Wednesday 17 June 2020

Elaine Equi : part two

How does a poem begin?

Often with just a word or two. Sometimes I’ll start writing by making a short list of words that fit my mood, like a quick sketch. Even when I teach creative writing, I’ve asked students to write a poem that comes from one word. You can repeat it to create a chant or litany, or talk about the history of the word, or just explore your own personal associations with it. It’s amazing how evocative one word can turn out to be. I also really like concrete and minimalist poetry, anything that makes the word the star.

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