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Let’s Go Crazy–A Potpourri Purple Poetry Prompt of Tyrannosaurical Proportions

By Seth Haines 15 Comments

So many purple poetry prompts, so little time.

Throughout February, we’ve been issuing poetry prompts centered around the themes purple, plum, and indigo. It’s provided a deep inkwell for us, and as February draws to a close, many here at Tweetspeak are lamenting the waning hues as the sun sets on our monthly theme. But as King Solomon and the Byrds said, “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

As I considered material for our last purple poetry prompt, visions of Barney–that short-armed, purple, sing-songy dinosaur–haunted me. He, dancing in my mind’s eye, musing that classic children’s standard, “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family.”

“Shut up, Barney!” I thought. “There are serious poets that visit these parts and they want serious prompts.”

He was unrelenting, kept singing his song, like a drill bit boring into skull.

Determined to write a prompt involving something more substantive than a dancing dinosaur, I wracked my brain for purple material, settling, finally on exploring the historical context of the nursery rhyme of Little Jack Horner. Remember Mr. Horner, that precocious boy with a knack for extracting whole plums from a pie using nothing but his thumb? The oft-forgotten back-story of the nursery rhyme finds its roots in bribery, treachery, and King Henry VIII’s quest to subvert the Catholic Church and take its gold. And just as I was beginning to tease out the nuances of this plum poetry prompt…

“I love you, you love me….” Barney usurped the story with his own utopistic notions.

Taking it as a sign that Barney would not approve of the drawn-and-quartered ending to the Jack Horner story, I endeavored to take a more artistic angle, exploring that ground-breaking record released by Prince in 1984–Purple Rain. The album, pop-natured by all accounts, dabbled in psychedelic shades, set the synth standards for music of the 80s. Rightfully, the album was awarded two Grammy awards, the artistry of songs like “Purple Rain, ” “When the Doves Cry, ” and “Let’s Go Crazy, ” contributing to its critical success. And speaking of “Let’s Go Crazy…”

“I love you; you love me…” That plum-brained reptile was unrelenting, interrupting, forever-endeavoring to dance his way into this poetry. And that’s precisely the moment in which I had my own purple epiphany.

There are things to which all good writers must resign themselves. Take the inspiration as it comes, write what hounds you. And unfortunately, it seems, as we draw to the close of the purple poetry prompt, it is Barney who has occupied my creative spaces. And so, I say to you: “I love you; you love me. We’re a happy family.”

Poetry Prompt: As you can see, today’s prompt is a potpourri of sorts. The frivolity of children’s characters, the metaphor and symbolic nature of Jack Horner’s plum, and the poetic artistry of a musical genius–we run the gamut. This is our way of saying, write what you hear this week. Don’t hold back. And if the mood strikes you, paint in shades of purple, plum, and indigo.

Let’s get writing! Who’s first?

____

Tweetspeak’s February Purple, Plum, and Indigo Poetry Prompt:

This month’s poetry theme at Tweetspeak is Purple, Plum, and Indigo, and we’re composing poems that play with the theme. Perhaps you can gain a bit of inspiration from this month’s playlist, from a particular piece of artwork, or from your local purveyor of plums, eggplant, or purple-hulled peas. How do you participate?

1. Think about the colors purple, plum, or indigo. Do the colors remind you of a particular place, a type of food, an experience, or a certain mood?

2.  Compose a poem inspired by the theme.

3. Tweet your poems to us. Add a #PurplePoetry hashtag so we can find it and maybe share it with the world.

4. If you aren’t a twitter user, leave your poem here in the comment box.

5. At the end of the month, we’ll choose a winning poem and feature it in one of our upcoming Weekly Top 10 Poetic Picks.

I loved the poems last week, but my nod for the feature piece goes to (the envelope please)… Lexanne Leonard. Using color as a sort of anchor for the piece, she writes:

There were purple grapes and green leafed vines
printed on the fabric of the first dress
I made with my mom’s Singer sewing machine.
“It looks like it.”  My best friend commented on my handiwork.

There were lilacs of purple scenting the air
as though the day had just been laundered.
The bush hanging so heavy with blooms
I thought a cloud had come to rest in Annie’s backyard.

And then there was the purple couch.

“Who would ever buy a purple couch?” muttered my mother.
With its deep, thick pillows and velveteen touch
it cradled me when she was taken, too soon,
without anyone ever asking my permission.

I enjoyed this poem, especially the pace of it. Thanks for sharing, Lexanne!

Now, let’s get to down to working out some purple symbolism. Who’s first?

Photo by atkinson000, Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Seth Haines. 

________________

Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99 — Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In February we’re exploring the theme Purple, Plum, and Indigo.

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Seth Haines
Seth Haines
Seth Haines is a writer and photographer who loves the Ozarks, his wife and four boys, and a good collection of poems. He's the author of two books, both of which touch on addiction, sobriety, and spiritual formation.
Seth Haines
Latest posts by Seth Haines (see all)
  • Become a Better Writer: Fly Fishing Artist Date - June 6, 2014
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  • Exploring Poetry: Penning a Ghazal - October 18, 2013

Filed Under: Blog, poetry, Purple, Themed Writing Projects

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About Seth Haines

Seth Haines is a writer and photographer who loves the Ozarks, his wife and four boys, and a good collection of poems. He's the author of two books, both of which touch on addiction, sobriety, and spiritual formation.

Comments

  1. Maureen Doallas says

    February 25, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Will I forgive you for putting that refrain in my mind?!

    Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:45 am

      So as to make sure that you, too, get the memo…

      http://open.spotify.com/track/0dmICPP2fbNc2a20IFyG0b

      Reply
  2. Seth Haines says

    February 25, 2013 at 11:06 am

    Maureen,

    Funny you should ask. Editor extraordinaire asked the exact same thing!

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth W. Marshall says

    February 25, 2013 at 11:42 am

    My offering is here, http://www.wynnegraceappears.com/2013/02/Plum-Tuckered-Out
    (www.wynnegraceappears.com

    You just never know the places you will go with these prompts. Thought this was a dead end but as it turns out, not so much.

    Thank you for the opportunity to participate.
    I’ll tweet it to you too, just in case 🙂

    And I am working on forgiving you for putting the “I love you” chorus on replay over and over and over again. Lucky for you, I am pretty good at forgiveness. 🙂

    Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:41 am

      Elizabeth… this is for you.

      http://open.spotify.com/track/0dmICPP2fbNc2a20IFyG0b

      And as for your poem? I really liked this part a great deal:

      And the purple moutains majesty
      In the west and the setting sun on the back
      Of an indigo sky with the windswept hues of purple
      Soothe the gut punch life gives, the bruising from a day in a life.

      Ah yes… soothe the gut punch.

      Reply
  4. Robin Dance says

    February 25, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    Well, Seth Haines…I missed the wonderful Oktoberfest theme and yet I fall prey to THIS? I couldn’t even chime in with one of your earlier purple prompts, but THIS ONE? Good gravy, I don’t even understand myself half the time.

    Anyways, even when you’re writing about annoying characters of toddlehood, you spin magic. And so, I offer my Twitter haiku of the day, dedicated to the dinosaur who gives birth to obnoxious ear worms.

    extinction looming
    he finds immortality
    sheathed in purple skin

    (Maybe I won’t be so intimidated now that I’ve dipped my toe in the water :). Thanks for the way you invite us into these prompts, gently coaxing us until we FINALLY say yes.)

    Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:41 am

      Yeah… so…

      IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!

      Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:43 am

      I’m a fan of your haiku. Always. You do a lot with few words. And the way you work ’em into your Twitter stream? Brilliant.

      I hope you’ll stay with us in these parts. I think you’ll find us all to be very accommodating and rather friendly.

      Reply
  5. Robbie Pruitt says

    February 25, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    http://www.robbiepruitt.com/2013/02/wisteria.html

    Wisteria

    Purple
    Wraps around
    And intertwines
    In gripping love
    Adorning
    Vine and tree
    With Purple
    Majesty

    © February 21, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

    Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:44 am

      It’s almost that time down here in the Southland, huh Robbie? I can’t wait for Spring and you got me itching for it with this piece.

      Reply
      • Robbie Pruitt says

        February 26, 2013 at 10:28 am

        Indeed. .

        Thank you Seth!

        Reply
  6. Lexanne Leonard says

    February 26, 2013 at 12:07 am

    Oh! Thank you! It was a wonderful surprise to see this.

    Reply
    • Seth Haines says

      February 26, 2013 at 9:44 am

      That’s what we like to do around here… surprise people!

      Really, Lexanne. It was our pleasure to feature your piece this week.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Seth Haines | LET’S GO CRAZY–A POTPOURRI PURPLE POETRY PROMPT OF TYRANNASAURICAL PROPORTIONS says:
    March 10, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    […] more about the manner in which Barney’s intrusions cramp my style, follow me over to Tweetspeak today. And jump into the […]

    Reply
  2. Poetic Voices: Jen Karetnick and E. Kristin Anderson - says:
    January 22, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    […] poems about, like food, and cheese, and the rock star Prince. At least, we write about food and Prince when we are really writing about something […]

    Reply

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