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“Love Notes from the Firefly Spanish/English Visual Dictionary” imagines lovers traveling through a bilingual visual dictionary. What specialized words or everyday objects capture your attention? Combine several in one poem. Allow associative leaps to guide you.
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Clothing often inspires poetry, including “Red Dress” in Chinoiserie. The Academy of American Poets feature Poems for the Clothesline remarks that “Clothing in poetry often appears in transformation, taking on more than its nature.” Write about an article of clothing that explores its history, methods of construction, culture, uses, or related topics.
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“After the Bell Has Called the Women from the Fields” borrows its title from a line by Quan Barry. What are memorable lines in your favorite poems? Select a line as a point of departure. Respond to it, or argue with it. Use it as a title. Try it as an opening line and continue in a new direction.
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“Norma Desmond Descending the Staircase as Salome” is a dramatic monologue. Adopt a character unlike yourself. Imagine a scene from his/her perspective.
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“Black Roses” and “Poppies” are inspired by flowers. Visit Poems About Gardens at The Academy of American Poets. What do these poems share in their approaches? How do they differ? Begin with observation. Where does the poem lead you?
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“Design for a Flying Machine”, “The Story of Adam and Eve,” and “Cebolla Church” are based on art. Explore the poems in Ekphrasis: Poetry Confronting Art. Which artists fascinate you? How can you transport your reader beyond descriptions of the visible? Draft a poem using a painting, sculpture, engraving, photograph, woodblock print, or similar source.