In honor of National Poetry Month (again), I thought I’d write another haiku, but then A Lotus pointed out to me that when the seventeen syllables focus on human irony and interactions, it’s more accurately called “Senryu.” According to Wikipedia, Senyru are more “darkly humorous.” Since that is my intention in the following verse, I think this is probably a Senryu. Any thoughts and pointers on what the different forms “require” would help me.

Weather Means More (Now that I Have a Yard): A Senryu

I groan and dawdle
on Saturdays clear and bright:
weeds mock and taunt me.

(It’s my third month of having a yard, and I’m beginning to dislike yard work already!)

The prompt is from April’s Café Writing, In the Garden: Option One Poetry

Weather means more when you have a garden. There’s nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans.
~Marcelene Cox

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about weather meaning more

Cafe-Writing January (Fresh!): Timed Writing

Take nine minutes (use all nine, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of short-lived passions. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format – fiction, essay, verse – is welcome.

I chose to write a story in only 140 characters, including spaces (in the tradition of Twitter).

I licked my lips and considered: a double-layer 9-inch chocolate-on-chocolate cake, all mine. And then my son tugged my arm and we moved on.

Does this interest you at all as a piece of writing? As a story? I am interested in feedback as to how I can improve capturing a scene.

Please note that I didn’t edit it at all once the nine minutes was over.

(Inspired by my chocolate-on-chocolate birthday cake.)

True response to prompt from Writer’s Island: Unexpected

My family at a restaurant: a rarity. A waiter bribed me with a lollipop. My response was unexpected: I cried for a red one.

(Again, a story in 140 characters, including spaces)

Daily Writing Tips and Copyblogger have both posted about very short story writing lately. Copyblogger even held a contest for very short stories, limited to 140 characters. Not 140 words: 140 characters. I felt inspired after reading the entries. The winners are found here, or see all the entries and be the judge yourself at Smithereens Blog.

I unfortunately didn’t find the contest in time to enter and win, but here are my three attempts, each one exactly 140 characters.

Three Word Wednesday #88: Blurred Illegal Match

My eyes blurred when I heard sirens. Another, I groaned inside. I didn’t know the turn was illegal! Yesterday’s ticket did not need a match.

[Note: I had a hard time keeping the words in order. And then I realized I probably didn’t have to. Oh well. There you have it.]

Sunday Scribblings #113: Curve

We studied together for the exam, sharing notes and answers. Test day came and I did well: 100%. But no one would face me: I set the curve.

[Note: I hated it when teachers graded tests based on curves! When people then do well on the test, they’re socially ostracized.]

Writer’s Island: Extravaganza

One night each month, we set aside homework, turned on the music, and danced: six 19-year-olds acting like girls at a homemade extravaganza.

These were so incredibly fun to do! If you want to try, link or paste yours in the comments!