These exercises are journaling prompts to be completed throughout the semester. They connect to the readings on our Course Resource site and are intended to jumpstar your personal writing practice. The prompts below all link to Unit 2: Writing Poetry.
Post a response to ONE of these prompts on the OpenLab:
- In class we read Jose Olivarezâs powerful poem âMexican-American Disambiguation.â This poem explores labels. The labels we use to define ourselves. The labels used to define each other, including those we love. And, ultimately the way societies and organizations label us. As you re-read Olivarezâs poem, notice that one thing that anchors this emotional piece is the manner in which objects are used: hamburger, plank, brochure, home. All of these everyday terms become filled with meaning and urgency in his poem. Do this: Choose a label that you have lived with. This can be a painful label, a neutral label, or even a humorous label or nickname. As Olivarez does, compare how this same label changes or shifts in a different environment or when it is being used by different people. You could experiment by brainstorming  200-400 words and then trying to turn those lines into free verse poetry. Or, you might start with the line breaks in poetry. Read Jose Olivarezâs âMexican American Disambiguationâ in this post.
- Write a âbreak-upâ poem. You might start by brainstorming a break up that was particularly painful for you. A âbreak upâ might refer to a romantic relationship, a relationship with a close friend, or even a break up with a favorite hobby or activity. (Maybe you loved swimming when you were little, but suddenly it no longer interested you.) Try to use similes and metaphors to show how the break up feels but try to avoid easy cliches. Do this: write about a breakup by brainstorming 200-400 words. Then try to turn those lines into poetry. You might add line breaks or rhymes as you revise. Read Richard Brautiganâs âbreak upâ poem here.
- In Willie Perdomoâs poem, âWhere Iâm From,â the writer uses language and description to explain to someone else what his New York City experience is. Notice how the poem changes from the beginning to the end. What do you, the reader, and perhaps the poet âdiscoverâ from the beginning to the end. Notice also how Perdomo specifically uses dialog. Do this: brainstorm a description of your specific neighborhood. One block would be even better for specifity. Do this: Use Perdomoâs poem as a model and write 200-400 words describing the people, the buildings, the sounds, the language you hear. As Perdomo shows, you could describe common joys and fear and the way people relate to each other. Add dialogue. After youâve written, try to add line breaks. Read aloud your writing to hear where the line breaks might go. Listen to Willie Perdomo perform âWhere Iâm Fromâ in this post.
- Watch Staceyann Chinnâs spoken word poem, âIf Only Out of Vanity.â Notice how Chin uses an imagined audience to lead her poem from one line to the next. Do this: Brainstorm a short dialogue for yourself speaking to someone you know and care about in which you explain to that person a difficult choice you had to make as a young adult. This will be more effective if you write about a choice that changed your identity. You could experiment by brainstorming 200-400 words and then trying to turn those lines into free verse poetry. Or, you might start with the line breaks in poetry. Listen and watch Staceyann Chinâs performance poem âIf Only Out of Vanityâ here:
