A Walk Through the Forest
Today I chose to make my poetic adventure a walk through the forest. OK, not a real walk, but rather a metaphorical walk that I first took years ago under the able guidance of my amazing friend (and total rock star teacher) Liz Prather. I have used this writing prompt to inspire poetry more than once and I hope you find it useful. Here is the lesson plan she uses with her students. I have slightly adapted her prompt for personal use below.
Liz notes: “Poetry seeks to reveal the unknown and give a home to those abstract thoughts through sensory image and detail. This activity is designed to extract clues from [your] subconscious, to unearth the vast stores of imagistic material that makes great poetry.”
Liz likes to use a timer to keep the writing moving and to ensure that no one overthinks each writing prompt.
You are walking through the forest. Describe the trees.
(One minute writing)
You continue in the forest and on the path, you notice some keys. Describe the keys.
(One minute writing)
You continue in the forest and on the path, you notice a cup. Describe the cup.
(One minute writing)
You continue in the forest and you come to a wall. Not only describe the wall, but tell me what you do when you come to the wall.
(One minute writing)
You go pass the wall and continue in the forest. You notice a bear in the path. Describe the bear.
(One minute writing)
You have finally come to the end of our journey. You have made it through the forest and come to a beautiful sunny meadow. Before you enter the meadow, you come to a stream. Describe the stream and what you do when you come to the stream.
(One minute writing)
Now it is time to explore the meaning behind the images you have chosen.
The Key:
Trees = Parents
Keys = Money
Cup = Love
Wall = Problems and what you do to the wall represents how you solve your problems
Bear = Death
Stream = Afterlife and what you do represents if you embrace/reject your ideal eternity
Think about these ideas. Using the information retrieved from your psyche, write a poem that is an extended metaphor starting with the line that identifies the item and its abstract counterpart. Liz suggests 10 lines but I think for a future writing retreat I have planned I will challenge my writers to use the Tanka form.
Example of first verse (originally shared by Liz):
Love is a Dunkin Donuts cup
Dirty leaves dot the bottom
lipstick stains ruin the rim.
The poem I wrote the first time I embarked on this journey is Love. Please share the poetry this prompt inspires using the #JustWrite hashtag.
