In February, the Poetry Sisters wrote Exquisite Corpse poems – and invited us to take part. And I did – but never got around to posting! (Story of my life, this year.π€¦ββοΈ) But during my travels around the North Burnett recently, I brought the exquisite corpse into Poetry Pep-up sessions. They were a great warm-up/ice-breaker activity. We were taken by the way different punctuation can produce different results; and the variety of visual images the same words inspired amongst participants – which was inspiration in itself, for further poetry. Here are some related to rain, which was in abundance at the time. All of them could be punctuated differently – and I’m not even sure that this is my preferred punctuation. π (You may have other interpretations?)
Pitter like soft feathers; mist falls. Happy thunder. Slip-bright truck-water.
Plop! Like a scoutβs whistle, slippery trees, wading; cold tanks … floods.
Swoosh. Trickle like a treat, constant river splash. Quickly shelter. Verandah.
Over. As heavy as golf balls, washy river rattling melancholy chimney-skipping.
A drip hits the tin roof like splattering stones. Sombre castle; puddling, pattering, umbrella splatter.
Wooosh! I jump like a kangaroo; joyous. Puddle-melting, slippery-cloud gumboots.
Swoosh. As heavy as rocks; dark rainbow, dancing, exploring spit-creeks.
Churning like butter; pelting, swirling cool rainbow.
Clear gumboots. Runny wet puddle-drop.
(I was wanting to encourage playful use of onomatopoeia and creative similes – which you will recognise as the start point for these poems.)
Thanks to Karen atΒ Karen Edmisten*Β who is hosting Poetry Friday today. I’m sure it will be raining creativity!
Oh – but before I go, I must also share the surprising joy I had this week, with the inclusion of ‘Miss Understood’ on the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards Shortlist. I had not expected that delightful bit of news in the same month that it released! (But I’ll take it.ππΊπ)
Congratulations, Kat! And also thanks for sharing the exquisite corpse. Seeing a classroom of adults (probably teachers?) reminded me of the teacher workshops I used to do. Poetry was always a way in to writing.
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Thanks, Rose. Also, to answer the Q – There were two teachers in this group, but actually, it was a community session. They were from a range of occupations – which was lovely!
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I hope I’ll get to read Miss Understood soon, Kat. Congratulations for that honor. My granddaughters & I play ‘Exquisite Corpse” in drawings often, & now you’ve reminded me how great it is to play with words, too. What interesting lines that rained down for you!
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Congratulations on Miss Understood! What a clever name! I loved you group poetry effort, and now what to know what gumboots are.
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Gumboots are the rubber boots that you wear in muddy puddles. π
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Congrats on making the shortlist!! Enjoyed reading all that fun wordplay. “slilppery-cloud gumboots” is one of my faves. π
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Congratulations on Miss Understood. I look forward to reading it soon!
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Congrats on Miss Understood! And thanks for sharing the Exquisite Poem form. Would be so fun to be in a room with other poets!
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Yay! Yay! Yay! I love this post full of “happy thunder” and “truck water” and, more than one variety of gumboots! How fun and wonderful all these words and sounds of poetry. You give me ideas, Ms. Apel! And, I’m not at all surprised that Miss Understood is shortlisted for a prize…I’d be surprised if this was the ONLY list it appeared on. Buckle up, buttercup…you are a real writer now. Wheeeeeeeee!
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*Click-clack*π Happy to give you ideas, Ms Mitchell!
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Congratulations! That’s so exciting! And, I love the phrase “slip-bright.” Thanks for sharing!
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Way to use the exquisite corpse to jumpstart creativity! Congratulations to you and to Miss Understood!
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Congratulations, Kat. Miss Understood is skyrocketing to fame. You thought up an interesting way to start a poetry session. I especially like the line about splashing like a kangaroo. I enjoyed the rain poetry for its unusual sounds and images. We have had many rainstorms this spring.
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It seems Miss Understood is understood to be genius! Well done on your exquisite corpse poetry exercise, too! π
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Congrats on the accolades for “Miss Understood,” how wonderful!!! And thanks for sharing your fun and sound-filled exquisite corpse poems!
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Congratulations, on Miss Understood! I’m excited for you! Yay! You guys wrote some great exquisite corpse poems. Some of my favorites are “puddling, slippery-cloud gumboots, as heavy as rocks, exploring spit-creeks”. What is a spit-creek? Thanks for explaining gum boots; I figured that’s what they were. My kids and I called them puddle boots. Our youngest daughter had a picture of ducks on them, which she loved! When she outgrew them, she continued to wear them for a while, even though they hurt her feet. I can still see her grimace. LOL! π It’s raining here. It’s supposed to rain all day, but I don’t mind because it keeps the pollen down. Thank you for sharing and for your inspiration.
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