Tweetspeak Poetry

  • Home
  • FREE prompts
  • National Poetry Month
  • Every Day Poems—Subscribe! ✨
  • Teaching Tools
  • Books, Etc.
  • Patron Love

Poetry Prompt: Of Plagues and Emergence

By Callie Feyen 5 Comments

California wildflowers poppy popcorn flower

Plagues Poetry Prompt + Emergence

Last summer, while on a run rounding towards home, I began noticing these bugs that had bodies similar to ants, except they were silver and had wings. I didn’t think much of them, but the closer I came to my house, the more of these flying creatures I saw.

“More” is a conservative term. “Plague” might better describe the cloud of bugs that hovered in my backyard.

“WHAT IS HAPPENING?” I screamed to Jesse, who was standing in the middle of our yard with a plastic bowl and a jar of cayenne pepper. “WHY ARE THEY HERE?” I screeched. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

If anyone is wondering if I can take an already tense situation and level up, wonder no more. I can make preparing instant pudding dramatic.

“WE HAVE THESE BUGS,” Jesse told me, also yelling, which makes it sound as if the bugs were loud, when in fact, they were making no noise at all. “YES! I SEE THAT,” I said, swatting at them —a futile effort. “WHY?” They had not been there when I left less than an hour ago.

“I was trying to stop Corby from digging holes in the yard,” Jesse said.

“And you brought in bugs to help you with this?”

Jesse is not a violent man, but I do think that for just a second he found a bit of satisfaction imagining dousing me with cayenne pepper.

He explained that the bugs emerged from one of the (many) holes Corby dug in our yard.

“So I sprinkled cayenne pepper in the hole and then poured boiling water down it,” he told me while also going through the motions of what he did — like a sports replay. “And now they’re everywhere!”

“Because you smoked them out,” I said. “They told all their friends and family and now they are LITERALLY flying the coop.”

I looked at the ground, and I am telling you the absolute truth when I write that it was moving. You know those moving sidewalks at the airport? That’s exactly what this was. Probably the bugs could’ve carried me somewhere if they hadn’t been fighting the Great Cayenne Battle of 2020.

Meanwhile Corby, our dog of perhaps three weeks at that time, was off digging her 200th hole in our backyard.

This was almost a year ago, and while we’ve not see these bugs since that day (they’ve probably warned their species to stay away from the spice fest that is our home), I’ve been considering all that’s been dug up that was safe underground. I am considering all of us who’ve felt the heat of change along with the desire to keep living, though we are burned, though we know we are not safe, we still want to reveal ourselves and fly into the world we love.

Try It: Plagues Poetry Prompt

This week write a poem about what’s been dug up since the pandemic.

Featured Poem

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s Poetry Prompt. Here’s one from Laura Lynn Brown that we enjoyed:

Thank goodness for smell,
the breath of coffee in an upstairs bedroom
that says someone is awake downstairs,
the ahem of oil in the pan
to the desk around the corner
I’m too hot and that egg on the counter
isn’t going to break itself
,
the unapologetic earthiness
of a short-haired soulful dog
on the jeans he leaned against,
the kiss of lavender
on the hand that strokes it.

Photo by tdlucas5000 Creative Commons license via Flickr. Post by Callie Feyen.

Browse other poetry prompts

The Teacher Diaires Front Cover with Lauren Winner

BUY THE TEACHER DIARIES NOW

5 star

If you have ever been in 8th grade, fallen in love, had a best friend, or loved reading, you will love this book. As the mother of an 8th grader, my other genuine hope is that my son will one day have a teacher as gifted as Callie.

—Celena Roldan

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Callie Feyen
Callie Feyen
Callie Feyen likes Converse tennis shoes and colorful high heels, reading the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and the Twilight series. Her favorite outfit has always been a well-worn pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, but she wants hoop skirts with loads of tulle to come back into style. Her favorite line from literature comes from Sharon Creech’s Absolutely Normal Chaos: “I don’t know who I am yet. I’m still waiting to find out.” Feyen has served as the At-Risk Literacy Specialist in the Ypsilanti Public Schools and is the author of Twirl: my life with stories, writing & clothes and The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet.
Callie Feyen
Latest posts by Callie Feyen (see all)
  • Poetry Prompt: Women Are Dancing - March 20, 2023
  • Poetry Prompt: Found in the Library - March 13, 2023
  • Poetry Prompt: Library of Memories - March 6, 2023

Filed Under: Blog, poetry, poetry prompt, poetry teaching resources, writer's group resources, writing prompt, writing prompts

Get Every Day Poems...

About Callie Feyen

Callie Feyen likes Converse tennis shoes and colorful high heels, reading the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and the Twilight series. Her favorite outfit has always been a well-worn pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, but she wants hoop skirts with loads of tulle to come back into style. Her favorite line from literature comes from Sharon Creech’s Absolutely Normal Chaos: “I don’t know who I am yet. I’m still waiting to find out.” Feyen has served as the At-Risk Literacy Specialist in the Ypsilanti Public Schools and is the author of Twirl: my life with stories, writing & clothes and The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet.

Comments

  1. Bethany R. says

    August 9, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    “I can make preparing instant pudding dramatic.” Ha! Thanks for the smile this produced, Callie.

    Reply
  2. Megan Willome says

    August 16, 2021 at 6:39 am

    Don’t Let This Rejection Put a Damper On Your Weekend
    (a found poem)

    This sucks they killed your poem everyone
    loved it until it wasn’t a
    go they pivoted I’m sorry
    this is so difficult
    such good work
    so beautiful
    you.

    Reply
  3. Jenna Brack says

    August 27, 2021 at 11:14 am

    When my husband dug up
    the old flower bed
    two summers ago—
    weed-stricken, overgrown,
    difficult to mow around

    tossed the unwanted earth
    into a junk pile over the fence—
    tangle of old stumps, sticks,
    branches on which withered leaves
    shiver like dead cocoons,

    who could have known
    a faded surprise
    lily would reach
    through the debris,
    wave her pale purple wings
    born from a defiant bulb

    during a summer when
    my unwashed hair is always
    blowing about like lily petals,
    my feet buried in dirt,
    hands digging up
    all these questions

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 27, 2021 at 3:44 pm

      oooo, I especially like …

      “hands digging up
      all these questions”

      🙂

      Reply
      • Jenna says

        August 30, 2021 at 11:25 am

        Thank you, L.L.!

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cute Comic

😊

The Sadbook Collections

A stick-figure human sure to capture your heart.

Take How to Read a Poem

Get the Introduction, the Billy Collins poem, and Chapter 1

get the sample now

Welcome to Tweetspeak

New to Tweetspeak Poetry? Start here, in The Mischief Café. You're a regular? Check out our March Menu.

Patron Love

❤️

Welcome a little patron love, when you help keep the world poetic.

Now a Graphic Novel!

"Stunning, heartbreaking, and relevant illustrations"

Callie Feyen, teacher

read a summary of The Yellow Wallpaper

meet The Yellow Wallpaper characters

Your Comments

  • Bethany on Pandemic Journal: An Entry on Peaceful Writing on the Porch
  • Faith Whetstone on Pandemic Journal: An Entry on Peaceful Writing on the Porch
  • 20 Best Poetry Books About Love to Read Now  | Giannina Braschi on Poets and Poems: Dave Malone’s “O: Love Poems from the Ozarks”
  • Laura on The Honey Field—5: Sugar Water for Honeybees

How to Write Poetry

Featured In

We're happy to have been featured in...

The Huffington Post

The Paris Review

The New York Observer

Tumblr Book News

Stay in Touch With Us

Categories

Coloring Page Poem Printables!

Get all free coloring page poems now

Learn to Write Form Poems

How to Write an Acrostic

How to Write a Ballad

How to Write a Catalog Poem

How to Write a Ghazal

How to Write a Haiku

How to Write an Ode

How to Write a Pantoum

How to Write a Rondeau

How to Write a Sestina

How to Write a Sonnet

How to Write a Villanelle

5 FREE POETRY PROMPTS

Get 5 FREE inbox poetry prompts from the popular book How to Write a Poem

Shakespeare Resources

Poetry Classroom: Sonnet 18

Common Core Picture Poems: Sonnet 73

Sonnet 104 Annotated

Sonnet 116 Annotated

Character Analysis: Romeo and Juliet

Character Analysis: Was Hamlet Sane or Insane?

Why Does Hamlet Wait to Kill the King?

10 Fun Shakespeare Resources

About Shakespeare: Poet and Playwright

Top 10 Shakespeare Sonnets

See all 154 Shakespeare sonnets in our Shakespeare Library!

Explore Work From Black Poets

About Us

  • • A Blessing for Writers
  • • Annual Theme 2022: Perspective
  • • Annual Theme 2021: Generous
  • • Our Story
  • • Meet Our Team
  • • Literary Citizenship
  • • Poet Laura
  • • Poetry for Life: The 5 Vital Approaches
  • • T. S. Poetry Press – All Books
  • • Contact Us

Write With Us

  • • 5 FREE Poetry Prompts-Inbox Delivery
  • • 30 Days to Richer Writing Workshop
  • • How to Write Form Poems-Infographics
  • • Poetry Club Tea Date
  • • Poetry Prompts
  • • Submissions

Read With Us

  • • All Our Books
  • • Book Club
  • • Every Day Poems—Subscribe! ✨
  • • Literacy Extras
  • • Poems to Listen By: Audio Series
  • • Poet-a-Day
  • • Poets and Poems
  • • 50 States Projects
  • • Charlotte Perkins Gilman Poems Library
  • • Edgar Allan Poe Poems Arts & Experience Library
  • • William Blake Poems Arts & Experience Library
  • • William Shakespeare Sonnet Library

Celebrate With Us

  • • Poem on Your Pillow Day
  • • Poetic Earth Month
  • • Poet in a Cupcake Day
  • • Poetry at Work Day
  • • Random Acts of Poetry Day
  • • Take Your Poet to School Week
  • • Take Your Poet to Work Day

Gift Ideas

  • • Every Day Poems
  • • Our Shop
  • • Everybody Loves a Book!

Connect

  • • Donate
  • • Blog Buttons
  • • By Heart
  • • Shop for Tweetspeak Fun Stuff

Copyright © 2023 Tweetspeak Poetry · FAQ, Disclosure & Privacy Policy

We serve poetry with our cookies. Because that's the way it should be.
We serve poetry with your cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you... accept the cookies with a smile.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
update cookie prefs

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT