In honor of finishing the 28 (-ish) part poem, “Another Affair with Water,” I’ve finished with a two-page spread.

Usually, when we write in our notebooks, we don’t track our progress according to the weight of our work—ink on a page does not significantly change the weight of a notebook. But look; my little book has gained a little over an ounce!

making sense of history - 7
making sense of history - 6

I feel this series is served well by this final piece. I like the way the eyes and lips in the top image flip and confuse, the way they start to look like fish. I like the hearts reappearing. I love the story that has emerged.
making sense of history - 3
I was talking to my husband about this, this morning, and decided that I will likely create another small series devoted to the fish king and spectre and the mistresses and the boats. But for now, I am excited to get back to the abstract, one day at a time, picture poems.
making-sense-of-history-4.jpg
I really enjoyed making the above image, though it was … holy god … it was time consuming to trim out that word in order to create that embossed effect. So, let’s use this as the jumping off point for today’s prompt?

ONE WORD PROMPT

 

  1. Flip through your magazine and choose a word to start with. This can be anything, really, but it should evoke feelings in anyone who reads it. KISS works in this case because it is probably fraught with memories and responses of all kinds for most people. Do pay attention to color, font, size... but your word may be a small word or it may be a larger than life word. You may even ransom your word together.
  2. Next, in as few words & phrases as possible, poem that word. That word is your prompt. Either use words from a magazine page or good old pen and ink if the magazine isn't your thing.
  3. A word about PERFECTION. I like to suggest that you scan only one magazine page. I have witnessed my sons trapped at the kitchen table flipping mindlessly through magazines in search of phrases far too often. You are not meant to find the perfect word or phrase, but rather to make what you have work for you.
  4. Remember, this is experimental poetry. You may end up speaking in your own voice or in the voice of a fictional narrator. This is really not the time for thinking.
  5. Note: in the above, the final (not pictured) line says, "will be a bright ray of hope." But, in my opinion, that speaks more to this series than this particular prompt.