I think this poem by Robert Bly, Things to Think is an interesting one to play with. It would be fun for students to experiment with thinking of things as opposites. I didn’t quite get where I wanted to with this first draft but I have something to revise down the road.
Here’s my first draft.
Things to Think
Think in opposites
If you’re hungry
think of vegetables as the new chocolate
and bread and sugar and steak as
something that makes you sick to your stomach.
Think that there is no greater high
than working out
and that watching television will make you fat
Think that there is good in everyone
even the people
that make you mad
or make you cry
or walk out of your life without a decent explanation.
Think that you are beautiful and healthy
and that the reflection in the mirror
is someone you used to be
not someone you are now.
When the world threatens you
think that it is just a passing storm
about to drench the fields
to help the flowers grow.
Susan Taylor Brown
This is great, Susan. Such an inviting first line, followed by many wonderful examples of turning negatives into positives and that last verse – beautiful and powerful.
Thank you, ellie. I am constantly trying to teach myself to turn the negatives into positives. It’s never easy but I am always glad when I make it happen. I think this will be a poem I come back to play with some more.
I DARE
I dare to think
My thoughts
Are not always kind
Mainly because
There is so much
On my mind
I dare to dream
For dreams
Rarely come true
If they did
My life would be
Easier to get through
I dare to love
My heart
desperately aches
For if I don’t love
It hurts not
When it breaks
I dare to move forward
With each step
There is pain
But if I do not
Bad memories
Will remain
I dare to concede
I must think, dream, love
Even if I should fall
To also learn to trust
To break down this
Invisible wall
– Anne McKenna
Anne I hope you will always dare to write. It seems to be so good for you.
I will try I still have 2 more poems to finish for the month and even if you did not get right through at least you gave it a go and the only real failure in life is if you don’t try at all. I had a few challenges myself thing month including my computer crashing but I felt good about the poems I did write. Imagine what I could do if I took a little more time and effort. Also glad I made you laugh it proves that my poem writing is versatile. In that most of them seemed to be quite serious so a few fun ones was good
Anne McKenna xx