Create A Graphic Poem
Using Louise Glück's
"All Hallows"
St. Francis Writer's Conference
Today, we are going to create a graphic poem using Louise Glück's poem.
Step 1: Read Louise Glück's poem. We are going to use her poem, "All Hallows".
Step 2: Select your favorite words & images from her poem.
Step 3: Quickly sketch your own B&W first draft of graphic poems.
Step 4: View examples of graphic adaptations.
Step 5: Alternate & create your own for the final draft.
Step 6: SHARE with your fellow artists in the class (and your social media if you would like to).
Step 1: Read Louise Glück's poem. We are going to use her poem, "All Hallows".
Step 2: Select your favorite words & images from her poem.
Step 3: Quickly sketch your own B&W first draft of graphic poems.
Step 4: View examples of graphic adaptations.
Step 5: Alternate & create your own for the final draft.
Step 6: SHARE with your fellow artists in the class (and your social media if you would like to).
***ATTENTION!!!!!***
Through this exercise, students actually experience " writing EDITING skills"!!!
This is a useful skill for their future writing and creative processes.
Louise Glück
Who is Louise Glück?
- She won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Her first book, "Firstborn" 1968.
- Her newest book, "Winter Recipes from the Collective" 2021.
All Hallows
by Louise Glück
(From Poetry Foundation)
Even now this landscape is assembling.
The hills darken. The oxen
sleep in their blue yoke,
the fields having been
picked clean, the sheaves
bound evenly and piled at the roadside
among cinquefoil, as the toothed moon rises:
This is the barrenness
of harvest or pestilence.
And the wife leaning out the window
with her hand extended, as in payment,
and the seeds
distinct, gold, calling
Come here
Come here, little one
And the soul creeps out of the tree.
Exercise Directions - (Step 1 & 2)
#1) Enjoy the poem!
- Professor McDermott reads Louise Glück's poem. We close our eyes and listen to it.
#2) Reading: Where is the HEAT?
- When Professor McDermott reads the poem for the second time, we circle our favorite images, words, & phrases in the poem.
- There are no right or wrong selections. This is your approach for the poem.
#3) Let's share your favorite parts of this poem.
How We Translate the Selected Words into Images
Step 3:
Now, I am going to start a timer for 3 minutes. Let's sketch your first draft (black and white)!
Then put your first draft aside.
Now, I am going to start a timer for 3 minutes. Let's sketch your first draft (black and white)!
Then put your first draft aside.
This is my example when I created a graphic poem after reading Maya Marshall's poem, "Girl Secrets in Her Own Cocoon" (RHINO Poetry, 2018).
The right side picture, there are blue highlighted parts, which was translated into images.
Let's see closer.
The first blue highlighted words, "To have a door!", became the main visual element because the first line represents this poem very well. (Killer opening line!)
See the first black & white sketch on the right. I drew an arch (the door) and noted it "jewel like".
The left side is my final product. There is a significant door of colorful collages (pens & colored papers).
The right side picture, there are blue highlighted parts, which was translated into images.
Let's see closer.
The first blue highlighted words, "To have a door!", became the main visual element because the first line represents this poem very well. (Killer opening line!)
See the first black & white sketch on the right. I drew an arch (the door) and noted it "jewel like".
The left side is my final product. There is a significant door of colorful collages (pens & colored papers).
How We Transform the First Sketch to the Final Draft
Step 4:
The following are examples of graphic poems and book reviews. There are varieties of adaptations. For more examples & details, visit "How to Approach Image".
The following are examples of graphic poems and book reviews. There are varieties of adaptations. For more examples & details, visit "How to Approach Image".
Step: 5
Now, I am going to start a timer again for 3 minutes. This is the time to:
Now, I am going to start a timer again for 3 minutes. This is the time to:
- Change your first draft
- Think about color coordination
- Think about collages
- Consider anything you would like to adapt into your work
LAST STEP:
Finalize & Show Your Graphic Poem!
After the Workshop
During the first draft, I observed students' sketches.
In the end, I took pictures of their final drafts. Some drafts were dramatically improved over their first ones. This workshop was about 40-50 minutes.
In addition, some students clearly showed how their poem narrative flows.
In the end, I took pictures of their final drafts. Some drafts were dramatically improved over their first ones. This workshop was about 40-50 minutes.
In addition, some students clearly showed how their poem narrative flows.
This student highlighted their favorite words (Step 2) and played with words & images from Glück's poem. The narrative started at the top left and progressed to the lower right.
In this example, some stanzas (blue) are missing. However, this graphic poem captures key elements from the poem.
"The oxen/sleep in their blue yoke", "And the soul creeps out of the tree", "as the toothed moon rises" translated into clear images.
The narrative moves in interesting ways. But it is easy to follow.
The narrative moves in interesting ways. But it is easy to follow.
In this example, the narrative goes from left to right like in a comic, including key images from Glück's poem.
This narrative moves between words and images.
This student chose imagery over text.
When I asked why this girl is pointing out, the student immediately explained why.
This is important to be aware of decisions as each has an effect on the others. Understanding these connections is crucial for editing.
I am really happy to see the outcome of this project.
When I asked why this girl is pointing out, the student immediately explained why.
This is important to be aware of decisions as each has an effect on the others. Understanding these connections is crucial for editing.
I am really happy to see the outcome of this project.
The Result...
The first drafts were often only drawn images.
Then, the second drafts mixed words with images. The students explored more about what their favorite lines, words, and images were from the original poem.
In other words, students edited their first draft by themselves, questioning their decisions about what should be presented in words and what in images.
In the final product, some students could navigate the narrative through their graphic poems.
*
I think that this is perfect time to introduce "line-break hyperawareness".
Then, the second drafts mixed words with images. The students explored more about what their favorite lines, words, and images were from the original poem.
In other words, students edited their first draft by themselves, questioning their decisions about what should be presented in words and what in images.
In the final product, some students could navigate the narrative through their graphic poems.
*
I think that this is perfect time to introduce "line-break hyperawareness".
Naoko Fujimoto was born, raised in Nagoya, Japan, and studied at Nanzan Junior College. She was an exchange student and received a B.A. and M.A. from Indiana University. Her poetry collections are "Where I Was Born", winner of the editor's choice by Willow Books (2019), "Glyph:Graphic Poetry=Trans. Sensory" by Tupelo Press (2021), and "Mother Said, I Want Your Pain", winner of the Shared Dream Immigrant Contest by Backbone Press (2018). Her first chapbook, “Home, No Home” (2016), won the annual Oro Fino Chapbook Competition by Educe Press, and another short collection, “Silver Seasons of Heartache” (2017) by Glass Lyre Press, are available from each press. She is a RHINO associate & out-reach translation editor.