WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Sarah Waterworth Photo “Man’s life is like a drop of dew on a leaf.” Socrates Greek philosopher IDEAS FOR WRITING • As you look at the photo, jot down all the words and phrases that come to mind. Write as quickly as possible, without judging what you are writing. After you have a long list, choose from these words and phrases to create a poem. • Compare and/or contrast the leaf shown in the photo with something else in nature. • The photo shows a close-up of a leaf. With words, create a close-up of something else from nature. Use as many of the five senses as you can. • In the quotation above, what do you think Socrates means? Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 15 WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Hank Kellner Photo “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” M. Scott Peck American psychiatrist IDEAS FOR WRITING • Is the protester male or female? Does it matter that the protester has hidden his or her identity? • What do you think about the quotation on the sign? Is it true or false? • If you could talk to the person in the photograph, what would you say? • Is there a cause you care a lot about? How far would you go to stand up for what you believe? • In your opinion, are demonstrations effective? Why or why not? RESEARCH AND WRITE • Find out about significant demonstrations that have taken place in our country. Choose one and describe it. Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 25 WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Hank Kellner Photo “Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” Carl Sandburg American poet IDEAS FOR WRITING • Describe an onion to someone who has never seen or tasted one. • Reveal what an onion would say if it could express its feelings. • Imagine that you are an onion that is about to be sliced onto a hamburger. POSSIBLE OPENING LINES • “Oh, no,” I shouted as a hand holding a sharp knife began to descend on me… • People certainly seem to have strong opinions about me… • It all depends on your point of view. An onion is like… Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 28 WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Hank Kellner Photo “Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose.” Tennessee Williams American playwright IDEAS FOR WRITING • Imagine that the men in the photo are characters in a movie. What roles are they playing? How do they interact with one another? • Discuss the quotation below the photo. Do you agree? Disagree? Why or why not? • Describe one of your friends. What characteristics do you like about him or her? • Tell about a time when a friend let you down. • Tell about a time when a friend helped you overcome a difficult situation. • To what extent do friends influence each other? Give specific examples. Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 43 WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Hank Kellner Photo “Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery.” Jack Parr American entertainer IDEAS FOR WRITING • Who is the man in the photo standing against a background of rugs, a for sale sign, an American flag, and several other objects? Is he a U.S. citizen whose family has been in the country for generations? Is he a visitor to the U.S.? Is he a recent immigrant? He could, of course, be any of the above. Write a dramatic monologue in which the man tells the story of his life, as you imagine it. • Discuss some of the problems a newcomer to this country would be likely to have. • Describe in detail the setting in which the man finds himself. • To what degree should the U.S. accommodate non-English speakers? Should signs be in more than one language? Should ballots be available in several languages? Should English classes for non-native speakers be taught in public schools? • Do you think everyone should learn a second language? Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 62 WRITE WHAT YOU SEE Hank Kellner Photo “You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everyone dances with the Grim Reaper.” Robert Alton Harris American career criminal IDEAS FOR WRITING Did you know that death is one of the most frequently discussed subjects in literature? Whether it appears as a symbol, a theme, a plot, or even a character, death has fascinated writers for many thousands of years. • Imagine that you are walking through the cemetery. What thoughts might be going through your mind? • Imagine that you are alone in the cemetery after dark. What thoughts might be going through your mind? POSSIBLE OPENING LINES • I looked at the dates on the headstones, and my heart froze… • Yes, it was a ghost… • Harry and Sophie hadn’t intended to stay at the graveyard after dark, but… Write What You See • Copyright © 2009 by Hank Kellner • Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com 34
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