Last Christmas, I received a book….one i found prior and had asked for, because it intrigued me…titled 6 Billion Others. The book is part of a project to capture portraits from around the world, ask key questions and discover what it is that brings us together….and what separates us. It is fascinating to look at all the faces and read one to two line viewpoints. Already an updated version, 7 Billion Others, has been released and it’s on my list as well.
I love people.
It is amazing the number of people we pass each day and the stories that they carry just waiting for someone to ask them. And if talking to strangers is not your thing, just watch them. People are quirky, funny, heartbreaking, encouraging just to watch as they do their thing….and live.
Two lovers on a park bench. A homeless man under a tree. Kids on a playground. Everyone standing in line at the grocery. 7 billion people on a spinning ball of dirt.
Today, we are going to
capture just a few of them. Get your notebook and a pen and get out! Go find someone and write about them. Look out your window at your neighbor (who really needs a belt) as he works on the car. Catch a young couple in their first kiss. Our topic is PEOPLE or PEOPLE WATCHING…and they are out there waiting for you to make them famous. Ha.
You never know what you might catch them doing…and I am looking forward to seeing what you see.
If you are new here:
- Write a poem based on the prompt and post it to your website
- Enter your name and direct URL by clicking on the Mr. Linky button below
- This is where you will find everyone else as well that has written, all in one convenient place for you to visit! Cause seriously, that is what it is all about—growing and learning and encouraging one another.
- Have fun!
Special Announcement: Later this week we have a treat in store for you, our newest pub tender will be up for Meeting the Bar. The extremely talented Anna Montgomery will be joining the team. If you have read her then you know her creativity is off the charts…so I am looking forward to where she takes us.
Thanks for playing along with us, it’s great seeing you today and I look forward to seeing you out on the trail. ~Brian
dVerse 
Wow… I’m an early bird for a change…have to go organise supper but will be back to read, comment 🙂 Have a good night all
nice…enjoy your supper and on my way over to read yours..
hey what is for dinner? i mean i still got to eat and all…haha…
welcome everyone…free from my sons birthday party now….my team came back to win the kickball game in the next to last inning…
Brian–what a fun challenge this was! Really liked it.
nice…glad you enjoyed it…i love to watch people….
awesome prompt bri…i love people watching..so much to see and discover when we walk around with open eyes.. happy saturday everyone…and see you out on the trail
happy saturday claudia…hope it is good for you…the birthday was fun…there is a reason i stopped at two boys though…reaffirmed every time i do one of these things…lol…no broken bones at least….and only got a little wet when it rained while we were playing…there is a bit of mud every where though…
oh and welcome anna….great having you on the team…can’t wait for your first meeting the bar next thursday!!!
booyah…its going to be amazing…and a challenge as well i am sure…smiles.
Oh, that intro gave me a happy little cry, how kind and welcoming, thank you both very much! I am hanging another art show today but look forward to writing and reading later. Love the prompt and have taken many a people watching vacation. As an introvert I am a better observer :),
smiles….glad to have you on the team anna…
Picture it…me sitting outside cursing the zombies at walmart…denying the fact I waited in a 20minute drive-thru line up for my coffee…wonder who was watching me? Awesome prompt…needless to say…I could write a book 😉
ha…we watch and being watched…maybe never read those poems about us though…
well coffee is a must…it protects you from the zombies….really i does…smiles.
your love of people shines through in all of your work…
looking forward to seeing what others see.
kelly, your piece really brought tears to my eyes..
you really bring the emotion in your piece kelly….
Great prompt Brian – I apologise in advance though, as I’ve kinda gone off-piste with it… 😉
ha..i like the way you went off-piste with it..
And I can’t even ski…!
been a while since i skiied myself….before my leg injuries…will be over in a few moments….
just checked out the link to the project as well…a really cool idea..who would’ve thought that a helicopter breakdown would spark something like this..
the book is amazing too…i have the previous edition obviously but to read peoples opinions and to see their faces as well…its really cool…
hehe…i may order it in french…smiles
Your love of people shines through the computer, Brian. Thanks for this wonderful post. I’ll have to look into the book.
smiles…thanks laurie…its def a fun one…
Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I last posted a link. Don’t be put off by the title. It may sound gross but there’s a bit more to it (I hope!). Hope you’re all well and am looking forward to reading your posts.
hehe gross eh? smiles…will def have to check it out….and we are glad to have you…smiles…
Hehe! Thanks, Brian! 🙂
I LOVE your title Soraya! 🙂
Excellent prompt Brian. Thank you!
Anna :o]
thanks anna….got your email and will respond in a bit…
Brian, hi! Great post. I started writing something new but in cAr again en route to wedding so tempted to put up something old and prose and a bit political but kind of suited. I don’t think I will have much time till very late, but will see. K.
Ps welcome Anna!
oh…weddings are perfect for people watching..
oh i bet you can get something from the wedding…haha…just check the coat closet…smiles…or write about the bride and groom…
Well, this didn’t happen today, and it’s not hot off the press, but it’s a true story and I think it fits the prompt fairly close. I hope you enjoy it!
enjoyed it….and seriously thinking about taking my shoe out for a walk now..smiles
ha…ok, after claudias comment you have me wondering….on my way….
Cool challenge Brian… I sat in a shopping center and it didn’t take too long for the scene to unravel… it was almost like the universe conspired to grant my request. I really enjoyed this!
haha love the way the universe will do that…looking forward to it…
smiles…i’m glad the universe was cooperative…and thankful for that wise mom as well..
my daughter just looked at me and said: “you should really go to bed mom…” what can you say…? teens…!! ha…but she’s right…need some beauty sleep and will be back tomorrow morning… have fun with the prompt… i just don’t hope that i wake to 7 billion links…just saying…smiles
get some rest….it is good to listen to them on occassion…grins….if i can get all 7 billion to post a link i will…ha….
Well we do have a graveyard at the foot of our road, and it is gentrified….
i grew up with one in the backyard…so i am more than comfortable there…smiles.
Thats a great prompt Brian and very serendipitous as I have been working on my submission for a while now and just needed your prodding to get it finished! Will stop by and visit you all later…
woot…glad to oblige sir…last one i will visit before taking my son out for a birthday pizza….will be back in a bit though…
A big poetic happy birthday to him and I hope the pizza was good!
it was…been back for a bit…wow its been a little quiet on here this evening….
Have fun taking your son out for his birthday pizza, Brian. I enjoyed ths prompt, and I am enjoying reading what other people have read. I went to a rummage sale this morning, which definitely was a good place to people watch.
most definitely it is…on saturday mornings we often hit the flea market or yard sales….season is about over for that…though i really enjoy going if for nothing else than the people….smiles.
I’ve been clamoring to get here and read what Brian is putting us up to. Welcome! to the mightily talented and ever-inspiring Anna. Now… back out to the places people inhabit. I hope to post later tonight.
smiles…ha i cant wait to see what you come up with jane
Jane, you’ve made me blush :D!
Thanks for the lovely prompt Brian ~ Hope Cole had a blast at his birthday party~
My internet connection is coming and going but I will be checking out the work of others ~
Welcome Anna ~
ugh i hate it when i have issues with the net…hope that clears up…it was a lot of fun today and i think he is going to bed happy…smiles…now 5 days until Logans bday…
One of my favorite topics – peoples’ stories……….cool!
me too…i love to hear peoples stories and make up stories to explain what i see as well…
What a great prompt Brian. I know you love people, that’s why you have so much love in your life. Hope your week end is good.
smiles….it is good…be over in a few minutes myrna
This is so classically Brian. Globally poignant while personally intimate all at once.
It was also incredibly timely as I just had a chance to view the “Gone with the Wind” exhibit, and the guests to the exhibit as well.
nice i enjoyed yours…got me thinking about the woman in the window and what she thinks…
can i observe just one person? {smile} i’ll be back!
ha observe as many as you want dani…smiles…look forward to seeing you!
how many do you think you can fit?
given the turn my poem took, only he and i! {smile}
oh my
alright poets…i will be back in the morning….long day with the birthday and i am about to start reading you corss eyed….ha….see you manana…happy people watching…
I wrote you a tiny something, since I did go out earlier this evening. I typically try to avoid the 6 billion, when possible. 🙂
smiles…over to read your tiny something..
good morning everyone!!
Great Theme Brian. Thanks for hosting tonight. Look forward to digging into the posts. And a shoutout to Anna, congrats on joining the crew.
just coming from your site…enjoyed your piece much fred
Juicy! Can’t wait to read the other responses.
Running to catch up with you just now, Brian ~ have posted ~ will come back later to comment ~ great prompt, thank you 🙂
it’s after 2:30am but i’ll be back to visit more! happy Sunday, all!
♥
good morning poets! got some good overnights to look at with my coffee…hope everyone is having a great sunday…reminder the prompt stays open until midnite tonight…see you soon…
Hello, and thanks for a very interesting prompt…people watching is where a lot of writing comes from…major connectivity issues today at my end…linked up will be back later to read…have a great weekend.
major creativity issues…that doesnt sound good….smiles…be over in a minute…
Brian, such a great prompt! Love it. And of course: observing people. Very inspiring.
hey thanks man…and enjoyed yours…hope you had a great sunday
Hey Brian, have added my little contribution – love the prompt and everyones take on it! K
smiles….cool i have been still birthday-ing a bit today…grandparents in town so i have been offline…catching up now…smiles.
better late than never… wonderful prompt
glad you made it…smiles…and you are still 6 hours to go so you are fine…smiles.
Wish I had known the prompt before I went to Walmart today; I missed out on a golden opportunity there.
haha…yeah you might have…walmart def has some characters….
hey poets…anyone else that shows up…i will be back in the morning to catch up….going to spend a little relax time with my wife this evening…prompt stays open until midnite EST…see you manana
Thanks Brian–I ended up playing in the garden until dark, so I’m finally in. See you tomorrow!
good morning…just catching up with the last entries…was at a poetry slam yesterday evening…nice..poetry pure…
Hi Brian- Claudia – missed Mr. Linky- so so busy. Hope all is well. Here’s mine anyway.
http://manicddaily.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/fear-and-loathing-on-the-number-4/
cool…be over in a minute….hope in the busy you could enjoy the day…
i’m late…
http://8thavesouth.blogspot.com/2012/10/polluted-reflections.html
Hey Brian and Claudia. I have started several poems in several settings, but have finished none of them. They will take longer. SO I came here this morning to post and oldie–one many have read before– “Melodrama” http://susanspoetry.blogspot.com/2012/08/melodrama.html–but missed the Linky. Sigh. Just as well I guess, though I do love this poem. Last night I handed it out for a deeper critique at the writers workshop I have on Monday nights. We’ll talk about it next Monday. This is a first critical step–not performance–out of the little cocoon of adoration we have. I feel so comfortable and at home here.
http://susanspoetry.blogspot.com/2012/08/melodrama.html