Sunday, August 29, 2010

Autumn Rain

I had a writing professor in college who asked us to write a poem and she forced us to use the title, "Autumn Rain" to see what we would do with a) a title everyone else was using, and b) a title that was so cliche that it sounded like something that would be in the diary of a 15-year-old stricken by the heartache of their first breakup.

I wish I could find mine. I remember thinking it was the shit, that I had somehow evaded the stupidity of the title. But who cares? Autumn Rain, Jesus. So the point I'd like to make is about labels (how cliche!)

No matter what labels people force upon your work, your creative enterprise, yourself as a person, as an individual, you can make their Autumn Rain your own by writing the poem yourself.

Yeah, they got to pen the title, but you get to pen the poem. And it might be the shit, or it might be shit, it's up to you.

So here's the challenge: write a poem entitled "Autumn Rain" and post it here or on your own blog and send me the link. I wanna see what all y'all come up with out of such a miserably cliche title. But above all, think about the title muthafuckaz have put on you and make it your own. Whatchu got to lose? 

NUTHIN'

Here's your [stupid!] inspiration:

Autumn Rain

2 comments:

  1. Autumn Rain

    Woke up early today
    2 children in my bed, still having dreams.

    This boy is easy and pure
    Competitive
    Self-reliant
    all I have to do is wake him and the rest is done.

    I wake her and dress her
    Picked out clothes the night before
    and backpack, lunchbox,
    labeled my car window with her name
    with cute letters so they would know what to call her and
    know how special she is.
    It’s her first day of being on her own.

    Driving in the car the moment becomes tangible.
    She is ready to discover more in this world.
    He is loving the soundtrack of the morning.

    We arrive, taking this journey together as one.
    Car door opens and she steps out
    Slightly nervous but smiling and I say
    “have a great day baby girl”…
    She waves goodbye for the first time.

    Autumn has not arrived yet,
    when it does it will feel like for the first time.
    I will pray for it’s rain.
    Alone in my home.

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  2. awesome amber, just awesome. tears and smiles at the same time. i get it... i get it. i love it and you and love your words.

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