When we talk about the climate in Thailand, we normally mention only three seasons:  Hot, rainy and cool.  In the temperate zones of the world, there are four seasons:  Winter, spring, summer and fall.  Three or four seasons may be enough to describe the climate, but not sufficient to describe all the seasons of our lives. 

 

This activity gives you a chance to invent a season of your own and experiment with the unknown.  Imagine the temperature, the colours, the seasonal fruits and the activities of your newly revealed season.  Describe the season for someone who has never experienced it.

 

How many poetic seasons could there be?  Take a moment to brainstorm several possible seasons that might occur in your life.  Complete the following chart to open your imagination widely.

 

Angry Season

 

 

Computer Season

 

Exam Season

Season of Confusion

 

Season of Fear

 

 

 

 

The Impossible Season

 

Excitement Season

 

The Weather of the Poem

 

The first part of your poem is to describe the weather and temperature of your personal season.  Close your eyes and imagine the weather inside your heart.  Describe the weather and temperature in two or three lines.  Here are a few samples to help you get started.

 

Your Personal Season
Sample Line of Poetry

1.  Angry Season

1.  The fire in my heart is burning the failed leaves of autumn

2.  Season of Confusion

2.  The wind changes its mind with every breath I take

3.  Bitter Season

3.  Frozen beyond winter, my smile is forever lost

4.

4.

5.

5.

 

The Colours of the Poem

 

The second part of the poem includes your description of the fruits, flowers, trees and sky in your personal season.  Close your eyes and imagine a scene from nature.  At first, include trees and flowers from your home area.  Then, use your imagination to transform nature to represent your feelings.  That is, use your emotions to interpret the world around you, and express the colours of the world within you.  A few examples will help you get started.

 

Your Personal Nature

Sample Line of Poetry

1.  Joy

1.  The fruit of joy is laughing pink

2.  Fear

2.  Every dark shadow blocks my dusty path

3.  Excitement

3.  The hills turn upside down like a roller coaster ride

4.

4.

5.

5.

 

Welcome to my Season

 

After you describe the climate and scenery, characterize the events or culture of your season.   Explain a personal festival, or create a magical holiday that represents your inner feelings. Use your imagination to create extraordinary images.  If you choose, imagine guiding a visitor through your season. 

 

Your Person Season

Sample Lines of Poetry

1.  Season of Loss

1.  Please respect the silence here in the corner of my season

2.  Season of Potential

2.  Climb these trees and paint the sky the colours of dreams

3.  Computer Season

3.  My hard drive has crashed and my printer has blessed its final page

4.

4.

5.

5.

 

The Season of your Poem

 

 

Use your emotions to interpret the world around you.  Express the colours of the world within you.

 

 

After completing the three exercises above, arrange your sample lines of poetry into a complete poem.  The activities should produce about six to eight lines of poetry. 

 

This poetic technique can be applied whenever a new season occurs in your heart.  Again, close your eyes and try to see, hear, touch and smell every detail of your inner life.  It may be fun to collect a variety of personal seasons and share them with your friends.