Today I tried to blend two prompts, the first being “another word for salvation” and the second being to write a poem in the form of a prompt. Intriguing, right? The example given was by Mathias Svalina, who posts his surrealist prompt poems on Instagram. You can find examples here, and here, and here.

I am absolutely wild about this style of poem, and wish mine had turned out half as cool as his are, but I will share it anyway:

Writing Prompt

1. In your notebook, with a black pen, write three words that remind you of salvation.
2. Say them out loud.
3. Tear them from the book, crumple or fold the paper, and offer it to the wind.
4. Place your hand on your chest and feel
5. it rise, as you suck a portion of that wind deep into your lungs.
6. Hold.
7. Think of the taste of an orange.
8. Your eyes are shut, but you know there is sunlight because it is not completely dark.
9. Not even in here.
10. Think of the first time you made someone’s face blush with playful embarrassment or
11. lust. Remember the first time it happened to you. If the memories match, you can hold
12. on longer to that breath. If they don’t, you can too.
13. Think of the sound of a closing door.
14. Count backward from four as you release what you’re holding.
15. The whisper over your lips is the poem.