By Blew Kind
Supplies: 1 Rose (or another flower) for each participant, pen/pencil, paper
Objectives:
Gain writing techniques: Metaphor, Simile, Repetition, Patterns, Spacing, Lines, ect.
Connect in seeing, feeling love/beauty with nature and with self
Reflection and application using examples from other poets.
Energy shift from beginning to after; feeling a boost in self-confidence, discovery, and appreciation/enamorment
1. Connect & Loosen up!
On a piece of paper, write Two words or phrases that describe you that’s lovely
Example:
I am Courageous. I brighten folks day with my smile
OR
Courageous Bright
2. Group Poem “Love is” and Metaphors!
Together (or by yourself) on a piece of paper, write take turns on writing a line or two on what “love is” to you. Use “Love is” to start each thought. After 4-6 lines. Read it all together! Connecting to the theme of Love can build pulsing positive energy.
Practice using Metaphors or Similies! To go deeper in your meaning and deeper in what is at the surface, making things a bit more magical. A Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. (NOT using like or as) A simile uses like or as (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox)
Example using a metaphor:
Love is my daughters’ giggles
That float dancing butterflies
On a summer bright day.
Love is…
3. Some more Poem Basics in Reflection on Nikki Giovanni’s thoughts on love
Repetition: repeating something that has already been said or written
Patterns: repeating styles, similar wording, sound, ect that has already been written; Can help create rhythm
Short lines: communicates slowness, and emphasizes ideas/words/energy in your poetry to the reader
Long lines: communicates fast pace, can use to create images for readers
Spacing: adding spacing between groups of texts (aka stanzas) to emphasize energy or start another thought
Describing details/going deeper: make things interesting, be specific, and expand on the content of what you are saying. Ask
questions “What? Why? How? When?” etc.
What do you want to communicate? Sometimes the repetition helps communicate your message or sometimes poets use
the last words to hit the reader with the impact of the meaning. A question you can consider if you want to make your poetry
more specific, impactful, and honest.
Some people forget that love is
tucking you in and kissing you
‘Good night’
no matter how young or old you are
Some people don’t remember that
love is
listening and laughing and asking
questions
no matter what your age
Few recognize that love is
commitment, responsibility
no fun at all
unless
Love is
You and me -Nikki Giovanni
4. Connecting to beauty:
Lately, I have been writing love poems to myself and to the loved ones around me to brighten their awareness of themselves.
when life is wild, I have learned to connect with the beauty and revel in the thickness of it. Connecting to beauty, connecting to our creator. And sharing with others. Sometimes I start by just looking at the beauty around me
Thoughts: What do you find beautiful around you?
5. Writing poems about beauty – Rose poems:
Close eyes, Touch, smell, feel the rose. Breathe in. breathe out. Take your time with it.
Thoughts: What does it remind you of? How does it make you feel? What do you notice?
Respond with your own poem, here are some line starters if you need some guidance With line starters, you don’t have to
use them if your mind is flowing, or you can use one to get the juices goin’, or two or three ?
Use some of the Poem Basics to help you play with your writing and make things interesting!
Your petals are…
When I touch u I feel…
I see…
The rose (or whatever flower you have) reminds me of…
If you find yourself stuck, I challenge you to go deeper. Look at the last line you wrote. As the questions to yourself, “Why? What? Who? When?) to expand your writing and keep discovering more on the blank page.
If you are with others, share it with each other! Listen, snap, judgment-free. There is no wrong way to do poetry!
Close eyes, Touch, smell, feel your face. Breathe in. breathe out.
Thoughts: How does it make you feel? What do you notice? What do you find about yourself that is amazing? Expand on what makes you unique. There is only one you! What are your dreams? Who does your higher self see you as? Who does your grandma/pa or another elder see you as? (sometimes you can access your own beauty by identifying yourself as a child)
Line starters (if you need some help!)
I see you (your name)…
When I touch you I see…
The curve of my face…
Hello precious…
My beauty is…
(Describe the flower)..
Sometimes describing what you see will open you up to see deeper
If you find yourself stuck, I challenge you to go deeper. Look at the last line you wrote. As the questions to yourself, “why? What? Who? When?) to expand your writing and keep discovering more on the blank page.
If you are with others, share with each other! Listen, snap, judgment-free. There is no wrong way to do poetry!
6. Writing poems connecting to your own beauty
My beauty
Moves
The sun to rise.
Opens
Every flower to breathe.
Heals
My own tears
That rolled from moon to moon.
.
My beauty
Is a gift
Of laughter
And curves
Sitting in the breeze
Toes touching the sand
Wind twirls around
My waist, my smile
And whispers
“I love you.” -Blew Kind
