Pantoum (after Pádraig Ó Tuama of Poetry Unbound)

Today I want to share a prompt I got in a newsletter from Pádraig Ó Tuama, a contemporary poet of Irish origin (you can find him here: 

https://www.padraigotuama.com/).

Here is the invitation: Respond to the following eight prompts, with a single line each. Then arrange it in pantoum form (the pattern's given below).

1. Where you got the item

2. Where you keep it

3. What others say about it

4. A secret only it knows

5. A description of it

6. How others see it

7. A particular time you reached for it

8. What it means to you

Try to make each line of roughly equal length, and certainly each line should be no wider than a page. Then arrange the 8 lines in the following order (each line is repeated, so this will turn into a 16-line poem). 

1
2
3
4

2
5
4
6

5
7
6
8

7
3
8
1

If you wish, you can modify the line when it repeats — to make it fit in with the previous line or to give a different angle into it. 

Here's my attempt at the task. You can first put it simply, and then alter your sentences before you arrange them according to the rules.

The Blue Mug

1. I bought it in Findhorn

2. I keep it at the back of the cupboard

3. People say nothing about it

4. Because they don't know about its existence

5. It's a wide blue ceramic mug

6. Sometimes a guest finds it in my house

7. I reached for it when I saw it on a stand

8. I bought it on a day when I was very sad, to brighten my mood

More elaborate versions of the sentences:

1. I came across it on my walk
    around Findhorn, Scotland, Findhorn Bay

2. I keep the mug in a cupboard now
    behind my other pieces of earthenware

3. People say nothing of its kind of blue

4. Because they don't know it is sitting there
     half-forgotten, in the sunlit room, in half-dark         of its cupboard universe, 

5. It's blue the way an ocean wave is, 
     many of them

6. Every now and then a guest will notice it 
     by pure chance

7. I reached for it once I saw it on a stand; 
    it said: for sale, and it said: pay here

8. It saved my life after somebody I loved
    chose someone else

Message Exchange

It's just happened to me - and so I encourage you to do the same. 

I will explain.

I was in the midsts of trying to choose the right text for the English specialisation group, reading E. A. Poe (not my favourite, but matching our latest attemps at Big Ben), William Blake's Tyger roaring behind my back, and D. H. Lawrence's Snake hissing, "it'ssss time you took me into the classsssroom...". Oh, and there there was Padraig O'Tuama's newsletter nestling Edward Lear's runcible spoon (now, what on Earth is this? And will they want to know?).

The phone ting'tinged. It was a message from one of the students saying he won't be coming to the class today as he's caught a cold. I started clicking a usual response when - out of a sudden - it gained a life of its own and turned itself into a poem.

And what it has to do with you, you wonder? 

Well, next time you're reading something a n d get a text message, try to answer it in the rhythm and melody, mood and tone of what it is you have been reading. Or, if you weren't reading at all, pause, choose a piece, read through it (it can be the lyrics of your favourite song, or news lines) and follow with your message back to the sender, letting it turn into whatever it feels like turning.

You don't need to share your writing with that original person but you definitely can - and are welcome to - share that with me as I'll share with you in a moment.

Thx, N. It came just in time :).

Message Exchange

Thanks for the 

message. Hope 

it'll pass soon - this

cold. But take

your time.

        It's autumn, after 

all; the time so apt, so

suitable

to feel one's way 

into the rains. the 

chills will try

their best to chase 

away from us the 

remnants of 

the summer suns 

that we

had gained

when it was time - when

summer seemed

untouchable by death;

some time will pass

until we lose

the very last

of rays.

There is no need to 

rush -

- it just takes time

to get back

to oneself, recovering

from too much

sunshine,

yielding the joys

and happiness

to moistures, letting in

howls      and    gusts

  of wind               of rain

to hush

oneself

at last, and have

some rest

before 

another spring

A Horse in Space

The other day we had an interesting conversation in class. We watched a short film about living at ISS (= International Space Station) and then we were talking about how it would be like to actually go and stay there for a given time, or what we would or would not be allowed to do - or even take there with us.

If I'm not allowed to take my pets with me, I'm not even going, one student said with such a strong conviction that it would, perhaps, be a thing worth trying to let her go cuddling her dog on the way up there, or talking to her horse.

So, here's the task:

Write a short story that happens in space: on the Moon, on another planet, inside a spaceship - or outside of it, that includes at least one animal.

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/03/02/02/21/space-89132_1280.jpg

A Regularity Among Irregularities

Unlike most of the tasks here, this entry is about practising writing for Matura exam.

Choose one of the topics and write, in a suitable form, a piece consisting of 200-250 words.

1. Is it better to set realistic goals or ambitious goals for ourselves? - an opinion essay 

2. Which of your achievements are you particularly proud of? Why? - a blog entry

3. If you could live in a given epoch/ era, or belong to a particular generation, what would that be? Why? 

Write an article exploring that era. Share your opinions but also include facts from a given time and/or about a given generation.

4. I've recently heard someone say dogs are not intelligent (and, this is an euphemism compared to what it was he's said). What would you say in response to that? In this case I'll grant you some freedom in choosing the form* out of the following possibilities: an opinion essay, a for and against essay, a blog entry, a letter to a friend or an article.

* in the exam paper the genre will be stated in the task

All the Fuss About Big Ben

Have you ever been to London? If so, did you go to visit Big Ben? Did you find it fine and in a good shape? Do you know what the name - Big Ben -refers to?

And, what are your feelings about exam tasks? Are you bored straightaway? Scared? Unwilling to give them a look? Or, do you give them a funny look? A hostile one?

Well, let's alter these attitudes. Why don't you try this:

1. Read task 4 of Matura 2023 extended English (you can find it at http://arkusze.pl)

2. Choose one detail concerning Big Ben that you find unusual, interesting or irritating.

3. Use it as an idea incubator and follow the idea in a freewriting manner.

(Personally, I'm drawn to the flock of starlings that once slowed the clock.)

For and Against Essay, an Opinion Essay

This, for a change, is a regular writing task. 

I like the photo I've chosen for this entry - it doesn't look regular at all. Actually, it feels like when you've eventually been through the writing for such a predictable occasion as Matura exam (when your turn comes).

Choose one topic and write an essay (180-250 words). Depending on your choice of the topic, it will be a for and against essay or an opinion essay.

1. To follow the crowd or to follow your own path?

2. Is poetry needed nowadays?

3. GMO - ethical or not?

4. Pros and cons of GMO.

5. Pros and cons of... going to school.

Go For Your Bio

You know your life's story - how it unwinds, what turns it's taken so far. You've probably written your CV. Do you ever think about your life in terms of a storyline, yourself as a person reflected in other people's eyes? Who would you see if you looked at yourself from the outside? What you've already done or achieved? What would you like to do and achieve in the future?

And, when I say "achieve", I don't think it as understood in a usual way. Or, not only this way.

Let's try some other approach.

Write a short note about your-future-self in the 3rd person singular, starting with your name and surname - e. g. Ann Crofton is... In the bio include some things that are true about you as well as some fantasies, aspirations and dreams.

Look Closer

1. Read the excerpt from Maya Stein's website, starting with "Look closer."

https://mayastein.com/ (BTW, Maya is a contemporary American poet.)

2. In the sentence "This is what poetry is." replace the word poetry for another, of your choice.

3. Continue in your favourite genre.

Earthrise

 And so, what you have is this: Earthrise. 

This time I'm not attaching any photo so that you don't go astray from your original images and thoughts.

1. Brainstorm on the word /idea /phenomenon. 

Write your thoughts down in your preferred order. 

You might want to further gather the ideas within a group, and jot them down on the whiteboard or a piece of paper.

2. Choose one item from the list. Stay with it for a moment.

3. Start writing on/around it. Use it as an impulse or a springboard. Let it lead you where it will.

A Piece of Art

Describe something that you consider a piece of art. You don't have to go for the obvious or for conventional.