Creative Calligrams - poetry

It was once more my chance to lead the creative writing group.

But what should I do? (Calligrams)

It was also the Crawley Writers’ Circle, 70th Anniversary, exhibition.

I was putting up a display using a poem I had written and published in my book ‘A Ticket to Ride'.

The poem, initially called ‘Rat Maze’, had been written to create a shape of a maze, with the rat racing around the paper in all directions. As I read, I had to turn the paper over and around as the rat raced on. 

It was certainly fun to read and captured the audience's attention.

A fellow writer had created a card model of the poem that could be turned over to read.

It was suggested that this could be included in the writing group display.

A calligram challenge for the Crawley Creative Writers’ group.

What is a Calligram?

Calligrams (or shape poems) are words written or arranged in the visual shape of the subject they describe.

1. Pick a subject: Choose something that has a clear, recognisable shape. Animals (a snake or a cat), everyday objects (an umbrella or a star), or nature (a cloud or a tree).
2. Draw a light outline: Sketch the outline of the subject.
3. Brainstorm words: Think of descriptive words, adjectives, or short sentences about the subject.
4. Write the words: Fill the shape by writing the words along the pencil outline, filling the entire shape, or twisting the words to form the image. The words themselves are the drawing.

Weather Words: Write words like drip, drop, falling, stacked on top of each other to make the shape of an umbrella or a raindrop.

The Creative Calligram Challenge

My grandchildren had recently visited and loved playing with my shell collection.

I decided to base the Creative Writing session around ‘shells’.

Starter

Shells

Each chooses a scallop shell.

We each had to give a word or phrase for the shell, and the shell was returned for later. 

The writing task was to use a scallop shell outline to create a poem, words or a story to fit around or within the shell shape.

After twenty minutes, we could then read out our thoughts if we wished.

It was fascinating to watch the readers turn their papers to read their writing. It reminded me of when I initially read my ‘Rat Race’ poem.

Some had written around their shell; some had written along the scallop lines.

I gathered up the shell poems and created a booklet for the Crawley Writers’ display. I used the words initially given for an opening page.

We ended with the scallop shells, which I had collected back; each of the writers had to find their shell and say why it was their shell. (A task I have done with children and leaves, but with children, I would get them to observe the details of their leaf before returning it)

I hadn’t told the adult group, and as always, there was at least one, in this case me, who hadn’t really looked closely at their shell.

A Calligram for Emmy Cat

I also wrote a calligram poem in the shape of a cat. It was in memory of my little black cat, Emmy, who had sadly died this week.

‍The Shape of Love

Shh! I am sleeping.

I’m very good at sleeping.

I can sleep anywhere.

A box, a nice dark corner.

Or under your chair.

A shady place in the garden under a tree.

I’m hiding, you can’t see me.

I love it when you brush my nice black fur. Stroke me gently to hear me purr.

“Emmy, you are our black cat, we love you so.”

“I know,” said Emmy,

“But now I have to go.”

A Ticket to Ride

The initial poem was renamed ‘Mouse Maze’ and was published in my book ‘A Ticket to Ride’. I wasn’t sure if the poem would work, but it did, and children are always fascinated to see me reading the poem and turning the book over and over to read.

There is also a poem for Emmy in the book.

My books are currently on sale in the local museum,  as well as at a few Bus and Motor Museums around the country, and in Philadelphia, too!