read write prompt #30
by Christine Swint
The prompt this week is the first line from Lucille Clifton’s poem, “Miss Rosie.” Close your eyes for a few moments and take a some slow, deep breaths. Repeat this line to yourself: “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 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.”
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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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First words this morning. I was going to write about the politic, thank you for a more pleasing challenge: Serendipity.
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!
[...] was written for the new Read Write Poem Prompt this week – to write a poem using “when I watch you”, the first line of Lucille [...]
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
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.)
Oh. No problem. I’ll make sure I repost my link Monday.
-Nicole
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.
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…
http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/beat-dream-6508/
Hope you like it.
[...] read write poem prompt: start a poem with the lines when I watch you [...]
That poem……oh my, that poem.
[...] My poems were inspired by these three prompts: “catnap, “my nights” and “when I watch you.”) Technorati Tags: Sleep Poetry, Insomnia Verse, Husband Humor, Writing Prompts Home [...]
I posted a poem called Free that I wrote & now it’s not here…?
http://tinatrivett.blogspot.com/2008/06/free.html
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).
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…
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.
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!
[...] will be open, so you can leave a permalink to your blog post for this week’s contribution…when I watch you. * * [...]
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
Here’s my take:
http://beansthought.blogspot.com/2008/06/prompt-when-i-watch-you.html
My first “prompt” attempt, not my last:
http://nibblepoems.wordpress.com/poems/
[...] is inspired by a prompt at readwritepoem – to write a poem based around the line “when I watch [...]
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