Wednesday, October 26, 2011

An Exercise to explore

October has been a crazy month for me. I apologize for my lack of involvement. I do love all the exercises and prompts.  I am going to go back and see what I have missed and pick 5 exercises to tackle. I think the horror type poem, Kerry posted might just be up my alley.  I had surgery this month, my son had a car accident; he is fine, but has no wheels to drive. When his friends can't pick him up to go to college.  I'm the taxi picking him up from college, running him to and from work. This is also revolving around my daughter's involvement in Color Guard. It has been a bit hectic, to say the least.  Since we have so many wonderful exercises involving form. My exercise is to expand your view, sounds intriguing right?!  ;D




I would like you to try Guerilla poetry; what is that you say?  Well, there is such a thing as Guerilla Art. There is even a book about it, "Guerilla Art Kit" (Everything you need to put your message out into the world)~ Keri Smith      The author wants you to explore, put yourself out there. Some of her exercises involve writing a beloved quote in a public place with chalk, hanging fortune cookies from a tree or leaving a love letter you would like to receive in a public place.  I want you to write a poem and leave it in a public place. If you aren't comfortable with that, then write and leave one of your favorites. The Urban Dictionary term above it very brave; I'm not going there, but you can if you like.  Write it neatly and leave it on a table at the library or lightly crumble it and leave it in produce at your local grocery store, or on a park bench. You could punch a hole and tie it with string, so it won't blow away.  Leave it where someone can find it and enjoy it.  If you can watch and see the  and see the reaction; come back and tell us how it went.  You can post about it if you want to.

I found this Post it tape at my office n' supply store. You can remove it and stick it somewhere else.
I am going to write a poem on it and leave it on a park bench.  I think poetry needs to be explored. I think doing this exercise we may make someone else intrigued in the written word.  I challenge you to be brave and try this...Think of it as a way to express  beauty, a way to share something you love with someone that may not have been exposed much to this medium~  A gift, if you will....  I am going to leave my poem in the park tomorrow.  I will post about it on my blog and share it with you.  Many of us will not be published, so here is your chance to put your voice out into the world.... We might just inspire someone!
I'm still undecided about leaving my name; I will let you know what happens. I might try several approaches, since I do have to go to library and grocery store :D


14 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

This is a novel idea, but shouldn't be. Poetry is all about performance, and passing on the message to another. Very inspiring challenge, Ella.

Ella said...

Thanks Kerry! I hope everyone is open to trying this experiment. I think it is important to share our love of poetry~ We might encourage some new poets!

Mary Ann Potter said...

This sounds like fun! I'm going to try it tomorrow. 8-)

Laurie Kolp said...

I'll have to think on this... where and when. Glad you're back and okay, Ella.

Kay L. Davies said...

Well now, Mary Ann thinks it sounds like fun. She and I have discovered we have a lot in common, but for some reason, I'm nervous.
I'll write doggerel and put it on my blog, post it to Real Toads, or memes, but on a table in the public library?
Why would that worry me? Most peculiar of me. In principle, I agree with you, Ella, and with Kerry, but something is stopping me. I must figure out what it is.
I really do think it's a wonderful idea, though.
Meanwhile, I hope there's no more surgery for you or accidents for your son.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Peter Goulding said...

Niamh Bagnell on the Various Cushions Blog runs IPYPIASM (International Put Your Poem in a Shop month)every December. You write a poem, secretly place it in a shop and then take a photo of it. See http://variouscushions.blogspot.com/2010/12/ipypiasm-still-going-strong-right.html
Great fun

Kerry O'Connor said...

Okay!! Here's what I did: As many of you know, I'm a high school English teacher, who has NEVER heretofore shared my poetry with the students I teach. I have kept this entire life a secret even from most of my colleagues. I have been teaching the sonnet form to my grade 10 students the past two weeks, and today was the last lesson. At the end I asked them if they would like to see an example of a sonnet I had written. They were so excited, and insisted I read it aloud to them (I have never read my poetry to a live audience before). They gave me a wonderful response (some even want a copy of the poem), so thanks to Ellen, I took a huge step out of my comfort zone, and felt really good about it.

Marian said...

GO KERRY! woo-wee!
all right, all RIGHT, i will do this somehow this week.

Shaista said...

This is such a fantastic challenge Ella, now to think about which poem, where and when...
I might get addicted to doing this :) I often read about other poets doing it.... So my turn now.
Really sorry to hear about your surgery and your son's accident - hope you are recovering alright?

Ella said...

I did it and I love it! I'm planning on doing it again at an Art Show on Saturday! :D

Shaista-Thank you; oh, you won't regret it...it is so liberating and free! Saturday I'm using my poems~

Marian-Yes, do it; it is fun! :D

Kerry-Wow, I'm am so thrilled you shared this facet of yourself with your students! Do you have any idea how encouraging you are! You don't just teach it, you do it!
Amazing xo

Peter-I am so glad you joined in! I loved your view ;D

Kay-I used poems I love, next time mine! Start small and build~ Step a bit outside your comfort zone! :D

Thank you Laurie; I so enjoyed learning more about you~

Can't wait Mary Ann!

Anonymous said...

AHHH!!! i LOVE THIS. i do this all the time. well... often, anyway. (my latest was sharpie-ing a mary oliver quote on a shopping cart) i will try to document my next guerilla act of artistic revolution :).
and KERRY!!! you read aloud!! i have yet to cross that barrier... all my admiration, you courageous poet, you.

Ella said...

Shawnacymarie-I love this, next time post it...what a cool photo that would be! Look out downtown, when I tackle you tomorrow ;D

Anonymous said...

HA!! i would love to be tackled by poetry!!

Ella said...

Yes, wouldn't that be fab! ;D
Might be an interesting prompt, for next time, lol