As most of you know, before becoming a life coach I was as a middle school English teacher. One of my favorite things to teach in my classroom was poetry. I especially liked teaching my students about writing poetry. My bag of tricks was filled to the brim with interesting prompts and activities that I collected over the years, all designed to bring out the poet inside each of my students.
Since April is National Poetry Month, I thought it would be fun to share one of these assignments from my teaching days with you. One of my favorite poetry assignments was always the Bio-Poem. This classic hit has been circulating among teachers for many years. I've seen it used in nearly all grade levels and there are many variations on the basic idea. Maybe you've even done this assignment before, or seen one of your kids do it! It's a simple, accessible format for writing a really lovely poem.
So, if you're game, I invite you to let go of the notions you have about what poetry should or shouldn't be, and just have fun with this prompt. Let go of the need to be perfect, or clever, or profound. Just follow the format and see what comes out. And, as I always told my students, feel free to break away from the format. The structure is meant to be help you, but if you find it is stifling your creativity, make adjustments to the format or let it go completely. Poetry is always an invitation to break rules!
Here's the format:
Line 1: Your name (first name, full name, nickname, or something else entirely)
Line 2: Four adjectives that describe you
Line 3: "Who loves..." (three things you love)
Line 4: "Who feels..." (three things you feel)
Line 5: "Who gives..." (three things)
Line 6: "Who fears..." (three things)
Line 7: "Who seeks..." (three things)
Line 8: Four more adjectives that describe you
Line 9: Your name (This could be a repetition of line 1, or some other version of your name.)
I will share my own poem in the comments, and I invite you to do the same. It's a wonderful way for us to get to know one another better.
And, to entice you even more, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY! Since this activity is all about self-discovery, I'll be giving away a copy of my Authentic Self Discovery Course. Share your poem by 4 pm EST this Thursday, April 28th, to be entered. I'll randomly select a winner and announce the name in a blog post this Friday! Have fun! I can't wait to read what you come up with!
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Here’s my poem! Can’t wait to read yours!
Joy:
breathing, awakening, unfolding, opening
who loves newness, quickening, and light
who feels hopeful, curious, and light
who fears stillness, darkness, and light
who seeks stillness, darkness, and light
sincere, tentative, stepping, leaping…
Joy.
As I lay awake at 3:30 this morning, unable to get back to sleep, a thought crossed my mind: I should write a poem on my blog. Then I quickly dismissed it, thinking, I can’t. I can’t focus. It will sound stupid anyway.
But now I am so going to write a poem and I am going to post it on my blog! And I’ll post it here too…
Stay tuned
And THANK YOU for the inspiration (and for reading my mind)!
KCLAnderson (Karen)´s last [type] ..So Who IS It All About
Karen-ness
Unsure sometimes but sure
Who loves paradox
Who feels deeply, universally, everything
Who gives everything and nothing
Who fears nothing or everything
Who seeks her own truth
Both/and not either/or
This is the essence of Karen
(check out my blog post too: http://kclanderson.com/before-and-after/serendipity)
KCLAnderson (Karen)´s last [type] ..So Who IS It All About
This is beautiful, Karen! I’m so glad the timing was just right for you.
My favorite part of your poem is the “everything and nothing” then “nothing and everything” twist. Very cool! Made me pause and think…
Joy-Joy
clumsy concerned courageous cuddly
Who loves… Dobby (my poodle), hiking, and freedom
Who feels… Scared, confused, and hopeful
Who gives… Time, ears (to listen) and love
Who fears… Recovery, not recovering, and not figuring out who I am
Who seeks… To help others, love animals, and to find me!
Alive, amazed, able, and afraid
Joy (though my sister calls me the oxymoron)
LOVE IT! I especially liked the alliteration with your adjectives. My favorite line: “Alive, amazed, able, and afraid.” I very much relate to that cluster of words.
[…] comes when I need it. Joy Tanksley has issued an invitation that was obviously meant for me: write a poem. She even provides a prompt (which certainly helped me, but I didn’t follow it exactly, and that […]
Joy, you have no idea how much you stretch me… in a good way of course! I just commented on Karen’s post that I don’t “get” poetry — never have — and now you’ve made me write a poem for the first time in my life.
Hanlie, with many last names,
fiercely longing, patiently waiting,
for solitude and wide open spaces.
Hopeful, confident, receptive,
no longer giving too much — or too little -
no longer fearing her own power or truth,
seeking herself and her sacred path
with reverence, joy and humility
Shedding the last names — being just Hanlie
Hanlie´s last [type] ..Great Expectations
Hanlie, this is beautiful! Yeah for stretching! I really love how you took the format and made it your own. My favorite line: “no longer giving too much — or too little.” HELL YES!
Well, I just totally ignored the form and wrote a haiku. But it is who I am and that was really the essence of the “assignment”, wasn’t it? Here goes:
Sunshine and shadow
play on still, deep mountain lake
full of mystery.
Thanks, Joy, for the invitation to write a poem!
HA! Of course I didn’t expect YOU to follow the format! And you’re absolutely right –the point of the assignment was for you to do your thang. Love the poem, Jean. I especially like this phrase: “play on still.”
Yeah, Jean, Queen o haiku!
Humanity
Breathing, teeming, struggling
Who feels pain, joy, and disappointment
Who gives up, rejuvenates, surges forward
Who fears injustice, growing old, emptiness
Who seeks retribution, love, and eternal life
Living, dying, hoping
Each of us
All of us
Mmmm… that’s my teacher-sister-friend.
This gave me chills. The line that speaks to me this most is: “Who gives up, rejuvenates, surges forward.” Also loved the ending.
Thanks for the inspiration, Joy. Here’s my contribution:
Nikki,
Transforming, becoming, allowing, in motion.
Who loves creating, dancing, being.
Who feels open, inspired, overwhelmed.
Who gives comfort, smiles, and stillness.
Who fears chaos, anger, and loss.
Who seeks wisdom, peace, and understanding -
Alive, transforming, whole -
I am Starcat, Dreamer.
Poetic blessings!
Nikki
Gorgeous, Nikki! I lOVED the last two lines, especially!
“Alive, transforming, whole -
I am Starcat, Dreamer”
Hey, Joy! What a kick ass teacher you are! I wrote this while my breakfast grains were cooking, which means it didn’t take long, surprisingly! Now I get to eat yummy food after communing with my muse. What a cool morning this is turning out to be…
The Ageless One
Rich Dreamer, Overcomer, Empathetic Clown
Who loves earthen houses, art and warm days next the breezy trees
Who feels stronger, tingly, and the sweet, sad release of letting go
Who gives time to cook a meal for kindred flames, candle light for good intentions, and perhaps more soul skin for the world to see
Who fears dying without living and fascism so discreet, no one raises fists and voice
Who seeks liberation, unlearning, and opening fully, the heart’s doorway to absolutely everything
Creator, Destroyer, and at times, indecisive
She, still searching for her name
Oh my goodness, girl! I love what you did with the format! WOW! I love the rich details you wove into this piece — lots of pictures in my mind as I read. I can’t even pick a favorite line! Well done!
Missa, you are a BRILLIANT poet and artist! WOWZER!
whee!
Ronda
kind, funny, smart, weird (in that good, fun way)
who loves her dog, music, writing
who feels silly, scared, intensely curious
who gives love, attention, nuturing
who fears loneliness (but not being alone), never figuring it out, not having purpose
who seeks wisdom, peace, laughter
introverted, geeky, adventurer, learner
Me!
Apparently I’m not Thinking Big Deep Thoughts today. But Small Quiet Thoughts are good, too.
And you inspired me to write a double fib for you–
Plum
blossom
springtime delight
dappled shadow on sunlit days
harbinger of warmer light and
of luscious fruit
to come
plum.
WOOT WOOT! Extra credit for you!
I love both pieces! In the first poem, I very much connected with “who fears loneliness (but not being alone).” And I love the imagery in the second piece. “Dappled” has always been one of my favorite words!
Tess Bowling
quiet, brusque, odd, impulsive
who loves freddie, food, fun
who feels restless, anxious, pumped
who gives sneers, laughs, crap
who fears people, life, spanish
who seeks friends, love, peace
passionate, lovely, stupid, brave
Tess
Love it, Tess! I really like the unexpected contrast of your words! My favorite line: “passionate, lovely, stupid, brave”
Joy, you are so much fun. I love that you do fun things like this. So here we have it:
Melanee
was unhappy, annoyed, disappointed with herself
who decided to learn love for herself
who decided to feel compassion for herself
who decided to give credit to herself
who decided to stop fearing herself
who decided to seek peace with herself
is happy, engaged, and proud with herself
Changed
Melanee Dahl´s last [type] ..The fears of a formerly skinny gal
Love, love, love! Awesome choice of going from the “was” to “is”! Powerful stuff!
Hi, Joy! After Karen A. brought your poetry challenge to my attention — and feeling a pronounced lack of ideas for my own blog! — I took a shot at your challenge! I like writing poetry but it’s usually in fits and starts. But here’s my contribution:
Elizabeth, Liz and Beth (depending on who you see)
Red, blue, yellow, green
Who loves butterflies, blue skies, and sunrise
Who feels too much, not enough, or just okay
Who gives in, gives up, and gives over
Who fears success, failure, and forgetting
Who seeks soul mates, spiritual truth, and simple gratitude
Mother, healer, writer, teacher
Ninja Liz, Amber Tiger, Storykeeper (depending on how you know me)
Elizabeth´s last [type] ..“I remember…”
Hey Elizabeth! Thanks for coming over and participating! And what a beautiful poem! The contrast of the first and last lines was very cool. And I especially liked this line: “Who gives in, gives up, and gives over.”
[…] Thanks to Joyful Joy […]
Eating as a Path to Yoga
Hilarious, Contemplative, Fiesty, Passionate
Who loves beauty, nurturance, & joy
Who feels peace, terror, & optimism
Who gives love, authenticity, & time
Who fears the unknown, negative emotions, & indifference.
Who seeks truth, relationship, & inner-knowing
Secretive, Faithful, Loyal, Fluffy
Eating as a Path to Yoga
Lovely! I especially like the words “fiesty” and “fluffy” in this piece!
This was a fun little project this morning!
Stacie
Hopeful, loyal, kind, and quiet.
Who loves dogs, family, friends.
Who feels unsure of her path but too stubborn to change.
Who gives love, calmness, and control.
Who fears success, passion, and herself.
Who seeks happiness, balance, and self acceptance.
Seeking, tending, slowly changing.
Stacie
Hey Stacie. Boy, I really related to this poem. I think we have a few things in common! My favorite line was: “Seeking, tending, slowly changing.” I love the word “tending.” So gentle and powerful at the same time.
[…] P.S., Want to write a poem and need some inspiration? Joy has shared a really fun idea – and is doing a giveaway, which you can still enter by 4 p.m. today! Check out her post. […]
Allison. Mommy. Allie Mae/Cat.
Brave. Sweet. Philosophical. Joyful.
Who loves…dancing. writing. beauty.
Who feels…deeply. fear. courage.
Who gives…smiles. love. encouragement.
Who fears…reproach. germs. responsibility.
Who seeks…enlightenment. wholeness. love.
Silly. Patient. Classy. Imperfect.
Allison.
Lovely! There was a lot of personality in this piece! I think my favorite line was “Silly. Patient. Classy. Imperfect.”
[…] of my favorite bloggers, Joy Tanksley, recently posted a really fun poem prompt in honor of April being National Poetry Month. Below is the prompt from her post and my […]
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[…] go away and think about them for a while before I go back and comment. On April 28, she posted a poem prompt from Joy Tankley in honor of April being National Poetry Month … along with her poem and a […]