Haiku

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

If you are looking for something to challenge your brain, try writing a haiku.  You probably learned how to write one in high school English class, then never gave it a second thought. 

A haiku is a Japanese style of poetry, three lines, with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 in the third.  If you want to be really technical about your haiku, they are usually about nature and include a reference to a season in the poem.  The haiku will also have a division between one thought and another.  But since this isn't for a grade, you don't necessarily need to follow those rules (although that can add to the challenge)- just stick to the 5-7-5 pattern.  It can be a mental challenge to find the perfect words for what you want to say. You may even find yourself reaching for a thesaurus. 

The haiku doesn't even need to be about nature, although those can definitely be fun to write. Here are some samples, written by the Mom of No:

Orange, yellow, black
Autumn monarch migrates through
Ephemeral joy

Like long tree limbs, my
Teenager's legs and arms grow
Grocery bill is huge

Urban traffic jam
Cars - tree sap, dripping along
Highway artery

Give it a shot.  If you try it with friends, while hanging out and drinking coffee (or an adult beverage, if you are over 21) you may even find yourself laughing.