Poetry Prompt: Question Poems

My second book, Twirl, ends with a question. It is a question I did not mean to write. Originally, I wrote the last words as a statement. I was wondering, and I wanted my wondering to be a statement, not a question. I feared a question would make me sound weak.

I asked L.L. Barkat if there was any way she would pretty please with a cherry on top change it back so that the book didn’t end in a question. She said that this would not serve the ending best, but her “no” wasn’t as important to me as what she explained next: “You have to trust me on this one — it’s the people who are strong that ask the questions.”

Though it felt revealing to share what I was feeling, I liked thinking that I might come across as someone who is strong because I asked a question. Plus, Barkat didn’t tell me I had to answer my question. Through our correspondence I learned my strength came from the asking.

This is a new way of thinking for me. It was also freeing. Where’s the harm in asking a question if I didn’t need it answered? It got me thinking what else can be done with a question? Maybe a question could be like a dress that can be worn in different ways. Or an ingredient, like basil or hot pepper flakes, that add flavor and spice to a dish.

Maybe a question is like those first few electric moments before a kiss — the shaky inhale, the fingers that touch then intertwine, the last look before eyes close.

Perhaps enjoying the possibilities of asking a question bring us just as much fun (if not more) than finding the answer.

Try It

This week’s prompt comes straight from Tania Runyan’s How to Write a Poem: Write a poem that begins with a question. Don’t try too hard to answer it.

Featured Poem

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s one from Lynn we enjoyed:

Maleficent…cupcake?

no sleeping beauty, she’s a
fair fairy, a frightful villainess
come back in black; horned,
winged, pale with hungering

what do you offer to appease?
appeal? tease? try to deal?
a cupcake?! she’s no mousy
muffin, that you’ll be stuffin’

whip up delicacy for those
cynical red lips, a mouth that
purses when speaking curses
baked over coals of tongued
fire, thick forest of thorny briar

rich, dark chocolate cake of
devil’s food, a true-love’s kiss
baked inside, laced with poison,
frosted white, too-sweet icing

served at dawn as darkness dies.

—Lynn

Photo by Uroš Novina Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Callie Feyen.

Browse more poetry prompts

A Writer’s Dream Book

“Callie Feyen has such a knack for telling personal stories that transcend her own life. In my years in publishing, I’ve seen how hard that is—but she makes it seem effortless, and her book is such a pleasure. It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s enlightening. Callie writes about two of the most important things in life—books and clothes—in utterly delightful and truly moving ways. I’m impressed by how non-gimmicky and fresh her writing is. I love this book.”

—Sarah Smith, Executive Editor Prevention magazine; former Executive Editor Redbook magazine

BUY TWIRL NOW

• Author
• Recent Posts

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.

Latest posts by Callie Feyen (see all)

• Poetry Prompt: Courage to Follow - July 24, 2023
• Poetry Prompt: Being a Pilgrim and a Martha Stewart Homemaker - July 10, 2023
• Poetry Prompt: Monarch Butterfly’s Wildflower - June 19, 2023