Write an Ode
An ode is a poem, often lyrical, that conveys exuberance, usually in praise of something or somebody. Originally, odes were intended for song. In ancient Greece, odes were often commissioned to celebrate athletic victories. That practice today might sound like, "All hail the quarterback with his spiral through the air, that is why he is named Most Valuable Player."
Two primary forms of ode are the Horatian ode (named for the Roman poet Horace) that consist of regular stanzas and rhyme schemes, and the Cowleyan ode (named for Abraham Cowley) that has no regularity in rhyme scheme stanza or line length. Some famous examples of the ode are the classics Ode to a Nightingale and Ode to a Grecian Urn by John Keats. You may remember those from English classes I'm sure you have all taken. For a more modern take, take a look at the 20th Century Poetry Collections offered through the databases on the library's website. There you will find other gems including an Ode to Laryngitis by Andrei Codrescu that I enjoyed. (You will need a current library card to access the database, but you don't need a library card to post.)
Write an ode to something that you love. You may write it in either style.
(Please remember we are asking for original poetry only. By submitting work for this project you attest that you are the original creator and owner of the intellectual property. Further, by submitting entries you license the Round Rock Library to include those entries into its published compilation, sales of which will benefit the Friends of the Round Rock Public Library. We thank you for sharing your creativity.)