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Hello, Björn here I have been thinking a lot about my poetic voice over the years and how I might tune it. I have found that it is often a good exercise trying to change our perspective when writing poetry (or in prose). Many of us might prefer to write in first person singular or third person singular. We may even have tried our hands at writing from a second person singular.
Today I would like you to try to find a collective voice and writing from a first person plural. I find this very useful, especially if you want to include (or exclude) your audience. Therefore I find it especially good if you write for a cause (political or whatever). My last MTB prompt talked about rhetorical devices and you may want to take a look back and see if you can combine some elements from that prompt as well.
I have found that when writing from a first person plural, it is important to think about inclusion and exclusion. Are you writing to someone, accusing them you might see them as part of “the enemy”, and even if not there might be others that are excluded such as them, and actually any collective need those that are excluded to make sense.
If you don’t want to write explicitly using the pronouns “we”, “us”, “ours” and “ours”, it can be understood that you subtly appoint you as a spokesperson of a collective with other means.
For this prompt I think it would be great if you try to stretch yourself beyond the kind and caring person you are, and be entitled or prejudiced but I think it would be great to think about the audience reading your poem and invite them to your collective.
The collective can also be used in love poetry where first and second (or third) person perspectives merge into collectivity of two.
As for examples of such poetry I had a bit of a struggle to find any, but Mr Google helped me find the poems by American poet George Oppen who lived from 1908 to 1984, and wrote his longest and most recognized work, Of Being Numerous, in 1968, and awarded the Pulitzer prize the year after
It begins…
There are things
We live among ‘and to see them
Is to know ourselves’.
Occurrence, a part
Of an infinite series,
The sad marvels;
Of this was told
A tale of our wickedness.
It is not our wickedness….
Later he also evokes the others:
We encounter them. Actually
A populace flows
Thru the city.
And thin it’s penultimate part
There can be a brick
In a brick wall
The eye picks
So quiet of a Sunday
Here is the brick, it was waiting
Here when you were born
Mary-Anne.
Indicating that in the end there might be that there is a more intimate collective of a family, maybe seeing the collective is concentric circles.
Another example that is more well-known is John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”
In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ Fields.
Where the collective is clearly defined as all the dead soldiers.
So today I would like you to explore your collective, think about who are “in”, and who are “out”, and try your best to set your thoughts into a voice of that collective.
There are no requirements on form or length, but the poem should be a new one (or the edited version of an older poem of yours).
Once you have written your poem and posted it to your blog you may join us by linking up in Mr Linky below, you can leave a comment below and remember to read and comment on other’s poems. Remember it is only by reading that we become better poets.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Good evening… and welcome to the collective of the bare. Today we are sharing things that everyone enjoy, please be kind and courteos as we are all one of us.
kim881 said:
The collective of the bare – sounds like an orgy!
Melissa Lemay said:
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
bare or bar 🙂 as simple slip of fingertips.
Laura Bloomsbury said:
even better on an open link night 🙂
merrildsmith said:
😂😂
kim881 said:
Ooh, this was a tricky one, Björn, and I think I took the easy option and wrote a love poem. I’m intrigued to read what others wrote.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think it is easier for some than for other. It can be hard if we try to force people into a collective which is what politicians often do.
dorahak said:
E pluribus unum. To find a banner to unite under should be a universal cause. Could love be the answer?
msjadeli said:
Hello Bjorn and All. Will link up a little later. Evocative prompt that will generate some good food for thought on the poetry trail. Would you please pour me a pint of Magners?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I will do that, and you may also want to try some of my homebrewed cider.
msjadeli said:
Bjorn, please pour me a pint of your homebrewed cider instead. Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Grace said:
I love the exercise Bjorn. It is not often that we write in the collective voice and it is inspiring when the message is relevant and uplifting. Thanks for the prompt.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think it opens up a lot. I remember very early at dVerse we had a prompt on writing in second person singular, and it is something I often try…
kim881 said:
Is anybody else being asked to log in when trying to comment, even when you’re already logged in?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Yes… this has happened to me many times… but it stopped after a while. I don’t need to really log in, only click again.
Laura Bloomsbury said:
yes its begun again – I thought it was sorted
kim881 said:
Oh heck!
Melissa Lemay said:
It happens when I visit someone’s blog in a web browser. Annoying, I know. If I am in the app, I don’t have a problem. I wish they would streamline the ways you can access sites because there are too many different ones.
kim881 said:
I agree, Melissa.
rothpoetry said:
Yes, it demands you log in to comment. So invasive! I do not like being force to sign on to a website just to be able to comment. Word press seems to have really screwed this one up!
Laura Bloomsbury said:
One of my recent MTB prompts was We as a couple and although I’m not a group kind of person I found this prompt flowed
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you… I have always found that changing the perspective may bring out new thoughts.
Melissa Lemay said:
Hi Björn! Hi everyone! The wheels are turning.⚙️
sanaarizvi said:
Hello Melissa! 👋
sanaarizvi said:
Loved the prompt, Bjorn! 😀 I am looking forward to reading everyone’s poems. I will have hot chocolate please. We are heading towards winter here.
Thank you for the lovely comment on my blog! Happy Thursday ❤️❤️
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hot chocolate coming up… with whipped cream or not?
sanaarizvi said:
With whipped cream! Yes 🙂 Thank you! ❤️❤️
Helen said:
An epic challenge Bjorn, going to take my time … think about everything you have shared. No alcohol today for me. Clear head is what I need. How about a pot of English breakfast tea with a scone or two?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Of course a good size pot is coming up… scone with some homemade marmelade and fresh butter.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Here it is… made from our best Valrhona and sprinkled with cocoa on top
lillian said:
Thanks for hosting, Bjorn. I’ve been reading The 1619 Project and thinking about all the states and schools in the US that are putting into place book bans….that’s what inspired my poem today. Writing as a collective….the thing is, even within a collective one can have individuals who upset the apple basket so to speak. Going to read some now and then come back tomorrow.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I agree, the collective is something that is both hard and sometimes it can move mountains (in more ways than one)
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
It’s bedtime soon, but I will be back in the morning, there is plenty in the bar, and I hope you refrain from getting too inebriated… keep calm
Rob Kistner said:
Hello fellow dVerser’s! Thank you for hosting Björn, and what a great prompt! I have an old poem which I have recently been planning to edit significantly, and to which I envision adding 2 of 3 wholly new verses. I have already created 3 new digital art pieces to accompany the piece. This will be fun. Critical health matters have finally settled down a bit here at home, so I am excitedly anticipating that I will be able to visit all the poets this weekend! I have been so overwhelmed with these matters here at home that I have not been able to visit too many of the other wonderful poets in recent months. I have really missed reading and enjoying everyone’s work. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
lillian said:
Rob: so very glad to hear critical health matters are settling down for you and Kathy. Best wishes for more settling until boring health (as in no emergencies; no critical matters) sets in!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great to know that you are feeling better, and so good that you like the prompt. I look forward to read your reworked poem
rog said:
hi bjorn
hi poets
great prompt
my head went straight to a poem I enjoy reading at open mic nights. which goes over well, it seems to fit so have added a few lines. and changed some of the other wording just a little.
hope all are well
catch up with reading as and when i get time
rog
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great, there are some great poems written from this prompt.
petrujviljoen said:
How this prompt situates one, compels the larger perspective. Good one!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Indeed it does, it places ourselves in a context I think
petrujviljoen said:
Good!
merrildsmith said:
Hi Björn and all. An interesting prompt. I think it is not all that unusual for me to write this way. Your prompt is getting some great responses!
I would like to taste your cider.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
The cider is here, it is just brewed from applejuice from the supermarket using ale yeast…. nothing but apples and yeast actually
merrildsmith said:
😋
rothpoetry said:
Thanks for hosting today, Bjorn. I am posting my post from yesterday which is a collective voice and I think fits in with what you are suggesting.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great look forward to read it
Truedessa said:
Good Evening Bjorn, it’s late but, I will be back tomorrow to read. My collective thoughts needs some rest.
Frewin55 said:
By felicitous serendipity, a poem from my writing group this week is written from a multiple viewpoint. It is not the dark conflictual subject you were tempting us to try but it still fits the bill and I have had enough darkness this week so I offer this lighter note…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I do not mind lighthearted at all… but I always find it challenging with a collective voice….
Oloriel said:
A very inspiring exercise, that I will hopefully tackle. An example that I think would fit , and for your consideration, is Here dead we lie, by A. E. Housman : https://poets.org/poem/here-dead-lie-we-because-we-did-not-choose . It is very short, but if I am not mistaken, encapsulates the prompt?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
It definitely fits the bill and I feel it is written a bit in the same mood as the McCrae’s poem.
pvcann said:
Many thanks for this challenge Bjorn, I’d love a whiskey to go with it please 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Would Wild Turkey be a good choice?
pvcann said:
That would be fine 🙂
writingpresence said:
Reading this a day late Bjorn, andintrigued by the gauntlet that you have thrown down (the challenge you have set to reach the bar).
Although we (being various) have missed the metaphoric boat this time, we shall play with this excellent prompt in our spare time, and meanwhile we plan to gather up the leftovers from the feasting of others…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
There is still timme to add to the mix – we are open 48 hours
writingpresence said:
ah, we are tempted! Currently enjoying others’ textiles and textures
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
There are more opportunities
Frank J. Tassone said:
Good evening, poets! Sneaking in late, but loving the prompt! Thanks, Bjorn!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Late too in summing up this prompt