10 Magnificent March Writing Prompts for Poets
A new month ushers in new experiences and inspiration. Each of these milestones and moments marks an opportunity to reflect through poetry. Let these writing prompts propel you through a creative, rejuvenating March full of writing, workshop, and revision.
1. In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2, replicate the challenge that led him to write his iconic Green Eggs and Ham. The classic children’s book was Seuss’s successful take on writing a full story with only 50 words. Stick to 50 words in your next poem—they can repeat as many times as you like, in fresh and interesting ways, but must make up the entirety of the poem, including its title. See what this exercise can teach you about brevity, word choice, and reinventing language.
2. Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 by infusing feminism into your poetry. Write about what being a woman means to you. Or, if you don’t identify as a woman, create a poetic tribute to an influential woman in your life.
3. March 12 marks Plant a Flower Day. Metaphorically plant a flower by nurturing floral and botanical imagery in a poem. To bring these natural themes to life, try incorporating floral, literary symbolism.
4. Go a step further and more specific by featuring a daffodil—the official bloom of March—in a poem. Like many other spring images, daffodils represent rebirth and new beginnings. How do these themes resonate with you this March? What areas of your life might welcome a resurgence?
5. Just as daffodils are the official bloom of March, aquamarine is the official birthstone. Have an aquamarine appear in your poetry as either a symbol or a more literal narrative device. This soothing stone represents harmony and clarity, two powerful values to cultivate through poetry.
6. The spring season begins in March. What feelings, images, and sounds does this transition awaken for you? Write a vivid and atmospheric ode to spring.
7. St. Patrick’s Day occurs on March 17. As a testament to the holiday, reflect on what makes you feel lucky. Writing a poem on this topic can be an effective way to recognize gratitude—which can help you grow the practice in the future.
8. Keep the St. Patrick’s Day association going by using green as a symbol in your poetry. This color can be a stand-in for meaningful themes like health, growth, wealth, and luck.
9. For basketball fans, March is synonymous with March Madness, the biggest college basketball tournament of the year. Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of the sport, the tournament’s significance can inspire you to write about exercise, competition, and physical activity. This can present an opportunity to use strong verbs and to ground your poetry in physical sensation.
10. The month of March earns its name from Mars, the Roman God of War, who symbolizes courage. Write about an emotional battle you have undergone in your life, as well as the strength and bravery you showed in the midst of that challenge.
Need more poetry prompts? Check out our February suggestions.
