Last night, I stayed up until almost midnight and watched the London Olympics' amazing
opening ceremonies (see video at end of post). This morning, I woke thinking that it might be interesting to write about sports
this week. Of course, not everyone is sports-minded (myself included), but
sports play an important role in cultures throughout the world, so why not take up the "torch" and write about them?
When the Olympics began in ancient Greece, poetry was
part of the “package.” Poets wrote works in praise of athletic champions, and often recited poems to large Olympic Game crowds.
At those early Games, some of the athletes hired the best and
most popular poets of the day to write victory odes, and poets of
every stripe erected stalls or stood on “soapboxes” to recite their poems. The
venue couldn’t have been better for them – imagine a poetry reading with an audience of thousands. However, in c. 388 BC, the tyrant
Dionysius of Syracuse brought actors to the Games to recite his poetry, and his
poems weren’t well-received. In fact, the crowd beat him up and destroyed his
tent.
Other examples:
While baseball poems are arguably more abundant than other
sports poems, the challenge this week is to choose a sport (any sport) and write a poem about it.
- The sport you choose may be one you enjoy or one you don’t like at all.
- You may use a sport as an extended metaphor in your poem (How Dieting Is a Spectator Sport).
- You may write about a sport in which you’ve participated, or you may write about a sport in which you would like to participate.
- You may write about your significant other’s obsession with golf (or football, or soccer, or baseball, or basketball), or you may write about your significant other’s annoying habit of watching a particular sport on TV.
- Another possibility is to write a poem about the Olympics (ancient, modern, or both).
- If you’ve never played sports and don’t care for sports at all, write a poem about that.
- You might think about sports heroes you consider worthy of praise and write about one of them.
- You might even take a humorous approach and write a funny sports poem.
- You might write a poem in which you compare a particular sport to poetry.
- Or, you might reflect on the ways in which trying to win poetry competitions is like trying to win sports competitions.
- Write a poem in which you list the rules for your own "Poetry Olympics."
- Write a poem in which you imagine the world without a single sport.
Have fun with this, and
keep these sports synonyms in mind: recreational activity, entertainment,
action, amusement, athletics, exercise, frolic, fun, fun and games, gaiety,
physical activity, and play.
Click here to read an excellent article on poetry's relationship with the Olympics.
Click here to read an excellent article on poetry's relationship with the Olympics.
What a great idea, Adele! I was in the audience at the olympic games opening ceremonies - what a huge thrill. Didn't you love the part where the queen parachuted out of the helicopter? It's known here in England that Her Majesty has a great sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteThis prompt is so appropriate - thank you!
Thanks, Nicola! It must have been great to be part of the excitement and celebrations at the Olympics opening ceremonies! (The Queen parachuting from the helicopter was wonderful fun!)
DeleteHow do you come up with these ideas, Adele? You're always seasonally or event spot on! Wonderful! I played soccer when I was younger, so that's my subject this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Jamie
Thanks for your kind words, Jamie! I love writing and posting the prompts and it's a great affirmation to receive feedback like yours!
DeletePerfect idea! I was a swimmer many moons ago so that is the sport I picked:
ReplyDeletehttp://hoofprintsinmygarden.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-swimmer/
Thanks, Annette! Your poem is wonderful - I can almost feel the water and the rush of power exerted by the swimmer. Thanks so much for sharing!
DeleteAdele...
ReplyDeleteThis time I disagree: there is nothing of the Olympic spirit in these ceremonies, just big business.
Here the mayor of London Boris Johnson poem in the style of Pindar to mark the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games ( but I think and hope it's just a joke):
Ode for the London Olympics 2012
This new Olympic flame behold,that once burned
bright in Greece of old;with happy hearts receive
once more these Games revived on London's shore.
Praise rival teams, in sport allied, as athletes stream
from far and wide; the poet too must take the road
conveying praise to victory owed.
And so on...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18929408
Ciao a tutti!
Ah, Jago! So much of what happens today is about big business. You're right, of course, about that component of this year's Olympics, but I really do try to see beyond it into the spirit of sport and tradition.
DeleteThanks "Anonymous!"
ReplyDeleteLove this prompt, and it made me really have to think!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment Tania! I'm glad to know that the prompt works for you!
DeleteI like knives
ReplyDeleteany kind of knife
big ones
small ones
for art
for fencing
fencing is my favorite sport
however
fencing with words
is by far the best !
Love it, Risa! Great twist at the end. Thanks so much for sharing!
Delete