#napowrimo #poetry
Here’s our optional prompt for the day!
In his poem, “Poet, No Thanks,” Jean D’Amérique repeats the phrase “I wasn’t a poet” multiple times while describing other things that he instead claims to have been. In your poem for today, use a simple phrase repeatedly, and then make statements that invert or contradict that phrase.
Happy writing!
WRITER/POET?
I became a writer.
At age four, when I
faithfully copied out
'The cat sat on the mat.'
I became a writer.
After I became a reader,
my mother's gift to me,
it opened up many worlds.
I became a writer.
When I learned to tell
a true story, when I
told a fib when I lied.
I became a writer.
When I dreamed up
characters from my
fervent imagination.
I became a writer.
With all those English
compositions that for
me, were a labour of love.
I became a writer.
Having fallen in, then
out of romantic love.
All those tears that fell.
I became a writer.
With all those love
letters written to my
soldier away at war.
I became a writer.
With the birth of two
sons - from such pain
came so much joy!
I became a writer.
When I just survived,
the crushing blow of
domestic violence.
I became a writer.
Having learnt that
grief is where love
goes to live, after loss.
I became a writer.
After I had lived in
different places, spoken
a language other than English.
I became a writer.
All those years in the
writing groups learning
to hone the writer's craft.
I became a writer.
In the writing of my
first draft of a first book
that remains without edits.
I became a writer.
When I realised I had the
heart of a poet; that poetry
was my very raison de être!
I became a writer, when I became a poet.
©🦊VixenOfVerse, 2026
VIXEN of VERSE 