2026 NaPM Early Bird Special

[RiverNotch]

Write a poem for National Poetry Month based on the topic described....rather, write a poem set in, pertaining to, or inspired by the given region, whether its entirety or just some part of it, as this year's prompts are going to be unified by the theme "Around the World" like last year's prompts were unified by the theme "Esoterica". Each poem should appear as a separate reply to this thread. There are three levels of participation:

Bronze. Participated at least once.

Silver. Participated every day.

Gold. Participated every day, with all entries either being the same form (e.g., every one a sonnet) or being distinct forms (e.g., no two haiku).

While it might not yet be National Poetry Month, UNESCO has long declared 21 March to be World Poetry Day, and because it'll be a while before the next prompt, let's have today's region be an entire continent....if the one continent in the world no one permanently inhabits, Antarctica.

[dukealien]

Southern Riddle

You, World, if this is your Aunt Arctica,
so frigid, little-warmed by summer light,
who births out ice floes from her endless lap
of shelving Ross, mother of giant birds
with customs nearly mad as those of men–
cold Auntie, nationless, rejecting all,
adorned with flags too cowed to stake a claim...
if she’s your aunt, World, who's your uncle, then?

original version;

You, World, if this is your Aunt Arctica,
so frigid, little-warmed by summer light,
who births out ice floes from her endless lap
of shelving Ross, mother of giant birds
with customs nearly mad as those of men–
cold Auntie, nationless, rejecting all,
adorned with flags too cowed to stake a claim...
if she’s your aunt, what land’s your daddy, then?

(In blitz poetry, the better idea always comes a minute late.      )

[RiverNotch]

Antarctica


Giant forms once roamed where moss and birds
are now the only life, their soles in loam
than in silt and snow imprinted, roots the roost

of moss and ferns and flowers where reds and blues
are now but glaciers stained or the sky reflected,
the birds likewise one particolored throng

spread out as one great net from coast to coast
now solitary knots and lines of drab,
pillars of wood and flesh by which the winds

had their harsh courses slowed to soft caresses
now offering no shelter, now only clouds
where leafy and hairy arms once intertwined,

and where there sparked a smile, where nostrils flared,
where eyes defiant glittered, where the spirit
brightened or dimmed according to the season,
now only these lights' source---now only stars.

[wasellajam]

Geography For Kids

past chilled
past cold
past frozen
leaving life unquenched
drawn in by diamond dust
blinding illusion dissolves
just another veil
all directions north

[Magpie]

Kaleidoscopic Antarctica

The Antarctic snow is not white,
an old impressionist painted it
a swirling multitude of hues.

Snow here shimmers silver and swims
the deepest blues of the ocean.
Holds a paper tissue green leaf

from a sycamore in mid spring,
a summers rose of golden peach
in the dawn's scintillating rays.

Snow is a canvas reflecting
nature's kaleidoscopic light.
Monet painted our blood red sun

that bounces off the horizon
in 'autumn' haze and casts shadows 
long into the cold winter night.

The Antarctic snow is not white.