Let’s Get Physical
There is “something” in the way we move. The way our muscles, tendons, bones, joints, skin . . . work together to create movement. Watching someone move is one thing, describing what that movement looks or feels like is another. People are sometimes likened to animals, machines, plants, geological formations. Likewise, machines, animals, plants, etc, are sometimes likened to people in songs, stories, and yes, poetry.
Watch or imagine someone or something in motion. The motion might be a big whole body movement like dancing, jumping, swaying, diving, tumbling, or it might be a movement as tiny as the blink of an eye or twitch of a baby toe.
If you’re game, get physical! Try replicating the motion yourself (nothing too dangerous). While in motion, pay attention to each micro-movement of your body. How do you feel? What do you feel like? Does that movement remind you of something? An eel? A kangaroo? An oil pump?
Write a poem in which you describe that movement by likening it to something else.
Plant that movement in your mind.
Set the timer for 7 minutes.
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it.
*Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 800 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem. Scroll down and click on the comments!