As promised in my previous blog post, here is the third set of poems I’ve written for the 14th annual Poem-A-Day Challenge as organized by Writer’s Digest. Even though every day has its own unique prompt, I am focusing on “travel” as an overarching theme because I’ve missed traveling so much this past year.

Day 11 PAD Prompt: Write a poem that incorporates a prime number. You could include a prime number in the title of your poem or use one in the poem itself. Or write a poem that has a prime number of lines per stanza or for the entire poem. A list of prime numbers up to 100: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97).

UNDECIDEDI can’tsay if Ihave a favoritelocation, destination,or particular holiday, a momentthat outshines any others – the prettiest vista,the grandest day out, a favorite route or footpath to ramble down.To scrutinize, to label, to rank would downplay the brilliance of each visit,all differently nuanced – the time of day, the conversation, the cascade of light on the hills,what flowered in the garden, the big news, the lost tooth – with subtle changes that make every moment its own masterpiece.Poetic Form of Choice: Lines with a syllable count in ascending prime numbers up to 29 (forced formatting may cause the longer lines to overflow)© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 12 PAD Prompt: Write a poem using at least three of the following six words: convict, great, play, race, season, and voice. Extra credit for using all six words.

LUNCHTIME IDLINGIn the shade of a great cathedral, I sitwhile children play on its steps intemperatures strangely warm for the season.Ice cream tracks trickle down their chins.Overhead, pigeons race in a gyrating cluster,orbit compressing until they settle around mein conspiratorial fashion. With bobbing heads,they imply – what’s mine is theirs. Do share.Their coos fuse to one voice to convict meof my greed as I refuse to relinquishmy sandwich. The children frolic closer.The flock reshuffles, flutters, erupts into flight.Poetic Form of Choice: Free verse in quatrains with assonance and consonance© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 13 PAD Prompt: For this Two-for-Tuesday, write a lucky poem and/or write an unlucky poem.

LUCKLuck must arrive unbiddenOr won’t arrive at all;Like a recalcitrant feline,It scarpers when we call.Luck slinks and skirts, observingWith concentrated eyes—Only when we have ceased to lookWill it materialize.Poetic Form of Choice: The style of Emily Dickinson© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 14 PAD Prompt: Write a poem inspired by your immediate surroundings. This can include pencils, characters in books you can see, or things out the window.

DAILY REFRAINI gaze outside my windowon this revalescent day.One year ago, I sat here;since then, not much has changed.But still the world feels altered,foundations cracked and strained,the old routines disrupted,old habits un-sustained.Although my view is loopingthrough the hazy windowpane,collections and deliveriesrecurring in refrain,I know I’ll leave this room soonto abandon the mundaneand the view outside my windowon this revalescent day.Poetic Form of Choice: Quatrains with repeating end rhyme© 2021 F. E. Greene

Day 15 PAD Prompt: Take the phrase “(blank) Story,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include “Toy Story” and/or “Same Old Story.”

A RAMBLING STORYGolden stalks glimmerbeneath alabaster clouds—twilight burnishes the field,hedgerows enshrouded.Charlie rambles down the path;contentedly, I follow.Poetic Form of Choice: Sedoka (six lines with syllable count of 5/7/7/5/7/7)© 2021 F. E. Greene Charlie and I on an evening walk in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England.

It’s not too late for you to join in the fun! Follow this link to the Writer’s Digest website and see the details for the 2021 PAD Challenge.