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***ANNOUNCEMENT!***
Call for Poetry Submissions: Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads // Be a part of an upcoming dVerse anthology in celebration of our 15th anniversary! Find more information here.

Melissa here from Mom With a Blog. Although the exact origins of April Fools’ Day remain unknown, I think most people are familiar with it being a day to play pranks and get up to mischief. There are traditions for April Fools’ Day around the world. For example, in Italy, for Pesce d’Aprile (April’s Fish), people affix paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting victims. In German, the word Aprilscherz means “April joke”, and it’s common to “send someone into April” by telling them a tall tale or sending them on a fictitious errand.

Lying has its place in poetry, as in the following excerpt from Henry Treece:

excerpt from “The Lying Word” by Henry Treece

In his painting, Jean-Léon Gérôme personifies Truth as a woman thrown down a well along with a mirror. We don’t always like looking at the truth, do we?

Jean-Léon Gérôme, The nurturer Truth lies in a well, having been killed by liars and actors (1895)

In “The Lie”, Anne Waldman tells us of the dissonance between truth and reality.

excerpt from “The Lie” by Anne Waldman

I came across a fascinating concept while preparing this post, where a poet, Dmitri Reyes, asserts that our poems should be made up of a ratio of 60% to 40% either way: truth and lies (fiction) / lies and truth.

With this idea in mind, I invite you to your poetry prompt today. April Fools’ with a twist. I want you to lie to me. Tell me lies in your poetry, using the 60/40 rule as a guide. Compose a poem of at least 60% truth and 40% lies. Conversely, you may opt to swap the ratio and be less honest, composing your poem of 60% lies. However you do it is up to you, just make sure you stretch the truth.

If you’re new, here is how to join us:

  • Write a poem in response to the prompt.
  • Enter your name and a link directly to the post containing your poem into Mr. Linky. Remember to check the box to accept use/privacy policy.
  • Read other poets’ work as they enter their links into Mr. Linky. Check back as more will be added.
  • Please link back to dVerse from your post.
  • Have a wonderful time!🎉

‼️Mr. Linky will remain open until 3pm EST on Thursday, April 3, 2025.‼️