This week's
Totally Optional
prompt is to write a poem that creates expectations. Specific ones.
You may choose to extend the poem to fulfill the expectations. Or to have something completely unexpected happen. Or leave the reader to fill in what happens: there can be a lot of fun in that.
What are some of the ways in which poems can create expectations? Mood and tone are certainly ways. Look at readwritepoem's recent "gothic" prompt for some good examples of mood poetry. Another is by setting a scene: an angry woman paces up and down, looking at her watch. The door opens. Another is by pacing: a poem can start off slow and accelerate, or start off fast and then slow and become dreamy and contemplative.
Formal poems create their own expectations: a poem can satisfy by fulfilling the form, or surprise by violating it (in order for that to happen, the poem has to go with the form at least part way).
Come back Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, when Mr. Linky appears to usher in another week's worth of poetry!
Linda will be taking over as host as of Nov. 29th's prompt: please be ready to give her a warm welcome.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Totally Optional Prompt: Expectations
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2 comments:
Congratulations Linda, for taking it over.
I wish the very best.
I have a suggestion. Can we move TOP to Tuesday?
Gautami: we've had TOP on its current schedule for over a year, and I'm reluctant to change it and put everyone through a readjustment, without a good reason. What's your reason for wanting to move it to Tuesday? And do you mean the prompt or the response?
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