2025 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 21
For the 2025 November PAD Chapbook Challenge, poets write a poem a day in the month of November. Day 21 is to write a why blank poem.
Wow! Once we get through today's poem, we'll be three weeks in on this challenge, which means we've only got about a week (plus a couple days) remaining. In other words, we've got this poeming challenge right where we want it. Hopefully.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase "Why (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "Why I Can't Get to Sleep at Night," "Why Can't Everyone Just Agree," "Why Ask Why," and/or "Why Do 6 Out of 10 Consumers Prefer Diet Soda to the Real Thing." So many whys out there to untangle and answer. I mean, why not?
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them. If you have a wild idea, follow it.
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Writer's Digest is celebrating our 20th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards with new categories and prizes. We’re looking for your best poems of 32 lines or fewer or un-published chapbooks 25 pages or fewer. Any form of poetry is eligible including epic, free verse, odes, pantoums, sonnets, villanelles, and even haiku. This is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively for poets. Win cash and an article about you in the July/August issue of Writer’s Digest.
(Note: This is completely separate of the November PAD Chapbook Challenge.)
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Here’s my attempt at a "Why (Blank)" Poem:
“Why Is Their Favorite Word”
I know, because nearly every statement
that evolves from my mouth is met with, "Why,"
and while I try to answer each query,
there are only so many layers of why
a sane person can take before they could
care less about the meanings or the why;
after a point, it's just repetitive,
and I don't think I need to explain why
unless you're another one of these cats,
so darn curious about why, why, why!!!!!
