…And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us 

but what stands before us

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first

we must first put our differences aside

We lay down our arms

so we can reach out our arms

to one another…

                  – Amanda Gorman (excerpt from  “The Hill We Climb”)

Today I’m talking poetry, something I know nothing about. I appreciate it and occasionally make an effort at it, but that’s about it. And I really like it as way to start a freewrite. In fact, after hearing Amanda Gorman read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the Presidential Inauguration, my writing partner Jenny and I, were inspired to write poetry. Read the “The Hill We Climb” in its entirety to get inspired for today’s writing prompts, and then take a deep breath, and go…

WRITING PROMPT 1: What inspires you? Write a poem about it.

WRITING PROMPT 2: Put the word UNITED at the top of the page, then write.

WRITING PROMPT 3: Grace wasn’t a poet, but she sat down at her desk, pulled out a pen and…