“That’s what summer vacation is for:
moments that should never end.”
— Unknown
bare feet
summer heat
heat wave
day tripping Timpanogos Cave
cave in to my friends' whims
hit the road most weekends
weekend warriors on dirt bikes
early morning sunrise hikes
hike at noon to Donut Falls
before I return to my school’s halls
Your hometown trails, cafés, caves, and corners—they’re more than background. They’re material.
Write about the places only you know.
Start local. Stay real. Let memory wander.
There’s a poem waiting down the road.
I wrote this poem as part of a writing challenge sponsored by Salt Lake Community College. The daily prompt, which was part of a month-long challenge for April, was to write a list poem that included locations and activities within 50 miles from home. I added an additional challenge: to end one line and begin the next with the same word. I did it three times. Now, I have this poetry form I call List With a Twist.
A free verse poem that reads like a list, until it shifts. End with a twist in tone, time, or meaning.
- No rhyme or meter
- Include 5 real places/activities within 50 miles
- Repeat a word at the end of one line and start of the next—3 times
- Wrap with a twist