MONDAY PROMPT/ May 24
This week’s prompt
What turns you on?
You don’t have to tell me. No. Really. You really don’t have to tell me.
But for this week’s poem, write about aphrodisiacs. This may or may not be the right time for your narrator to confess what gets her, um, going. It may be more fun for your narrator to be a persona in some bizarre imaginings. You may want to write about aphrodisiacs literally as herb, food item or other substance. You may even want to invent an aphrodisiac. You can set a scene in which a character or your narrator experiments with aphrodisiacs (maybe he makes his own special brew or maybe someone tricks him into drinking a love potion), or you can illuminate us on the science or myth of aphrodisiacs.
Both Wikipedia and this gourmet food site have lengthy lists of aphrodisiacs, and LiveScience has a cute little slide show with photos and text. As you internet poets know, the web has thousands of suggestions that can inspire your suggestive poems!
Have fun, circus-goers! Report back here Friday (or over the weekend) with your funny, crazy or — watch out! — sexy poems.
How prompts work under the Big Tent
We post prompts on Mondays, and you have all week to write your poems, based on our fabulous prompt or any other inspiration. Come back on Friday when you will find a “Come One, Come All” post where you can use the comments section to 1) leave a link to your poem or 2) leave the poem in its entirety.
You’ll have all day Friday (and all weekend!) to post your work and read each others’ work. Take your time. Enjoy all the poems that are new to the world.
Some hints
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Hint: Since we’re a new site, and you’re new to it, your comment(s) will be held for moderation for your first few posts. We’re checking the filters often, so don’t despair! That said, if it takes more than a half a day to see it come live on the site, do email us at info (at) bigtentpoetry.org. (But be patient, okay?)
Circus etiquette
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Wow. That gourmet food site is so very thorough – - amazed by the careful reporting on each food considered to be an aphrodisiac… and the Brittanica article. When I first read the prompt I was going to rebel and NOT talk about food, but after skimming this material (and now printing, to have beside me as I journal and take notes over the next few days), I am thinking food has to be a character in my poem… THANKS for the inspiration!
a girl’s gotta eat!
This should be a very interesting week! I’m curious as to (if not slightly afraid of) what everybody will come up with ;-)
have no fear! (she said nervously)
Poetry. Duh.
excellent answer, dave!
The corollary: discovering that someone you like writes bad poetry is a huge turn-off. I’d go out with a fundamentalist sooner than a bad poet.
oh, my. that’s severe! maybe we should do the antithesis to this prompt some day. turn-offs. :)
Turnoffs are SUCH a turnoff, though… I mean… oh, never mind! I would sooner go out with a bad poet than a fundamentalist, but I guess that’s because there’s one in my family, hee hee.
That’s a good start Dave…
Anyone who cites long walks in the rain, cuddling, or ANY references to Barry White will incur the wrath of the Poetry Gods. Everyone knows those are only good at pageants, anyway!
Ahhhh, somebody needs a {{{hug}}}… I can’t stand walking in the rain, the squishing in my shoes drives me crazy. Cuddling “after” is cool. Barry White SUCKS!! That said, I might find a few sentimental, and definitely some sensual things that turn me on, but the poetry gods have been pissed at me for years — so I’ve nothing to lose anyway… ;)
oh, thank goodness you made these rules, amy. we do not want to anger the poetry gods.
I promise I will provide detailed insight into what turns me on, if you promise you will let me post my link… ;)
oh, dear. we may be in trouble. is it too late for me to blame someone else?
Well Carolee,you will pleased to know that I have written a G rated poem about a hamburger
to counteract all the rest of the X rated ones!
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I think I might also do a Barry White poem as well. Thanks for the suggestion Amy!
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Warning: Not for the faint of heart, nor anyone who dislikes references to electrical means of self-satisfaction. Don’t say you haven’t been warned… oh, and if you like Billy Preston’s music, that’s a definite PLUS.
AFRODISIAC
http://amybarlowpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/05/afrodisiac-alert-not-for-prudish.html
i like your disclaimer. it made me want to rush right over the poem, though, instead of scaring me away.
signed, one of the degenerate ring leaders
:)
Hey, the right ones will rush right over. Everyone else is forewarned – and will have skipped this prompt entirely anyway! ;^)
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