The rhythm of poetry: a NAPOWRIMO challenge

Poet Spencer Griffin took our Poetry Month challenge this April. Here are our prompts below, and we are so happy to reveal the incredible words that flowed...

1. (Writing between the lines)

BETWEEN THE LINES:

Someone told me to read between the lines

I thought that I was doing fine

‘Cause one line is to the left and one’s to the right

And in between it, I’m in sight

But people looked at me kinda silly

When I told ‘em what I was doing, they just said, “Really?”

I guess I know just what they mean

‘Cause although I’m standing in between

There’s nothing here for me to read

Except these words that I wrote…now what else do I need?

2. (Underlines)

UNDERLINES:

“What is an underline used for?”

I wondered to myself one day

And so, I put them everywhere

Not knowing just quite what to say

I underlined this sentence

Oh, my goodness! What have I done?

I did something I didn’t need to do!

Oh well. At least I had some fun!

3. (Eyeliner)

EYELINER:

Found some makeup for my eyes

It was such a big surprise!

I started with a tiny lash

And before you know it, in a flash,

The eyeliner went IN my vision

I had to make a big decision

Should I go in my mom’s drawer

To play with her stuff anymore?

She never said I couldn’t

But I’m thinking now, I shouldn’t

I hope that I’ll take better steps

Applying makeup to my lips!

4. (Under sheets)

UNDER MY SHEETS:

Under my sheets, what will I find?

What exciting adventures will stick in my mind?

I bet there’s a ghost when I turn out the light

That floats in the air and gives people a fright!

Or maybe a monster waiting to munch

On some of my toys when he eats his lunch!

Perhaps a pirate was burying treasure

Under my sheets, with gold as his pleasure!

Or a four-leaf clover from a leprechaun.

I can’t wait to find out! I’ll turn the lights on.

There’s something moving here! I gasp, then see that…

…I’ve seen it before. It’s just my kitty cat!

5. (Grief in motion)

WHISKERS:

Whiskers was a good kitty

I loved with all my heart

I really hoped with all my soul

We’d never be apart

When I had a good day,

He was always next to me

And when my days were awful,

It was still his face I’d see

When everyone else pushed me around,

I could always count on him

But since Whiskers is gone now

My light inside has grown dim

But I know there’s a way to see him

As odd as it may seem

I just close my eyes and then

He’s right there in my dreams!

6. (Love potion)

LOVE POTION NUMBER 10:

The first love potion didn’t take

The second one just made me break

The third love potion wasn’t much better

The fourth one? At least I didn’t upset her

The fifth love potion still didn’t work

The sixth one got me a little irked

Even by lucky number seven

I didn’t feel I was in heaven

By number eight? I guess I was fine

Then came love potion number nine

Felt like I was walking on air…but then

I tried love potion number ten!

Why wasn’t THIS one sung about?

I thought to myself while trying it out

Though number ten seemed very trusting,

I tasted it…and it was DISGUSTING!

Ech! Goodbye, love potion number ten!

I don’t think I’ll try you again!

If I want love to feel divine

I think I’ll stick with number nine!

7. (relaying truth)

TRUTH?:

I stole those cookies from the cookie jar

I tried to hide ‘em, but here they are

I was the one who broke the vase

The evidence is clear from the look on my face

I made that noise in my room, not my brother

I tried blaming him, but he just blew my cover

I was the one who made my room a mess

There weren’t any “monsters,” I must confess

And I was the one who wrote this poem

I’ve said what I needed to. Please leave me a lo-em.

8. (Skyscraper fruit)

PENELOPE AND THE GIANT PINEAPPLE ON THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING:

Penelope Phillips awoke one day

And found she was inside

Of a giant pineapple, of all things

(This could not be denied!)

Penelope loved how it tasted

But she wanted to get out

‘Cause we all know the inside of a pineapple

Is no good place to hang about

So, she tunneled her way through its juiciness

Until she got to the top

And as she poked her head through its leaves,

What she saw just made her stop!

Instead of finding her way back home

Or back on solid ground

The top of an 80-story building

Was what she found herself around

“Help!” cried out Penelope

“I’m stuck on a giant fruit!”

Though people heard her cries for help,

They just laughed and said, “What a hoot!”

I don’t know if Penelope ended up

Back out on the street

But I know for all the nights she was there,

She had something good to eat!

9. (Knowledge thirst)

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE:

Out wandering the desert

Hoo boy, I need a drink!

I see water in the distance

And now that I do, I think

I’ll guzzle some of it up

And let it quench my thirst

Here I go (gulp, gulp)

I think I somehow made it worse!

For I am still quite thirsty

And instead, I find

What I’ve really quenched my thirst for

Is the knowledge in my mind!

10. (Dirt or mud)

MUD:

When I feel like crud

I play in the mud

Every sticky, grimy inch of it

All that brown, sloppy clay

Just makes my day

I want more than just a pinch of it!

I love it on my toes

And on my bathing clothes

It’s more fun than a bath or a pool

And on hot summer days

The mud’s where I laze

I think mud is really cool!

I have mud everywhere!

On my legs, arms, and hair

But now I hear Mom call me back in

“It’s time to get clean!

Stop making a scene!”

(I can’t wait to get muddy again!!)

11. (Happiness flies)

TIME FLIES:

They say time flies when you’re having fun

But I don’t think this is how it’s done

‘Cause all I see are insects buzzin’ round my eyes

I guess time’s NOT fun when you’re having flies!

12. (Sky is ceiling)

SKY’S THE LIMIT:

Flying high

Up to the sky

Don’t have wings but I try and try

Air all around

Can’t see the ground

Breeze feels nice and I have found

I’m seeing crowds

Of fluffy white clouds

I soar ever higher and feel so proud!

Now there’s planets and stars

And aliens in cars?

Do you think maybe I flew up TOO far?!

13. (Sealing lips)

MY LIPS WERE SEALED:

I have a little secret

I’m not supposed to tell

I have a little secret

I think I’ve hid it well

I have a little secret

You say you want to hear?

I have a little secret

Well, since you asked, come here

I’ll tell you ‘bout my secret

You promise not to tell?

Then here’s my little secret

‘Bout to come out of its shell

Last night I got some glue

And put it on my lips

It sure did keep me quiet

And kept them in a grip

But while trying to say “good morning”

The next day when I awoke

I had trouble doing so,

And that is not a joke!

Since it was really hot outside

The glue began to melt

As it dripped onto the sidewalk,

Its gooiness I felt

Isn’t that embarrassing?!

I felt like such a fool!

Now that I’ve told my secret

I’ll be on my way to school

What’s that you say? You KNEW this secret?

How was it that you knew?

Could it be because my lip

Still has leftover glue?!

14. (Witness)

THE TRIAL:

Ladies and gentlemen and stuffed animals of the jury

We’re gathered here today

To find out who it was that took

My favorite toy away

I call my mom to the stand first

She always said I look

So cute when I go to sleep with it

Out with it, Mom! You took

My favorite toy away so you

Could have it for yourself!

You didn’t? OK, I believe you

I’ll move onto someone else

It was YOU, Dad! After all, you were

The one who bought my toy

So maybe you wanted to know

If it could bring YOU joy!

You’re innocent? Oh, really?!

Then I think I’ll move on

To the NEXT possible suspect

My little brother, John!

I’ve seen you take my toy from me

Whenever I go to sleep

Well, let me tell you something, John,

It isn’t yours to keep!

Don’t try to win me over

With that doe-eyed look on your face

You mean you DIDN’T do it?

Lemme look around the place.

What say you, Mr. Bear?

Have you seen where my toy went?

What’s that you say?

You mean I left it out by accident

As I splashed in the puddles

And I left it in the rain?

The case is closed!

I won’t play when it’s wet outside again!

15. (Choice)

DECISIONS, DECISIONS:

When I go to eat at the ice cream parlor

Every decision gets harder and harder

Should I have chocolate or should I have vanilla?

Ice cream’s so good, I just can’t get my fill-a!

But what if I got both of those flavors?

That would be such a sweet treat to savor!

Then again…should I get peanut butter

Should I get caramel, or maybe another

Flavor that’s sticky and sugary too?

There’s so many flavors I don’t know what to do!

I think I know just what I’ll order now!

I’ll tell the ice cream man. Oh wow!

Wait, is this ice cream shop now closed?!

Then I’ll get something tomorrow, I suppose…

(No one knows)

16. (Beauty is beat)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAT:

There was once a beautiful princess

Who fell in love with a drummer

They first met at a concert

One hot afternoon in summer

As the drummer banged out his rhythm

The princess began to dance

They soon got to know each other

And so began their romance

Now comes the part of the story

That you won’t wanna miss

They wanted to know what would happen

When they shared their first kiss

Would they soon get married

And live happily ever after?

Apparently not, for after their kiss,

The princess burst into laughter!

Why, you may ask? Well, here’s what happened

The princess wished that she

Would always love the drummer

But this is not what came to be

For when she tried to say “drummer,”

She said “drumstick” instead

And the drummer turned into a chicken drumstick

She thought, “Was it something I said?”

But she couldn’t control her giggle fit

And now she is the winner

Not of true love’s sweet first kiss,

But a delicious chicken dinner!

17. (Beat down)

SUN BEATS DOWN:

The sun beats down

It’s really hot

“I’m thirsty and sweaty”

Is my current thought

The sun beats down

I’d like to swim

And feel fresh water

On my skin

The sun beats down

I’ll find some shade

And drink a glass

Of cold lemonade

The sun beats down

And now I’m tan

Think I’ll go home

And turn on the fan

Done all these things

But still, I find

That feeling hot

Is on my mind

Even the fan

Didn’t help

Like an ice cream cone

I think I’ll melt

I look at the room temp

One hundred and ten

I won’t set the thermostat

Ever again!

all written and rights (c)2026 Spencer Griffin