Week Three: Writing Assignment

This week you will write a number of poems, from one about an object that strikes you as not obviously poetic to one in which you practice with meter or rhyme scheme.

As always, send all assignments to me using the link located in the Assignment Link on Blackboard. And, as always, send all the work as one document. Unless indicated otherwise, all assignments are due by Sunday at midnight.

Remember: Send all four assignments in one document.

And, of course, post your work for all to see and to talk about on Discussion Thread #3.

 

For each poem, in addition, supply your readers with a brief discussion of your individual poems, the challenges you faced, the techniques you practiced, and any other information you wish to share on Thread Three.

Writing Assignment ONE:

First of all, read "Between Walls" by William Carlos Williams:

"Between Walls"

the black wings
of the

hospital where
nothing

will grow
cinders

in which shine
the broken

pieces of a
green

Write an imitation of this poem, in which you make the generally un poetic (or perhaps what you used to characterize as un poetic) object of your choice appealing and interesting, beautiful.

In this project and in the next, make sure to experiment with the sound devices discussed in your text and in the class notes for this week.

For best results, read the preceding poem out loud and catch the rhythm of the piece.

And, of course, put into practice figural language and attack when appropriate the senses.

In addition, note how in this poem, Williams makes the rather dreary and generally infertile (both literal and figural) area between buildings something of interest and even of beauty.

Use your imagination.

Look around your room or go for a walk. Look for material most would not at first blush see as an object that inspires poetry.

Make this rather commonplace object interesting.

Practice your craft.

Writing Assignment TWO:

Read "The Lotus Tree in Flower," another poem by William Carlos Williams:

The Locust tree in Flower

Among
of
green

stiff
old
bright

broken
branch
come

white
sweet
May

again

At this site, you will find a series of photographs and poems--"Snap Shots." I added some pictures to the ones offered for Haiku. Try to use a picture you did not utilize for last week's assignment; I might add a few more shots on Monday.

Choose a picture from the various photographs at this site and write a poem in imitation of "The Lotus Tree in Flower." Pursue Williams's structure and choose your words well.

This exercise requires that you pretty much paint with words. That is to say, follow the Taoist doctrine: take out all but the essential words.

Think of words as colors. The border of the page is your canvas; now paint the scene the essence of which you wish to capture. Inasmuch as poetry presents condensed prose, you want to practice economy. This exercise certainly helps in this manner.

So do not simply break up a complete sentence; all the various parts/words mix to create an impression, to paint a picture.

Use your imagination. You do not have to search far, as you will discover, for an subject worthy of your attention.

And while the assignment calls for only one poem, I welcome you to compose as many as you like.

Enjoy your word painting!

Writing Assignment THREE:

For this particular assignment, you will write a short poem--ten lines or less--about an object of your choice from your childhood or from your present bedroom: avoid sentimentality in both. This exercise, of course, has a lot in common with a poem you wrote last week, the so-called symbol poem.

Here you will concentrate on tone. This object will connote an emotion. Thus, for example, you might write about a pair of shoes; however, the poem might really talk about loss or disappointment, or a neglected book on a table.

In other words, make the object of your choice very specific and equally emphatic. But make sure to narrow the focus to a specific object--the narrowed focus will help you gather the necessary specifics.

The object itself serves as a vehicle, if you will. Make what you choose, to use language from the previous week, a personal symbol of sorts.

You can, in effect, write a poem about love or misery or ambivalence, or sorrow without mentioning these abstract terms, what becomes the poem's tenor.

Let the description do the work for you. In other words, use the object as a vehicle to reinforce a tenor.

Use sound devices and at least one simile; in addition, mention at least two senses other than sight.

Writing Assignment FOUR:

Write a eight-line, free-verse poem using two quatrains that describe an action of some kind.

In this poem, experiment as well with a variation of the following punctuation: end-stopped line; run-on line or enjambment; caesura.

You might give anaphora a go as well.

This poem will emphasize cadence and sound created by form and, if you so desire, meter.

To give the poem form, describe an action such as your opening a book; a bird landing; your sister's drinking a cup of tea; a person preparing to do something; grandfather making scrambled eggs, etc.

In addition to the preceding requirements, put into place as well those techniques we have discussed thus far in the term.

Continue to develop new habits.

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Last Modified: 09/06/2009