Exercise 1

 
Notice the cause and effect suggested in these poems, the way statements lead to a further statement about results despite the appearance of conflict. "I was a body though I was on the other side of the world and yet I touched you." "I am walking thru the forest, where a big storm is coming. I can smell the dark clouds that tell me difficulty will soon be here." "The chopping up of bodies leads to Euphoria."

Here are some examples of haiku. Haikus often add something extra, beyond linear narrative, beyond action and result.

Write two (2) haikus. In the first one use two words from the word grid. In second one, use one. Indeed, focus on our impermanence on Earth in order to find the spiritual that exists beyond our mere "existence." Don't express emotion by saying how you feel. Use images and little scenes to suggest that what lies beneath our conventional understanding of, say, happiness, is something deeper. Once again, do not over think this. When you are done hand these in.

Syllable count is 5 for first line, 7 for second, then 5 for third.

*

I was once
a symbol. A body
on the other side
of the world. I
touched you.

                                Maggie
 

As I’m walking through the forest
at night, I can see a big storm
coming. I can smell
the dark clouds
over my head.
 
                                 Malaciah
 

I was finding fire
in their eyes, chopping
up
       people.
There’s a feeling of
Euphoria tearing
through the body.
 
                               Olivia
 

Like a ghost, deserts touched
the weight
finding the middle
of these mountains
Bad decisions just disappear
 
                                Ezra
 

Anyone can be gone.
In the middle
                             of nowhere,
like a ghost.
People just want to disappear.
 
                              Gracie

Invest everything
chopping you up
                            in the night
                            cold things, bad things,
                            these fires...
Fight to see
your safe haven

                               Spud


The feeling of nowhere.
To want
To be gone
like the ghost
that disappears
from everyone you know's
eyes

                                  Mar'te


The weight
of the rain, 
like the devil's face
chopping you 
                        up.
Someone in your head
is trapped
in a storm.
 
                         Lilly


You can chop
someone up
                     in the night.
When there's nowhere
                     to go
you disappear
in the mountains.

                            Luis


I love the rain.
I want to be alone.
In the middle
                       of nowhere.
The feelings disappear.

                          Ava

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