Be inspired by The Earth is A Living Thing by Lucille Clifton

This prompt is inspired by Ada Limón’s Poetry in the Parks project:

Listen to Ada Limón read The Earth is a Living Thing by Lucille Clifton. In this poem, the earth is explored through a series of metaphors dangling off the edge of the “is” starter phrase in each stanza.

Focus on an object in nature – a tree, a rock, a root, a puddle, an ocean wave, a flower in the crack of the wall, a bird in flight, a bug on the window, a spider in its web …

Make that object the title of your poem. Now, write a metaphor poem, with each stanza (even if it is just one single stanza) beginning with “is” so that the title of the poem is really the start of the poem.

Return to the Poetry for the Planet Choice Board