|
Form: A poem of at least 25 lines in length in which the lines are either all 7or all 9 syllables in length. Theme: A poem in which an animal figures prominently. I'd suggest you choose an animal that fascinates or confuses you, or one that incites wonder, even fear. Method: Begin by brainstorming, taking extended notes. You might reread stories about the animal, fairy tales, even biology texts. You might go look at it. Or trace the etymology of the name for ideas. (Squirrel, for instance, is from the Latin skia, or shadow; tortoise is from the Greek tartarchos, or god of the underworld.) Restrictions: Keep your focus on the animal, not on human emotions about it. |