I’m not exactly sure how old I was the first time I read “I Have
No Mouth, and I Must Scream”, by Harlan Ellison. But I will never forget the
way in which my hand reached for my mouth, how aware I became of the gift that
is my free tongue, how the title made me cringe and shudder.
Can you imagine yourself being full of ideas and words and feelings
and wants and urges and needs… and not being able to communicate them? Have you
ever pictured yourself living in a world where you are not allowed to speak? For the purpose of this prompt, “not being allowed to speak” refers to being kept from speaking our minds without fear of punishment.
For today’s prompt, my dear Toads, I invite you to create a new poem inspired by the title of
Ellison’s short story (the title of this post). Let your poetry explore the feelings that might lurk in a mind that must scream, but has no mouth. What would such mind poetize?
detail
from “Taking the Plunge”, by Shelle Kennedy
Add
the direct link to your poem to Mr. Linky. Visit other Toads. Speak your
thoughts.
Speak to me, dear Toads. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMorning Magaly! This is a great prompt as I don't know the story, so I have no preconceptions. I'll have to write my poem later as I have a few things to do this morning. But I will be back with one! Kim xx
ReplyDeletewrote s usual off the bat...Haiku thoughts on the matter.May revisit with something else perhaps.
ReplyDeleteAn unforgettable story, that one.
ReplyDeletePowerful prompt, Magaly ❤️ sharing my poem Untitled (when words crumble and fade) Day 21! Woo hooo!❤️
ReplyDelete@Kim, One of the things I really like about the actual story is that the title alone says so much. I love your contribution, by the way.
ReplyDelete@Paul, your haiku trio has teeth.
@Fireblossom, indeed!
@Sanaa, your poem is yummy... and breathtaking (literally).
Aww!❤️ thanks Magaly!❤️
ReplyDeleteI love the prompt (you know I do!) I have at least three poems from the past few years that are exactly this. Glad to have a chance to write another!
ReplyDeletecombining prompts today, so it is what it is...
ReplyDeleteGreat prompt! Not sure I captured the meaning. I went with the problem of my own silence.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Magaly!! (It is still morning here in Texas and I'm retired, so ... But still will have a busy day, catching up. I never catch up and I am counting down now, not up.)
ReplyDeleteThis is a neat prompt. I fudged a little on my reason for sealed lips. You might, well, ...
..
Loved this, Magaly. Thank you! Around later today to read everybody. Happy writing.
ReplyDeleteGood prompt, Magaly. I didnt have to look far for my poem. My daughter cares for severely disabled non-verbal adults. She does it with grace and humour and she sees the people locked inside their bodies. Slowly, she has transformed the atmosphere in the care home, so other staff now understand these clients are more than their failing bodies. I am so proud of her. She has the gift of compassion. Likely because she has suffered much herself.
ReplyDeleteNice prompt, Magaly! Not sure I wrote what you expected but I figure "inspired by" is a loose directive. And now I am off to read that story, with which I am unfamiliar. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Earth Day everyone
ReplyDeleteGlad I haven't read that story; the title alone is scary. But the prompt fed very well into some stuff I have been reading.
ReplyDeleteHi Magaly--mine is more of a story than poem, really--but what came up. Thanks for great prompt! k.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all the yummy (and very interesting) reads, everyone.
ReplyDeletespeak to me. i see what you did there. all these poems are mime.
ReplyDelete