Writing Poems About People

I've been toying around with the idea of just deleting this blog because I can't seem to keep it up and I wasn't sure that all that many people are reading it.  I saw in my stats, that I have had 821 views.  Not recently, I don't think, but over time.  That made me feel better.  So I think, for a little while, that I'll keep it up and see how it goes.  If it looks like I have a lot of people reading it or viewing it, then I'll continue it, if not, then I'll just delete it.


I had another blog that I've had for about 10 years or more.  It was a knitting blog.  I crochet and knit and do lots of sewing kinds of things, but I didn't keep that up very well either.  I don't know why I can't seem to write here every few days at least.  I guess I feel like I need to have something really interesting or profound to say like other blogs have.  I've seen some really awesome blogs.  Wonderful photos, great content.  I think I might be just a little intimidated, thinking that my blog will never be as interesting as the other ones.  But, I think I'm not going to worry about that any more.


I get lots of emails every day and I get emails from some writing websites.  Today, I received a really interesting one from Creative Writing Now.  The subject like was "Writing Poems About People."  That title really intrigues me.  Here is part of the content of that email:


 If you're looking for poetry ideas, try writing a
> poem that paints a portrait of another person.
>
> In "The Bean Eaters", Gwendolyn Brooks paints
> a portrait of a couple by showing their habits and their
> home:
>
> -------
> THE BEAN EATERS
>
> by Gwendolyn Brooks
>
> They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.
>  
> Dinner is a casual affair.
> Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,
>  
> Tin flatware.
>
> Two who are Mostly Good.
> Two who have lived their day,
> But keep on putting on their clothes  
> And putting things away.
>
> And remembering ...
> Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,
> As they lean over the beans in their rented back room
> that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
> tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.
> -------
>
> In the next poem, Brooks portrays a group of young men,
> using their voices to express who they are:
>
> -------
> THE POOL PLAYERS.
> SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.
>
> by Gwendolyn Brooks
>
> We real cool. We
> Left school. We
>
> Lurk late. We
> Strike straight. We
>
> Sing sin. We
> Thin gin. We
>
> Jazz June. We
> Die soon.
> -------
>
> The next poem, by Adrienne Rich, describes a woman
> embroidering in a way that gives an idea of the woman's
> whole life:
>
> -------
> AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS
>
> by Adrienne Rich
>
> Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a
> screen,
> Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
> They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
> They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
>
> Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her
> wool
> Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
> The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
> Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.
>
> When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
> Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
> The tigers in the panel that she made
> Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
> -------
>
> You could write a poem about someone you know, or about
> a famous or historical figure.  Or you might invent a
> story about someone you see in the street.
>
> Think about...
>
> - what details capture something essential about the
> person you're portraying (the way Rich's description
> of Aunt Jennifer's hands suggest a larger
> picture).
>
> - what activity you should show the person engaged in
> (the way these poets show their subjects eating beans,
> playing pool, and embroidering).
>
> - what setting you should use as the background of your
> poem (e.g., a rental apartment or a pool hall).
>
> You can write the poem in your own voice, or try
> writing it in the voice of the person you're
> portraying.
>


I think this is a really good idea and a great way to get some ideas for poems.  I think I might try it.