Variations on a Theme of...

In keeping with the spirit of Li-young Lee's "Always a Rose," "Braiding," and "My Sleeping Loved Ones," write a poem that offers multiple visions of one image or theme, one that, for whatever reason, carries some emotional weight for you: a piano, a coconut tree, watching people read. The sections can be entirely disconnected but may, when taken together, add up to paint some complete picture. If you feel inspired to do so, feel free to imitate Lee's style: parallel structures, rhetorical questions, a sense of mysticism.

Post your poem on the blog tonight, but also print out a copy for class tomorrow. Over the weekend, go back and look over your classmates' poems and write a thoughtful comment (say, by midnight Sunday night).