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read write prompt #30

Published by Christine June 4th, 2008 in Christine, Read Write Prompt.

The prompt this week is the first line from Lucille Clifton’s poem, miss rosie.

when I watch you

Close your eyes for a few moments and take a some slow, deep breaths. Think to yourself this line:

when I watch you

Who are you watching? What sounds and smells do you recall? Where are you? Write a poem about what comes to mind.

* * *

If you want to collaborate, try alternating lines or stanzas with another poet, or even combine your lines together randomly.

* * *

Lucille Clifton was born in 1936, in Depew, New York. Her long list of poetry collections, memoir, children’s books and awards can be found at poets.org and the PBS web site titled Poetry Series.

For an extra treat, listen to Lucille Clifton recite homage to my hips.

~christine

23 Responses to “read write prompt #30”

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  1. 1 Donald Harbour Jun 4th, 2008 at 7:02 am

    First words this morning. I was going to write about the politic, thank you for a more pleasing challenge: Serendipity.

  2. 2 Linda Jacobs Jun 4th, 2008 at 7:58 am

    My tenth-grade students studied this poem a couple weeks ago and they loved it! Next year I’ll have them write their own beginning with the first line like you suggest here. What a great idea! Thanks!

  3. 3 Nicole Nicholson Jun 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    I like the prompt! Here’s my poem, called “When I Watch You”:

    http://ravenswingpoetry.com/2008/06/04/when-i-watch-you/

    When I shut my eyes…I ended up in the head of Graham Dalton from “Sex, Lies, and Videotape”. Weird, I know, but here it is.

    -Nicole

  4. 4 Read Write Poem Jun 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am

    Hi Donald and Nicole.

    Be sure to come back next Monday when get your poem on #30 is posted. That’s where you comment and give us your link. (People will miss it here…this is the prompt part of the exercise.)

  5. 5 Nicole Nicholson Jun 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Oh. No problem. I’ll make sure I repost my link Monday.

    -Nicole

  6. 6 Christine Jun 4th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Donald and Nicole, how wonderful, you’ve already written your poem for this prompt! Would you mind coming back on Monday and linking to the post entitled, “Get your poem on?” Thanks. That way everyone will be able to read what you’ve written. This post is to anounce the prompt and to comment or offer feedback on it.

    Linda, that is very serendipitous, to use Donald’s word. I’d love to read what your students come up with.

    I wanted to add here as an aside to everyone, too, that even if you start with this prompt as the opening line of your poem, you can always not use the line, just the images it conjurs.

  7. 7 One More Believer Jun 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    always playing catchup on this prompt… but i love what you offer… hopefully i can catch up… lucille is another great poet, thank you for the link…

  8. 8 eatsbugs Jun 5th, 2008 at 1:12 am

    http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/beat-dream-6508/

    Hope you like it.

  9. 9 Jo Jun 6th, 2008 at 1:20 am

    That poem……oh my, that poem.

  10. 10 Tina Trivett Jun 7th, 2008 at 8:06 am

    I posted a poem called Free that I wrote & now it’s not here…?

    http://tinatrivett.blogspot.com/2008/06/free.html

  11. 11 Read Write Poem Jun 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am

    eatsbugs & Tina,

    Be sure to come back on Monday and post your link to the get your poem on #30 post. This is just for the prompt (but folks are clearly excited - woot - about this week’s prompt).

  12. 12 jillypoet Jun 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am

    I just wrote a poem about watching (or not watching) my son–then I stopped by to see what the prompt was this week. I love the irony! Coincidence? Or is it…

  13. 13 Christine Jun 8th, 2008 at 10:45 am

    jill, we’re all getting a similar vibe. We’re in tune with each other! Really, I don’t know, but I’ll call it serendipity. I hope you link your poem about your son.

  14. 14 art predator Jun 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    I love Lucille Clifton–her work and the woman herself! I studied with her at UC Santa Cruz. If you ever get a chance to hear her read, go for it!

    Thanks for bringing this moving poem to our attention!

    And thanks for the excuse to post the poem I chose to put up!

  15. 15 mary Jun 9th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    Wow, I actually tried the prompt! Just wanted to add that I had the honor of having a poem workshopped with Lucille Clifton once, years ago. It was the prize, along with $50, for a competition through the Poetry Society of London. She is such a talented poet.

    Okay, here’s the link to my rough attempt this week:
    The Thing’s Gone Wrong

  16. 16 Bean Jun 10th, 2008 at 8:33 am

    Here’s my take:

    http://beansthought.blogspot.com/2008/06/prompt-when-i-watch-you.html

  17. 17 nibblepoems Jun 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    My first “prompt” attempt, not my last:

    http://nibblepoems.wordpress.com/poems/

  18. 18 Lynn Jun 14th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Here’s my poem…thanks for the prompt (It’s my first reply)
    http://lfisher-writewhereiam.typepad.com/write_where_i_am/2008/06/and-more-about-the-garden.html

  1. 1 When I Watch You « Raven’s Wing Poetry Pingback on Jun 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
  2. 2 when you look at me, what do you see? « flyturtlefly. Pingback on Jun 5th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
  3. 3 Sleepless In Bayside (Limerick, Haiku, & Senryu Prompt) » MAD KANE'S HUMOR BLOG Pingback on Jun 6th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
  4. 4 get your poem on #30 at Read Write Poem Pingback on Jun 9th, 2008 at 12:02 am
  5. 5 When I watch you - terza rima « Words that sing Pingback on Jun 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am

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