The Red & Black is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter. Cancel anytime. Every April since its inception in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National ...

For this week's prompt, write a fresh start poem. Today is the first day of 2025, so the year is a clean slate. But you don't have to write a 2025 poem; fresh starts can be made anywhere and in many ...

For this week's prompt, take the phrase "If I Had (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 ...

Practice with the attention to detail and language choices needed for poetry writing can help elementary students with other kinds of writing as well.

A version of this story ran in the January / February 2025 issue. Write about the untouchable. Something out of arm’s reach, like freedom, the stars, or you. Write an ode to misfits. A poem of praise ...

Poetry gives students a powerful way to express emotions and ideas that may be difficult to put into ordinary words. Unlike formal writing, poetry allows freedom in language, structure, and ...