An Eye for the World – What Do You See?
Poetry often begins with noticing. This year’s theme invites writers of all ages to slow down, observe, and reflect on the world around them. The prompts below are meant to inspire—not limit—your work. You may respond to one prompt, combine ideas, or follow your own way of seeing.
Elementary School Prompts
- What is something small you notice every day that others might miss?
- Write about something you see outside that makes you curious or happy.
- If a place near you could tell a story, what would it say?
Middle School Prompts
- What do you notice when you stop and really look around you?
- Write about a moment that stayed with you because you noticed it.
- How does what you see in the world affect how you feel?
High School Prompts
- What is something in the world that challenges the way you see things?
- Write about seeing something familiar in a new way.
- What do you wish people would notice more, and why?
Adult Prompts
- What has careful observation taught you about yourself or others?
- Write about a place, moment, or experience that revealed meaning when you paid attention.
- How does what you see shape how you understand the world?
A Final Note
These prompts are intended as starting points. Poetry may take inspiration from observation, imagination, memory, or experience—however and wherever you choose to see.