Will You Take the Challenge?

Over the years, I've tried to challenge myself as a writer, with varying degrees of willingness. While I believed that stretching my writerly inclinations would be good for me, I still bulked--sometimes a little, often a lot--when it came to tackling things I'd labeled as boring … or hard … or not my thing. 

I noted repeatedly, in front of witnesses, that I had no interest in interviewing people like my friend Kayleen does. None at all. Yet, some time later I found myself writing feature articles for a local magazine based on interviews with business owners. For two years, I psyched myself up each month to complete the assignment. Despite this type of writing not making my top-ten list, a sense of accomplishment washed over me with each on-time article submitted. And the golden nugget tucked inside? The many interesting people I met and the "hidden treasures” I discovered among the businesses I visited.

When my friend Rhonda talked excitedly about her new venture, providing web content and advertising pieces for businesses via a marketing firm, I smiled politely. While I was happy for her, I firmly stated that I "would never want to do that." Write weekly blog posts, monthly e-newsletters, and other "business writing" content on boring topics. I inwardly moaned at the thought of researching and writing about subjects that I had little to no interest in. But guess who later inquired about the opportunity to join her writing team? I plowed through the first months of boring assignments, not sure I could make it a long-term gig. But perseverance won out and nearly seven years and upwards of 700 articles later, I have learned so much and have grown by leaps and bounds as a writer.   

 Poetry is another "not my thing" type of writing that I tend to avoid like the plague, although I've forced myself to write a poem on several special occasions. Those efforts didn't kill me. And I wasn't banned from any of my writing hangouts. So, a few years ago, I challenged myself to compose a poem in celebration of National Poetry Month (in April). Once I put pen to paper, I was surprised at how easily the poem came together. And while it's unlikely to win a prize, I have to say, I was rather pleased with the results.

Photo by krystina rogers on Unsplash

In Honor of Spring

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
But the tulips of spring,
How they make my heart sing.
The grass is so green,
And my, how it grows.
So cool and so soft
Against my bare little toes.
The warmth of the sun
Surrounds the fertile earth.
As the wonders of spring
Fill us each with such mirth.
A confession I must make
Although it pains me so.
Only the tallest part
Of the lawn did I mow.
The day had been long and
T'was already past seven.
My bones were so weary
To rest–that would be heaven.
I’ll finish the job
Before the grass is knee high.
I promise I will
About that I would not lie.

My challenge to you? Write a hasty poem, spend fifteen minutes max on it, and share it in the comments. Come on, stretch those writing muscles.