2026 NaPM 3 April

[RiverNotch]

Write a poem for National Poetry Month based on the topic described....rather, write a poem set in, pertaining to, or inspired by the given region, whether its entirety or just some part of it, as this year's prompts are going to be unified by the theme "Around the World" like last year's prompts were unified by the theme "Esoterica". Each poem should appear as a separate reply to this thread. There are three levels of participation:

Bronze. Participated at least once.

Silver. Participated every day.

Gold. Participated every day, with all entries either being the same form (e.g., every one a sonnet) or being distinct forms (e.g., no two haiku).


Today's region is Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

[Mark A Becker]

Escobar, World Cup '94

It was his own goal which led
to Colombia's defeat to the USA.

With each shot his assailants shouted
Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal! Goal!

How many more will be shot dead
now that sports betting is so widespread?

[ilovewomenandbeer]

Colonial Street

Human traffic—
fresh fruits, tinto
fill the air.

Feathered woman,
macho men—
synchronized spinners.

Setting sun,
fleeting woman’s—
striking gaze.

All beautiful
streetlife
in Colombia’s haze.

[dukealien]

Felt History

If those strong Peruvian ladies’ hats could
talk what stories they could all tell us tourists...
not alone the social position of their
wearers, but the history of their long past
ancestors, namely

bowlers, round-crowned curly-brimmed covers from far
England, born replacements for top-hats worn by
some lord’s classy foresters to provide them
better protection

then shipped up to Andean highlands for their
British contract railwaymen but in too-small
sizes so sold to local wives who found their
ideal of fashion.

[CRNDLSM]

Blissed ignorance on full display
with grocery prices on the rise
and healthcare's out-of-pocket pay.

Anticipating my demise,
so grateful my sweet girlfriend buys
me garlic, pomegranates too,
whose package says 'made in Peru',

but propagandas made me gull-
ible believing 'you know WHO'.
That I'm alive's incredible.

[Wjames]

Cocora Valley

Palm trees puncture cloud canopy,
hummingbirds hike blue flowers
and steep tea.

In Salento, billiards and tejo.

[RiverNotch]

Silver and Gold


They scoured the top of a mountain then hollowed it out
and when it began to collapse, they stuffed it full
of cement they acquired by popping open the top

of other, lesser mountains---ones that were not
endowed by the Lord with silver---while on the other
side of the country, they carved out a massive notch

into a basin's edge, draining its lake
to gather up what gold the natives squandered
by offering to false gods. All this they did

by forcing the heathen to work, at first as slaves
and then as little better, the wretches dying
in droves to the miner's phthisis or to quicksilver

poisoning their minds. Is this why some
revere the cross that cold Columbus brought
as more than a consolation? When Christ said faith
could move a mountain, was this what he meant?

[Magpie]

Faustino Asprilla signs for Newcastle United

Tino arrived in a blizzard
Colombian in a fur coat
amid swirling rumours about
cocaine wielding a gun at cops.

Now for the 'Black and White Army
the languid loping dazzling stride,
the cheeky smile of nonchalance,
the somersault celebrations.

Tino Tino dance for us now
leap high into the Geordie night
and head the ball into the net
of Barcelona's scared defence.

There forever will be a part 
of Colombia in the heart
of Newcastle and Faustino
will always be a Geordie king.

[wasellajam]

Peru Listens

Weavers start from scratch with traditional tools,
spun wool sheared from llamas and alpacas, native
fruits and leaves encompass unimagined colors
carefully processed

using complex recipes handed down in
whispers, long gone ancestors not forgotten.
Living up to history, finest scraps of
fabrics uncovered,

backstrap looms are strung with the lengthy warp threads,
one end tightly looped on a post, the other
tied and belted around the weaver's waistline,
tension controlled

by the weaver's body, the strips of cloth in
patterns singing, harkening back to ages
past and newly beckoning generations
not yet imagined.

[Michael Anon]

my comments are in italics
Silver and Gold


They scoured the top of a mountain then hollowed it out    you start out with black humour and your ending is great but in between the grim humour gets diluted in a didactic tone. Was that your intention?
and when it began to collapse, they stuffed it full
of cement they acquired by popping open the top

of other, lesser mountains---ones that were not
endowed by the Lord with silver---while on the other      if the silver and gold were dedicated to heathen gods why would they think the Lord had a hand in it? Feels contradictory not so?
side of the country, they carved out a massive notch

into a basin's edge, draining its lake
to gather up what gold the natives squandered
by offering to false gods. All this they did    did you mean "offering it'? Is the word it missing here?

by forcing the heathen to work, at first as slaves
and then as little better, the wretches dying
in droves to the miner's phthisis or to quicksilver

poisoning their minds. Is this why some
revere the cross that cold Columbus brought         "cold" needs unpacking or replacing perhaps
as more than a consolation? When Christ said faith
could move a mountain, was this what he meant?          brilliant last thought

[milo]

While mixing up my morning grind -
Fair trade select the package says
the kettle waits, but I don't mind
my daily efforts left  behind
while mixing up my morning. Grind
along - the tedium of days, I find
the easy life of Juan Valdez 
A fair trade. Select your packages.