Gavin Bennett's Blog: 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 1

Here we are: Day 1 of the 2016 April PAD Challenge. Time to poem! But first, I just want to remind folks that it’s great to share your poems in the comments; just make sure you save a copy somewhere else too. While it hasn’t happened in a few years, there’s always the chance some kind of techno-hiccup makes your poem disappear…forever. It’s even happened to me. So poem, but make sure your only copy isn’t on this site. Second, folks who want to share and discuss on Twitter, use the hashtag #aprpad (short for April Poem-A-Day Challenge). And now, let’s poem! It’s time, right?

For today’s prompt, write a foolish poem. It’s April Fool’s Day, after all. Let’s loosen up today with a poem in which we’re fools, others are fools, or there’s some kind of prank or tomfoolery happening. Fool around with it a while.

*****

Poet’s Market 2016

Publish Your Poetry!

The 2016 Poet’s Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, includes hundreds of poetry markets, including listings for poetry publications, publishers, contests, and more! With names, contact information, and submission tips, poets can find the right markets for their poetry and achieve more publication success than ever before.

In addition to the listings, there are articles on the craft, business, and promotion of poetry–so that poets can learn the ins and outs of writing poetry and seeking publication. Plus, it includes a one-year subscription to the poetry-related information on WritersMarket.com. All in all, it’s the best resource for poets looking to secure publication.

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a Foolish Poem:

“The Fool”

Some folks, you know, they be real cool,
but others, like me, play the fool,
or maybe not play, I should’ve said,
but I often get played instead.

I’m not complaining, it’s all good,
because, for most, it’s understood
that fools are the ones who have fun,
whether in rain or shining sun.

I’ll be the fool, and happy too,
if it means I get smiles from you,
because your laugh transforms my heart
and makes me want to always start

with a joke, at my own expense,
because you’re all I want to sense.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is excited to start up the 9th annual April PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge. He loves the poems and the camaraderie that this challenge promotes.

Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he gets to do a million things to help writers find more success with their writing (including this blog). He’s also the author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53).

Connect with him on Twitter @RobertLeeBrewer.

*****