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.”
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