SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I purchased a duo Tootsie Toy magnetic board/chalkboard at an Owatonna thrift shop. I didn’t need it. But I liked the vintage look and the possibilities. Those reasons sufficed to hand over a few bucks.
Along with the board came a bonus baggie of magnetic words. They aren’t original to the board but probably were thrown in because what else do you do with a bunch of donated stray magnetic words?
I finally got around to making poetry with them. Here’s my first poem, which I posted on my refrigerator:
This proved a good challenge—to use the limited words to create poetry. (Pretend a question mark ends the first line.)
As poets understand, poetry requires tight writing. A word must hold value or out it goes. Poetry writing may seem easy to those not engaged in the craft. But it’s not. Penning poems requires focused skill and much practice as one of the most disciplined forms of literary art.
Thoughts?
© 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love these word mags. I have several I use to help me create as well.
It was fun to look at all those words and create a simple poem. A fun challenge.
What a great idea to have those words at the ready for creating poems. I love this idea. I have often looked at those magnetic word sets and thought they were genius. You put them to use. Love the poem.
We’ll see what other poems I can write with a limited number of words.
Fun. Certainly worth a few bucks. These are addictive, Amazon still sells the “Original Kit”. My daughter had several sets back before iPhones and Google. She and english major friends used them on magnetic boards like Scrabble. Of course, no one won, didn’t matter. Made creative composition fun. Must have been the visual element. Glad to see they haven’t lost their appeal – in competent, creative hands. I always thought them a great tool for teaching slow or handicapped too. Have fun!
Good for your daughter and her word appreciative friends.
One thing that stands out to me is the words pertain to cats. Purr, Hiss . . . Calico, Tiger . . . Meow, Leap . . . Love the why dream poem too! I could use a set of these at work. When I need a brain break at work I play Mahjong. Happy Word Smithing & Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
For whatever reason, lots of cat words are part of this set. I noticed that right away. I am not a cat person. But… Maybe I need to find another set of magnetic words.
There must be multiple sets available.
I’m sure there are.
Looks like a great warm-up exercise to writing! I liked the powerful active verbs; pounce, swat, leap and stroke. Have fun with these.
I will. Powerful verbs. Love them, too.
We had a steel board made for our son’s room and gave him several different packets of magnetic words. There have been some creative sentences and poems on it over the years. Fun!
I like your poem.
What a great idea. I love love love this.
Love your word magnets, and your poem :). My Grands would love making stories with those magnets, especially our 9 year old Audrey.
Another Audrey who loves words. Yeah.
what a creative way to lift one’s spirits during bone chilling weather days and I noted way up north its even more brutal
with some nights being recorded like -30
I bet you’re thankful to be in warm and sunny Arizona.