We often find it easy to access imagery when our primary sense is sight, but I invite you to utilise all of your other senses to build a more immersive, and therefore convincing scene when you build a poem.
When we do freewrites, we often do them in response to written stimuli, but try taking a minute to yourself to submerge into a sound bath and respond to this audial prompt. Click here to load the sound. Take a minute to just bask in what you can hear, after which time, set yourself 10 minutes to write freely. Leave the sound playing and see where your internal monologue is lead by what you can hear. If you are Deaf or have impaired hearing, here is a video of a rushing waterfall, try to connect with the imagines feeling of touch were you to be submerged below it! Where does your freewrite take you?
After you’ve limbered up with your free-write, you might want to pursue a thread of thought that has come loose – in which case, great! However you might also want to refine your thoughts by applying them to something more tangible. If this is the case, consider anchoring your exploration of audial imagery by applying it to the description of an element – Pick an element; earth air water or fire. Now write a poem that is comprised solely of sound noises. (Fire crackling, leaves rustling, wind blowing, water dripping.) If you are Deaf or have impaired hearing, try to describe the texture and sensation of these elements, such as an autumnal leaf, the morning dew.
We would love to see any poems you write in response to these prompts, and you can find our submission guidelines for our upcoming poetry anthology here!