read write prompt #12: dressing up your poetry
by Juliet Wilson
We all wear clothes, whether we’re a fashion victim or take an entirely functional view of what we put on our bodies. Why not use this everyday topic to inspire poetry? The Academy of American Poets offers this article about clothing in poetry, including links to poems inspired by clothes. The current issue of Mslexia — a magazine from the UK for women who write – includes poetry (and short stories) on the theme of gloves. You can read two samples here. When writing this week’s poem you can use clothing in different ways, for example:
- What do the clothes in your wardrobe say about you? (Such as Gautami Tripathy’s poem “One Too Many.”)
- Consider your favourite item or type of clothing and see where your thoughts take you.
- How have clothes been used as a form of social control? (See Jo Hemmant’s poem “Bound.”)
- If, like me, you are a fan of second hand clothes shops, the next time you’re browsing think about the stories those clothes could tell.
- Watch people: what do their clothes say about them?
Your poem probably won’t be about clothes at all; just use them as a starting point. If you’re obsessed with clothes, why not write a villanelle, the ideal poetic form for expressing obsession?
Idea for collaboration: Email another poet with a photo or description of your favourite item of clothing for them to include in a poem.
Then come back next Monday after midnight (CST) to share your poetry! Look forward to seeing you all then.
Note: Get Your Poem On #12 will be open and accepting links to you poems based on this prompt — or any other inspiration — next Sunday after midnight.
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get the read write poem badge! 
Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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Great prompt, as always!
There is a book of poetry out called “Clotheslines: A Collection of Poetry & Art” edited by Stan Tymorek. It’s a whole book of poems about clothes. Each poem is illustrated with artwork and the whole thing is a treat.
P.S. Is there any way to write in italics in these comments? I know the title of a book should be italicized but couldn’t figure out how to do it.
Juliet, this is a great prompt! And the links are terrific. I read Jo’s poem, and it brought to mind so many issues. And Gautami’s poem about choices is terrific too.
Juliet, thanks for linking me! This is indeed a great prompt. Jo’s poem reminds of certain Indian practices.
Seems I will have to work out on another poem dealing with clothes. I had written one a long time back about saris. I might link it, f i find it. However, I think one should write new stuff.
Thanks for all the links. Very useful too.
Linda, that sounds like a great book – I’ll look out for that! I don’t know how to make italics in the comments though! Christine – thanks! Gautami – thanks, I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Hi Linda (and anyone),
Here’s how: before what you want to italicize and after.
Fun post, Juliet,and cool how you linked to our very own participants, as well as the other resources!
Uh. That didn’t work as a showing how tool. I need more coffee, evidently.
Before the start of the word or phrase to itlaicize place < em > but without the spaces.
The after write < / em >, also without the spaces.
Ta da?
I don’t know if this qualifies, but I wrote this poem about a lost love, and how many memories still linger afterwards, including clothes.
http://wordsfromanauthor.blogspot.com/2008/01/someday.html
Hi Leigh – glad to have you stop by. This is just the prompt – the post you respond to, with your link in your comment, will show up next Monday, early in the mroning. Stop back then and post your comment again, so more folks see it and go read your work!
Thanks for the italics tutorial! gotta try it
Sorry I’m new to this, will post again.:)
I wrote a flash fiction called The Crypt of Shoes modeled on Edgar Allen Poe’s the Cask of Amontillado. You can find it here:
http://secretcaveofhiddendesire.blogspot.com/2008/02/crypt-of-shoes.html
Secret Cave of Hidden Desire: The Crypt of Shoes
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