Here's a playful poetry prompt for you this week:
1. Pick the book nearest to you, turn to page 27, and write down the third word on the page (not counting the, a, an, and, or but).
2. Find a cereal box in your kitchen. Look on the back of the box. Choose one word you see there.
3. Call a family member or friend on the phone. Without telling them why, ask them to give you one word--any word that comes to their mind.
Write a poem that includes those three words somewhere. It doesn't have to rhyme. In fact, it might be completely nonsensical. :-) But that's okay. In all that playful nonsense, there might be one phrase, one image that inspires you and that is worth keeping around for another poem or story someday. That's what playing is for.