I've taken a short break this month from my fictional writing to participate in fellow ANWA (American Night Writers Association) member Stephanie Abney's April Poetry Challenge. During the month of April, which is National Poetry Month, Stephanie gives instructions from her blog at http://www.stephaniesaysso.blogspot.com for writing a new type of poem for each day. Needless to say, I've learned so much from her while still being taken back to my educational years when I struggled to figure out what Emily Dickinson was saying in her poignant words.

Here are just a few samples of my own writing under Stephanie's guidance:

(Nonet Poem)

Why is writing a story so fun
But writing a poem takes more thought.
Stories capture ideas and
Create a nice picture
While poems are like birds
In flight. Oh, if
I could then
Write My
Heart.

(Haiku)

As I watch the sun
Go down over the mountain
I'm glad to be here.

Pink and orange light
Vibrant coloring, so bright
Hold my heart so dear.

(Rictameter Poem)

Morning
A new light peeks
Over the horizon
But for some reason my eyelids
Don't want to open and meet the new day.
I stayed up too late last night and
Now I'm paying the price.
Yawning again
Morning

Finally, this is one of my favorite attempts at poetry this month, an Easter poem.

What was the eve like
On the day that Christ died?
Did the Earth shake its head
Wanting to hide
From the evils of men
And the weaknesses therein?
What was it like
To see Jesus rise again?

For more poetry samples, please visit http://www.lauralwalker.com