Art of the Pen

National Poetry Month

Help us celebrate America's 250th anniversary!

Write about your vision of America at 250 years!

Use one of the following prompts to write an original poem (up to 150 words), original flash fiction story (up to 250 words) or short personal essay (up to 250 words) that embodies your vision of America at 250 years. You may interpret the topic as broadly as you wish—write from the heart and be original. Works generated by AI are not acceptable.

Prompt 1:

Create an original essay, poem, or story using one of the following phrases from the Declaration of Independence as your first line, last line, or title.

When in the course of human events
Among the powers of the earth
It is the Right of the People
For the public good
We mutually pledge to each other
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
Our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor

Maximum 250 words.

Visit the National Archives to access the Declaration of Independence in full.

Prompt 2:

Use at least three of the following words from the Declaration of Independence in your essay, poem, or story:

Safety, Happiness, Honor, Fortune, Justice, Humble, Good

Maximum 250 words.

Name

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