Each month, we at Tweetspeak invite you to participate with us in writing poetry around a particular theme. And on the first Monday of every month, I create a monthly-themed musical writing playlist to help get your creative juices flowing.

This month, we’re exploring the theme “Dragons and Creatures, ” and though it might seem that there should be plenty of songs involving dragons and such, I must admit, it was very difficult to find properly themed songs. So, after giving the obligatory nod to “Puff the Magic Dragon, ” I had to get a little more creative and turned my attention to other types of mythical creatures.

Consider, for instance, the barking dog at the closing of Anais Mitchell’s “Epic 1.” Could that be a reference to Cerberus? Can you hear the Cyclops stopping in rhythm to the Cannonball Adderley tune? Or, what if we turned to a type of mythological creature found south of the border? What if we celebrated with a little Chupacabra twist?

I hope these songs get you started penning poetry about dragons and other magical creatures. As for this week’s poetry prompt, write your own poem about mythical creatures and share it with us in the comments. For an added bonus, pit the beasts in the playlist against each other in a battle royale, and poetically tell us which comes out on top.

Now, who’s ready to create some epic poetry?
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Tweetspeak’s April Dragons and Creatures Prompt:

This month’s poetry theme at Tweetspeak is Dragons and Creatures, and we’ll be composing poems epic poems. I’m sure of it. How do you participate?

1. Pick a creature… any creature. Need some ideas? Check out this complete list of mythical creatures.

2.  Compose your own poem about a dragon or creature.

3. Tweet your poems to us. Add a #TSCreatures 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.

Last month we composed poetry around the pantoum form. I loved all of the poems submitted last month, but my favorite piece was the collective pantoum written by you, the Tweetspeak readers! When compiled, it reads something like this:

I hold remorse, itself. Hearts sway
in four/four meter, at your memory,
perhaps. Your dream drifted to me;
you, the haunting residue of beauty.

In four/four meter, at your memory
I will sing of what has gone from me
you, the haunting residue of beauty
smudged upon my heart and mind.

I sing of what has gone: from me
to you the wind’s light kiss no more
smudged upon my heart. In mind
I hold what lightly falls. It rains.

To you the wind’s light kiss no more
leaves gentle brightening on the cheek…
I hold what light falls. It rains
on both sides of the window

Gentle brightening on the cheek,
then clouding of the heart and soul.
on both sides of the window fall
the tears, the rain, the memories…

Then: clouding of the heart. And soul
risks words in phantom’s rush. What of
the tears, the rain, the memories
we let slip in sleep’s sweet murmurings.

The words run down like rivulets, I sleep
Perhaps. Your dream drifted to me;
I catch one phrase, no more, the one sharp edged,
I hold, remorse, itself. Hearts sway.

Perhaps your dream drifted to me;
I catch a glimpse like a vision veiled.
I hold, remorse, itself. Hearts sway
like air against skin, not knowing how to begin.

I catch a glimpse, a vision veiled.
The bride has fled, the oath renounced, quietly,
like air against skin. Not knowing how to begin,
she hates what love does start again.

The bride has fled, the oath renounced, quietly,
like a dagger to dreams, a murder.
She hates what love does start again;
but after the death comes birth.

Like a dagger, to dreams a murder
comes: a slash of veil, disguise undone.
But after death might birth
I scold. Remorse itself hearts sway.

Comes: a slash of veil, disguise undone.
For the murder has only just begun.
I scold. Remorse itself hearts away.
Let’s hope we live to see another day.

Thanks to Chris, Maureen, Donna, Wendy, Elizabeth,  Tammy,  and Stu for participating!

Now, let’s get to down to working out poems of mythical proportions.

Photo by  Hamed Saber, Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Seth Haines. 

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Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99 — Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In April we’re exploring the theme Dragons and Creatures.

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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.

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