National Poetry Month: April 23, 2015

Prompt: Today, I challenge you to take a chance, literally. Find a deck of cards (regular playing cards, tarot cards, uno cards, cards from your “Cards Against Humanity” deck – whatever), shuffle it, and take a card – any card! Now, begin free-writing based on the card you’ve chosen. Keep going without stopping for five minutes. Then take what you’ve written and make a poem from it. (Hat tip to Amy McDaniel for the idea!)

From Inner Child Cards: A Fairy-Tale Tarot

Little Red Cap

You with your long innocent hair

under that little red cap,

knitted by someone who loves you,

the tassel floating like flame behind.

Why have you paused on your way,

ignoring your mother’s warning?

I know the woods are tempting.

I could stop you if I wanted.

But maybe I’ll wait to see

if you take the wise path,

if you notice the birds

have to fallen silent

before that dark presence.