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Today we are to write a minimalist, small space poem focusing on a vivid, concrete and specific image that might convey a complex idea or emotion in a single moment. We need a direct language to describe this. It would be perfect if the poem stays within eight lines.
For this all we have to do is select an image of our choice and present the ‘thing’ itself. While isolating the single image, aim should be at revealing its essence and avoiding any decorative word.
We might or might not write in the vein of Imagist Poetry.
A few example poems to share for your inspiration:
The Red Wheelbarrow
by
William Carlos Williams
so
much depends
upon
a
red wheel
barrow
glazed
with rain
water
beside
the white
chickens
In a Station of the Metro
by
Ezra Pound
The
apparition of these faces in the crowd:
Petals
on a wet, black bough.
Oread
by
H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
Whirl
up, sea —
Whirl
your pointed pines,
Splash
your great pines
On
our rocks,
Hurl
your green over us,
Cover
us with your pools of fir.
Middle Age
by
Amy Powell
Like
black ice
Scrolled
over with unintelligible patterns
By
an ignorant skater
Is
the dulled surface of my heart
Please share your poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community. Please include this link in your post.
Happy Wednesday everyone. I hope you enjoy today's prompt. Looking forward to reading your poems.
ReplyDeleteTwice, I left a comment on your poem and twice the app erased it because I couldn't remember my password! Just wanted to say how beautiful! And it works even without the photo--but the photo increases the sense of loss.
DeleteOh thank you Susan.
DeleteWhat an interesting prompt, Sumana. Thanks. I love the red wheelbarrow poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry. I am really enjoying these short poems, these days.
DeleteI really enjoyed your prompt, Sumana. It is good to practice writing concise poems that express a message in a few words. I once heard something to the effect that it is easier to write a long poem than a short, as in a short poem the poet needs to carefully choose words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. I agree with you. It's wonderful to work with a single image and see the impact it has on the readers.
DeleteThanks Sumana - a really interesting prompt - Jae
ReplyDeleteKim, I lost my password, so the app wouldn't let me leave this comment: I like the black ink exploding into a Rorschach test of birds! You capture the moment well, a special "show" on a day significant to you.
ReplyDeleteI write and enjoy short poems . I find writing short poems challenging. It is not easy (for me a least ) to achieve meaning and emotion in fewer words. Enjoyed this image prompt. I am not a purist and do enjoy presenting poetry with music and illustrations where appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this prompt, Sumana!
ReplyDelete