Photographs

Today I brought in several black and white cover portraits from my favorite magazine, The Sun. I asked the girls to look at the people's faces and choose one they felt especially drawn to. Once everyone had chosen a photograph, we sat in a circle, and I led the students through a guided meditation.

"I want you to stare into the person's eyes. Look past their age, their gender, the color of their skin. Try to see into their heart. What do they remember? What has caused them great pain? Great joy? What do they fear more than anything? Try to imagine their families, their histories, what has brought them to this moment, this place. What are they feeling right now? What are they seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting? What are they longing to say? Try to imagine what they wish for, what hope they have for the future."

I gave them a few minutes to get to know their person in silence, and then instructed them to write a poem answering whichever questions they liked, and using details wherever possible. When a few poets had trouble getting started, I suggested they take on the person's point of view, writing a letter from inside the photograph. Here are two poems using that approach:

I'm dreaming about my family.
Our food smells sweet and we're sharing
bowls of soup. We eat together every night.
I hear soft talking.
I hear dishes being washed.
Outside the wind is whistling.
Our hearts are filled with shining light.
-Asho

I'm worried about my family.
In my country where I was born
there is war, guns shooting.
I can't go outside to buy
food for my children. My husband
died in the war and I cried all night long.
What I wish is that this war would be over
just once. I wish I could get my family
back together. I wish for peace and freedom.
-Safia