In the sketching workshop I participated last week we got a funny task one day. We could choose an “actor” from a bucket full with flee market figures and then invent a story to tell why the place where we were staying had a certain name… Honestly, we had so much fun and in the evening it was a treat to listen to all the creative stories people came up with…
I was wondering if that could be translated into poetry as well…. so here’s the idea…
Choose one or more characters from the below list and build them somehow into your poem…
Obelix, a dragon, a crocodile, an old tractor, a bat, a spaceship, Neptune, Superman, a greek god or godess, a chicken, a black swan, a nutcracker, a man who can’t stop clapping, a cup with orange flowers painted on it, a black cat, a dog with yellow teeth, a bluesman playing the saxophone, a violinist, Hänsel&Gretel, the Icequeen, an old liquor bottle, a wheelbarrow, a needle in a haystack, a raven, a blue car, a metronome…
Then tell us a story…
If you’re up for an extra challenge, tell us about the old man, the moon and a little bat who meet at night here in the pub for a game of skat sometimes… you never saw them…? see, they’re a bit shy.. usually but… maybe if you’re quiet… and maybe you can even tell us what they’re talking about… smiles
dVerse 
Claudia, this is a fun prompt. At first I was stymied, but once I got in the spirit of it I really enjoyed it. Thanks for stretching my imagination, Claudia!!
glad you enjoyed it mary… when our workshopleader brought up the task i was a bit challenged as well first – but it def. is a lot of fun
I’m not sure why this prompt called to me so strongly. I suspect I could go on and on writing more poem. The few I’ve seen so far are so fun which is why I posted a second one since the first was a bit melancholy. Thanks, Claudia.
your second one was def fun v….
nice… write on…smiles… over to read the second in a minute
And I had to do a melancholy one too…
Victoria, I think of the two I most enjoyed the melancholy one! It really resonated with me.
I thought it would be more difficult – but once you started to write it was lots of fun… Currently watching Midsomer Murders.. So I will be going my rounds later…
huh, not familiar with that one…but looked it up…and seems pretty cool…
see you in a bit bjorn
haha…i can tell you had fun with your björn… and have fun watching midsomer murders… ha – sounds thrilling
I’m so sorry…words would not simply listen to me & poured & poured almost drowning me..it’s so long & out of control….thanks Claudia for this fun prompt…
ha. i like out of control…be over in a few min…
claudia will be here in a bit….
ha – i too like out of control.. can’t wait to read..
Sumana, I really thought yours was inspired. I was impressed with what you did….using so many words. You made me smile.
ooops..it’s quite late..see you all tomorrow morning… 🙂
sleep well
fun…i love telling stories…and making up stories…and being creative…
had a lot of fun with this one claudia…and sounds like the trip was fun
as well….
ah i know that you love storytelling… it would be so fun if we could all meet up and read the poems to each other… how cool would that be
that would be very cool…
good evening… just coming into the door and so looking forward to reading what you come up with… smiles
Amazingly enough they caught the killer… so now I’m ready for the rounds
oh i’m glad they caught him… you have no idea what kind of sissy i am when it comes to thrillers….
Interesting process and jumble of words Claudia ~ I’m still in Florida at the moment but will see if I can think of stories ~ Have a wonderful day ~
oh nice… enjoy florida!! and if those words pour in, don’t hold them back… smiles
hope you are having fun…i miss florida….actually i miss the fruit trees in the back yard the most…ha….mmm and cuban sandwiches….
hmmm… cuban sandwiches sounds almost as good as cuban cigars – ha
oh they are amazing….there is a place in ybor city…
and if you know the right person a cuban cigar for dessert…
smiles.
Very hot here, I almost forgot how summer feels like ~ Have to try that cuban sandwiches but very happy with grilled burgers, ribs & chicken wings ~ I have story in my head but editing it still, smiles ~
glad you made it…
and cuban coffee…oh if you get a chance…
it will wire you, so go with a very small cup…
usually they drink it out of little thimble cups
Cuban sandwiches are amazing…Cuban cigars…smoke gets in my eyes…;-)
Grace, enjoy Florida. I always love my visits there.
Hi Grace! I’m in Florida too–only I live here:-) you should come by! Fort Lauderdale, Miami?
oh i got to keep that in mind next year when we come down…
Hi Sara, We are staying in The Villages, Sumter County ~ Maybe next time, we will drive south, all the way to Fort Lauderdale & Miami ~
Hi Grace, where are you in Florida and how long will you be staying? I live in Florida and I would love to see you if it’s possible.
Okay, I just saw your reply to Sara. Maybe next time. Sara, we should get together 🙂
alright poets… time for some beauty sleep… will catch up with you in the a.m.
happy storytelling… smiles
sleep well…
Surely mine counts as a fairy tale poem. My character wasn’t on the list, but I’m pretty sure it works for your purpose.
you come up with the most amazing names….smiles
LOL … Why do you think I’m always making new blogs?! I come up with these awesome names and HAVE to use them! 🙂
hmmm….This sounds like fun. I will write something cool. Oh! Wait! I just did…finished. Check it out. 🙂
could you ever write something uncool
Of course I read the list of possible characters, but my imagination would not let me stick with the Claudia playground; for some reason when we divest from the serious, & lapse into fantasy, nonsense or comedic overtones–my mind goes off like a rocket. Thanks for injecting fun into the beginning of this week.
Ha, Glenn, I did enjoy what you did with the words. But then again, I expected nothing less than such unique creativity from you.
You got me puzzled at first, Claudia, but once I thought of that old dragon my words flowed. It was good fun!
Ha, those dragons can be inspiring, can’t they? Cool poem, Gabriella.
the dragons do it for me as well…ha…i grew up devouring books about them….they just havent made it to my poems yet…
Oh Claudia – so sorry I’m not in today. I even researched SKAT but we’re at doctors all week. Trying to get a handle on where Ron is right now. Mixed up results so far, so we (he) must see a slew of new doctors to find out exactly what is going on. I saw mine as well and then it just doesn’t get sorted. I took computer to offices, and then folks started talking to me.
I really wanted in. This topic is so up my alley. As was Brian’s form…sigh. I’m trying to get some ideas…just my brain seems to be in neutral and not even doodles are coming out the idea factory. Maybe soon. My apologies to you and all the team.
G.
oh gay, i hope they figure out what is going on…take care of life…it is what is needed for now…no apologies needed….see you soon friend…
i do hope they gonna find the right treatment and like bri said – no apologies needed… life def. comes first…
You do what you can, when you can. Sometimes life gets too complicated and we have to step back from inessentials.
Claudia this is so much fun! Can’t wait to read everyone’s take on this. Sweet dreams 🙂
sweet dreams sara..fixed your link…
Hi, Claudia. 🙂 This prompt is very interesting and lots of fun. 🙂 I look forward to what the pub people have written. 🙂
smiles… just waking and curious as well what the overnites have come up with… good morning…
good morning.
yawn.
see you in the morning.
smiles.
smiles… i yawn as well… sleep well
Forgot to link this earlier! What fun. I’ll be back to read …
smiles… good to see you susan
Now that I have read a few, I see that I forgot to make the things into characters. I shall start over!
Done! It is not clever, but it’s something that has been on my mind AND it has a character in it.
Hmm..i found a dragon in my reservoir of words..today..and decided to drop him off here tonight!
dragons are always most welcome in the pub…smiles
alright… off to work… cut my hair yesterday… fairly short and still don’t recognize me immediately when i walk past a mirror…smiles
see you in the evening…
Ha.. that’s a shock when you wonder who’s on the other side of the mirror… a great image to use in a poem btw.
picture….need a picture….
smiles
Some magical responses to this wonderful prompt. Mine is pedestrian in the extreme, and now that I’ve read these fantastical story poems, I shall have another go to see if I still have an imagination lurking somewhere within.
This was fun. I love the quirkiness of it.
@Hamish Gunn, I thought your poem My Olive Grove was brilliant but I will be damned if I could work out how to say that on your site. So I am saying it here.
couldn’t find the comment box neither… maybe you can give us a hint hamish
@ Hamish, But I shared it on FB all the same. 🙂
oh what fun I had for this prompt, Claudia..i enjoyed writing for this a lot:)
oh i can tell you had fun… and you wove all the characters in …so cool
A challenging prompt…..thanks, Claudia. 🙂
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late …as usual. Pardon me if I do not get to visit most tonight. I’ll play catch up. 🙂
thank you Claudia for stretching our imagination. 🙂
smiles… you made it just in time… heading over to read…