In this corner of the world,
summer ended last Wednesday, and autumn began with beautiful weather. I thought
it would be appropriate this Saturday to post a prompt that deals with the end
of a season—specifically summer here but, if you’re on the opposite side of the
world, then the end of winter.
Suggestions:
1. Spend some time
thinking about the season that has ended.
2. Then think in terms of a
specific event or time during the past season.
3. Free write for a while about
the season and the event or time. Give your mind and imagination loose reins,
and let your writing go where it wants to go.
4. After free writing, look at
what you’re recorded and begin working on a poem based on ideas from your free write.
5. A possibility may be to write
about the last day of a season (see the Merrill example poem below).
6. Consider the metaphorical and
symbolic meanings of the end of a season.
7. Pull your “End of ______” poem
together with a punch at the end—perhaps something that refers to the season that’s
just begun.
Tips:
1. Incorporate seasonal imagery that appeals to one or more of the senses.
2. Be sure to incorporate some
figurative language.
3. Avoid all the usual pitfalls
(especially too many adjectives, prepositions, and articles).
Examples:
“End of Summer” by Stanley Kunitz
“Three Songs at the End of Summer” by Jane Kenyon
“End of Summer” by James Richardson
“A Boy Juggling a Soccer Ball” by Christopher Merrill
