Easter Memories Poetry Prompts

Hi there fellow poets! I’ve always loved Easter – the bright, spring colours, the warmth in the air, the feeling of renewal and re-awakening. This year, as part of my own poetry writing practice, I want to reflect on some of my memories from this time of year, and I invite you to join me with your own reflections in these 3 poetry prompts. Whether you’re a published poet or are dipping your toes into poetic waters for the first time, these prompts will give you an opportunity for reflection and connection.

Let me know if you use the prompts – I’d love to hear about your writing experience.

Happy writing! Kim xo

Prompt 1

Write a poem about a food or dish that always reminds you of Easter.

Ways to Play:

• Take a few moments to remember some Easter foods from past years. Focus on the smell of the food, the look of it, how it made you feel. Try to bring these sensory elements into your poem.
• Write a poem in the style of a grocery list as if you were buying ingredients to make this well-remembered dish.
• Does the food remind you of a specific person or place? If so, use the food to evoke your relationship with that person or place.

Prompt 2

Write a poem about Easter colours.

Ways to Play:

• Brainstorm the colours that come to mind when you think of Easter. Choose the one that resonates most strongly with you. Use this colour as an extended metaphor to describe an Easter memory. Think about the ways in which the colour is like Easter – what do the colour and Easter have in common? How are they different? How do they both feel to you? What memories do they both evoke?
• Think about Easter clothes you wore as a child. Do you remember any special Easter outfits? Any particular colours or textures?
• Choose a colour you associate with Easter. Now reflect and note down anything else that comes to mind with that same colour. Is there a memory that comes to mind you could focus on in a poem?

Prompt 3

Write a poem about a strong Easter Sunday memory.

Ways to Play:

• Before writing, decide on your point of view and tense. Play with different subject pronouns and tenses. For example, even though it’s a past memory, could you write it in the present tense? What might happen if you use the 2^nd-person “you” instead of “I”?
• Choose a sound (or letter) that feels right for this memory and repeat it throughout the poem through alliteration or assonance.
• Think about why this memory is strong for you – what meaning does it capture? How can you convey this meaning so a reader understands it? Try to show the reader the intensity and meaning through one or two poetic devices, such as metaphor or simile. Or, if it’s a fun, happy memory, can you bring in sound play, such as onomatopoeia?

Download a printable version of the prompts here: