Illustration by LW Lindquist. Used with permission.
No, you didn't misread that. This fun project debuted on April 1st (fitting), with a full entourage of ticklish chicken comics to inspire you, featuring favored poets such as Emily Chickenson and P.B. Shelly.
From "Love Poultry" and a "Poultry Reading" to "Poultry on Your Pillow" (a play on the upcoming Poem on Your Pillow Day) and more, there are plenty of chances for you to crack a smile over this one.
Readers are invited to scratch out their own poultry poems--serious or funny. Some will be chosen for feature on-site.
Here's an early entry from art business owner Maureen Doallas. References include lines from Carl Sandburg, Lewis Carroll, Philip Larkin, Amy Lowell, Richard Brautigan, and Jack Prelutsky:
Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens
Do you remember, I held empty hands to you
without a thought of eggs and bacon?
Stupid in candlelight, hearing rain,
waiting fulfillment. . .
It was all very simple:
Last night I dreamed of chickens.
Could three lines land you in Budapest? Indeed.
The exotic promise of this contest is not just penning a poem form that arose in the East, but also ushering yourself to the gorgeous Aria Hotel (if you happen to win the grand haiku prize) or a stay in the Poetry Room at The Library Hotel in New York City.
Who says writing poetry won't take you anywhere?
Poets from 43 states and 12 countries will create experimental poetry in honor of National Poetry Month as part of the Found Poetry Review's PoMoSco (short for Poetry Month Scouts) project. Participating poets will earn digital merit badges for completing poetry challenges on the PoMoSco website. The challenges will generate more than 6,000 poems by April 30th when the project concludes!
Unfortunately, if you're not one of the "chosen poets," you can't earn your badge. But, hey, who says you can't follow along on Twitter and use the prompts for your own fun around the National Poetry Month campfire?
This one is fun for both the daily prompts that will sometimes surprise you and the chance to watch Robert Lee Brewer write a poem a day. Here's a poem from day one's prompt (write a resistance poem):
if i pull away
it's so i'll snap right back
on a city street
in a memory
i'm not in love
but how can i trust
i turned my head away
but i never left
Bring your most fitting denim poems and poetic pictures to this project that comes with the potential promise of being published in the e-book Casual: A Little Book of Jeans Poems and Pictures. The challenge is to "go casual" with poetry but still create excellent poems. Writing in form might be the way to go. Or, do a little research about a jeans company or something unique you can relate to the concept of jeans (puns allowed).
Here's an excerpt of an early entry by Richard Maxson, along with a fun custom photo:
Bring a friend so the two
of you can take advantage
of the sale, only three days
left to get a pair of Fibonacci
Jeans at this amazing price--
only five dollars each, and if
you act now, the first eight
people to purchase any
quantity before the thirteenth
of April, will get a gift certificate
to Forever 21, our partner...
Photo by Richard Maxson via Twitter. Used with permission.
That's it. Five cool, fun (and funny!) National Poetry Month Projects. If you've got more leads for National Poetry Month project fun, let us know in the comments.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.