POMprompt # 14 Tricky Combinations — Poetry Mashup
a poetry writing prompt
If you need a refresher on how to participate in the POMprompts, read this before proceeding:
POMprompt # 14 Tricky Combinations — Poetry Mashup
This POMprompt is a bit more thorough because it teaches a method of poetry writing that is partly mine (in that I have developed a formula and name for it to explain it and teach the method: Here is the article explaining Syzygy poems)
Here at The POM and in our FB group Poets on Medium — we are always growing, learning, expanding what we know of poetry, and developing ourselves as poets, partly because of the interaction of such a diverse group — but also because we each bring something fresh and unique to the table. If this is your first POMprompt — I welcome you. If you’ve read the introductory “Welcome to The POM” article posted above, then you know a little bout how it all works and we can get started.
You are going to write your own Syzygy / mash-up poem.
This POMprompt is more complex so read carefully. If you’ve read the article on syzygy — this will all make more sense. This one is a bit more difficult in concept — so if you get confused, it is ok — do the best you can. (Re-read: Here is the article explaining Syzygy poems if you need to.) If you have never done an activity like this — don’t shy away. College classes in poetry will often throw things like this at you just to see where your mind can take the assignment. It is good to press yourself creatively. Your greatest poetic teacher is inside of YOU.
Here are the details:
- You may do a parallel or a juxtaposed version of the syzygy method.
- I will provide the list to choose from for your elements.
- Pick from the list ONE from each category. You’ll pick a subject for your poem from the first list and an action / setting from the second list which you will use as your imagery and descriptions for the subject.
- Combine those into your poem by working the often unrelated concepts together like blending different colors into a braided rug — it all blends together to make one poem that works.
The trick is to choose the components BEFORE the inspiration of a poem.
This is an exercise in poetic construction that will stretch you and expose new areas of your creative thought that you can explore for future work. It will also likely press you in the direction of metaphor, symbolism, and analogy. Pressing your creativity in new directions, challenging yourself, and growing — that is our purpose, let’s do this.
Here is the list:
Note — You are not simply taking the subject of the poem and placing them in the environment of the action. Rather the subject is described USING the imagery of the action.
Getting Started
- Choose your subject from the first list.
- Choose an action / setting from the second list
- Think about your subject — what is it you want to share with your reader about them? Consider the point of view — are YOU the dog or the baby? Tell your poem in first person. Are you telling about the subject? Then tell your poem in third person.
- Think about the action / setting you’ve chosen and brainstorm imagery, descriptive words, verbs etc. Use this body of language to write a poem about your subject.
- Let us get to know your subject through the very interesting lens of an unrelated concept. Once you begin toying with the method it will open up very interesting poetry for you. If you veer a bit off course — it is ok. Let the poem develop!
Example — If you choose from the list “a child” and “tornado” then you are not telling the story of a child in a tornado, rather the child IS the tornado. Mash the two concepts together and borrow your imagery from the action to describe your subject. Describe your subject using verbs, images, and descriptive words from the ACTION. Perhaps you have chosen “a child” and “outer space” — you’ll want to develop a poem about a child using colors, sounds, sights, movements etc of outer space.
Example — The Poet Cleaning = “the art of writing” (subject)+ “the cleaning of a fish” (action and imagery) Using imagery from the cleaning of a fish, I have expressed what it feels like to be a writer and to open yourself up for others. I love how the juxtaposed concepts create something beautiful.
Juxtaposed is harder to write — If you REALLY want to challenge yourself, choose things from the list that are very different!
Don’t forget to tag your entry: POMprompt And link THIS POST at the bottom.
I look forward to seeing your work!
Christina M. Ward is a poet and writer from North Carolina. You may follow her news letter here: Author Newsletter.
