Ritual for Writing from the Second-Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Birthday Celebration
Or Collaboration as Moving Forward
Topeka poets having fun
Special thanks to Sarah Fizell and her amazing work at ArtsConnect, for the funding of food and drink, the space, many these photos, of creating inclusive spaces and programming, and trying to convince others why the Arts should be accessible by everyone.
Quraysh Ali Lansana and family returned to Topeka for an update of his research into the Gwendolyn Brooks archives. Last night, he discussed amazing poems which still have to be published as well as correspondence with other writers. Some of the reflections were on Ms Brooks’ mother and the passing of her husband.
I developed a prompt-based way to write to create words for a poem based on Q's discussion. Of course, as I'm already nervous I forgot a couple of other things I wanted to put in for others to do.
Q with relatives of Ms Brooks.
Anyway, this is a generative approach to creating prompts for generative writing. Through my notes, I could collaborate with what Q brought and said to further honor Ms Brooks.
Open your Journal so that the left side is blank to place the following. Eventually you'll use the things from the left side to shape your poem onto the right side.
For each of these prompts, place your response anywhere on that page: left, right, top, bottom, or center.
Be careful when writing, that you don't rewind yourself. Poems often ask us to write out of our subconscious and it's natural to be drawn to those unresolved issues and emotions in the background.
Think of this poem as a gift to your mother, mother figure, or anyone who is like a mother to you. Your mother might already have passed on. I will use the word mother to mean any of these as there is a lot of nuance about motherhood for each person.
Q had worked in “ the archive in Chicago, the center in her name." Through poetic imagination, do your best to write a phrase about what the center of your mother's name is.
Ms Brooks was born and reared in Topeka. Even if you were born in Topeka, have visited, or have never been to Topeka, draw a sketch of the first thing you remember seeing in Topeka. Remember, anywhere on the page.
Ms Brooks wrote about how her mother took long daily walks. In either your long daily walks, real or imagined, draw a sketch of something you would see.
Write one of your favorite words right now anywhere on the page.
Ms Brooks wrote her autobiography and two different parts, two different books. What would the title of the first book of the memoir about your mother be? Write it anywhere.
Likewise, write the title of the second part of that Memoir anywhere on the page.
Q said about Ms Brooks, “She was direct.” Write a direct note to your mother anywhere on the page.
Write another direct note to your mother using a different emotion.
“She loved to eat,” Q said, showing a poem with different foods listed. Think of one of your favorite dishes from your mom, and list three of its ingredients separately anywhere on the page.
Write another of your favorite words anywhere on the page.
What is the favorite season of your mother? Sketch a picture of something someone would see during this season.
Ms Brooks loved Christmas. What is a favorite holiday of your mother? Sketch two different things you would see during this holiday.
Take a look at all of the images and words on the page. You might even want to take some of those abstract words and connect them to the concrete images to help with metaphor. Whatever you do, let the things on the left side inspire you to write your poem on the right side. Feel free to choose and add your own words.
I hope this prompt helps you! It seemed like it helped last night, but of course I owe Q a debt of gratitude as he was the one through Ms Brooks Legacy to share these interconnected lineages of poetics.
Q and D