Last week, we worked with conscious memories.
This, we explored how to write poetry by starting with a relaxation exercise, focusing on breathing and physical sensation, listening to / for our own bodily rhythms in order to write them down and then fit language to them.
Tatiana noticed that she was breathing in to three beats, and out to four, This seemed like an excellent poetic rhythm, so the rest of us composed verse by alternating between lines with four, and three, beats. Then we started to think about which syllables were stressed (or emphasised when read aloud), and how the words might be re-arranged for greatest poetic impact, and to best give the sound when read out.
Alex's poem brilliantly combines the external environment he was aware of (sounds of construction work elsewhere in the building, weather outside the building, having a cup of tea) with his response to internal 'listening'.
Finish Song
Sounds words workmen
Through the walls
Breathe in the air
I hear music
In my head
Write it down
Read write rhythm
Senses feel
Rain falls down
I drink my tea
Rescues me
Finish song
(Alexander Shand Hudson)