Deep

Deep. Always there is depth.  All around us if we but look.

                                                                        Anonymous

 

Think about deep. 

It can be a modifier or a noun,  with meanings including extending far from the surface, intense, extreme, meaningful as well as the bottom of the ocean or any remote, mysterious region.

We talk about deep in the jungle, deep space, deep green, deep winter, deep water, deep in thought, dig deep, deep depression, she is a deep one, deep sleep.  For poets too it might mean looking deep inside yourself--or someone else--for your writing topic. What does it mean to know what's deep inside? What does it mean to know someone deeply?

Deep can be used as a metaphor with many layers. Try to go unexpected places with this. 

Just let your mind drift and see where it takes you. Post your efforts using Mr. Linky.  I look forward to reading what you do.

Peggy Goetz

Blogging at  On a Day Like Today

Paradise Lost

I sung of chaos and eternal night....

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John Milton

"Paradise Lost"

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'The fall of Luciferìì' by Gustave Doré 1866

Illustration for "Paradise Lost" by John Milton

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paradise_Lost_9.jpg

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the prompt which i have selected for this week's jam is "Paradise Lost" by John Milton, an epic poem published in 10 books in 1866. before you think i am asking you to read all ten books, let me give you the four options i was thinking of ~

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1) take the title "Paradise Lost" and make that the theme or topic of your poem.

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2) take the line "I sung of chaos and eternal night...." and use all or part of it in your poem.

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3) select an illustration from the books published in 1866 {such as the one shown above by Gustave Doré} and use it as the prompt for your poem. wikimedia commons provides a selection of the illustrations at the following link:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Search&redirs=1&profile=default&search=Paradise+Lost&limit=20&offset=0

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4) in some other way unique to you, use something from or about "Paradise Lost" as the prompt for your poem.

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you can find more about "Paradise Lost" at wikimedia at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost

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i hope you find something here to inspire you. i may not be able to visit every day, but i will visit everyone by Monday, Nov. 28th.

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for those celebrating it, have a happy Thanksgiving.

it would be great if you would leave a comment when you link up.

thank you,

dani
my heart's love songs

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A Time to Ponder

Please use this photograph by Dorthea Lange as your prompt to compose a poem this week. You may reproduce it in your blog and use this credit:

Photograph of Florence Thompson with three of her children by Dorthea Lange, 1936. Reproduced from The Commons on Flickr with use restricted to personal, educational or research purposes.

The link to The Commons, if you'd like to use it, is
*** flickr.com/commons ***

Posted by Chris who blogs at Enchanted Oak.

Still Life

Hi Jammers,

This week I would like to suggest the topic "Still Life."   Everyone has seen artists' still life paintings, I know, but here is a definition:   A still life is a painting featuring an arrangement of inanimate, everyday objects,   whether natural objects (flowers, food, wine, etc.) or manufactured items (books, bottles, crockery, etc.). Here is a still life painting by Kevin Frank:

What  I would like to suggest this week is that you write a poem based on a "still life."  You can find a painting of an artist or photograph of a photographer and write to it if you wish.  But MY preference would be that you set up your own 'still life' scene, photograph it, share it with us, and write something based on your OWN photo.  Fruits, flowers, ANY inanimate objects.  Or if you are by chance a painter, share your painting and write a poem about that!  Lots of options.

Today I photographed a few 'still life pictures' of things I have in my own home.  I do not know if I will use one of these photos to write to or whether I will set up another scene, but I thought I would share these to give you ideas.  And also to let you know that the photograph of your inanimate object does not need to be of professional quality.



Once you have a 'still life' photo, write about it.  Perhaps tell us why it is significant.  Perhaps get inside one of the things photographed, and write from its perspective.

Though it would be fun to see your own photograph, if you are not a photographer, find a still life photo on the web that appeals to you.  And write based on it.

Mr. Linky may not appear today, but will appear tomorrow.  That will give you a little time to photograph, think, write, and blog.  I hope you will enjoy this.  I look forward to reading what each of you writes. (And don't forget to visit other jammers' writings as well.)

Submitted to Poetry Jam by Mary who blogs at In the Corner of My Eye.

Windows

Hi Jammers,

This week I would like to suggest the topic of Windows.  Looking in.  Looking out. Or perhaps trapped within the glass, neither in nor out.  

If it is possible, I suggest that you take a photograph of a window in your area and write to or about that window. (I walked around with my camera today being aware of window and taking photos. The photo of the one above was taken today.  You could do the same.) What is on the other side?  What is the view? Or, if you are looking in, what do you imagine? Do you generally see yourself inside looking out or outside looking in? Is the window open to fresh air or closed, covered with shades or curtains or blinds?  When you walk or drive by windows, do you ever wonder what is on the other side?  It would be interesting to see photos of windows from all over the poetry blogosophere.  Or if you are thinking philosophically, you might want to write about the window to your heart, your soul, etc.Take your time.  We will be here all week.  Try to post by Monday. Consider windows in whatever way moves you to write, and include a photo if you can.

Here are a few quotations that may inspire you:

Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. --  George Bernard Shaw

Don't waste a minute not being happy. If one window closes, run to the next window- or break down a door. -- Brooke Shields

Doubt comes in at the window when inquiry is denied at the door. -- Benjamin Jowett

I look out the window sometimes to seek the color of the shadows and the different greens in the trees, but when I get ready to paint I just close my eyes and imagine a scene. -- Grandma Moses

When you have written your poem post your link using Mr. Linky.  I will look forward to reading your poems. Posted by Mary who can be found In the Corner of My Eye and who is honored to be mixing the Jam this week.