I recently participated in a photography-poetry workshop where we learned how to take photographs (even with a camera phone) and combine finished pieces with works of poetry. I’ll be the first to admit that poetry is not my forte (you can see my previous dismal attempt here). For this workshop, Kerrie Flanagan helped guide us through writing haikus and Cinquains. Turns out there’s a science to this poetry stuff. 

Basic Haiku:
Line 1: Five syllables
Line 2: Seven syllables
Line 3: Five Syllables

Basic Cinquain:
Line 1: Two syllables
Line 2: Four syllables
Line 3: Six syllables
Line 4: Eight syllables
Line 5: Two syllables

This was a great workshop that got me to try something I hadn’t done before. I’ve always loved taking photos, but I never took them much further than my camera phone (which I’ll point out, took all of these photos). And of course, dabbling in poetry—something brand new to me—was fantastic. 

My child,
who clings to me,
I’ve no arms to pull you;
what any mother longs to do.
Hold on.
                                                     ~ Mother Earth

Come now,
moment is right.
Smooth, calm, and just like glass.
Bring a paddle so we can then
shatter.

Forget about up,
cast your eyes on something else;
see the world anew.

Toshiba Tears

Unplugged and marked free.
Still, stories unfold on screens
that no one watches.

Droplets gather here,
safe upon this ledge of green.
Don’t drip, drizzle, drop!

Suzette McIntyre, our photography instructor and owner of Boardwalk Gallery, put together a wonderful show of everyone’s work. Part of the fun was seeing what everyone had done. If you live in the area and are interested in participating in the next workshop (likely this fall) contact Suzette. Even if you don’t take a class like this, I urge to try this activity on your own; it might spark a new interest you didn’t know was there.