Annoying Advice Poetry Prompt (Limerick and Haiku Prompt 1)

I’ve been having so much fun drawing inspiration from poetry prompts, that I thought I’d launch my own.  And since I’m seriously (and unseriously) into limericks and haiku, I’m focusing on those two forms.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to write a limerick or haiku (or both) on this week’s theme: Annoying Advice.  When your poem’s taken root, please return to this post and add a direct link to your themed poem.

Here’s my Annoying Advice limerick:

Chin Up
By Madeleine Begun Kane

“Keep your chin up, and things will be fine.
Just act brave. Do not bitch, flinch, or whine.
You have the right stuff.
You just have to hang tough.”
Does anyone fall for that line? 

And here’s my Annoying Advice haiku:

When somebody says
“You sure you want to do that?”
Doubt perversely fades.

UPDATE: Happy Cliché Day, November 3rd!

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18 Responses to “Annoying Advice Poetry Prompt (Limerick and Haiku Prompt 1)”

  1. paisley says:

    what a hoot.. i will try this right away!!!!

  2. paisley says:

    this is my first limerick since elementary school… what fun!!!!

  3. I’ll try and write some.
    Best wishes for the new launch!
    Might be some time though…

  4. madkane says:

    Paisley, I enjoyed your limerick and am so glad you participated. Thanks for being my first! :)

    SweetTalkingGuy, thanks for the congrats. I’m looking forward to your joining in on the fun.

  5. UL says:

    Haven’t tried the limerick yet, will have to give it a go, always loved reading them…but let me post this one for now. Thanks for notifying me, really had some fun with it. Great prompt, thanks Madeline.

  6. madkane says:

    Glad to see your haiku. Looking forward to your coming back with a limerick.

  7. Rethabile says:

    Nice prompt, that got me trying a form I have only admired at a distance. Cheers.

  8. madkane says:

    Thanks, Rethabile, I’m so pleased that you did.

  9. lissa says:

    I like your limerick and haiku.

    Question – in the limerick – Does line 3 and 4 has to rhyme or should only the last words on these two lines had to rhyme only? I suppose anyone write it the way they want to.

    I’ll probably try this again. Thanks for the prompt.

  10. madkane says:

    Hi. Lissa. Thanks for joining in.

    Re your question I’m not sure I understood your rhyme suggestion, but your rhymes were fine.

    The rhyme scheme is AA BB A, as you have it, and the last syllable of the lines must rhyme. But if the last syllable isn’t stressed, then the last stressed syllable must also rhyme. For instance, hiker and biker rhyme. It wouldn’t be enough to just rhyme the unstressed ers. (Is that what your question was getting at?)

    As you asked for advice, I’ve posted some at your blog re your meter, which could use some tweaking. I hope it’s helpful.

  11. lissa says:

    Thanks Mad, your version of my limerick sounds so much better. Thanks for the advice. I will read more about limericks and haiku. Thanks.

  12. Thanks Mad,
    Here’s my Haiku attempt…
    Mad Kane’s Prompt

  13. UL says:

    Madeline, thanks a lot for taking the time to read and comment and to let me know how best to improve, I am gonna work at this as limericks is one of my all time favs and I am sure your prompts are gonna help for sure. Thank you. I am surely going to check out the links you send across, thanks again.

  14. patois says:

    All right, I said I’d try it, and I did. My first limerick written in…forever, for me. Love the idea. I hope it takes off.

  15. madkane says:

    Thanks so much to everyone who helped me launch my first poetry prompt!

  16. Marie says:

    That was fun, thanks for the challenge, though I’m late.

  17. madkane says:

    Marie, your limericks were excellent and take the prize, so far at least — the best verse posted in response to this prompt. Thanks for the laughs!

  18. Hueina Su says:

    Madeleine:

    Thanks for sharing this fun stuff.