Poems from Photos (exercise)

Photos by Cartier-Bresson

Sharon Olds' "I Go Back to May 1937" seems to be written while studying a photo (though there are no images accompanying it).
I see them standing at the formal gates of their colleges,
I see my father strolling out
under the ochre sandstone arch, the
red tiles glinting like bent
plates of blood behind his head, I                                          5
see my mother with a few light books at her hip
standing at the pillar made of tiny bricks with the
wrought-iron gate still open behind her, its
sword-tips black in the May air,
they are about to graduate, they are about to get married,     10
they are kids, they are dumb, all they know is they are
innocent, they would never hurt anybody.

Let's use images or photos to try writing a poem that begins with what we see and then shifts to the metaphorical or significance. You may use any photo from the internet, one of the images in our classroom, or any of these. When you have a draft, share the poem first (not the image at first) with one other person and get their feedback.
  When you have finished, email the poem (and a link to the image, if possible).

Unknown Photo Poetry

1.       Select any photo of unknown origin

PREPARE/BRAINSTORM

2.       Study the images carefully, make notes

3.       Describe what you see with words that are accurate

4.       Jot down words of ideas and metaphors and speculation

5.       Compose a free form poem, or a tightly controlled poem, or even a prose poem.

6.       Keep looking back at the photograph.

7.       Move from what you actually see to poetry, speculation, uncertainty.

8.       Bring your poem full circle by the end or ask a question.

9.       No length or time requirements.

10.   Share your poem with one other person.

Creative Writing in process:

Just take a leap!

Looking forward to:

Ali’s next poem

Chloe’s continuing saga about a teen

Gina’s inspiration

Julianne’s personal narrative

Madeline’s longer fiction, Remember Me

Michael evolving December

Paulina furthering the plot of her Dear Diary novel

Paris continuing to write Logan’s Run

Tyler’s next screenplay outline

What are you looking forward to?
Taking a leap of faith?

Creative Writings (now)

CREATIVE WRITINGS

Ali E

1.     Worst Thanksgiving Dish (still revising, read aloud)

2.     Archer contest submissions submitted

3.     Next:  Longer poem combined with spoken word poem and about writing  poetry (tbd)

Chloe B

1.     ‘We are Opposites’ Poem

2.     Untitled long fiction about a girl (novella or novel?)

Gina A

1.     What if I told you? Spoken Word

2.     Next: Fiction (how to lose love or Lebanon/Malibu or other)

3.     Poem about Math (done, helped with studying)

4.     What next? Inspiration from the diary? Lebanon?

Julianne G

1.     Married at the age of 28 (spoken word)

2.     Next: personal narrative (nonfiction)

Madeline B

1.     Fairy Tales (poem)

2.     Remember Me (long fiction)

Michael O 

1.     Recent: The Virtuous and the Learned (poetry to be read aloud)

2.     Continue writing December’s Evolution

3.     Encouraged to write more short poems as well

Paulina V

1.     Society (Spoken word)

2.     Next: Fiction (solving writing process problems: furthering plot)

3.     more poems about Fairy Tales

Paris B

1.     Bored  and LA Kids (slam poetry)

2.     Next: two short stories

3.     Logan’s run (kid visits his sci-fi author, perhaps in diary form)

Tyler S

1.     Recent: ‘Dig Deep’ (3 ½ pages) Spoken Word draft

2.     Next: Screenplay (searching through ideas for next screenplay project, may have settled on next screenplay)

3.     Perhaps another poem, as well

2nd Semester Student Writing Status

What are we writing right now?

Michael O 

1.       Recent: The Virtuous and the Learned (poetry to be read aloud)

2.       Return to writing December’s Evolution

3.       Encouraged to write short poems as well

Tyler S

1.       Recent: ‘Dig Deep’ (3 ½ pages) Spoken Word draft

2.       Next: Screenplay

Paulina V

1.       Society (Spoken word)

2.       Next: Fiction and perhaps some poems

Ali E

1.       Worst Thanksgiving Dish (Spoken word or read aloud)

2.       Next:  Nature poetry or not?

Paris B

1.       Bored  and LA Kids (slam poetry)

2.       Next: two short stories

Julianne G

1.       recent: Married at the age of 28 and FAIRY TALE (spoken word)

2.       Next: fiction

Gina A

1.       recent: What if I told you? spoken Word

2.       Next: Fiction (how to lose love or Lebanon/Malibu or other)

Madeline B

1.       recent: Fairy Tales (poem)

2.       Remember Me (fiction)

Chloe B

1.       Poem in progress

2.       Untitled long fiction about a girl

Reading Poetry Aloud!

Reading our own poetry aloud can be a little scary but also empowering. You have a live audience and you're performing. Instead of just having your work read, you are facing your live reader. You could mispronounce a word or hesitate or stumble. What about the listener's reaction? When you finish reading might be the most vulnerable moment? Will they hesitate or say empty words? Can you tell if they're impressed?

How do our Creative Writing students feel about performing their poetry?

And what is spoken word or slam poetry? How can we inhabit that world of attitude and anger and self-confidence that seems to be a key signature of the genre? How will our spoken word measure up to Sarah Kaye and all those accomplished poets we see on YouTube?

Is this genre of poetry too different for us to thrive within? Should we turn back to fiction and screenplays and familiar poems inside our comfort zone? Or should we keep calm and carry on? If at first you don't succeed, and all that...?

2nd Semester

Creative Writing, 2^nd Semester

·         Read alouds and feedback

·         Publish on a website or paper

·         Slam poetry or read aloud poetry

·         Next projects