read write prompt #77: opposites attract. (try it, you'll see!)
by Jill Crammond-Wickham
The opposite of a cloud could be
A white reflection on the sea,
Or a huge blueness in the air,
Caused by a cloud’s not being there.
– Richard Wilbur, “Some Opposites”
As the old saying goes, opposites attract. As I discovered in my IRL (in real life), writing group last week, this holds true for poetry as well. The poems everyone wrote blending two opposite experiences into one poem were amazing in their scope and meaning, both intended and accidental.
Last year around this time, Christine explained it this way: “What happens when you pour balsamic vinegar over extra-virgin olive oil? The oil rests on top of the vinegar in the cruet, but if you shake the contents, you create a delicious salad dressing.”
I am resurrecting this prompt simply because I love it so much, and because it produces the most wonderful poetry! I hope you will love it, too!
For your poem this week, try combining two elements that don’t seem to go together at first glance. Here’s the process:
- Think of a happy memory, a moment that brings you joy. Write five to 10 lines about that moment, and then put the poem away.
- Write about a moment or time of distress, sadness or anger. Once again, write five to 10 lines.
- Get out the first poem and combine it with the second by alternating lines.
Don’t want to work with memories? Try combining some of these other opposites:
- Warmth and cold
- Fear and courage
- Beauty and ugliness
- Humor and seriousness
Patricia Lee Lewis, poet and workshop leader, introduced Christine to this type of poem. Patricia in turn learned about the process in an experimental writing workshop she attended by Carolyn Forché.
Please come back next Thursday and leave us a link to your poem!
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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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I feel like posting this now, though, again, it’s off-prompt.
Villanelle.
[Reply]
It’s okay to write off-prompt. Really. Not to worry.
The place to post your poems is on Thursday’s Get Your Poem on post. Just so more people see it. Be sure to come back Thursday, Derek.
[Reply]
[...] was the second poem written for Read Write Poem Prompt #77: Opposites Attract. I chose the cleave form because it allowed me to juxtapose the two ideas against each other while [...]
[...] poem is about me and my fiance and was written for Read Write Poem Prompt #77: Opposites Attract. [...]
[...] evening, my friend The Velveteen Rabbi posted a response to this week’s readwritepoem prompt so beautful that I had to write one of my [...]
Thank you for this prompt. The Velveteen Rabbi’s response to it was so beautiful, I had to try to follow it too.
Here’s mine.
[Reply]
[...] is for Read Write Poem’s Opposites Attract prompt. The idea is to write 2 poems each dealing with opposing elements, experiences, memories, or [...]
Here’s mine, which I wrote earlier in the week. I know I’m supposed to wait to post the link on Thursday, and I will, but it’s Thursday today here in my country
http://knittingthewind-westering.blogspot.com/2009/05/michelle-at-poetfusion-has-monday-mural.html
[Reply]
GERMANY 1945
A sea of steel helmets jack booted up the Strasse
in perfect stamped precision
She headed in the opposite direction
her wet hands clinging to her bag
heading in the opposite direction
trying not to draw attention to herself
She was sure they could hear the pounding of
her heart
so long ago
Mind you
she is still heading in the opposite direction
Ducking and weaving
Avoiding the jack boots
[Reply]