2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 5
For people new to these challenges, I like to do “Two for Tuesday” prompts on Tuesdays. In that way, I get to pretend like I’m a DJ on a radio…
For people new to these challenges, I like to do "Two for Tuesday" prompts on Tuesdays. In that way, I get to pretend like I'm a DJ on a radio station. Here are the two prompts today:
- Write a concealed poem. Could be about a concealed weapon, concealing emotions, concealing intentions, etc. Cover it up and write about it.
- Write an unconcealed poem. Okay, take everything from the first prompt and uncover it. Reveal everything that's hidden.
Here's my attempt at a Concealed and/or Unconcealed Poem:
"Danvers"
What's the difference in a concealed gun
and concealed box cutter? Sometimes, intent
trumps technology, though Cash said it best,
"Don't take your guns to town," not because
they're evil, but because they're easy. My
coach used to stress running against traffic,
not because we wouldn't get hit by cars
during long runs. Rather, he wanted them
(the drivers) to see our faces after,
to suffer through our identities
that would no longer be content, concealed.
Maybe a box cutter or hammer could
work just as well as automatic
guns, but doesn't one require more effort? Should
death be as easy as moving fingers?
After he killed his teacher and dumped
her body (not even concealed), he caught
a movie. Did he ever see her face?
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Workshop your poetry.Click here to learn how.
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Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer's Digest Writing Community and completely at a loss when it comes to making the world a safer place. He can see both sides of the argument when it comes to gun control and doesn't know which side (if any) is correct. In his collection Solving the World's Problems, he focuses on things within his control, such as love, forgiveness, and faith. It might be cheesy, but that's how he copes with the crazy. That, and he's married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
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Find more poetic posts here:
- 2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 4. In case you missed the prompt yesterday.
- WD Poetic Form Challenge: Somonka. Enter this challenge by November 10 for a chance at getting published in Writer's Digest magazine.
- Thomas Lux: Poet Interview. Read this interview with a great poet, teacher, and reader.

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.