kolkhoz poetry collective

Not-so-daily Prompt

2007-07-20T19:21:43Z

Maybe I should change the name of these things. Anyway, here's today's:

When I dream big, I dream of...

[Write for 5 minutes without stopping. If you can't think of anything, type "Keep writing, keep writing..."]

Daily prompt, 7/14/07

2007-07-14T20:44:53Z

Today's daily prompt:

Some of the ways my life is exactly as I want it to be are...

[Prompt "rules": Write for 5 minutes without stopping. If you run out of things to say, try "Keep writing, keep writing." Post or do not post; we're priming the pump here. There is value in voicing your truth, and there's value in just letting it flow.]

The Daily Prompt is back!

2007-07-13T20:07:24Z

I'm a sorely neglectful community momma, but here comes the return of the daily prompt.

[Daily prompt "rules" -- write for 5 minutes without stopping. Use the prompt as a springboard. If you can't think of anything to write, try "keep writing, keep writing, keep writing". Don't worry about quality -- this is about speaking your mind. Post your results in the comments and anywhere else you want your voice heard. Writing from the heart is one way to make your voice a part of the collective voice. Sing it!]

If I could tell the world anything, and it would really sink in, really become part of standard wisdom, some things I might say are...

Poetry exercise

2007-07-13T20:01:54Z

[posted to my LJ and to kolkhozpoetry]

firecat, stonebender, and I are going to do the exercises from In the Palm of Your Hand (disclosure: the link gives me a cut if you buy the book) on Fridays for the time being. Under the cut is the first exercise. It is the first step toward writing the first poem. I *highly* recommend getting the book and reading the couple of chapters leading up to the first exercise (and the introduction, as well). But anyway, here's the first exercise (firecat, do you want to include the next two steps: "Taking Notes for the First Poem" and "Poem 1: A Childhood Memory" as part of today's exercise, or take it a piece at a time?)

A Process for Recovering Memories

Sit down with your notebook and jot down a few words or phrases for each memory that comes to you as you answer the following questions so that you will have an abbreviated record of the incidents you recalled. Something as brief as "crazy man in green hat" would do nicely. If some of these memories bring with them strong emotions, so much the better. The stronger the emotions the "hotter" the material! If a question fails to call forth an answer, that's okay too: just skip it and move on to the next question. The incidents that you come up with do not have to be memories from your childhood.

Recall a pleasant time in the past.
Recall a building in which you once lived.
Recall a secret you once had.
Recall a magical person from your childhood.
Recall an incident that filled you with dread.
Recall something dangerous you did when you were young.
Recall something sinful or bad you did as a child.
Recall something that happened during a school vacation.
Recall something that happened in a classroom or schoolyard.
Recall something that happened many years ago near a body of water.
Recall your first romantic infatuation.
Recall something funny that made you laugh happily.

Daily prompt

2007-02-21T09:50:01Z

I loved what y'all wrote yesterday, even the stuff I disagree with. Maybe especially the stuff I disagree with.

Here, try this one:

The most important thing I can do today is...

[Daily prompt "rules" -- write for 5 minutes without stopping. Use the prompt as a springboard. If you can't think of anything to write, try "keep writing, keep writing, keep writing". Don't worry about quality -- this is about speaking your mind. Post your results in the comments and anywhere else you want your voice heard. Writing from the heart is one way to make your voice a part of the collective voice. Sing it!]

Daily Prompt

2007-02-20T09:33:20Z

[Daily prompt "rules" -- write for 5 minutes without stopping. Use the prompt as a springboard. If you can't think of anything to write, try "keep writing, keep writing, keep writing". Don't worry about quality -- this is about speaking your mind. Post your results in the comments and anywhere else you want your voice heard. Writing from the heart is one way to make your voice a part of the collective voice. Sing it!]

I can change the world, because I...

Welcome to kolkhozpoetry

2007-02-20T08:44:10Z

I wrote the following in my own LJ, and it's as good an introductory post as any:

I love deep, quality poetry that astounds with its beauty.

But I also like poetry as a cooperative, political act. Poetry as performative core-dump. Poetry as a shout-down to The Man. Poetry as a way to bind people who have little else in common. Words as confessional and comedy, play and pretext.

Please join me in creating kolkhozpoetry -- The Kolkhoz Poetry Collective. This is about poetry as a means of giving voice. There will be a blog; there will be monthly DIY chapbook-creation gatherings. But mostly there will be gathering together -- online and in person -- to find ways to use poetry as a voice, a way to shout to the world until it listens.

Don't worry if you're "not a poet". This is about finding your voice, whatever that means to you. C'mon.

(Oakland meetings will be the last Sunday of every month, beginning 3/25/07 -- you should feel free to start some up in your town, too.)

(What does Kolkhoz mean?)