by Mike Sherryinspired by Emily Kent’s demo-lesson I know what it is to wear a maskOr masks, for there is more than one My father’s explosive angerMy mother’s entrapping innocenceBut mostly the ingratiating snake: Love me or I lash outLet me…
tbawproject
Shell
by Mari Aviles a humble imitation of Ted Kooser’s “Abandoned Farmhouse” He is an older man, says his receding hairline and wrinkles that rest in the corners of his eyes; A poor, older man, say the ill-fitting dentures, removed to eat and…
Papa Bill’s Pancakes
by Emily Kentinspired by TBAWP’s 2020 Heritage Lunch When I was young, my dad was a superhero. He could do no wrong, and despite his unshakeable exterior, he had a soft heart that could take one look at me and…

Fuel Up! “Fumes for Friday” Launches your Week
Did you catch co-director, Mari Aviles' mini-lesson on Gestalt Poetry at last week's "Fumes for Friday" event? If not, it's just the thing to fuel your week. Check out the video below and Mari's presentation here: tbawp.fffjan21.aviles-gestalt-poem-lessonDownload https://youtu.be/ZTD8NV6wtto Fuel up…
What I Think Now
by Lisa Inserrainspired by Courtney Nickel's demo-lesson My older sister Donna always got straight A's. Each year at Miss Wright's private grade school we had an awards ceremony where Miss Wright stood up on the stage and gave out awards.…
Measurements.
by Mari Aviles inspired by TBAWP’s 2020 Heritage Lunch There is no denying that food is important. It’s what we need to fuel our bodies and to survive. It’s what we use as an excuse to have conversation and invite people…
The Ant or the Ibis
by Mike Sherry The ant or the ibis knows its purpose. From insect to animal, most creatures spend all their days being true to themselvesOnly we humans hide our true nature (from others, and even from ourselves).So I apprentice myself to…
Thrownness
by Lisa Inserrainspired by Mari Aviles's mini-lesson I'm from blood on the doorstep and Thais the Mafia girlI'm from being called "dego" by micks.I'm from the first son and the second daughterI'm from bowling alleys to booksI'm from syringes, and…

The Second Year It Creeps
by Samantha Beattyinspired by Patricia Tuzzolino’s demo-lesson (and Chris Van Allsburg's Mysteries of Harris Burdick) Late one night, Clarissa got changed into her pajamas choosing a tank top as the summer heat was quite suffocating. She snuggled into her twin…
Real Success
by Mari Aviles inspired by TBAWP 2020’s freewrite Success is achieving a goal you set, whether short or long term. Success is doing the thing you set your mind to even when it’s hard. Success comes with the whisper in your…