Instruction
To begin, read at least three poems from one of the following poets: Etheridge Knight, Ntozake Shange, Langston Hughes S.
Writing the poem.
1. Decide whether to use the first person "I" or the third person, "he" or "she" or some other way to observe and reflect on some experience of family, or friend or stranger.
2. Recall memories or feelings or images which are the strongest perhaps evoked by the reading of the poems perhaps entirely personal to come to mind. Write them down. Write at least four of the strongest thoughts.
3. Give the strongest thoughts a single word - definition.
4. Experiment with form. Write prose or free verse of dialogues.
5. Write your own poem of experience.