Welcome to Tuesday Poetics! Melissa here from Mom With a Blog, I’ll be your host today.

A phrase is defined as “a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, typically forming a component of a clause.” (Oxford Languages) In other words, a phrase is not a complete sentence in that it does not contain a subject and a verb together.

One common kind of phrase, as shown above, is a prepositional phrase. See below for more examples.

Take a look at this poem, “The Phrases of the Moon” by Andrew Joron. Notice how, particularly in the first and second stanzas, Joron uses no complete sentences, only phrases.

Full
 
            the blow to a gong
—gone blind
           
            with the sight of white
Silk, O milk
            of my reason—
           
            sun reseen in
My mad mad mirror.
           
 
Gibbous
 
Sense
Less science: the
 
Wish-apparition of a perfect fact.
 
            As thought, the war
Of one upon one.
 
 
Half
 
Half a mind almost mine.
 
Whole
             fragment, I am
A being from another word.
 
 
Crescent
 
Bow bent back—to what release?
 
            My lone line, the join of all I am not.
 
A minor truth betrays
A major one—
A lore
            for the lyre.
For it is written: liar with a why.
 

New
 
            Calling all coincidence, I will
Deem the dark my day.
 
Yet—if I say
            I am lying, I am lying
To you now.
 
O zero raised to zero—I am lying with you now.

Today we’re going to write in only phrases. The style and format of poem is up to you. You can make a list, you can string together different groups of words and experiment. The only rule is that you may not use complete sentences in your poem.

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, March 5, 2026.