- Writing Coaching
- Online Healing Yoga Workshops and Coaching
- Writing for Healing Trauma – Workshops and Coaching
- The High Shelf: Book
- Selected Poetry
- Selected Essays
- Align Your Story Interview Series
- Featured Interviews and Podcasts
- Free Resources
- Student Login
A list of 50 inspirational topics for writing a poem
There is no one way to approach writing. The process of finding inspiration and then putting that inspiration into words is a unique and individual experience for each writer. However, there are certain poem topics that can be particularly inspiring, and thinking about these topics can help jumpstart the creative process.
When looking for inspiration, it's important to explore all aspects of your life and the world around you. By writing about what you know and feel passionately about, you can create poems that are authentic and meaningful to you and your readers.
As a poet and writer, I have learned that the most important skill is to be open to and believe in the value of your own creativity . I have learned from reading others and from having others read and comment on my poems. As I wrote more and was more in alignment with myself, my writing got more understandable, more moving, and more skillful. But it was only when I really let go of the idea of wanting to please others and could listen more deeply to myself that I began to write my most powerful work.
The following list provides a variety of poem topics that can be used for inspiration when writing your next poem:
Share this image on Pinterest
50 Poem Topics And Ideas To Help You Write Your Next Poem
The beauty and mystery of nature can be a great source of inspiration for poets. Write about the changing seasons, a particular flower or tree, the stars or moon, the ocean, mountains, or any other aspect of the natural world that speaks to you.
2. Childhood memories
Reflect on a time from your childhood that was particularly special or meaningful to you. Write about the sights, sounds, and smells of that time and what it meant to you then and now.
3. A significant event
Write about an event that has had a major impact on your life, whether positive or negative. Now write a poem describing how this event has changed you.
Express your deepest emotions and write about the power of love in all its forms. This could be a poem about romantic love, the love between friends or family members, or even self-love.
5. Happiness
What makes you happy? What are the small things in life that bring you joy? Write about the moments and people that make you smile and fill your heart with happiness.
6. Friendship
Write about the value of friendship, and how it has positively affected your life. This could also be a poem about saying goodbye to a friend, or remembering a lost friend.
7. Overcoming adversity
We all face challenges in life, but how we deal with them can make us stronger. Write about a time when you faced and overcame a difficult situation. What did you learn from the experience?
8. Gratitude
Express what you are grateful for in your life, and why these things are important to you. If you haven't had a chance to read my interview with Ross Gay , poet, writer and visionary, I highly recommend it. In this interview, we talked about his new book Be Holding, his Book of Delights, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, and how to practice attention, gratitude, and care both in poetry and in our difficult but also joy-filled world. Just click here to read it . I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
How has your life changed over the years? What are some of the things that are different now than they were in the past? Write a poem about the process of change, and how it can be both scary and exciting.
10. Hope
In spite of everything, we all need to believe that better days are ahead. Write a poem about hope, and how it can help us get through tough times. What gives you hope? Describe what hope feels like, and how it helps you in your life.
11. A moment in time
Write about a specific moment that was particularly memorable or significant to you. It could be a happy memory, a sad memory, or even a moment of realization or understanding.
12. A day in the life
Describe a typical day in your life, or write about a specific day that was particularly memorable.
13. Your favorite place
We all have a place that makes us feel safe and happy. Write about your favorite place, and what it is that you love about it. Write about what makes it so special, and how it makes you feel.
14. An object
Write about a particular object that has special meaning to you. It could be something that you use every day, or something that you only see occasionally.
15. A person
Write about someone who has had a major impact on your life, for better or for worse. This could be a family member, friend, teacher, or anyone else who has made a significant impact on you.
16. A memory
Reflect on a specific memory that is significant to you. What does it remind you of? Write a poem celebrating a happy memory, or exploring a painful memory.
17. A feeling
Write about a feeling that is particularly intense or meaningful to you. Describe a specific emotion, and how it feels in your body and mind. No matter what you write about, poetry can be a powerful way to express your thoughts and emotions. So don't be afraid to let your words flow freely and see where they take you.
18. The earth
Express your love and appreciation for our planet, and everything that it has to offer. Write about the importance of taking care of it. Write a poem or prose using the phrase "the poetry of the earth." What does that phrase mean to you?
19. A hobby
Write about something you enjoy doing, and why it is so important to you.
20. An experience
Describe a particular experience that was particularly memorable or impactful for you.
21. Your dreams
What are your hopes and dreams for the future? Write about what you want to achieve, and how you plan to get there.
22. Your fears
What are you afraid of, and why? What do these fears mean to you?
Explore the emotions associated with losing something or someone important to you. When you lose something, it's natural to feel pain, grief, and even anger. Writing about these feelings can help you to process them and move on .
24. A time when you felt lost
Describe a time in your life when you felt lost or confused. What helped you find your way again?
25. A time when you felt alone
Writing poetry can be therapeutic, and can help you to express feelings that you may not be able to express in any other way. We all feel alone at times, but it's important to remember that we are never truly alone. Write about a time when you felt alone, and how you coped with it.
26. A time when you felt angry
We all experience a range of emotions, and it's okay to write about the negative ones as well. Use your anger to fuel your words, and write about whatever it is that made you angry.
27. A time when you felt sad
We all experience sadness at times. Write about a time when you felt particularly low, and how you coped with it.
28. Your hopes for the future
29. your favorite thing.
What is your favorite thing in the world? Write about why it is so important to you.
30. A time when you felt happy
What makes you truly happy? Write about a time when you felt this way, and why it was so special to you.
31. Your worst nightmare
Write a poem inspired by your deepest, darkest fears. Write about what this fear means to you, and how it affects your life.
32. A time when you were proud of yourself
We all have moments that we are proud of. Write about a time when you felt this way, and what it was that made you so proud.
33. A time when you laughed
Laughter is one of the best things in life. Write about a time when you laughed until you cried, and what made it so funny.
34. A time when you cried
We all cry at times. Write about a time when you felt particularly sad, and how you coped with it.
35. A time when you were disappointed
A time when you were disappointed: We all have moments when things don't go the way we wanted them to. Write a poem inspired by a time when you were disappointed and had to pick yourself up and keep going.
36. A time when you felt scared
37. a time when you helped someone.
Describe a time when you went out of your way to help someone else. What made you do it, and how did it make you feel?
38. A time when you felt supported
We all need support at times. Write about a time when someone was there for you, and how it made you feel.
39. Your favorite thing about yourself
What do you love about yourself? Write about why you are so special to you. Sometimes we forget why we are amazing! So take a moment and drop out some of your best qualities.
40. Your favorite thing about life
What do you love about life? Write about what makes it so precious to you.
41. Your favorite thing about people
What do you love about people write about what makes them so special to you., 42. your favorite quote.
Do you have a favorite quote? Write about what it means to you, and why it is so important to you.
43. A time when you felt proud of someone else
We all feel proud of others at times. Describe a time when you felt this way, and who it was that you were proud of.
44. Your favorite memory
What is your favorite memory? Write about what made it so special to you.
45. A time when you were surprised
We all experience surprise at times. Describe a time when something unexpected happened, and how it made you feel.
46. A time when you made a difference
We all have the ability to make a difference. Write about a time when you did just that, and how it made you feel.
47. A time when you felt loved
We all need love in our lives. Write about a time when you felt particularly loved and supported, and why it meant so much to you.
48. Something that you are passionate about
What are you passionate about? Write about what this passion means to you, and how it drives you.
49. Your hopes for the world
What are your hopes for the world? Write about what you would like to see change, and how you think we can make it happen.
50. Finally, last, but certainly not least, take inspiration from any of your favorite poems.
Reading is one of the best ways to be inspired as a poet and to find poetry topics. Explore my list of 15 morning poems for some inspiration .
These are just a few poem topics to get you started based on my own experiences and what I value most in life. Feel free to choose whichever topic speaks to you, or mix and match several different ones to create your own poem.
If none of these inspire you, think about what matters most to you and write about that. The most important thing is to be true to your own voice and express how you feel in your own words.
So don't be afraid to experiment with different poem styles or subject matter until you find the right fit for you. Whatever you do, have fun with it and let your creativity flow!
LEAVE A REPLY . I love to hear from you and do my best to respond to all comments.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
Name * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Email * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is a test comment
I am a member of a group called Toastmasters. One of my favorite parts of our meeting is Table Topics, where a person responds with a 2 minute impromptu response to a speaking prompt, not unlike your fifty topics. Because of the eclectic diversity of our members, it is here where I get to know the soul of a member. I am going to use some of the 50 prompts when I am next, the table topic master.
Poetry can be amazingly emotive. All things considered, artists, similar to the journalists of the best books ever and best book club books, have an approach to communicating feelings that we probably won't have the option to really express.
Enjoyed this article?
Find more great content here:
Inspiring Winter Solstice Poems: Snowy Night by Mary Oliver and More
What better way to celebrate the solstice than with some winter solstice ...
Exciting News: My Second Poetry Book…
I have some exciting news to share: my second poetry book has ...
There is no one way to approach writing. The process of finding ...
The Purpose of Poetry
In another post, I wrote about the importance of writing. Today, I ...
ThinkWritten
101 Poetry Prompts & Ideas for Writing Poems
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!These poetry prompts are designed to help you keep a creative writing practice. If you’re staring at a blank page and the words aren’t flowing, the creative writing prompts for poems can be a great way to get started! New for 2023!…
Sharing is caring!
These poetry prompts are designed to help you keep a creative writing practice. If you’re staring at a blank page and the words aren’t flowing, the creative writing prompts for poems can be a great way to get started!
New for 2023! Due to popular demand, I created a printable, ad-free version of these poetry prompts you can download to use at home or even in the classroom! Get them at our Etsy Shop .
Even if poetry isn’t your thing, you could always use these things to inspire other writing projects. Essays, journal entries, short stories, and flash fiction are just a few examples of ways this list can be used.
You may even find this list of creative poetry writing prompts helpful as an exercise to build your skills in descriptive writing and using metaphors!
Let’s get onto the list, shall we?
Here are 101 Poetry Prompts for Creative Writing
Most of these creative writing ideas are simple and open-ended. This allows you total creative freedom to write from these poetry prompts in your own unique style, tone, and voice.
If one poetry idea doesn’t appeal to you, challenge yourself to find parallels between the prompt and things that you do enjoy writing about!
1.The Untouchable : Something that will always be out of reach
2. 7 Days, 7 Lines : Write a poem where each line/sentence is about each day of last week
3. Grandma’s Kitchen : Focus on a single memory, or describe what you might imagine the typical grandmother’s kitchen to be like
4. Taste the Rainbow : What does your favorite color taste like?
5. Misfits: How it feels when you don’t belong in a group of others.
6. Stranger Conversations : Start the first line of your poem with a word or phrase from a recent passing conversation between you and someone you don’t know.
7. On the Field : Write from the perspective of a sports ball {Baseball, Soccer, Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, etc.} – think about what the sports ball might feel, see, hear, think, and experience with this poetry idea!
8. Street Signs: Take note of the words on signs and street names you pass while driving, walking, or riding the bus. Write a poem starting with one of these words you notice.
9. Cold water: What feelings do you associate with cold water? Maybe it’s a refreshing cold glass of water on a hot day, or maybe you imagine the feelings associated with being plunged into the icy river in the winter.
10. Ghostwriter: Imagine an invisible ghost picks up a pen and starts writing to you.
11. Lessons From Math Class: Write about a math concept, such as “you cannot divide by zero” or never-ending irrational numbers.
12. Instagram Wall: Open up either your own Instagram account or one of a friend/celebrity and write poetry based on the first picture you see.
13. Radio: Tune in to a radio station you don’t normally listen to, and write a poem inspired by the the first song or message you hear.
14. How To : Write a poem on how to do something mundane most people take for granted, such as how to tie your shoes, how to turn on a lamp, how to pour a cup of coffee.
15. Under 25 Words : Challenge yourself to write a poem that is no more than 25 words long.
16. Out of Order: Write about your feelings when there is an out of order sign on a vending machine.
17. Home Planet: Imagine you are from another planet, stuck on earth and longing for home.
18. Uncertainty : Think about a time in your life when you couldn’t make a decision, and write based on this.
19. Complete : Be inspired by a project or task be completed – whether it’s crossing something off the never-ending to-do list, or a project you have worked on for a long time.
20. Compare and Contrast Personality : What are some key differences and similarities between two people you know?
21. Goodbyes : Write about a time in your life you said goodbye to someone – this could be as simple as ending a mundane phone conversation, or harder goodbyes to close friends, family members, or former partners.
22. Imagine Weather Indoors : Perhaps a thunderstorm in the attic? A tornado in the kitchen?
23. Would You Rather? Write about something you don’t want to do, and what you would rather do instead.
24. Sound of Silence : Take some inspiration from the classic Simon & Garfunkel song and describe what silence sounds like.
25. Numbness : What’s it like to feel nothing at all?
26. Fabric Textures : Use different fiber textures, such as wool, silk, and cotton as a poetry writing prompt.
27. Anticipation : Write about the feelings you experience or things you notice while waiting for something.
28. Poison: Describe something toxic and its effects on a person.
29. Circus Performers: Write your poetry inspired by a circus performer – a trapeze artist, the clowns, the ringmaster, the animal trainers, etc.
30. Riding on the Bus : Write a poem based on a time you’ve traveled by bus – whether a school bus, around town, or a long distance trip to visit a certain destination.
31. Time Freeze : Imagine wherever you are right now that the clock stops and all the people in the world are frozen in place. What are they doing?
32. The Spice of Life : Choose a spice from your kitchen cabinet, and relate its flavor to an event that has happened recently in your daily life.
33. Parallel Universe : Imagine you, but in a completely different life based on making a different decision that impacted everything else.
34. Mad Scientist : Create a piece based on a science experiment going terribly, terribly wrong.
35. People You Have Known : Make each line about different people you have met but lost contact with over the years. These could be old friends, passed on family, etc.
36. Last Words : Use the last sentence from the nearest book as the inspiration for the first line of your poem.
37. Fix This : Think about something you own that is broken, and write about possible ways to fix it. Duct tape? A hammer and nails?
38. Suspicion : Pretend you are a detective and you have to narrow down the suspects.
39. Political News : Many famous poets found inspiration from the current politics in their time. Open up a newspaper or news website, and create inspired by the first news article you find.
40. The Letter D : Make a list of 5 words that start with all with the same letter, and then use these items throughout the lines of your verse. {This can be any letter, but for example sake: Daisy, Dishes, Desk, Darkness, Doubt}
41. Quite the Collection : Go to a museum, or look at museum galleries online. Draw your inspiration from collections of objects and artifacts from your favorite display. Examples: Pre-historic days, Egyptians, Art Galleries, etc.
42. Standing in Line : Think of a time you had to stand in line for something. Maybe you were waiting in a check-out line at the store, or you had to stand in line to enter a concert or event.
43. Junk Mail Prose: Take some inspiration from your latest junk mail. Maybe it’s a grocery store flyer announcing a sale on grapes, or an offer for a credit card.
44. Recipe : Write your poem in the form of a recipe. This can be for something tangible, such as a cake, or it can be a more abstract concept such as love or happiness. List ingredients and directions for mixing and tips for cooking up your concept to perfection.
45. Do you like sweaters? Some people love their coziness, others find them scratchy and too hot. Use your feelings about sweaters in a poem.
46. After Party : What is it like after all party guests go home?
47. Overgrown : Use Little Shop of Horrors for inspiration, or let your imagination run wild on what might happen if a plant or flower came to life or started spreading rapidly to take over the world.
48. Interference: Write a poem that is about someone or something coming in between you and your goals.
49. On Shaky Ground: Use an earthquake reference or metaphor in your poem.
50. Trust Issues : Can you trust someone you have doubted in the past?
51. Locked in a Jar: Imagine you are a tiny person, who has been captured and put into a jar for display or science.
52. Weirder Than Fiction: Think of the most unbelievable moment in your life, and write a poem about the experience.
53. Fast Food: Write a poem about fast food restaurants and experiences.
54. Unemployed: Write a poem about quitting or being fired from a job you depended on.
55. Boxes: What kinds of family secrets or stories might be hiding in that untouched box in the attic?
56. No One Understands : Write about what it feels like when no one understands or agrees with your opinion.
57. Criminal Minds : Write a poem from the perspective of a high-profile criminal who is always on the run from law enforcement.
58. Marathon Runner : Write a poem about what training you might be doing to accomplish a difficult challenge in your life.
59. Trapped : Write about an experience that made you feel trapped.
60. Passing the Church : Write a poem about noticing something interesting while passing by a church near your home.
61. Backseat Driver: Write about what it’s like to be doing something in your life and constantly being criticized while trying to move ahead.
62. Luster: Create a descriptive poem about something that has a soft glow or sheen to it.
63. Clipboard: Write a poem about someone who is all business like and set in their ways of following a system.
64. Doctor: Write a poem about receiving advice from a doctor.
65. First Car : Write an ode to your first car
66. Life Didn’t Go As a Planned : Write about a recent or memorable experience when nothing went according to plan.
67. Architect : Imagine you are hired to design a building for a humanitarian cause you are passionate about.
68. The Crazy Cat Hoarder : Write about someone who owns far too many cats.
69. Queen : Write a poem from the perspective of a queen.
70. Movie Character : Think of a recent movie you watched, and create a poem about one character specifically, or an interaction between two characters that was memorable.
71. Potential Energy : Write about an experience where you had a lot of potential for success, but failed.
72. Moonlight : Write about an experience in the moonlight.
73. Perfection : Write about trying to always keep everything perfect.
74. You Are Wrong : Write a poem where you tell someone they are wrong and why.
75. Sarcasm : Write a poem using sarcasm as a form of illustrating your point.
76. Don’t Cry : Write a poem about how not to cry when it’s hard to hold back the tears.
77. Listen Up: Write a poem telling someone they are better than they think they are.
78. Flipside : Find the good in something terrible.
79. Maybe They Had a Reason : Write a poem about someone doing something you don’t understand, and try to explain what reasons they might have had.
80. How to Drive : Write a poem that explains how to drive to a teenager.
81. Up & Down the Steps: Write a poem that includes the motion of going up or down a staircase
82. Basket Case: Has there ever been a time when you thought you might lose your mind? Jot your feelings and thoughts down in verse form.
83. Lucky Guess: Many times in our life we have to make a good guess for what is the best decision. Use this poetry idea to write about feelings related to guessing something right – or wrong.
84. Dear Reader: What audience enjoys reading the type of poetry you like to write? Craft a note to your potential audience that addresses their biggest fears, hopes, and dreams.
85. All or Nothing : Share your thoughts on absolutist thinking: when one’s beliefs are so set in stone there are no exceptions.
86. Ladders in the Sky : Imagine there are ladders that take you up to the clouds. What could be up there? What feelings do you have about climbing the ladders, or is their a mystery as to how they got there in the first place?
87. Always On My Mind: Compose a poem about what it’s like to always be thinking about someone or something.
88. Paranoia : What would it be like if you felt like someone was watching you but no one believed you?
89. Liar, Liar: How would you react to someone who lied to you?
90. Secret Word: What’s the magic word to unlock someone’s access to something?
91. For What It’s Worth: Use a valuable object in your home as inspiration as a poetry prompt idea.
92. Coming Home to Secrets: Imagine a person who puts on a good act to cover up a secret they deal with at home.
93. Productivity: Talk about your greatest struggles with time management and organization.
94. Defying Gravity: Use words that relate to being weightless and floating.
95. Signs of the Times : How has a place you are familiar with changed over the past 10 years?
96. Sleepless Nights : What ideas and feelings keep you up at night? What’s it like when you have to wake up in the morning on a night you can’t sleep?
97. You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit : Use one of the worst job related memories you can think of as a creative writing prompt.
98. By George : You can choose any name, but think of 3-5 notable figures or celebrities who share a common first name, and combine their personalities and physical characteristics into one piece of poetry. For example: George Washington, George Clooney, George Harrison.
99. Shelter : Write a poem about a time you were thankful for shelter from a storm.
100. Cafeteria : Create a poem inspired by the people who might be eating lunch in a cafeteria at school or at a hospital.
101. Dusty Musical Instruments : Base your poem around the plight of a musician who hasn’t picked up the guitar or touched a piano in years.
Love these prompts? The printable, ad-free version of these poetry prompts can be used offline or in the classroom! Get them at our Etsy Shop .
There are unlimited possibilities for ways you can use these poem ideas to write poetry. Using a list like this can greatly help you with getting into the habit of writing daily – even when you don’t feel inspired to write.
While not every poem you write will be an award-winning masterpiece, using these poem starters as a regular exercise can help you better your craft as a writer.
I hope you enjoy these poetry prompts – and if you write anything you’d like to share inspired by these creative poetry writing prompts, let us know in the comments below – we love to see how others use writing ideas to create their own work!
And of course, don’t forget to get the ad-free poetry prompt cards printable version if you’d like to use these prompts offline, in the classroom or with your small group!
Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.
Similar Posts
7 Creative Writing Exercises For Writers
300 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids: Story Starters, Journal Prompts & Ideas
42 Fantasy Writing Prompts & Plot Ideas
365 Creative Writing Prompts
108 Romance Writing Prompts & Love Story Ideas
92 comments.
I had a wonderful inspiration from prompt number 49 “On Shaky Ground,” although it’s not exactly about an earthquake. I wanted to share it on here, so I hope you enjoy it!
Title: “Shaking Ground”
The ground’s shaking My heart’s aching I’m getting dizzy My mind’s crazy
On shaking ground It’s like I’m on a battleground We’re all fighting for love Dirtying our white glove
The ground’s shaking My body’s quaking Love is so cruel Making me a fool
On shaking ground We are all love-bound Stuck in a crate Nobody can avoid this fate
The ground’s shaking We are all waking Opening our eyes Everyone dies
On shaking ground Our love is profound Although we are separate Better places await
The ground’s shaking Death’s overtaking Heaven is descending The world’s ending
On shaking ground In love we are drowned
Awesome interpretation Amanda! Thanks for sharing!
heyyy, I have written something regarding prompt 27 and 96 The Night Charms.
Do you dread the dark; Or do you adore the stars? Do you really think the fire place is that warm; Or you just envy the night charms? The skyline tries to match the stars’ sparkle, The sky gets dark, the vicinity gets darker. The “sun” has set for the day being loyal; These are now the lamps burning the midnight oil. The Eve so busy, that everyone forgets to praise its beauty. The sun has set without anyone bidding him an adieu, Failed to demonstrate its scintillating view. The moon being the epitome of perfection, Has the black spots, Depicting an episode of it’s dark past.
And I sit; I sit and wonder till the dawn. What a peaceful time it is, To have a small world of your own. Away from the chaos, I found a soul that was lost. So tired, yet radiant, Trying to be someone she’s not in the end. That bewitching smile held my hand, Carried me back to shore, letting me feel my feet in the sand. The waves moved to and fro, Whispering to me as they go, “Oh girl, my girl This is the soul you have within you, Never let it vanish, For it alters you into something good and something new, Don’t let the cruel world decide, Don’t let anyone kill that merry vibe.”
Then I saw my own soul fade, Fly into my heart, For what it was made. Oh dear lord, The night’s silence became my solace, My life lessons were made by the waves. Who am I? What have I done to myself? Many questions were answered in self reproach, The answers were still unspoken with no depth. Oh dear night, What have you done to me? Or should I thank you for putting a soul that I see. The nights spent later were now spectacular, My darkness somehow added some light to my life, Making it fuller… Everyday after a day, walking through the scorching lawns, I wait for the the dusk to arrive, and then explore myself till the dawn.
This is so amazing I ran out of words. Very lit thoughts beautifully penned. Keep writing like this dude.❤🌻
That is beautiful, it inspired me to write about my fears, thank you!!
Thank you for the inspiration! 😀 This was based of 21 and 77 (I think those were the numbers lol)
Goodbye to the days when we played together in the sun Goodbye to the smile on your face and to all of the fun I look at you, so dull and blue How long before I can say hello to the real you You are worth more than you think At the very least, you are to me Though there are greater things that wait for you than the least You are worthy of the most, the greatest of things If only goodbye could be ‘see you later’ I want to see the real you again To your suffering I don’t want to be just a spectator I want it all to end Goodbye to my only friend I want to heal you but I don’t know how I wish I had this all figured out Please come back to me I just want you to be free
Thank u so much im more inspired after seeing these creative ideas. 🤗
Glad they inspired you!
Thanks for sharing Amanda!
That was beautiful! I am a writer too! I actually just finished writing one but, it wasn’t from this website, just kind of something that’s been on my head for a while you know? Anyways, again, that was awesome! I am a Christian, and I love seeing people write about that kind of stuff! 🙂
I am jim from Oregon. I am also a writer, not very good but active. I am a Christian as well as you are. Sometimes it is hard to come up with something to write about.
All of a sudden, I have started to write poetry. Do you like all forms of writing? I would enjoy reading some of you work if you would you would like to s if you would like to send me some.
i have written one about frozen time:
my brother will be drawing, his pencil wont leave the sheet, my mother hearing the radio, today’s news on repeat. my sister, in fact, is making her bed, she’ll be making it still, till the last bug is dead. me, on the other hand, i’ll be visiting you, i’ll see you in action, doing the things that you do, i’ll be happy to see you, just a last time, i’ll kiss your still lips, and hold for a while. then i’ll take a plane to saudi, where i’ll see my dad, he’ll be swimming with turtles, he will not seem sad. i have lived on this earth, for 15 whole years, time for goodbye, with not a single tear.
hey beautifully expressed…!!!
Beautifully penned 🌼
I love it I tried one out myself as well Change
She sat looking out the window. The sound of the piano’s cheerful tune ringing out throughout the room. The sweet smell of burnt pine emanating from her fireplace. The sky is blue and the sun shines bright. She closes her eyes for a second. She opens them again. The window is broken and scattered on the ground. The piano sits covered in ashes, every symphony played now just a distant memory replaced with a discordant melody. The room smells of smoke and ash. The sky is dark and rain falls on the remnants of her home. Not a living thing in sight,not even her.
Nice one Amanda. kind of tells me the chronology of love and its eventualities.
such a dilightful poem, thanks for the word that made the day for me. you are such a good poet.
Omg! What!! This is amazing! I’d love to feature this piece on my blog monasteryjm.com. I also love this blog post by thinkwritten.com, planning on putting the link in my next blog post so others can come over here to check it out! So helpful!
this is so great! I’ve been needing inspiration. this might work
Thank you so much for this article! I love the profundity and open-endedness of the prompts. Here is a poem I wrote, drawing inspiration from #56, “No One Understands.” I wrote this from the perspective of a psychic Arcturian Starseed in her teenage years and how the world perceives her spiritual connection; while at the same time hinting at the true meaning of her various baffling actions. Enjoy 🙂
Starseed – a poem on perspective
In the snow She stands alone Wrapped in shrouds of mystery Her gentle hand gloved with giving Caressing A violet stone
Math class is dismissed But there still she sits Speaking to the ceiling in tender tones A soft and healing resonance Murmuring sweetly of ascension to Another, dearer dimension
In homeroom Her classmate weeps Of missed planes and shattered dreams Quietly She strokes the hand of the suffering And whispers then of channeling Some celestial utopia called Arcturus Where she claims to have been.
Please feel free to let me know where I need to improve! I’m fourteen years old and only an amateur, so a few suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, love and light 🙂
#79 I don’t know why he was so mad Did he not get his mail Was he already mad Or did he only get bills
He swung his arm with force He caused a loud bang He hurt his own hand He left with some blood
He is the man that punched the mailbox His hand dripped blood on it He left it with a dent He left it alone after that
That’s great Michael, thank you for sharing your response to one of the prompts!
Awesome! That was simple and yet creative
Interesting tips and keywords for boosting inspiration. I’ve found some good topic for start writing. Thanks
sleepless nights (#96)
it’s never a strangled cry that drags me from my dreams, but a gentle whisper, there to nudge the socks off my feet, and settle me back into the sheets. i seem to wake before i’ve had a chance to fall to rest.
why is it that i can never sleep, but always dream?
sleepless nights rule my life and drag me by my toes, throwing me into a sky of black and blue. not a single star can break through this spillage. and i sit and wonder in a sea of sheets, rippling around me, why my mind can swim these dark, tangling waters and i never need to take a breath.
have you ever noticed how static-filled the dark is? because when i lay buried under these burdens and blankets, the world seems ready to crumble under my grasp.
i can’t sleep, but i can dream, of days when i wasn’t pulled struggling from bed but awoken into the light. i wonder how i ever survived the grainy sky’s midnight troubles, the oil spill of its thunderclouds, the sandpaper raspiness of the three a.m. earth against my throat.
oh, how i can never sleep in a world that threatens to fall apart.
this is amazing! i hope i can be this good one day
once again beautiful <3
Thank you so much for these prompts! They’re so thought-provoking.
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoy them!
Take me back to those days, When I was allowed to dream, Where no one use to scream. Take me back to those days, When I was a child, Where I never use to find reasons to smile. Take me Take back to those days, When I never used to lie, Where I never used to shy. Take me back those carefreee days, When I was far away from school days. Take me back to those days , where every one used to prase, no matter how foolish i behave. Take me back to those days, when i wasn’t stuck between fake people. Take me back to the day I was born, So that I could live those days again………….
so mine is basically a mix between 76 and 77… I made it for my literature club i recently began trying to make.
‘Listen to me’ Listen to me your words mean more than you think your opinion is worthy to be shared your songs are capable of being sung
Listen to me
your smile is bright your frown shows nothing more than you should be cared for like you care for us.
your laughter is delightful and so is everything else
dont let the past go hurt you find strength in the experience
are you listening to me?
can you here me?
because YOU matter
Nice, thank you for sharing!
Prompt #1 “Untouchable”
Grasping Reaching Searching for the untouchable The indescribable On the tip of my tongue My fingertips Close to my heart But warping my brain Yet understood in the depths of my soul Emotions undiscovered Words Unsaid Deep in the depths of my mind Hand outstretched Lingering on the edge Eyes wide open But somehow still blind Unattainable But still in the hearts of The Brave The Curious The Resilient They Seek the unseekable They pursue the unattainable Each man seeing it in a different aspect Each of their visions blurred Each distorted by Experiences Traumas Wishes Dreams Filtering what’s untouchable
Thank you, glad you enjoy it!
I had good inspiration from #51, locked in a jar. I used it more metaphorically instead of literally. So here it is: glass walls, lid screwed on tight, can’t escape, not even at night. From the inside, looking out, this is not who I’m supposed to be. I’m supposed to be bigger, I’m supposed to be free, not stuck in a jar, no room to breathe. I need to move, I need to soar, I need to be able to speak my opinions and more. So as I look down at my tiny self, in this glass jar, “let me out, I can’t take it anymore”, I say to the bigger me, the one ignoring my tiny pleas.
Just wanted to add a twist to this promt. I’m just a beginner in the art of poetry, but I tried. If anyone has any creative criticism, go ahead! #16: our of order
My brain is out of order My thoughts have filled it to the brim Of my deepest thoughts of who I am Who we are As people We are out of order Never focusing on what we want Our passions All we ever get is work on top of work Pushing us down and down Like a giant hand Squeezing us into the depths of our depressions Until We can do anything But take it Anymore
Thank you Ash for sharing your take on the prompt with us!
Thank you ASH for reminding we can do anything if we try
Was inspired by #77 listen up Listen up…….! When would you listen up! Seems! you have given up! No matter who shut you up! Stand straight and look up!
Look up don’t be discouraged Let you heart be filled with courage Listen up and be encouraged Let life be sweet as porridge
You might have been down Like you have no crown Because deep down You were shut down
There is still hope When there is life Yes! You can still cope If you can see the light Yes! Even in the night
Oh listen up! Please listen up and take charge, You are better than the best Listen up! And oh! Please listen up.
beautifully written!
I wrote a poem using prompt 21 and I’m so proud of it. Comment if you want me to post it🤓
I bet the poem you wrote about prompt 21 is really good. I would like to read it please.
Mental prison, what a way to be trapped, being hidden, being snapped,
Clear glass is all i feel, apart from people, I hope I heal, I will never be equal,
I am different I am hurt raging currents people put on high alert but no one cares
No one dreads many tears I only have so many more threads
One day I’ll be gone but no one would care I will run away from the death chair
But until then
Mental prison what a way to be trapped being hidden being snapped
One day this will all blow away someday I will be molded out of clay but until then I will be lead astray
This is so darn awesome. It’s so deep and evokes the deepest of feelings🥰
I wrote almost the same thing omg I’m turning it into a contest entry
Inspired by No. 1! I am completely new to poetry, but I love it so much already! Here it is.
Perfection is Untouchable-
Perfection waiting, out of reach
Will I never touch it?
It always remain
Untouchable
No matter how hard I try
I will never quite reach
It will always remain
Though many people have tried
And seemed to have come close
But perfection’s not the goal
‘Cause we can’t quite grasp it
Perfection will always be
For all eternity
Looks like you are off to a great start!
Of Course, Silly Billy Me
”Well shit, I guess I lost my opportunity” the youngster retort
You see, for him, it’s all about his hurt – but she’s so educated, knows more about the rules of English than the rest of us.
Thus, to me she said… You cannot use curse words in a court report… you need to paraphrase his quote.
Into her spastic face I smiled – and pled my case
If you were my English professor back in the day, I could only imagine how much further in life I would have been…
”Don’t you mean farther in life?”
Of course, silly billy me.
This poem is called Secret Keeper and was inspired by #92. I hope you like it.
Everyone has a secret, Whether it be their own, Or someone else’s, We all have one.
But what if, You met someone, Who had a secret so big, That telling anyone would lead to horrible things.
And what if, That person told someone, And what they told them, Was more horrible than anything they could have ever imagined.
What if, That person told everyone, And when the parents, Of the kid with the secret found out, They were furious.
What if, They kept doing horrible things, Even though everyone knew, Even though they knew it was wrong.
And finally, What if, No one ever helped, The little kid with the biggest secret.
On number 28 : Poision I wrote a poem for it and would like to share it. The poision of friends and love
Beaten,she lies there. For they may be mistaken. Laughter rings throughout the school halls; a pure disaster. The dissapearence of parents hast caused this yet no one stops it. “Your a disgrace!” She heard them say. While in place she cries “I don’t belong here! Perhaps im out of place..” But she is not misplaced rather.. Shes lost in space.
I miss when you called me baby And I was in your arms saftely I know we drive eachother crazy But I miss callin you my baby
Those restless nights when I couldn’t sleep You calmed me down with your technique Always reminded me I’m strong not weak If only I let you speak
My heart only beats for you My feelings for you only grew You understood what I was going through I will never regret knowing you
Your smile melted my heart I wish we could restart And I could be apart Of a man I see as a work of art!
Stary night painting poem I guess ill call it
I raised my paint brush to my canvas So I could help people understand this This feeling of emotion for this painting has spoken I see the light as opportunity As for the whole thing it symbolizes unity The swirls degnify elegance and uncertainty For this painting executes this perfectly Where as my paintings let me adress Everything I feel I need to express!
#56 WHITE NOISE Faded away In the background Unheard Not visible
Eardrums splitting from the screams Yet none seem to care Can even hear my cries for help? For I am screaming as loud as I can
Are you? For all we hear Are whispers in here
Fading away in the background Unheard, invisible Yet it’s there, not loud enough Not noticeable, but there White noise Blank and pure In the background Faded away, yet so clear.
Just need to listen So open your ears She’s screaming for help But it’s muted to your ears
So open ’em up And listen to the calls For faded away, in the background Not visible, but clear. White Noise. It’s there.
Hi guys, I’m kind of late joining in. I read the prompts and the poems posted and this community is a creative bunch. I liked #35 People You Have Known. I want to share it with you guys.
Bern, a friend from grade school was my seat mate as well Rob had always teased me so my young life was hell Neesa was pretty, she knew that she was my crush Miss Homel, our teacher was always in a rush Played ball with Buco and I got hit on my head Fell in love with Cia, dreamt of her in my bed Had a tattoo with Marcus and called it “The Day” Chub challenged me to eat two pies, I said, “No way” I had to go far away so I wrote to Charie In this new place I found a friend in Perry My Grandma Leng passed away, she was a doll My grumpy uncle, Uncle Zar was teased by all These people have touched my life for worse or better Won’t be forgotten, be remembered forever
I hope that you liked it. Thanks guys. Thanks Think Written.
#37 fix it Still new to poems, and I haven’t written one in a while. Criticism is welcome because I need some more inspiration since I haven’t been getting any.
This is the body repair shop where we fix humans that have stopped how may we help you?
the girl stumbled upon the front door and spilled her list of regrets out into the open
“we’re sorry, miss” “but i’m afraid your first kiss will just be a dear old reminisce”
“your heart is also one that cannot be mended” “for every shattered piece- their lives just simply ended” the sewing kit can’t sew the fragments of her heart back because there were way too many to backtrack
she cried her heart out and it went “plop!” her tears like a river and like a lightbulb flickering its last light she too, took her last breath and was put to death
This is the body repair shop where we fix humans that have stopped “it seems we have failed again today” “sorry we’ll just try harder again another day”
I did poetry prompt #7. I wrote about the street I grew up on. Luverne Luverne, I moved onto you at the age of three. We like to race up and down your pavement road, either biking or running. You keep safe the house that I grew up in, one that has six humans and three dogs. You shelter other houses, too, that hold family friends and best friends to last a lifetime.
Luverne, we love you.
-Margaret McMahon
I was inspired by the prompt poison. Monster Roses are beautiful and delicate, but flawed.
Every rose has thorns that cause you to bleed.
Its innocence and beauty draws you in.
Only then when you touch it, it poisons you.
Am I really such an ugly monster, that plants pain an watches it spread?
I would say no.
Wouldn’t we all?
But maybe, just maybe a rose doesn’t notice it’s thorns.
-Lilliana Pridie
You said you’re only just starting?! That was sooo good! No criticism here. 🙂
Sorry, that was meant for “Ash” but yours was amazing too! 🙂
Prompt number 8: Street signs STOP Stop look and listen Stop at the corner Stop at the red light Stop for pedestrians Stop for cyclists Stop for animals Stop doing that Stop drop and roll Stop doing something else Stop shouting Stop whispering Stop talking Stop being quiet Stop posting cute cat videos Stop forgetting your appointments Stop making plans without me Stop eating all the yummies Stop running Stop the insanity Stop shopping Stop the never-ending commentary in my head Stop stopping Stop
Thanks for making this site and all its suggestions and especially this space to post our work, available!
I wrote from prompt #72 about moonlight. Shining down like a spotlight, Illuminating everything around you. The pure white light, Paint your surroundings in a soft glow. The round ball in the sky, speckled with craters like the freckles on your face. Looking down upon the sleeping earth, A nightlight for those still awake, a nightlight for you. Guides you, pulls you, lulls you towards it. It caresses your face with the light, casting away the shadows of the night.
I liked it I just wrote a small poem dedicated to my tutor and tutor just loved it .I used 21 good bye . I liked it really.😊
I just took up writing so bear with me.
Based on #72 “Moonlight”
A full bed Just the left side filled Soft, cold, baby blue sheets wrap around bare feet
She sweetly invites herself in Dressing the dark in a blue hue through cypress filled air, like 5 A.M. drives in January on the misty Northern coast.
Damp hair dances across grey skin, Waltzing with the breeze to Radiohead’s “How to Disappear Completely”
Euphoria slow dances with Tranquility Heavy eyes give in to sleep
Ladder to the Sky I want to climb the ladder to the sky I’m sure all would be well and that I could fly The ladder would be sturdy but still give me a fright Because looking down I’ll realized I’ve climbed many heights The higher I climb the greater the fall The greater the fall, the greater the sprawl But if i ever get to the sky up high I would be sure to hug you and say “goodbye” Once I’ve climbed the ladder I’ll know Sometimes its okay to look far down below Life is full of failure but soon I’ll find Happiness is a place, and not of the mind We all have ladders to climb and lives to live We all have a little piece of us that we can give Because when we climb that ladder to the sky We should think “No, life never passed me by”
Hi Ray, I love your piece.It gives one courage to face the challenges of live and move on.
Thanks for sharing the prompts Chelle Stein. I wrote this sometimes ago before coming to this site and I believed prompts #1 and #88 inspired my writing it. kindly help me vet it and give your criticism and recommendation. It is titled “SHADOW”.
My shadow your shadow My reflection your reflection My acts your acts
No one sees me,no one sees you Programmed by the Ubiquitous, To act as our bystander in realism
Virtuous iniquitous rises on that day To vindicate to incriminate My deeds your deeds.
Thanks for the seemingly endless amounts of writing prompts. I’ve been working on a poem, but it isn’t much.
She’s got my head spinning, Around and around; She’s all I think about, I can’t help but wondering, Does she feel the same?
Of course not, I’m just a fool; I’m nothing special, Just another person; Bland and dull.
How could a girl like her, love a guy like me? But the way she looks at me, Her smile, I can’t help but to feel flustered; Is this just my imagination?
It must be.
Wow! That’s exactly how I feel! Amazing poem!
Thanks so much, I’m glad you like it. 🙂
A massive thank you to thinkwritten.com for these amazing prompts. Some of these prompts have now formed the basis of my upcoming poetry collection (Never Marry a Writer) scheduled for release on January 1 2021. I will also be leaving a “Thank you” message for this website in the acknowledgements section. You have inspired a whole poetry collection out of nowhere which is highly commendable. So booktiful that!
That is wonderful news!
So I didn’t use any of the prompts but I wanted some feedback on this; it’s not great but I’m working on improving my writing skills
I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music I wonder if things will ever be normal again I hear light screaming through the darkness I want freedom from the chains trapping me in my fear I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music
I pretend to float in the ocean, letting the waves carry me away from reality I feel a presence of hope like a flame on my bare skin I touch the eye of a storm, grasping the stillness it brings I worry about wars that a spreading like wildfires I cry when I’m not with the people I love I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music
I understand feeling hopeless when you have no control over what is happening I say our differences make us special I dream to be a nurse, to help others when they can’t help themselves I try to do my best in everything I hope that all mankind will stop fighting and live in peace I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music
HELLO EVERYONE.. THIS SITE IS JUST WOW, AS AND WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOPICS OR WAS NOT ABLE TO THINK UPON IT ..IT HELPED ME A LOT WITH HINTS TO BEGIN WITH MY ANOTHER POEM .. I M NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRITER BUT JUST A STARTER AND A STUDENT OF 12TH DIVISION.. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE OF MY SPECIAL CREATION , ALTHOUGH NOT FROM THIS SITE. HOPE YOU ALL WILL LIKE IT.
AU REVOIR GOODBYE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, I BID U FAREWELL UNTIL WE TIE AGAIN, SEE YOU SOON , SEE YOU AGAIN, LETS SAY GOODBYE FOR A BETTER DAY.
THE FIRE THAT BURNS IN OUR HEART , THE MEMORIES THAT PRESERVES OUR PAST. ITS NOT THE GOODBYE THAT WRENCH THE HEART , BUT THE FLASHBACKS THAT HAVE PASSED.
I RECOLLECT AND RECOUNT , MOMENTS THAT ARE HALF FADED AND RENOWNED, I ALWAYS FEEL SO CHARMED, THAT I HAVE SOMETHING, WHICH MAKES ME SAYING GOODBYE SO DAMN HARD.
TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, WALK ON THE STREETS WITH GOLDEN TRAILS. FOR I M NOT GONNA WAIL, BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL MEET YOU SOON ON THE FORTHCOMING DAY.
I wrote a poem based on #101.
Thank you so much for the inspiration!!
And then it was there. What I had been missing. What is it? You may ask. Well, it’s quite simple actually. It’s the joy of music. It’s the joy of sitting down and making music. It’s the joy you feel when you look up at people admiring you. The joy you see in peoples’ eyes. I don’t know why I ever stopped that. The piano sat on the stage. Dusty and untouched. It’d been decades since I’ve seen it. I haven’t come to this stage since I lost her. After the concert. The last time I ever heard her voice. And yet here I am years and years later. Knowing why I haven’t been happy in so long. Of course pain is always gonna be there, But as I played a soft note on the piano, All of it seemed to disappear. It was as if all the weight on my shoulders got lifted. The melodious notes resonated around the hall. And for a few moments, I forgot about all the pain. I forgot about the tears. I forgot about the heartache. And as the last notes echoed around the hall, I was truly happy.
Prompt #92: Coming home with secrets
My mother’s radio sits in the balcony And it greets me with electric static Coming to this sheltering home is somewhat problematic Cause the walls are too thin, and it’s back to reality. Back to the running water that conceals the noise of cracks Crumbling behind my peeling mask, holding my face with wax An unraveled thread masking the makeup smile of a wakeup call That runs down to my chin and I keep under wraps. I take invitations to the mall, yet the space around me seems so small Nevertheless, I show my teeth with a big, shiny grin And suck a trembling breath through their thin slit Happy to wear tight jeans, to stop me from an embarrassing fall. The bath hurts on my skin, but even more to protect screams from the halls My head floats in the water, but feels trapped in its walls It cracks my head open with all these secrets inside me Before a blink of an eye, to my room I’d already flee. Not to the radio playing static or streets that won’t let me be But to under the blankets, where no one can really see The struggle to be a walking, talking, breathing secret That was thrown to the ocean in a bottle, wishing to be free. However, the words untold keep coming like ever so frequent Like adrenalized filled cops in pursue of an escapee delinquent All the more, my doppelganger and I have come to an agreement To take these secrets to our grave, that we nowadays call home.
Recipe for Happiness
Start with friendship, Then add time, A dash of humor, And forgotten binds. Mix it up, Till blended well, And make sure, To remember the smell. Put that bowl, To the side, Grab a new one, Add grateful sighs. Then add family, And a smile, Then sit back, And mix awhile. To that bowl, Add a laugh, A cheerful cry, And blissful past. Whip until, There’s heavy peaks, Then pour in, What we all seek. Combine the two, Then mix it well, Spray the pan, And pour it out. Cherish the memory, The beautiful scent, Of unity, And happiness.
My mother died when I was younger so this poem is about me sitting on the lawn at night shortly after she passed away. I was imagining better times, which is why in my poem I talk about how the girl is imagining ‘walking on the moon’ and she is gripping the grass tight and trying to remember the warmth of her mothers palms.
Sitting in the blue black grass She’s walking on the moon Watching specks of silver dance To the mellow tune Her fingers gripping the grass so tight She can almost feel The warmth of her mothers palms
The winds cold fingers
The winds cold fingers Tousle with my hair Loosening the soil My sobs are carried away on the wind
I would love to share this list (credited to you) with students participating in a virtual library program on poetry. Would that be possible/acceptable? These are great!
Wow! Thank you so much for all these awesome prompts! I’ve written two poems already!
Prompt #1 AND #15, untouchable and less than 25 words. i’m lowk popping off??
Apollo Commands the sun, which squints so brightly, scorches and freckles. i want her hand on mine. searing pain fears, still i reach out, and bubble.
I looked at the word “Duct tape” And thought about it. Its not anywhere in this poem at all but it inspired it yk?
Feathers are Soft
Feathers are soft People aren’t
Plushies are soft People aren’t
Pillows are soft People aren’t
People are mean Not nice Not joyful
well my poem is only loosely based on the second prompt because I found I had too much to say about Sundays. I would love to share it with you but these comments don’t support links.
Inspired by number 55 in list of poetry suggestions. Poem to song guitar chords. —————————————————-
Carnegie Hall
D I was feeling ecstatic G when I went to the attic A and found my auld busking D guitar
D But I felt consternation G I disturbed hibernation A at first it seemed quite D bazaar
D When I blew off the dust G it smelt like old must A but t’was time to give it a D bar
D It was then I heard flapping G which sounded like clapping A my first ever round of D applause
D It stayed with the beat G while tapping my feet A I kept playing despite all my D flaws
D I took early retirement G though not a requirement A “Bad Buskers” all get D menopause
D I’m strumming the strings G and the echo it rings A but no jingling of coins as they D fall
D So I play here alone G as to what I was prone A never made it to Carnegie D Hall
D Time to call it a day G as they used to say A for no encores or no curtain D call
D There’s a butterfly G in my guitar
D There’s a butterfly G in my guitar.
Finn Mac Eoin
23rd July 2022
I love this Finn, where can we listen to your song?
Hello I wrote this in remberence of 9/11. Its now sitting in ground zero. A ordinary day to start Same as any other Dad goes off to work again, Child goes with their mother. Vibrant busy city, busses, cars galore Workers in the offices, from bottom to top floor. Throughout our life situations Hard times often do arise, Unfortunatly we never think of saying last goodbyes. That’s exactly what happened on September 11th 2001 A day that turned the world so cold When tragedy begun. Twin towers has exploded Co ordinate attacks, Al-Qaeda behind the planes That seemed to be hijacked. Thousands were killed instantly Some lives hang by a thread, Calls were made to loved ones Onlookers face of dread. Fears & screams while running As smoke fills up the air, News reports on live tv Helplessly they stare. On the news we hear the voices of all who are caught inside, Lying next to injured ones Or sadly ones who died. One man makes a phone call My darling wife it’s me, I’m sorry that I upset you And that we disagreed. My offices have been attacked they’re crumbling to the ground, A massive explosion hit our floor then instantly no sound. If I do not make it I’m stating from the heart, I love you darling, & in your life I’m glad to play a part. Tell the kids daddy loves them Continue well at school, Stand up for all your beliefs Don’t be taken for a fool. The wife is crying down the line Darling please don’t go, I love you darling so so much I’ve always told you so. He replied my darling im feeling really kind of weak, Breathlessly he’s coughing, he can hardly speak. If you ever need me just look up to the stars, I will hear your voices And heal up any scars. Suddenly all was quiet The wife screams down the fone, Darling can you hear me, don’t leave me here alone. The towers live on tv start to crumble to the ground, Clouds of smoke then fill the air The world in shock no sound. Crying at the images of all who has lost their lives , Mums,dad’s , Nan’s & grandads, husbands & wives. Rescue teams included and all those left behind To All who were among them, all who did survive, All who were injured All who sadly died. Never in this lifetime that day will be the same For ground zero holds the memories Of every single name.
Those hero’s on that awful day who never thought about their life Who fought to save the innocent To keep each sole alive Those who were pulled to safety Those we lost in vein, Never be forgotten The pain will still remain We will never forget that tragedy For the days will never be the same. But may I say with all my heart In God we put our faith United we stand For eternity were safe Amen
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
22 Poetry Prompts to Help You Write Your Next Great Poem
While there is so much joy associated with writing, there is one pitfall that we all fall prey to—the dreaded writer’s block. It can strike at any moment and fill our hearts with frustration. But never fear! Sometimes, all we need is a small spark of inspiration. Poetry prompts can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing after a dry spell.
If nothing else, it might be what prompts you to start putting pen to paper again. Even if you’re not always sure where a prompt or writing session will lead, try and choose a prompt or two and just start writing. It might start you down the path to your next major breakthrough.
I hope these prompts help you focus and get excited about your poetic journey. Happy writing:
1. Choose one of your five senses. Write a poem that focuses on your chosen sense.
2. write a poem inspired by a color., 3. write a poem based on something that happened to you this week. it could be something life-changing or something seemingly ordinary. tune into that moment and paint a story about it., 4. listen to one of your favorite songs and write a poem directly after based on the feelings and emotions it brought about in you. let music inspire poetry., 5. write about a lesson that you recently learned. , 6. think of a friend or family member who has played a huge role in your life. write a poem about the relationship. , 7. write a poem about the life advice you would give to your younger self. , 8. write about traveling—whether it’s taking a road trip or flying in a plane or spending the afternoon on a train. write about the feelings you experience while being en route to somewhere new or familiar. , 9. recall a favorite holiday memory and tell your readers about it. , 10. create a gallery of your heart. take readers on a guided tour of what they might see there. , 11. recall one of the strangest dreams you’ve ever had and write about how it made you feel or write it out in as much detail as you can remember. , 12. write about a time that your illusions of someone or something were shattered. , 13. write about a favorite childhood toy, movie, book, etc. and tie it back to the present day. , 14. you are renovating a home. imagine that you are this home. what serves as your foundation what are you working on fixing what needs to be replaced and what makes your house a home describe., 15. write a haiku inspired by an element of nature. (haikus are three lines. the first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables)., 16. write a poem where you are observing another time period as a detached observer. (this could be a time from your past or from another decade or era)., 17. write a poem from the perspective of your favorite pet. , 18. imagine that you switched places with someone for a day. (like in freaky friday). what would you learn from the experience , 19. write a piece about body positivity, as though you are looking into the mirror and speaking to your reflection. , 20. if you could freeze time in one moment of your life, what would it be write a poem in honor of that memory. , 21. imagine you are on a run through nature. describe your inner dialogue as you run through the trail at sunrise. what do you reflect on as you run , 22. has there ever been a time when you felt like the hero of your life how about the villain write yourself as the hero, then write yourself as the villain. paint the perspectives of each and explore the different aspects of the story from each lens. .
Have you written a masterpiece yet? I’m sure you are well on your way to a creative breakthrough. I hope you enjoyed this exercise and the opportunity to try your hand at a few different topics.
Feel free to leave your poetry prompted poems in the comments for us to check out together. Also, if you have any prompts you would like to share, leave us a comment and let us know. Nothing is better than coming together as a group and inspiring some great writing!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Setting Reading and Writing Intentions for 2023
How To Beat Writing Burnout: 5 Tips to Help You Feel Inspired Again
8 Helpful Online Resources for Poets
- All Editing
- Manuscript Assessment
- Developmental Editing: Perfect your Manuscript
- Copy Editing
- Agent Submission Pack Review
- Our Editors
- All Courses
- Ultimate Novel Writing Course: Everything your Novel Needs
- Simply Self-Publish
- Creative Writing 101
- Self-Editing Your Novel
- All Mentoring
- Agent One-to-Ones
- The Writing Room
- NaNoWriMo Free Online Event Replay
- Festival of Writing
- Summer Festival
- Online Events
- Getting Published
- Self-Publishing
- Meet the Team
- Success Stories
- Jericho Writers Book Club
- Novel writing
- Publishing industry
- Self-publishing
- Success stories
- Writing Tips
- Featured Posts
- About Membership
- Films and Masterclasses
- Upcoming Events
- Video Courses
Non-fiction/Poetry ,
100 poetry prompts.
By Savannah Jackson
100 Phenomenal Poetry Prompts To Inspire Your Writing
Poetry is an expressive and compelling form of writing, but it can be hard to know where to begin. Between form, structure, and content, there are lots of factors to consider when you’re deciding how to write a poem . These poetry prompts will help you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and give you that all-important start.
These prompts are separated into 6 categories containing 15 prompts each, with one miscellaneous section at the end:
- Poetic form prompts
- Imagination focused prompts
- Nature/the outside prompts
- Media and objects as inspiration prompts
- Sentimental/reflective prompts
- Structure prompts
- Miscellaneous prompts
Sometimes coming up with a clear, exciting idea can be the hardest part of writing poetry. But luckily we’ve done it for you! So let’s get started with our poetry prompts.
Poetic Form Prompts
When it comes to writing poetry, deciding on the form you want to use is a great place to start. Whether you’re deciding between writing in free verse or using a regular rhyme pattern; wondering which era of poetry you want to reflect; or what type of poem (acrostic, sestina etc) you want to write; knowing the overall shape of your poem will help you get started. So here are some poetry prompts in the realm of poetic form.
- Write an acrostic poem using your name or that of a loved one.
- Write an ode to someone or something you love. Start with your favourite thing about them.
- Write a sonnet or rewrite one of Shakespeare’s or Petrarca’s. (Sonnets are 14 lines long and are traditionally written in iambic pentameter. But feel free to bend the rules a little; it’s your poem!)
- Write a poem in the style of, or in honour of, your favourite poet.
- Flick through a poetry book. Find a line which resonates you. Use that as your starting point and carry on from there.
- Write a poem that is also a letter. To your past or future self; to a friend; to an emotion; to a loved one who passed away.
- Write a poem in a ‘stream of consciousness’ style.
- Write in the style of a poetic era which interests you (romantic poetry, metaphysical poetry, Renaissance poetry).
- Write a sestina (an unrhyming poem consisting of 6 stanzas of 6 lines and a final 3 line stanza). To help you get started, write about the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning.
- What’s your favourite/lucky number? Write a poem consisting of that many lines.
- Write a poem listing and connecting mundane objects around you. Consider how you interact with them, and how they interact with each other.
- Write a poem without taking your pen off of the paper. Your starting point is your favourite vegetable.
- Write a haiku (5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, 5 syllables in the last line). For your starting point, use any word which interests you that begins with the same letter as your surname.
- Write a poem using the poetic ‘I’. Write about your day so far (feel free to exaggerate and embellish).
- Write a poem personifying whichever emotion you’re predominantly feeling right now.
Make this the year you finish your novel with our Ultimate Novel Writing Course
A One Year Course Running April 2023 – March 2024.
One-to-One Mentoring Transform your draft into a publishable manuscript with monthly feedback from renowned authors.
In Partnership with Peters Fraser + Dunlop Get your work seen by top literary agents, and benefit from our years of experience and industry contacts.
Imagination Focused Prompts
Poetry is very focused on images, which means you can truly let your imagination run wild when writing it. Be descriptive , have fun, and don’t be afraid to lean into the bizarre. These creative poetry writing prompts will help you craft unique, engaging poems.
- Pick a colour. Use the 5 senses to explore and inhabit it.
- Keep a notebook by your bed. When you wake up in the morning write down everything you can remember about your dreams. Then write a poem based on your notes.
- Write a poem about a mirror.
- What was your favourite fairy tale/fable as a child? Write a poem from the perspective of a secondary character (like Little Red Riding Hood’s Mum) or the antagonist (like the wolf).
- Think of a cliché which irritates you. Write a better version of it (think ‘show, don’t tell’ ), and build your poem from there.
- Think about your favourite scent. Write a poem depicting the things and activities it reminds you of (fresh laundry, apple picking, the ocean, blossom on the trees).
- Write about the aftermath. Of an argument, a panic attack, crying, a break-up, a dizzy spell, the best news of your life.
- If you were an animal what would you be? Write from an animal’s perspective.
- There are flowers on a doorstep. Write a poem about them from the perspective of the sender or the recipient (or both). Are they a celebratory gift (for a birthday, promotion, engagement etc)? An apology? A thank you present? Explore.
- Think of something bizarre or ridiculous you once saw or heard about (the dream you had about a 20-foot-tall flamingo playing the violin, or your niece’s conversation about the elves who helped her with her homework) and use that as the opening to a poem.
- Write a poem which takes place in a time of transition. On the bus home, in the moment between being awake and falling asleep, the day before starting a new job…
- If you were to create your own Coat of Arms, what would it look like? Consider what animal, what kind of plant/flower, what colours etc you would include. Write a poem describing the details and what they represent.
- Write a poem about a secret.
- Think about a big decision you made. Write a poem exploring what may have happened if you’d chosen differently.
- Write a poem about a terrible birthday.
Nature/The Outside Prompts
Classical poetry is what most people think of when it comes to poetry. Lush forests, budding flowers, babbling brooks. Some may think it cliché, but it’s a classic for a reason. And a good reminder to writers to get some fresh air every once in a while. Use this as a nudge to take a break, go for a walk, and who knows; maybe a half-finished poem will come back with you. Try these nature and outdoors focused writing prompts for poetry.
- Write about the month you’re in now. What comes to mind when you think about it/this season? Draw from memories, the five senses, seasonal activities.
- Which element (earth, air) is aligned with your star sign? Write a poem exploring it.
- Look out the window or go for a walk and admire the nature around you. What draws your attention? Write about it in as much detail as possible.
- Write a poem that starts with a tree. Think about what season you want it to be and thus what it looks like (are there leaves/blossom/bare branches)? Think about where you are in relation to it (sat underneath it, looking at it from a passing car, walking up a hill towards it). See where the poem takes you.
- Write about an open window. What kind of building is it in? What’s on either side of it? How high up is it? What does it represent?
- People watch as you gaze out of the window, or look at the people across from you as you walk down the street. Make up a life/story for them in your head. Craft a poem around it.
- Write about a bonfire or a fireplace. Are you someone who loves the smell of them, and how it lingers on your clothes afterwards? Or someone who hates that the smoke gets in your eyes and you have to get really close to them if you want to escape the surrounding cold?
- Write about water. The ocean, drinking a glass of water, washing yourself or the dishes, the rain.
- Where’s your favourite place to be? It could anything from the corner of your bedroom, to a small cafe in town, to an African island. Write a poem about it.
- Write a poem about the weather.
- We always want what we don’t have. Write about the season (autumn, spring etc) you wish you were experiencing now.
- Write a poem about being snowed in or having a power outage. Explore the intimacy of being in close quarters with others or trapped alone.
- When you’re out and about, pay attention to the words around you. Write a poem based on the tail end of a conversation you overheard, the slogan on someone’s t-shirt, or the curious sign in the shop window.
- Think of any old buildings near where you live or grew up. Contemplate who might have occupied them 50/100/200 years ago. Write about them.
- Write a poem from the perspective of someone sullen and sitting alone on a park bench.
Media And Objects As Inspiration Prompts
When trying to figure out how to write poetry that is compelling and meaningful, there are many available options. In a technological world, using media as inspiration is one of the simplest solutions. Let your interests converge and use the images/messages/ themes from your favourite forms of media to help you write your next poem.
- Write a poem based on the first news article which comes up on your TV/phone/the internet.
- Find a picture of you as a child. Write from the perspective of your child self. Look back at the picture from time to time as you write.
- Fill in a crossword puzzle or other word game. Write a poem using as many of the words from it as possible.
- Write a poem about your favourite book.
- Think about an item of clothing or an accessory (the t-shirt that’s worn and well loved, the dress you wore every week when you were in your 30s, the necklace that’s been in your family for generations) that means a lot to you. Write about it. Think about all the places you went and emotions you felt when you wore it. Conversely, personify the object and write a poem about what it experienced with you on those occasions.
- Write a poem about or from the perspective of one of your favourite (or least favourite!) characters from a book/TV show/movie.
- Listen to a song which you enjoy/resonates with you deeply. Dance, close your eyes; do whatever comes naturally. Once it’s finished, sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Think about a key lyric, how it makes you feel, or what your experience was like the first time you heard it.
- Pick a photo you love, your favourite piece of art, or search for interesting images online (volcanoes, Victorian furniture, classical paintings). Write a poem responding to the image.
- Watch the trailer for an upcoming film you’re eager to see. Write a poem based on an interesting moment, or in response to it.
- Think about a memorable concert, play, or fair you attended as a child. Write as though you’re experiencing it now.
- Pick a quote that resonates with you/which you admire. It could be an old adage, something your parents told you, or from a famous writer. Ponder over it for a while, and then write about or in response to it.
- What’s the oldest object you own? When did you get it? What does it mean to you? Write about it in detail.
- Write a poem set in a school. You can recall your own school experience to help you, entirely make it up, or use a scene from a TV show or film as inspiration.
- If you keep a journal, write a poem based on one of your journal entries. Pick an older one (such as the entry you wrote exactly a year ago today) so that you’re a little distanced from what you were experiencing then. Reflect. Contemplate. Use the power of hindsight.
- Spend five minutes or so on a social media or gaming app. Jot down any words or images which interest you or evoke some kind of response in you. Use them to help shape your poem.
Sentimental/Reflective Prompts
Poetry writing can be very reflective and personal. When you’re in need of inspiration , sometimes the best place to start is your own experience. Whether you favour poetry that is sentimental and melancholy, or nostalgic and exuberant, these prompts for poetry will help you out.
- Write something that you aren’t ready to say out loud yet.
- Write about the age you are now; the stereotypes of your demographic, how comfortable you are with your current age, the joys and sorrows it has bought you.
- Think of a really happy day/experience you had in your childhood. Maybe it was when you made a new friend, or read a great book, or went on a trip to the fair. Write a poem describing your unadulterated joy.
- Write about the experience of losing something dear to you.
- Write about someone who taught you/helped you grow but who wasn’t your teacher, parent, or caregiver.
- Think about a memorable birthday you once had. Write a poem about the first one which comes to mind.
- Write a poem about a nightmare or a ‘there’s a monster under the bed’ type fear which you had as a child.
- Write a poem to/about someone, addressing the things you regret not telling them.
- What was your favourite toy/game as child? Write about the devotion you had to it. Are there any parallels between it and your favourite hobbies/passions now?
- Write about a small random thing which brings you joy (your favourite cup of tea, your cat running towards the door to meet you when you come home, the smell of a cinnamon scented candle).
- Write about a haircut/hairstyle or sense of style you once had that differs from how you present yourself today. Who was that version of you? In which ways are you different now?
- Write a poem about a theme or topic which is important to you (animal rights, mental health, education) without explicitly naming it.
- What does home mean to you? Write a poem ruminating on it as a concept and a physical space.
- Write a poem about a cultural moment which resonated with you (old or current).
- Write about a time when you were overlooked. How did you react? Would you respond differently now?
Structure Prompts
The structure of a poem is as important as the words which it contains. And it can be just as meaningful. Starting with the outline of what you want your poem to be like gives you some restrictions so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the myriad of things a poem can be about, while also giving you the freedom to explore your ideas. Here are some creative writing poetry prompts associated with structure.
- Open any book. Write a poem based on the first word which draws your attention.
- Pick a number between 5 and 100. Write a poem containing that exact number of words.
- Make a copy of one of your favourite poems and adjust it to make it your own. Rearrange stanzas/lines, cut out words, change the layout, remove every 5 th word and see what happens.
- Using a random name generator- or just flick through a dictionary/thesaurus/book- come up with 5 random words and craft a poem around them.
- Write a poem without using the letter e.
- Write a poem with each line representing a year of your life (you can do it in calendar years e.g. 1989, 1990, 1991 etc, or in ages e.g. aged 29, 30, 31) and the key memories/emotions/experiences from that time.
- If you speak a second language, try writing a poem in that language instead.
- Write using a different medium. If you usually type your poems on a computer, use pen and paper instead. Or try writing on a whiteboard, in coloured market on a huge piece of paper, using scrabble tiles, in chalk on your garden path, or on a typewriter.
- Write a poem with nouns which start with the letter of your first name.
- Find a poem which you have written but aren’t satisfied with. Read through it, and try and figure out what you don’t like about it. Then, either pick out a line you like and use that as a starting point, or rewrite the poem focusing on its key themes/thesis.
- Write a poem using commas as the only form of punctuation.
- Write with a friend! Agree on an approximate poem length (for instance, 16 lines). Choose someone to start by sending the first line to the other person. They then send the second line back in response. Continue until your poem is complete.
- Write a poem without any full stops.
- Pick up a pen and a paper and free write. About your day, your state of mind, anything. Set a timer for 5-15 minutes and keep writing the entire time. Don’t correct your spelling or cross things out. Just. Keep. Writing. After your time is up, go back through and circle/highlight/underline words or phrases which you like. Use one or two of them and begin crafting a poem.
- Write a poem structured as a poetic transcript of a story a loved one/relative is telling. Use spacing and punctuation to indicate pauses, and include fillers.
Miscellaneous Prompts
There are so many different types of poetry that it can be hard to define as a writing form. And hard to write prompts for, apparently! So here are some extra prompts which refused to be defined by any one category, perfect for the poet whose imagination cannot be contained.
- Write about silence. Is it eerie, peaceful, anxiety provoking? Explore.
- When was the last time you danced? Where were you? Were you alone/who were you with? How did you feel? Write about it.
- Write a poem about any traditions you have, and whether or not you’re attached to them.
- Think of an act of injustice/news story which upsets you. Write about its intricacies and why it angers/saddens you.
- Listen. What’s the most prominent sound you hear? Write about it.
- Write about a part of the body. Any one! Explore all the things about it which you take for granted and the ways in which it brings you joy (arms for hugging, legs for dancing, eyes for watching the sunset etc).
- Write a poem exploring the etymology of your name and your relationship to it.
- Do you have any physical injuries? Write a poem about how you got them and, if relevant, how they affect you now.
- Write a poem about a coincidence that you experienced.
- Write a poem about the gestures/facially expressions you frequently use and what they communicate. How do the people around you use gestures?
Using Poetry Prompts
We hope these poetry prompts give you some great inspiration for new avenues to explore with your writing. Many of these prompts can be used again and again if adapted slightly. You can use them as the basis for a brief freewriting session, to help edit or focus poems you’ve already written, or to help you develop your skills in an area of poetry you’ve been working on (maybe you’re trying to become an expert in all things sonnets). Feel free to adjust these poetry prompts in any way which suits you; we find that a shift in perspective often helps. Happy writing!
Jericho Writers is a global membership group for writers , providing everything you need to get published. Keep up with our news, membership offers, and updates by signing up to our newsletter . For more writing articles, take a look at our blog page .
About the author
Savannah is a Digital Content Assistant at Jericho Writers. She has a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick. In her free time, she writes poetry, practices yoga, and reads voraciously.
Most popular posts in...
Advice on getting an agent.
- How to get a literary agent
- Literary Agent Fees
- How To Meet Literary Agents
- Tips To Find A Literary Agent
- Literary agent etiquette
- UK Literary Agents
- US Literary Agents
Help with getting published
- How to get a book published
- How long does it take to sell a book?
- Tips to meet publishers
- What authors really think of publishers
- Getting the book deal you really want
- 7 Years to Publication
Privacy Overview
100 Poetry Prompts
by Melissa Donovan | Jan 24, 2023 | Poetry Prompts | 4 comments
100 poetry prompts to motivate and inspire you.
My first love in writing was poetry. In my early teens, writing poetry was a creative and cathartic way to explore my ideas and vent my emotions. Writing poetry was accessible — all I needed was some paper and a pen. It didn’t even require a huge investment of time. I scrawled words onto the page as fast as they flew through my mind, often writing a poem in just a few minutes. It was an exhilarating and satisfying way to express myself.
In time, I learned that poetry had many benefits beyond personal expression. I found myself searching for the perfect meaning, rhyme, and meter in my word choices. I counted out syllables and contemplated line breaks. I experimented with form and structure.
It wasn’t just about dumping my thoughts and emotions onto paper anymore. Writing poetry got me thinking about language. It made me aware of writing as a craft, not just as a form of self-expression or communication.
To this day, I find that there are some aspects of writing that are best learned through the study and practice of poetry, and poetry prompts can spark an idea that inspires a poem.
After all, the blank page can be intimidating. If we establish some constraints (such as writing a particular form of poetry) or put some guidelines in place (writing about a particular topic), the blank page often becomes less overwhelming.
- Write a poem about colors without ever naming any colors in the poem.
- Write a poem that tells a story.
- Use the following words in a poem: under, thrust, harbor, wind, prance, fall.
- Write a poem about the following image: an empty stadium with litter strewn about and one sneaker on the stadium stairs.
- Write three haiku .
- Write a poem about your first friend.
- Write a poem that could be the lyrics to a song.
- Use the following words in a poem: fire, spice, burn, chill, tangled.
- Write a poem about the following image: an elderly couple lying in lawn chairs, looking at the stars from their backyard.
- Write a poem in iambic pentameter (each line is five metrical feet, each foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable: da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM).
- Write a poem about a wild animal.
- Write a poem that contains dialogue.
- Use the following words in a poem: waves, cliffs, dance, pound, rise.
- Write a poem about the following image: a person kneeling at the edge of a lake, peering into the water.
- Write a sonnet .
- Write a poem about garbage (waste).
- Write a poem that has a perfect rhyme at the end of each line.
- Use the following words in a poem: dirt, squirm, fingers, sprout, shine.
- Write a poem about the following image: an old, dilapidated barn with a caved-in roof and rotting walls.
- Write a sestina .
- Write a poem about the cosmos.
- Write a poem that contains a surprising twist.
- Use the following words in a poem: feet, bees, violet, moss, clunk.
- Write a poem about the following image: a person (or animal) looking out a fogged-up window on a snowy day.
- Write a blackout poem (start with a page of printed text and selectively black-out words; the remaining, unredacted text is the poem).
- Write a poem about your country, city, or state.
- Write a poem that contains no adverbs or adjectives.
- Use the following words in a poem: hunger, curl, click, drill, run.
- Write a poem about the following image: a ladder leaning against the side of a massive tree.
- Write an ode (a tribute to someone or something).
- Write a poem about your greatest accomplishment, personal or professional.
- Write a poem that does not contain any rhymes.
- Use the following words in a poem: cotton, float, foam, fizz, glam.
- Write a poem about the following image: a bag of groceries sitting on the ground in a parking lot.
- Write a palindrome poem .
- Write a poem about your deepest fear, or write about courage.
- Write a poem that contains six numbers but not the number six.
- Use the following words in a poem: bow, shoulder, sprawl, whisper, brush.
- Write a poem about the following image: a table piled with delicious food.
- Write a tanka (five lines, with the following syllabic pattern: 5-7-5-7-7).
- Write a poem about dancing.
- Write a poem that engages each of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
- Use the following words in a poem: spin, calculate, lie, march, retreat.
- Write a poem about the following image: a phoenix rising from the ashes.
- Write a rondel .
- Write a poem about your future.
- Write a poem that uses an ABABB rhyme scheme.
- Use the following words in a poem: hail, port, send, kneel, salute.
- Write a poem about the following image: a mountain range seen from a great distance.
- Write an acrostic poem (the first letters of each line spell out a word).
- Write a poem about the weather.
- Write a poem that contains internal rhymes but no end rhymes.
- Use the following words in a poem: meet, time, basket, neon, puddle.
- Write a poem about the following image: a wild baby animal crouching in the brush, watching its mother from a distance.
- Write a concrete (shape) poem (a poem that forms a shape on the page, which can be simple, abstract, or complex).
- Write a poem about a momentous, life-changing event.
- Write a poem that has exactly one hundred words.
- Use the following words in a poem: book, carpet, stick, hide, wander.
- Write a poem about the following image: an assembly line in a factory that produces home-assistant robots.
- Write a poem that has at least four instances of repetition.
- Write a poem about entertainment.
- Write a poem that contains a running metaphor.
- Use the following words in a poem: satellite, bunker, can, water, dig.
- Write a poem about the following image: unusual footprints on a trail in the forest.
- Write a ghazal .
- Write a poem about childhood.
- Write a poem that explores the concept of duality.
- Use the following words in a poem: motherboard, lava, smolder, flow, sear.
- Write a poem about the following image: gum, mirror, pen, speak, fan.
- Write a list poem (for example, a poem that is also a grocery list).
- Write a poem about the most thrilling experience you’ve ever had.
- Write a poem that is set in a particular time and place.
- Use the following words in a poem: lavender, horn, gold, hooves, trot.
- Write a poem about the following image: a notebook that is partially burnt.
- Write a prose poem (a poem written in paragraphs rather than in verse).
- Write a poem about lacking something essential.
- Write a poem that is abstract or open to interpretation.
- Use the following words in a poem: barn, skyscraper, bicycle, climb, stack.
- Write a poem about the following image: a crew of workers eating lunch.
- Write a poem of three stanzas, each with three lines, and include the number “three” somewhere in the poem.
- Write a poem about a journey.
- Write a poem that includes onomatopoeia (words that sound like what they mean — for example, hiss ).
- Use the following words in a poem: drink, desire, switch, swell, relish.
- Write a poem about the following image: a polar bear on a tropical island.
- Write a rondelet .
- Write a poem about an ordinary day.
- Write a poem that includes at least three instances of alliteration, including one each of assonance and consonance.
- Use the following words in a poem: buckle, bend, kick, pot, shift.
- Write a poem about the following image: an empty raft floating down a river.
- Write a limerick (five lines with rhyme scheme AABBA and a naughty attitude).
- Write a poem about building something.
- Write a poem that contains a pun.
- Use the following words in a poem: squeeze, type, mission, gate, blast.
- Write a poem about the following image: a bird soaring through sky.
- Write a cinquain (five lines, with two syllables in the first line, four in the second, six in the third, eight in the fourth, and two syllables in the final line).
- Write a poem about gaining something you’ve never had before.
- Write a poem that is optimistic and hopeful.
- Use the following words in a poem: airplane, jungle, needle, hike, signal.
- Write a poem about the following image: a child exiting the library with a stack of books.
- Write a magic 9 poem (nine lines with rhyme scheme ABACADABA).
Did These Poetry Prompts Inspire You?
Which of these poetry prompts inspired you? Were you moved to write a poem? How often do you write poetry? Do you regularly use poetry prompts? What’s your favorite thing about writing poetry?
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below, and keep writing poetry.
I love these poetry prompts! They’re really inspiring and I’m looking forward to trying out a few of them.
Thanks! I’m glad you love them!
Thanks for this. It’s just what I need. In December I decided to write a poem a day for a year. So far I’ve managed it;some long, some short (haiku, limericks, or just a short 4 line poem). I now have almost 60 poems! My idea is to publish them in 2 books January to June, and July to December so people can read a poem a day. I’ve written poetry since my teens, like you, but sadly, most have been lost. I wrote some more, and just before Christmas, they were released as a book. It made a change from novels.
What an exciting project: a poem a day. I like it!
Submit a Comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Subscribe and get The Writer’s Creed graphic e-booklet, plus a weekly digest with the latest articles on writing, as well as special offers and exclusive content.
Recent Posts
- The Benefits of Keeping a Reading Journal
- A Few Good Writing Tips to Keep You on Your Toes
- Writing Resources: The Crafty Poet
- Creative Writing Prompts That Explore Society and Culture
- Poetry Writing Exercise: Creative Wordplay
Write on, shine on!
Pin It on Pinterest
- Words with Friends Cheat
- Wordle Solver
- Word Unscrambler
- Scrabble Dictionary
- Anagram Solver
- Wordscapes Answers
Make Our Dictionary Yours
Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get:
- Grammar and writing tips
- Fun language articles
- #WordOfTheDay and quizzes
By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .
We'll see you in your inbox soon.
41 Poetry Prompts to Inspire Fresh, Vivid Writing
- DESCRIPTION poetry writing prompt example
- SOURCE energyy / iStock / Getty Images Plus
- PERMISSION Used under Getty Images license
Writing poetry is a wonderful way to express yourself while developing your creative writing skills. Challenge yourself to craft a new work of poetry using one (or more!) of these intriguing poetry prompts. Get inspired to stretch your skills and come up with a fresh poem that paints a vivid picture for readers to enjoy.
Emotional Poetry Prompts
Some of the best poems focus on conveying emotions. When your writing can convey emotions while also causing readers to experience strong emotional reactions to deep poem topics, you'll know that your work is truly vivid. Don't retell stories as old as time; instead, craft emotional poetry with a modern twist to keep your writing fresh.
- Choose a strong emotion, such as joy, love, grief, or fear. Use descriptive language to craft a poem that conveys the emotion in vivid terms.
- Craft a poem that conveys the hope and promise of the first person in a family to complete a college education.
- Write a poem that conveys the trials and tribulations of a parent who struggles to provide for his or her family due to chronic underemployment.
- Select an example of injustice in the world and craft a poem intended to persuade others to join in the struggle to right past or ongoing wrongs for justice.
- Reflect on a particularly sad experience you have had. Write a poem that describes the emotions evoked by reflecting on this occasion.
- Incorporate anthropomorphism into your poetry by writing from the perspective of wildlife, plants or elements of the environment impacted by climate change.
- Write a poem about the rifts that can develop with families or formerly close friendships that have been torn apart due to extreme political or religious differences.
- Who hasn't experienced disappointment? Write about what it's like to be truly disappointed and the lessons that can be gleaned from the experience.
Dark Poetry Prompts
Poems don't have to be emotional to be an example of vivid writing. After all, Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven is among the most well-known poems of all time. One of these dark poetry writing prompts might be just the inspiration you need. Consider incorporating some dark words for more descriptive writing into your poem.
- Watch a current or recent news story about a tragic event and write a poem that will transform readers into the event itself and its aftermath.
- Imagine that you were the last person left on Earth. Express what that would be like in the form of a poem.
- Put yourself in the position of being a feared or despised mythical creature, such as a vampire, monster or zombie. Write from the creature's perspective.
- Write a poem from the perspective of those who survive a worst-case scenario event, such as a zombie apocalypse, complete economic collapse or nuclear war.
- What if the villains prevailed in a superhero movie? Express what that would be like in the form of a poem.
- What if no one could see or hear you? Write a poem about the isolation of being in the world, yet completely disconnected.
- If you were a ghost and could haunt someone's house, what would you do? Tell the tale in a poem.
- Consider the impact of losing your home and possessions due to fire, a natural disaster or war. Share the experience in poetry.
- Put yourself in the situation of being incarcerated in solitary confinement. Write a poem about that experience.
Upbeat Poetry Prompts
Fun, upbeat poems can be just as fresh and vivid as those that focus on deep emotional topics that convey darkness. Spread a little sunshine with the poems you're inspired to write by these cheerful poetry writing prompts.
- Think about the plot of your favorite book. Write a short poem that conveys the main plot points.
- Write a cute rhyme that's designed to teach a life lesson to little kids. For example, find a fun way to teach about kindness, bedtime or basic kid-focused hygiene.
- Write a poem to your pets about the funny things they do and the many ways they bring happiness to your life.
- Peek in the pantry at your house and write an entertaining ode to the various food items you find stored inside.
- Visualize yourself outdoors on a beautiful spring day and write a poem about what it feels like. Use some spring words that make your vocabulary bloom .
- Imagine that your wildest dream has just come true. Write a poem about what that means to you.
- What's your favorite hobby? Describe the basics of it and illustrate why you love it in a brief poem.
- What is the impact of good deeds? Write a poem about doing good or benefitting from the good deeds of others.
Silly Poetry Prompts
Poetry doesn't have to be serious. You just might come up with your most creative poems when writing about a topic that's just plain silly. Whether you come up with a funny limerick or another type of poem that makes people laugh, this type of writing will put your creativity to the test.
- Write an ode to your favorite snack. Whether you love popcorn, candy bars or ice cream, the resulting poem is sure to be hilarious.
- Write from the perspective of a pet dog or cat, telling other pets what a "day in the life" is like in your home.
- What could be more vivid than writing a poem about color? Pen a poem about your favorite color.
- If you were weather, what kind would you be? Would you be snow, rain, wind, or some other kind of weather? Write a poem from that perspective!
- Come up with a cute poem that provides interesting illustrations of each day of the week.
- What if there was no gravity? Craft a poem that tells the tale of a world where gravity doesn't exist!
- Did you know that every mammal is covered with hair? Write a poem about how there is hair everywhere.
- Who hasn't fantasized about being able to fly? Assume you can fly like a bird and convey in a poem what that would be like.
Love Poem Writing Prompts
People are always looking for new ways to express love for other people . Writing an original poem is definitely a fresh way to share your feelings of love. You may want to include some examples of love idioms .
- The love between parents and their children is so unique. Write a poem that conveys your love for our parents or kids.
- Romantic love is a special experience. Write a poem that incorporates romantic words and sweet ways to describe your love for that special someone.
- Love isn't always reciprocated. Writing a poem about your own experience with unrequited love can help you cope and inspire others to have hope.
- There is nothing quite like a first love. Even if that love is long gone in your life, remember the feelings and pen a moving reflection.
- There is nothing so true as one's love for a lifelong friend. This powerful platonic love deserves a verse of its own.
- Pretend that your closest friend is getting married. Write a poem to share your wishes for lifelong love in his or her life.
- Siblings have a unique bond that's defined by familial love. Set aside any sibling rivalry to write a poem all about brotherly and sisterly love.
- Do you have a pet that owns your heart? Pen a poem about the unique love you feel for your furry, finned or scaly pal.
Download a PDF of Poetry Prompts
Looking for a printable list of poetry prompts? Download the PDF below. It's filled with selections from the poetry prompt lists featured above. Keep it handy for easy reference when you're ready to write!
Poetry Prompts
Choose your favorite poem prompt.
The poem prompts above can be a great source of inspiration to anyone seeking to craft fresh, vivid original poems. Whether you're writing a poem for your own enjoyment or if you're a student seeking to complete an assignment, use these great prompts for inspiration. For even more ideas, review these creative writing prompts . You may also want to explore some unique journal prompts . After all, inspiration can come from anywhere.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Poetry ideas - Write a poem about: · Night-time · A particular color · Being underwater · A person whose life you're curious about · Your mother's perfume · Falling
Poetry Ideas and Creative Writing Prompts · Rain, snow, or a storm · An animal you think is beautiful or strange · Your parents or children · How a kiss feels · The
50 Poem Topics And Ideas To Help You Write Your Next Poem. 1. Nature. The beauty and mystery of nature can be a great source of inspiration for
hammer poetry prompt idea Use this hammer as inspiration for a poetry prompt idea
A mountain · A river · An oasis (unexpected space) · Your favorite cozy room · A massive indoor space · An intriguing love/hate space · Your most
1. Choose one of your five senses. · 2. Write a poem inspired by a color. · 3. Write a poem based on something that happened to you this week. · 4.
Write an acrostic poem using your name or that of a loved one. Write an ode to someone or something you love. Start with your favourite thing about them. Write
100 Poetry Prompts · Write a poem about colors without ever naming any colors in the poem. · Write a poem that tells a story. · Use the following
Love Poem Writing Prompts · The love between parents and their children is so unique. · Romantic love is a special experience. · Love isn't always reciprocated.
Jan 2, 2023 - Explore Jamie's board "Poem Topics" on Pinterest. See more ideas about creative writing prompts, writing promts, daily writing prompts.