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Fill in the Blank Verse for Poetry at Work Day

By Will Willingham 5 Comments

Poetry at Work Day wrapup - blue classic hood ornament
Yesterday was Poetry at Work Day, a space in the calendar when we encourage folks around the globe to reflect on the poetry in their workplace. Sometimes that means a person brings along a poem, or reads a poem to their colleagues, or even writes a new poem while at work.

And sometimes that means finding the poetry that’s already there. The rhythm of the file drawers (do people still have those?), the ticking of the time clock, the organization of the cubicle or the words that find their way into departmental communiques.

This year, we noticed, in addition to the usual run of Roses are Red poems set to a workplace beat, an effort at blank verse. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say Fill in the Blank verse.

Happy "Poetry at Work" Day! Roses are Red, Violets are Blue. My job is

— NSA Ohio (@NSAOhio) January 10, 2017

Today we would like to say is Poetry at Work Day (well ok, we are better at tanning than poetry) https://t.co/KoG4ACR2oP

— SunWerks (@sunwerks) January 10, 2017

Today is National Poetry at Work Day! Stop by the office and we'll make you a Haiku. "Lease with us now/We have a great dog park/…"

— Eagle Creek UNT (@EagleCreek_UNT) January 10, 2017

And if you needed some words to fill in the blank, there were folks that knew where to find them:

"Lessons in Colouring". The masterpiece created from the words used in an Angry Birds colouring book by Kaiken. #poetryatworkday #AngryBirds pic.twitter.com/dzxiabBoEc

— Kaiken Publishing (@kaikenpblshng) January 10, 2017

it's #poetryatworkday! find beauty where you are. #poetryatwork #pitt #universityofpittsburgh #pittsburgh #poem #instapoet #instapoem

A photo posted by Center For Creativity (@centerforcreativity) on Jan 10, 2017 at 7:46am PST

#poetryatworkday pic.twitter.com/6HxTFT9ViX

— Jim Samsel (@tejastani) January 10, 2017

Seems like our space and medical fields are quite good at finding (and sharing) poetry at work, from asteroid-mission limericks to neurological rages against the dying of the light:

on #PoetryAtWorkDay, read #medstudent Aishan Shi's poem about her #Neuroscience/Neurology block for the @The_DiffDx: https://t.co/t5pMNiwU6m pic.twitter.com/n8IfoMHT2N

— UA Medicine-Phoenix (@uamedphx) January 10, 2017

Wrapping up #PoetryAtWorkDay (and #TravelTuesday) with a simple #cinquain. #ToBoldlyGo pic.twitter.com/2zRS2GTA7N

— OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) January 10, 2017

This #limerick goes out to anyone who dreams of adventure or strives to understand the universe around us. #PoetryAtWorkDay #ToBennuAndBack pic.twitter.com/wdwnZUmiS7

— OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) January 10, 2017

Me? Oh, just reliving my launch on #PoetryAtWorkDay. #Limerick #AtlasV #ToBennuAndBack pic.twitter.com/p1I8DkpSWb

— OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) January 10, 2017

MT @statnews Surrounded by pain, doctors turn to poetry, writing to cope with loss https://t.co/tUGX1x0O7a #Medicine #PoetryAtWorkDay

— Inspire (@teaminspire) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday #haiku @boltonhospice
a patient's work story in three haiku #hospicepoet pic.twitter.com/zfxwZiNDTC

— Phil Isherwood (@poetrymeta4life) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday #haiku @boltonhospice

Though they are unwell
It makes my job worthwhile
To receive a smile

A #volunteer 's poem

— Phil Isherwood (@poetrymeta4life) January 10, 2017

Some folks couldn’t wait to get off work…

It's Poetry at Work Day. Drop by for brew and share your silly poems about work!

When the office gets murky, … https://t.co/yKsadzoRHn

— Gillette Brewing Co (@gillettebrewing) January 10, 2017

And some maybe got off a little earlier than expected…

?
Roses Are Red
Violets Are Blue
Nobody's Fired
Well, Except For You#PoetryAtWorkDay https://t.co/FQR4DpEytm@DLoIndustries said I can ?

— ☠ Bonnie ☠ (@bonrex) January 10, 2017

Which was all good if you got to take your Poetry After Work hike in a place like this…

Today is Poetry at Work Day, but around here it feels like everyday is filled with poetry! pic.twitter.com/rufxbT9c3U

— Midpen Open Space (@mrosd) January 10, 2017

For most people the weather was nothing like that; rather, it seemed Minnesota-type weather was blustering all about:

Who in Minneapolis is perturbed at winter right now? Here's how we learned to love the season. #Minnesota #Winter #PoetryAtWorkDay pic.twitter.com/A8mlC3GoLr

— Olive & Company (@oliveandco) January 10, 2017

Our mantra today…

It's snowing a lot.
Stay inside and be cozy
or drive carefully.#PoetryAtWorkDay #Haiku #PoetryAtWork @tspoetry

— Olive & Company (@oliveandco) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday @boltonhospice
Words for Today- Malcolm, a #hospice #volunteer, writes a meditation poem today in #haiku pic.twitter.com/jiQ7MrAJXJ

— Phil Isherwood (@poetrymeta4life) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday #poemhuman #writersresist pic.twitter.com/RvaPctJmID

— tabeenawani (@tabeenawani) January 10, 2017

“Poetry at work?
Well, I will write a haiku.
It is cold outside!”

— MacPhaidin Library (@macphaidin_lib) January 10, 2017

Which makes some people happy to just work from home…

Working from home,
my uniform will be
a pink, fluffy robe,
and slipper-booties.#poetryatworkday https://t.co/EGmnbfUQgV

— Cat Russell (@ganymeder) January 10, 2017

Working from home. Brought Anne to work for #poetryatworkday HT @malcolmguite pic.twitter.com/qsOeuZ43xH

— Jody Lee Collins (@jodyo70) January 10, 2017

Some of our favorites made it to the office…

Happy National Poetry at Work day! John Keating: "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world" #CarpeDiem pic.twitter.com/LKulGlhKml

— (((Cathy))) (@chouinardphoto) January 10, 2017

It's National Poetry Day at Work
so @chrishon3 wrote Brian a poem
she'll read it at 8:10ish#GiantMornings w/ Brian, Chrishon & Chuck pic.twitter.com/EZfZT4WrCt

— 91.7 GIANT FM (@917GIANTFM) January 10, 2017

#poem #poetry #poetryatworkday #writerslife #WriterMemeMonday #writer #writing https://t.co/FgXTd27zLS

— P.S. Outcast (@brokenwerds) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday
Have fun with words today..
Poems are just a verbal feast..enjoy
(PS you can replace the dishes at Oxfam?)#Oxfam #Hexham pic.twitter.com/0pbShUjV0I

— Oxfam Hexham (@OxfamHexham) January 10, 2017

For poetry at work day, a little Jack Kerouac. https://t.co/vtlQKmAjC8 @OakParkGirl @RobbieQT

— (((Ed Wisniowski))) (@eeeThree_ed) January 10, 2017

#poetryatworkday
Let's start the day with inspiration
from poets up and down the Nation..
Let's tweet!#Oxfam #Northumberland #Hexham pic.twitter.com/7vp35N6kb7

— Oxfam Hexham (@OxfamHexham) January 10, 2017

And just plain old honest-to-goodness finding the poetry…

she is poetry with flowers in her hair and pages in her eyes she knows more than is allowed when the thunderbirds rise -terri conlin Whatever your work, however ordinary or plain, try to start your day with poetry, original or borrowed. You'd be surprised what you'll create. #tspoetry #poetryatworkday #shereadstruth #writersofinstagram #calledtocreate

A photo posted by Terri Conlin (@terriconlin) on Jan 10, 2017 at 11:03am PST

Getting it done…#poetryatworkday All of life is poetry, all of life is work…and work is a state of mind…not what earns you a living. but it might do that…or it might lead somewhere else. My assistants:: #chicsparrow A5, #hobonichicousin , #speckledfawns Personal. Open enrollment for #plannerbootcamp 2017 January 12-19. All the #plannertramps say HOORAY!

A photo posted by Enthusiastically, Dawn (@enthusiasticallydawn) on Jan 10, 2017 at 6:00am PST

I recently read Glynn Young's book "Poetry at Work" because I was feeling bogged down at the end of 2016. His words reminded me of the "really good things" that happen in this space, all day, every day. In this blue room (a womb, the sea, the sky) to swim or fly in free verse or rhyme different every time I listen. #poetryatwork #poetryatworkday #2017poetryatwork #tspoetry #tspoetrypress #edpoems #healingwork

A photo posted by Michelle Ortega (@michellebelleslp) on Jan 10, 2017 at 3:15pm PST

#poetryatworkday January 10th @tspoetry

A photo posted by Jim Samsel (@seamlessjam) on Jan 9, 2017 at 1:28pm PST

It's Poetry At Work Day _____________________________________ Will you recognize her when poetry finds you?

A photo posted by SimplyDarWrites (@simplydarwrites) on Jan 10, 2017 at 3:38pm PST

It's Poetry At Work Day. ______________________________________________ I began By sorting light.

A photo posted by SimplyDarWrites (@simplydarwrites) on Jan 10, 2017 at 9:02am PST

@tspoetry #poetryatworkday

A photo posted by Jim Samsel (@seamlessjam) on Jan 9, 2017 at 1:29pm PST

I shot the left photo at 640 x 480 (96KB) and the right at 4320 x 3240 (2.6MB). I found the settings mostly by accident. I can't tell much difference in image quality until I try to crop and enlarge. Then for sure. And for sure moving from auto settings to meddling with buttons and dials makes me hyperventilate. (This is a page from #PoetryAtWork by Glynn Young published by @tspoetry.) #Guided365 #Day3Guided365 #PoetryAtWorkDay

A photo posted by Sandra King (@sandraheskaking) on Jan 9, 2017 at 10:19am PST

It's poetry at work day! So write some poetry… right after you finish those TPS Reports… #poetryatworkday #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #tpsreports #takapamedia

A photo posted by Takapa Media (@takapamedia) on Jan 10, 2017 at 5:01am PST

Insurance people always have the best poems…

Give us a call and we'll check all the facets. Because at NuStar Insurance, we cover your assets! #poetryatworkday 🙂

— NuStar Insurance (@nustarinsurance) January 10, 2017

An attorney, too…

"I don't write poems, " the old poet told us, "I just find them, then set them free."#poetryatworkday

— Dr. SunWolf (@WordWhispers) January 10, 2017

Of course, when sports folks do poetry, it can’t be missed…

It's National Poetry at Work Day… Chop drops a poem about #Clemson beating #Bama. #nationalchampionship… https://t.co/lYfA6H1CEe

— 750 The Game (@750TheGame) January 11, 2017

Don’t ever say bookstores write spineless poems…

I'm at work and made a #bookspinepoetry, so it counts for National Poetry at Work Day! ? #nationalpoetryatworkday pic.twitter.com/jUM5Q9VFCY

— B&N Saratoga (@BNSaratoga) January 11, 2017

But? Not to be outdone by ANYBODY, Alexa got in on the day…

Alexa sure has a way with words. #PoetryAtWorkDay

A video posted by Sagepath (@sagepathinc) on Jan 10, 2017 at 2:11pm PST

And best of all, Philip Levine was kind enough to be born on this date so we could celebrate his poetry too…

Who knew? A #poetryatworkday. Nice for the late great Philip Levine to get this attention @latimes @latimesbooks https://t.co/l0A2H9mOsh

— Thomas Curwen (@tcurwen) January 10, 2017



Photo by LongitudeLatitude, Creative Commons via Flickr.

___________________________________

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Poetry at Work, by Glynn Young, foreword by Scott Edward Anderson

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—Dave Malone

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Will Willingham
Will Willingham
Director of Many Things; Senior Editor, Designer and Illustrator at Tweetspeak Poetry
I used to be a claims adjuster, helping people and insurance companies make sense of loss. Now, I train other folks with ladders and tape measures to go and do likewise. Sometimes, when I’m not scaling small buildings or crunching numbers with my bare hands, I read Keats upside down. My first novel is Adjustments.
Will Willingham
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Filed Under: Blog, poetry, Poetry at Work, Poetry at Work Day

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About Will Willingham

I used to be a claims adjuster, helping people and insurance companies make sense of loss. Now, I train other folks with ladders and tape measures to go and do likewise. Sometimes, when I’m not scaling small buildings or crunching numbers with my bare hands, I read Keats upside down. My first novel is Adjustments.

Comments

  1. Jody Collins says

    January 11, 2017 at 11:48 am

    So nice to see my poetry book photo here. Anne Ridler is a remarkable poet! Also rejoicing that I recognized some other bloggers’ names- Dawn, Michelle and #she reads truth joining in the fun. Well done, Tweetspeak!
    (and a sportscaster making up a poem about that football game? Look what you started.)

    Reply
  2. L.L. Barkat says

    January 12, 2017 at 11:04 am

    Roses are Red,
    Violets are Blue.
    My job is amazing.
    Yours is too.

    ***

    Today we would like to say
    rivers—and the train rides long them—
    and drinking green dragon tea,
    sipping solace from Gelman,
    looking to turn the page
    and find kindness
    is Poetry at Work Day.

    ***

    Lease with us now—
    we have a great dog park
    where tea cup chihuahuas
    and pit bulls
    and golden retrievers
    and shepherds (German)
    can drink happily
    from the same
    fountain.

    Reply
  3. Donna Falcone says

    January 12, 2017 at 11:30 am

    What a treasure trove of tweets!
    I have to say, the one by Inspire w/the forward to the article “Surrounded by Pain” just touched me so deeply -especially that last poem, Rose, and the story that surrounds it.

    Reply
  4. SimplyDarlene says

    January 12, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Poetry is always at work, is it not?

    Thanks for including me in this round-up!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Poetry at Work Day (Take 2) - says:
    January 19, 2017 at 9:26 am

    […] Last week we celebrated Poetry at Work Day and shared some of the fun. Little did we know that folks would be celebrating all throughout the week, and we didn’t want you to miss out on these tweets and Instagram posts of the ongoing Poetry at Work Day fun. […]

    Reply

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