About the Challenge

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity" ~ William Wordsworth

A Poem A Day Challenge is a week-long (5 days) challenge that runs every third week of the month.

Participants receive writing prompts, daily, for which they write and submit a poem by 10 pm on the same day.

The best THREE (3) poems are selected and published the next morning.

TO PARTICIPATE: enter your email address here http://eepurl.com/eQCM6 and you will receive a daily prompt.

RULES OF THE CHALLENGE:

  • you have to sign up to receive the writing prompts
  • you have to write a new poem for the writing prompt and submitting by 10pm on the same day
  • you may not submit a poem you have already written before.

CHALLENGE PRIZE: From August we are offering a prize for the best overall poem. More info on the prize and how this is decided will follow.

QUARTERLY PRINT EDITION: Poems selected for the publication will be compiled for a quarterly print edition of A Poem A Day challenge. More info on this will follow.

submit here or here make sure to include the words:  APOEMADAY at the top of your submission


April: Freedom Week

When Common asks Assata Shakur 'what is freedom?' at the end of his tribute song, Song of Assata. Assata responds, "You're asking me about freedom? i know a whole lot more about what freedom isn't... coz i've never been free." She goes on to imagine what freedom could be.

It's Freedom Week in South Africa, that historical first vote for the oppressed Afrikan masses of South Africa happened eighteen years ago on 27 April. Now let's writer great poems, interrogate, question, image, dream about freedom.

peace

zamantungwa
editor, publisher

A Poem A Day Challenge, Every 3rd Week of the month

Poems

T.G.I.F by Carol Ronaldson

Posted by Poetry Potion on Saturday, August 13, 2011 In : TGIF 

The city sighs.

She spits out the
bitter taste of the week,
road rage
people rage
soul rage
regurgitates

the bad breath of,
Kamikaze taxis
snooty SUV’s
Blik Met Wiele, and 
Putco
buses someone
thought cheerful
to paint orange, but
are smoggy sunsets
on speed instead.

The city waves
the
fat cats 
the pied-piper rats
the gold diggers
the
non-Pick’tuppers,
Hamba!
Voetsak!
Goodbye!

© Carol Ronaldson

day 6 | 13 June 2011


Continue reading...
 

Feast by Carol Ronaldson

Posted by Poetry Potion on Saturday, August 13, 2011 In : Loved Ones 

On this unfriendly 
rain stained winter day,
my heart is curled up
in my stomach memories
as my lady loved ones
lay out a feast
for my heart.

Granny is summer,
peeling Paw-Paw 
while hot Mulberry jam
spits on the stove,

Mama sitting on the grass
legs straight out,
sorting sugar beans,
and samp
singing to the sun,
clicking Xhosa songs,

Mum juggling pots
comfort, advice 
homework and hugs,
hooks out hot boiled potato
just as I like 
before it has the life 
mashed out of it,

My salsa sister dancing
from counter to 
steam...
Continue reading...
 

A LETTER TO MY GOD: A Letter of Joy, a Letter Love by Jazz Africa

Posted by Poetry Potion on Saturday, August 13, 2011 In : Loved Ones 
 
Pain you remove, joy is here
Life you brought, life you bring
Thankful I am 
You are Almighty

Sobering disbelief in my ear
Denial rules
Pain stays, I am fooled
Lord is God, I forget
Midnight, rain pours, I recollect 
Lord is God
Forever he rules, I reconnect
Lord is God

Foreign, natural manure
S%^&t is gold, it is treasure
My soul grows, my soul endures
Satan skanks with joy
Lessons learned - Amaaaaaziiiing!
Lord is God 
Forever he shall reign 
I refused
God, God diffuses

Doubt rules my heart
Uncertainty becomes ...

Continue reading...
 

For Milla by Esther van der Vyver

Posted by Poetry Potion on Saturday, August 13, 2011 In : Loved Ones 

My daughter
staggering under the weight
of her dream
red eyed
calls my name in her
crumpled sleep.

the mother, the mother
kisses the sweaty skin, 
soothes with her voice
her knees creaking
next to the bed
praying to the altar
of dark sleep
for sweetness
for life to forget
these dark eyes
these hands
their nails bitten to the quick
these small hands.


© Esther van der Vyver

day 5 | 10 June 2011


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A Dream Deferred by Aubrey Mgwenya

Posted by Poetry Potion on Saturday, August 13, 2011 In : A Dream Deferred 

from dawn to dusk,
from morning to evening,
from sunrise to sunset,
I sit quietly and lonely.
with nobody to name of mine.
with nobody to embrace me.
with nobody to fall in love with.
with nobody to stay with.and nobody to share my feelings with.

from supper time till breakfast time.
from break time till dinner time.
I have no one to teach me how to love.
I have no one to kiss me good night.
I have no one to tap my shoulder on the table.
I have no one to caress me gently in my sleep.
I have no one to hold ...
Continue reading...
 
 

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