Welcome to the Langston Hughes School for Poets. Langston Hughes impacts my life and poetry in powerful ways, he actually serves as a literary hero, mentor, patron saint for me. This page, The Langston Hughes School for Poets, features prompts for poems, reflections and other resources about poetry. Scroll down for prompts, and other resources. If you find a prompt or reflection especially helpful, please email me and let me know at JosephRoss20017@gmail.com.
February 25, 2024 – A Poem about Hoping / Yearning
Consider writing a poem about something you wish for deeply. This might be love, health, spring, a new job. We all want something, sometimes we want something very badly. Explore that desire in a 20-25 line poem.
December 22, 2023 – A Poem about Your Faith (Or Your Non-Faith)
Maybe December is a good time to try a poem about faith. If you are a person of faith, write at 20-25 line poem that shows something about your religious faith. If you are not a person of faith, consider writing about how you came to that place in your life.
November 10, 2023 – A Poem Expressing Gratitude
As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday, in the United States, consider writing a traditional ode, a poem that praises someone or something for which you are thankful. This poem voicing gratitude can be serious or silly. We are grateful to people who love us and we can be grateful for simple pleasures like toast and honey. Imagine a short poem, 10-15 lines, exploring someone or something for which you are thankful.
July 11, 2023 – A Poem about Warmth
I can’t resist a poem about warmth or heat as I’m writing here in July and it’s over 90 degrees with high humidity! Imagine a 15-20 line poem that describes your experience of heat. This could be a hot day, an argument, a strong passion. There are many ways “Warmth” or “Heat” work in our lives. A hot sidewalk, an outside basketball game, an angry word, a delicious taco, a hot cup of tea. Give it a try!
June 26, 2023 – A Poem about Joy
Try composing a short poem, 10-12 lines, that capture some experience that gives you joy. This could be an experience of another person, a delicious food, listening to a song you love. Any moment that gives you joy.
June 1, 2023 – A Poem about Nature
Can you get to a place where there is little or no sound made by humans? Try this. Try writing 15-20 lines about a place with very little human impact. You can even use the photograph below, taking in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park.
May 25, 2023 – A Poem about Free Time
Consider writing 15-20 lines about Free Time. What do you do when you have unclaimed time? Is there any such thing as “Free Time?” What does it mean to you to feel pressed by time, liberated by time?
May 20, 2023 – A Poem about a Mural
Write a poem about this mural by DRONES. It’s in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C. What is happening in the mural? What the does the text “Family First” mean to you? What might have happened just before or after the moment this image captures?
Spring, 2023 – A Poem Drawn from History
For this month, try writing a poem about an historical event, particularly from African-American history. Consider 15-20 lines about a lesser-known person from the struggle for civil rights: Diane Nash, Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Bob Moses. If you explore one of their names online you will find plenty to write about.
Joseph Ross 