This column is based on the philosophy that poetry is an adventure and more than just writing words on a page.  The spirit of poetry is taking action.  Poets need to get out of the house and break free from boring routines to experience the poetry of life.  Here are several suggestions for creating poetic adventures.  These adventures will put energy and experience into your poetry.  Choose one activity from this column and REALLY do it (don’t just sit at home and pretend to do it).  That way, you are not merely writing a poem, but you are a LIVING poem.

 

Lift your Ear to the Voice of a Friend

 

Visit an elderly person in a nursing home or at the hospital and bring them a small gift.  You can visit a relative, or even a stranger.  What do you say to the person that you visit?  Do they just need somebody to listen to them?  Listen to the person as they tell you about their lives, families, dreams and experience.  Before you return home, sit down and develop their life details into eight lines of poetry.  This is the first part of your poem.

 

The second part of your experience, and therefore the second part of your poem, is to reflect on your visit.  Once you get home, consider your feelings about the elderly person.  Did they teach you something about your own life?  Do you see your own life differently?  Write your new insights in four lines of poetry. 

 

Think more deeply about your experience for several days after your visit.  Do you have some new understanding of their life and ideas?  When your feelings and understanding of this adventure are complete, write your thoughts in a two line conclusion. 

 

Following this pattern of 8 lines, 4 lines, 2 lines, gives your poem the basic thematic outline of an English sonnet.  The next poet tree column describes how to develop the language patterns of a sonnet. 

 

Wander around an Unmapped Town

 

For those who live in the countryside, go to a small town or village that you’ve passed before but never visited.  If you live in a city, wander around a neighbourhood where you’ve never been and discover something unique and interesting there.  This can be done easily by getting on an unfamiliar bus and taking it to the end of the line and see where it goes.  Go with a friend and have a poetic adventure. 

 

Once you arrive, follow your senses.  Be very aware of sounds, smells and colours.  Experience the area as if it’s your first day on earth.  When you hear an interesting sound, follow it to discover its source.  If you smell something good, follow your nose to the origin.  Exploring like this is more interesting than using a street map.  While exploring, sit down and write eight lines of poetry that describe the area.  Try using all five of your senses. 

 

After you return home, write four lines of poetry that reflect on your adventure.  Write down your feelings about your experience and what you learned.  A few days later, add two lines of poetry that conclude your poetic experience.  As in the first poetic adventure, your poem will have the basic structure of a sonnet.

 

Should we let People be Hungry?

 

In this poetic activity, begin by ordering a serving of food for take-away.  Bring the food to a homeless person sitting along the footpath.  Talk with them and find out more about their lives.  Before you return home, describe the experience in eight lines of poetry.

 

The homeless person can be like a teacher to help you face and understand some of the problems in our society.  This adventure may also help you see your own life in a new perspective.  Write down the lessons that you learn in four lines of poetry. 

 

In the last two lines of your poetry, write down what you can do about this social problem.  The act of bringing a little food to that person is an act of poetry itself.  The words of a poem come when you affect the lives of other people.

 
The Courage of Poetry
 

Being a poet is more than sitting and writing; it requires real life action.  Life without action is like a poem without a theme.  This poem suggests ideas on how to contribute to society.

 
Can you sit around thinking without doing?

Ignite the ideas we've kindled in your mind

Bring the words we teach you by day

And brighten the night of a thousand dark stars

 

Breathe life into dying forests and starving villages

Speak to the farmer hidden behind their hunger

Bring food back to the poor

That they themselves have grown

  

Breathe life into the world or let it die

Paint the skies or suck them dry

Sprinkle rain on tender gardens or let floods destroy

Live with the courage of poetry

 

 

Poetic Activities

 

Write a list of places where you can put poetry into action.  List places to visit in the left column.  In the right column, write an activity to do when you arrive.

 

 

Places to Go

Things to Do

 

1.

Children’s orphanage

Teach kids to sing or draw

2.

Hospital Waiting Room

Console a person who looks scared

3.

School for the blind

 

4.

The bus terminal

 

5.

 

 

6.

 

 

7.

 

 

8.

 

 

9.

 

 

10.

 

 

 

Have fun, be brave, and be cautious.  Carefully choose your place to go and approach strangers respectfully.  Young readers should consult with their parents or teachers to decide which places and activities are suitable and acceptable.