Today I would like you to write a poem about loneliness without using the words "lonely" or "alone." If you watch/listen to the song above, "Waving Through a Window" from "Dear Evan Hansen," the musical, you will see an example of how words can portray the feeling without saying the actual word! (By the way, I love most of the songs from "Dear Evan Hansen." Smiles.)
Here are some ideas for you, as you plan your poem:
Think about a specific moment you felt the weight of absence, and describe it.
Explore an empty space that once held presence (a chair at the table, a bed, a phone that does not ring, a home of someone you used to know).
Think about what loneliness feels like in your body. How does it look? Taste? Move?
Think about the difference between solitutde and unwanted isolation.
Think about being lonely in the presence of others.
This poem should show, not tell. Hope you are up to the challenge!
When you have written your poem, add it to Mr. Linky below. Be sure to visit the poems of others as well. The link will stay active until Sunday night at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. I will look forward to reading what you write.
Good morning, Poets! I hope you will find this prompt both challenging and interesting. Remember not to use the words 'lonely' or 'alone' in the body of your poem. You can use them in your title. We are having nasty winter weather right now, so it will be a good day to read poetry. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAnd.....be sure to watch the video all the way through!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. This time of year, I imagine there are a lot of lonely people. The song is wonderful, and beautifully performed. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel as you do that sometimes the holiday season brings out loneliness as well as joy! I am glad you enjoyed the song. I just love the singer's voice.
DeleteA very interesting as well as a challenging prompt Mary.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sumana! I very much appreciated your poem!
DeleteI felt more lonely before I moved into a retirement community where something is happening all the time and my favorite activity is mealtime---where we sit and talk with like-minded people. But lonely fits the season, where too many are alone. Lonely fits the silence that some people find themselves in, like Evan in the song above.
ReplyDelete