Tweetspeak Poetry

Poetry Prompt: Daydreaming

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Day Dreams Hot Air Balloons Photos
Whether we worry or fantasize, all of us detach our minds from the mundane tasks of the day… and daydream.

Our productivity-centric society tends to frown upon daydreaming, simply seeing it as a waste of time when many other things could be accomplished. However, some researchers believe daydreaming is the mark of a creative mind and can be a useful tool in problem-solving. At times, the daydreaming brain may make an association between bits of information that the person had never considered before. Daydreaming can be a tool which allows the mind to come up with ideas and modify them– as it often has to do with anticipating the future.

Might we not say that every child at play behaves like a creative writer, in that he creates a world of his own, or, rather, rearranges the things of his world in a new way which pleases him?

—Sigmund Freud

Although we’re often told that having our head in the clouds is a waste of time, daydreaming has many benefits. Daydreams help us to get the most out of our brain power, and are an essential personal resource for coping with the stuff of life.

Try It

Step away from the task at hand and take a moment to dream. Perhaps you are the hero of your story and have accomplished something great. Maybe you’re thinking of a past love who comes crawling back to say they’re sorry. Or maybe you are sitting on a quiet stretch of shoreline, surrounded by nothing more than your favorite books. Whatever your daydream might be, it’s yours, so celebrate that beautiful, creative mind of yours and write a poem about your very best daydream.

Featured Poem

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here is a poem from Rick we enjoyed:

As if it were the dark device of dreams,
the road stumbled me early toward the shore,
from black to gray as day laid down its beams.

The waves rolled ‘round my legs from Tenerife,
from Portugal and Spain the waters came,
an ancient sea made new, so clear, though brief.

The realm of sleep dissolved with dawn’s bright fan,
flown with mist that hid the thin bent line
between open sky and where the world began.

—by Rick Maxson

Photo by Berli Mike. Creative Commons via Flickr.

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How to Write a Poem 283 high How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.

“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland

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Heather Eure
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Comments

  1. Donna says

    Richard, that poem is wonderful. And that line… the road stumbled me… that’s so sensory – it’s a running tripping movement that I feel when I read it – not really falling, but not at all standing up, either. I can even hear soles of shoes slapping against thee pavement… I really love those words.

    Reply

  3. Rick Maxson says

    Afternoon Eyes Closed

    In the countryside of dreams,
    the blades of grass, silver in the wind,
    and deeply bowing, cover well
    a furrowed field, draw me like fresh rain,
    a reminder, there are many doors.

    Beyond a stand of Oswego,
    dense woods and a dark portal,
    through which a man and dog
    may pass, opens in the trees,
    opens like the hope in suffering,
    opens like a bell in a gray silence.

    There I can close my eyes,
    like a child closes the world.
    I can see skies where moths of moonlight
    lift the vapor of their wings
    into the powdered spell of clouds,
    and I walk for hours not knowing where.

    Reply

  4. Andrew H says

    Chained Worlds

    There lie some worlds we cannot see
    Within our thoughts and in our minds
    That hold – unseen – such folk as strange
    As any that a sleeping dreamer finds.

    And here I wandered long of old, was told
    That I was vague or far, my name was mist
    Upon a wind of thought. But how I sang
    Within the chains of thought, just like the stars

    As they bed down for day. Sometimes I look
    Into the heaven’s vault that hides such wonders
    And I think of tales our fathers knew, of love for
    Sweeping rain, soft mist and mighty thunder.

    Within some eldritch mystic wood the people walk
    For nothing but to cry that they exist unto the sky –
    And there I walked, and there I flew and sang
    Without regard to how the minutes swept me by.

    And I was happy, ’til the rolling years
    Locked gates I’d never known to be.
    But shush, as Thomas cried of time
    I’ll sing despite the chains, and my voice
    Will be as the sea.

    —

    The last is a reference to Dylan Thomas’ “Fern Hill.” If you haven’t read it, do so! It’s a confusing piece in places, but I like it.

    Reply

  5. Rick Maxson says

    “Within some eldritch mystic wood the people walk
    For nothing but to cry that they exist unto the sky –”

    These are my favorite lines. They evoke a time out of time.

    Reply

  6. Prasanta says

    Andalusian Dream

    Closing my eyes to find
    the cobalt sky reaching down to touch
    the sea, not knowing whither it ends
    or begins

    Searching along the shore near Malaga
    I hear her shoes tapping
    like we were back in Seville and
    buying dresses off the streets

    Slipping feet in and out of moving sand
    Keep raining on, pouring on
    Forcing us inside, forcing us to see
    ourselves from the outside in
    from windows above the dunes

    Wait for me, I’ll be there soon
    Walking, still walking
    I’m coming, running now
    I’ll be there
    Wait for me,
    I’ll find it again
    My pink carnation
    From that Andalusian summer.

    Reply

    • Donna says

      Oh, I love this! Your words take me around the world in a way – beautiful. This line was particulary visual and sensory to me – such a powerful dream state feeling here: “Slipping feet in and out of moving sand”

      Thank you for your sharing!

      Reply

  7. Lynne Cole says

    Man-made Dream

    I sit at my desk looking past my computer screen,
    Drifting off and dreaming, wond’ring if I can be seen.
    I see a man in the distance walking towards me,
    Slowly, running his fingers through his hair…does he see?
    He glances to the left, and looks over to the right,
    Will he look up straight at me and catch my gazing sight?
    I can feel my heart pounding as I breath a deep sigh,
    Not noticing around me my colleagues walking by.
    He gracefully walks slowly towards my direction,
    I hope he doesn’t notice my bright red complexion.
    I feel taps on my shoulder and a call of my name,
    “What are you doing? It’s home time,” a voice did exclaim.
    I quickly came back and shook off the dream that I had,
    I turned off my computer and put away my note pad.
    I hesitantly looked to see if my dream was real,
    But the room’s, empty and the man was sadly surreal.

    Reply

      • Lynne Cole says

        Thank you Bethany. It took me a while to think of what to write for the dreaming prompt…I can never remember any of my dreams! When I saw the Daydream prompt I couldn’t resist it!

        Reply

          • Lynne Cole says

            Thanks. I have had a look in there. I’m not sure how you chat with other people though…is it all done on Tweeting? I am quite new to that! 🙂

          • Bethany says

            Great question, Lynne. Yes, if you want to chat, Tweeting is the way. If you’re looking for something in particular or general, let me know and I’ll see if I can help. 🙂

      • Lynne Cole says

        No, that’s ok. I’m new to all the tweeting stuff so getting my head around it all. :/ Thanks for the help so far and hope to catch you some other time.

        Reply

  8. Lexanne Leonard says

    Today I began a new venture at our church. It’s called Creative Arts Gathering. Everyone – from children to adults – are welcome to come and spend time doing their art. We start with a prompt and then write, draw, color or any other expression for half and hour and then we share. Everything is optional. It’s great community time.

    I decided to use this Poetry Prompt – Daydreaming as the perfect inspiration for our first outing. It was delightful. Blue seemed to be the color of choice, possibly from the photo. I was the only writer today, and I didn’t do a poem. Instead I met Siggie. I like her. She may stick around for a while. I know it’s not a poem, but if you would like to read it, here is the link: http://leximagines.com/2016/01/17/siggie/

    I cannot thank you all at Tweetspeak for the inspiration and beauty you offer to the world. You touch lives and make sunshine.

    Reply

  9. Tamanna Gogia says

    I just randomly googled poetry prompts, yet again, ready to be disappointed. And your website is just godsend. Thank you so much for the great work you’ve put up.
    Helped me a great deal. 🙂

    Reply

    • Bethany R. says

      Tamanna, so glad to hear that you were helped by the content . 🙂 I’m one of the Poetry Baristas here, and want to welcome you! Our virtual Mischief Cafe is a place where new and old members can peruse our monthly word-offerings and find other ways to connect. If you have any questions about other poetry prompts or anything else, just let me know. 🙂

      https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/mischief-cafe/

      Reply

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