This month’s theme is desire and so for this month’s workshop we’ve been looking at different types of desire and various ways of expressing longing.
WARM UP
- What do we long for on a daily basis? Make a list.
- What are the nouns of longing? The verbs of longing? Draw two columns and try and pick a few of your favourites for each.
- Read ‘For Desire’ by Kim Addonizio and free-write for 5 or 10 minutes, starting with the line, ‘I want to lie down somewhere and…’
WRITING EXERCISES
Watch and listen to Selima Hill read ‘Desire’s A Desire’. Write a poem describing the physical and sensory sensations of desire and longing. How does it make your limbs feel? Are your senses heightened? Is there a song involved?
Read Fleur Adcock’s ‘Advice to a Discarded Lover’ and write a poem to an ex or unrequited lover.
Consider: how does longing and desire present in the modern age? Do you treasure text messages and snap chats? How is technology facilitate longing and desire? What is problematic about technology and longing? Write a poem using these themes that incorporates some of the language, forms, or conventions of modern communication.
Think about longing for:
- the sun
- another life
- perfection
- an object
and pick one to write about. Try and incorporate three conversational phrases you would use every day.
If you write something based off this workshop before Friday 26th February, consider sending it to our zine. Or, if before, Monday 29th February, consider reading at our open mic!
The Stirred quad is formed of Rebecca Audra Smith, Anna Percy, Jasmine Chatfield and Lenni Sanders.
Leave a Reply