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!
I feel like posting this now, though, again, it’s off-prompt.
Villanelle.
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.
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[...] 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.
[...] 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
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