A More Positive Perspective

Holly Jahangiri, Author

Abstract illustration of a caterpillar, a grocery cart, and a whole bunch of mushrooms

Poetry Forms Challenge 2026: “Found Poems”

Jan 26, 2026 | Poetry

If you can’t beat the spammers, feed them to your imagination!

And just like that, 9.5 hours later, it was over. But you might catch episode 40 - they're predicting January 20-25.

A Long-Awaited Date with a Volcano

Jan 18, 2026 | Photography, Science & Nature, Travel

My husband made all my childhood dreams come true!

Surreal illustration of a woman seated at a desk covered in colorful pens and markers while confetti, streamer, and resolutions swirl all around her.

(Inter)national Delurking Week!

Jan 5, 2026 | Blogging & Other Internet Oddities, Op-Ed, Technical & How-To

Resolutions, goals, or pantsing it through the New Year? What’s your style?

Illustration: a person walks backwards down a staircase.

Scala Decima Inversa

Dec 8, 2025 | Invented Forms, Poetry

It’s harder to go down the up staircase! Almost harder than writing a double-acrostic, and probably for similar reasons.

A hand holds a battered sand dollar in the foreground. In the middle ground, a bird perches on a whale's nose. In the background, an old tall ship and gathering storm clouds.

Peace, Fragile as a Seashell

Dec 2, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

A poem inspired by Vinitha Dileep’s Fiction Monday prompt for December 1, 2025.

Illustration: Two writers duel with fountain pens

Feelin’ Spicy

Nov 22, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

Poets responding to other poems is an old tradition – using the original poem as a prompt, a springboard, an invitation to a conversation.

Down the rabbit hole of questions and answers - a little brown bunny carrying a load of books

Rabbit Holes and the Incessant “Why?”

Nov 21, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

Where will they lead us, this time?

Still waiting... a skeleton waits on hold with an old land line receiver held to its ear.

Your Call is Important to Us So Thank You for Your (im)Patience

Nov 20, 2025 | Poetry, Technical & How-To, Writing

Life’s too short for bad hold music. An “explanation” poem NOT to be taken as serious technical support.

Old man and woman having tea in a field of dandelions gone to seed.

Reading Too Quickly for My Own Good

Nov 20, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

Rebelliousness took a dark turn. I guess I should have read more closely and more slowly!

An idealistic woman carrying boulders in a net bag

Even Futile Arguments Can Inspire Poetry

Nov 18, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

Idealism can be a curse, but pessimism is probably worse. What can you do?

It's a horror show, all right. I tried to get "an ingenue crab-walking up dimly-lit stairs to creepy music" and got a little girl walking up creepy stairs next to a giant crab. Whatever. That's AI for ya. Doesn't always give you what you want, but sometimes gives you exactly what you need.

Jump Scare

Nov 17, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

How is it that we know the tropes – they are, by definition, cliché – and yet, they can still make us feel something like fear or anticipation?

A bully faces off with a scrappy little girl on the playground.

Not doing NaNoWriMo these days, but maybe I can write 30 poems in a month. Or not. One of these is inspired by Robert Brewer’s 11/1/25 prompt for the PAD challenge; the other is a form I was challenged to try by Barbara Ehrentreu.

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