FOR BIG TENT POETRY
This week’s prompt
This week we are going to spend a little time listening to language. The idea is to get away from your usual range of aural experience and open yourself to surprises.
One way to do that is to spend a few minutes (maybe 10 or 15) and listen to a podcast, a radio show, an interview or lecture, on a topic you know little about. Write down any interesting words you hear. Pick them for sound, for interest, out of curiosity or for any reason that tickles or piques you.
Write down a dozen words and then use three to six (or so) of them in a new poem. Don’t feel compelled to use the words as they are meant to be used. Be playful! Let the sound of the words carry the weight. Let the sound of the word do the “work” of the poem. You can even make new meaning for the words you choose.
COALITION
Waiting for the tide to turn…
As one more new wave
Rolls… hangs… crashes…
Followed by another
Position…
Politician…
PRO-GRE-SSIVE.
Can you hear as the tide turns…?
Waves more frequent now
Ministerial, domination
Administration, coalition
CO-ALI-TION.
This week’s prompt
This week we are going to spend a little time listening to language. The idea is to get away from your usual range of aural experience and open yourself to surprises.
One way to do that is to spend a few minutes (maybe 10 or 15) and listen to a podcast, a radio show, an interview or lecture, on a topic you know little about. Write down any interesting words you hear. Pick them for sound, for interest, out of curiosity or for any reason that tickles or piques you.
Write down a dozen words and then use three to six (or so) of them in a new poem. Don’t feel compelled to use the words as they are meant to be used. Be playful! Let the sound of the words carry the weight. Let the sound of the word do the “work” of the poem. You can even make new meaning for the words you choose.
COALITION
Waiting for the tide to turn…
As one more new wave
Rolls… hangs… crashes…
Followed by another
Position…
Politician…
PRO-GRE-SSIVE.
Can you hear as the tide turns…?
Waves more frequent now
Ministerial, domination
Administration, coalition
CO-ALI-TION.
There's a real feel of a "sea change" in this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alice; Here's hoping...
ReplyDeletehmmm...yup...elected....
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Thanks Inay; Let's see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteWoW. Political words are more interesting in their sounds in your poem than in the mouths of politicians.
ReplyDeleteHi Stan,
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we don't end up all at sea!
We'll have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteOh those politicians! Good one Stan.
ReplyDeletePamela
This is great!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThanks to:
ReplyDeleteViV; They become tediously repetitive...
Derrick; If we do... I know an Islans...
Linda; Again...!
Pamela; I think PROGRESSIVE is the most overused word I've heard this campaign.
JStar; We can't control the tide.
Brenda; Listening to those politicians has its uses.
I've really come to hate TRANS-PAR-EN-CY.
ReplyDeletePlease, of please let things be obvious and visible, but PleasePleasePrettyPlease, make them stop saying TRANS-PAR-EN-CY!
We could use that poem in the states, too. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks to:
ReplyDeleteRon; It's a rhetorical transparency...
Linda; It's application is universal.
Great way to take obnoxious words and point to the politics behind them. Universal. Yes.
ReplyDeleteAh, so true - nicely said.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! How very true!
ReplyDeletethe "shh" sound in all those "-tion" words really works with the metaphor of waves!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for visiting/commenting.
ReplyDeletehttp://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/awards-from-wordwand-trisha-and-more/
ReplyDeleteone poetry award,
8 others on bottom,
enjoy some if you wish to!
Happy Tuesday!
Thanks Jingle; Have a good day.
ReplyDelete