Word Wandering is a playful type of poetry inspired by Nikki Grimes. I’ve written a few of these poems, and they’re always fun! This might be my favorite style right now. My previous poems covered words like waves and rocks, and today I’m writing about the word “Bug.” Join me for some fun wordplay. If this poem inspires you, maybe you’ll challenge yourself (or me) to write one too.
What is a Word Play Poem?
Nikki Grimes discusses the importance of examining a word closely, considering how it looks, sounds, and feels. She highlights that exploring different uses of a word is essential in writing dynamic poetry or prose. There are various formats for these poems, with examples available in the Best of Today’s Little Ditty, 2014-2015 and on author/poet Laura Purdie Salas’ website.
Here’s my wordplay poem:
BUG is a Creeping Word (a wordplay poem)
Bug is a crawly word,
a creeping word, a leaping word,
built of chitin and sunlight.
Bug is a rumbling word
a car word, a far word,
a free-spirted wanderer.
Bug is a contagious word,
a sick word, an ick word,
a quiet creeper on the threshold of breath.
Bug is a flawed word,
a glitch word, a hitch word,
a hidden wrinkle in the logic of code.
Bug is a bothering word
a poking word, a stoking word,
a tiny mental itch.
Bug is a secret word,
an ear word, a hear word,
a priest to whom you confess without knowing.
©Danna Smith 2026 at poetrypop.com. All Rights reserved.
Read more of my word play poems here
Poetry Challenge
Grab your Poetry Pop Notebook and write a wordplay poem. Please share your poem in the comments so we can celebrate this challenge together!
Challenge Me
Can you think of a word with many meanings? If you do, leave it in the comments, and I’ll write a poem based on that word! 🙂
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