Read
With Impact (Three)
For poetry,
read for language and metaphors. Practice studying for implicit and explicit
examples and watch for the sound of words as well.
They are usually ordinary words that are fine-tuned for a
clear purpose. Musicians all use the same notes, but one may write an opera and
another heavy metal rock. The styles, the genre, the melody all impact the
final result. Likewise our words
arise out of each project.
We fine-tune by deepened vocabulary. What needs to be
highlighted? Where do we need to whisper or to shout? Do we make sure our
reader has absolutely no doubt what we intend, or do we want ambiguity?
Exercise: Briefly
Journal your answers to these
questions.
a.
Have you ever had to defer a dream (define)?
b.
What did it feel like?
c.
What images stay with you?
Read Dreams by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For
if dreams die
Life
is a broken-winged bird
That
cannot fly
Hold
fast to dreams
For
when dreams go
Life
is a barren field
Frozen
with snow
Respond
a.
What is explicit? What is implicit?
b.
Two prominent images are the broken-winged bird and
the barren field. What are some feelings you associate with these images?
c.
What qualities make a writer’s voice distinctive
and memorable?
Application:
Practice Changing Clichés
1.Take well-known clichés and shift them around. Make a
list of as many common ones that you can think of and then crisscross them just
for fun. Some will be hilarious and ridiculous. And some might spark a new
phrase.
2. Or make a list of metaphors and similes from one poem
and then re-write them. Put your new version back into the original poem. How
does the focus change?
3. This is really entertaining in a small group of writers
and rather surprising at some of the images that can come to the surface.
4. Practice shifting old concepts around until they become
new and fresh.
Share: Choose
one or two of your favorites and share.
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