March 14, 1976 (I was 31)
notes for The 8th Grade Poetry Class, day 29
We wrote composite poetry. I
asked eight students to participate
in the demonstration. I showed the class an art print. The volunteers
wrote a single line of an observed detail,
subject matter or mood. I
asked that the lines be read randomly, one at a
time. I transcribed them
entirely or in part to the chalk board. With each new line there is the
challenge to form a parallel, a counterpoint,
or provide workable transitions
between images and ideas. I talked about the poem taking shape as I
erased, repositioned, shortened, elongated or
otherwise worked the lines
into cohesive form. Not all that difficult given the common
inspiration and
the students’ desire to be concise and perceptive
in their offerings. I
displayed the art print again and read the
assembled piece. They were
impressed and enthused with the end result of
their collective genius.
Groups
of eight students were given individual art prints, and each
student wrote out their one-line impression
eight times on separate strips
of paper.
After lines were exchanged they worked individually to arrange
revise and supplement the lines into their
unique poetic version of the
material, transcribing the result into their
notebooks.
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