First of all, is poetry art?
Does poetry belong in the visual arts?
Yes! I integrated illustration, symbolism and imagery into this lesson for Seniors.
Write a “cheat poem” and draw symbols based on your poem.
Here’s a simple and effective way to start writing a poem.
This activity is adopted from poet Johnny Macrae from Vancouver Poetry House.
Step 1 : Get out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.
Write down 3 things that make you feel calm (people, places, objects, and more).
Step 2 : Choose one of these words to write about.
Step 3 : Underneath this word, write down:
Smells like ______________.
Feels like ______________.
Looks like ______________.
Tastes like ______________.
Sounds like ______________.
Step 4: Fill in the blank. Try to be imaginative in the way you describe your chosen thing.
Really take the reader there.
Step 5: Create an illustration that represent one of the lines of your poem using ANY medium.
Draw it on the same page as your poem.
The idea: Each line of your poem gives you inspiration to create visual “symbols” that represent your chosen ‘thing.’
Example:
3 things that make me feel calm
-My front yard
-Yellow
-Lying in the sun
“My front yard.”
My front yard…
…Smells like mouldy dish towels that haven’t quite dried.
…Feels like a spongey mattress.
…Looks like a fairy’s playground, soft bumpy hills and little places for creatures to hide.
…Tastes like sweaty shoes and summer concrete.
…Sounds like birds speaking to bicyclists speaking to the screaming baby next-door.
