Poetry Challenge #303-Astonish Cocteau
A crusty loaf, bottle of wine and summertime—feels like France! And so, with no further ado, let’s tip our jaunty red berets to Jean Cocteau, born July 5, 1889. Bon Anniversaire!
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Jean Cocteau (pronounced Zahn Kaw-toh), poet, novelist, designer, dramatist, filmmaker, artist, and playwright “was among the best, most multi-talented artists of the 20th century.” -artnet
Cocteau started writing at the age of 10, and, by age 16, was already an established poet! At the age of 19, Cocteau published La Lampe d’Aladin, his premier compendium of poems. Quel Magnifique!
Regardless the medium/genre, Cocteau said all of his creations were essentially poetry.
The ballet, Parade, is Cocteau, written with composer Erik Satie, painter Pablo Picasso, choreographer Leonide Massine, and Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev of the Russian Ballet. The story goes that Cocteau and Diaghilev were walking down the street one day (sounds like a joke set up, right?) when Cocteau mustered up his courage to ask why the founder of Ballets Russes was so reserved in his comments on Cocteau’s work. As the story goes, Diaghilev adjusted his monocle and said: “Astonish me.”
From those 2 words “Astonish me”
Parade, considered the first modern ballet was born.
Poetry Challenge #302
Astonish Cocteau!
As Cocteau said, all his work was poetry, let’s use one of his drawings as inspiration for a poem. Write a poem inspired by one Cocteau’s drawing Cantate (above) or another—google Jean Cocteau’s art, it’s worth the trip.
Study the drawing for a bit and write a poem inspired by it. Is there something in the image—the form, the subject, a feeling—or the feeling it evokes in you—that’s astonishing?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2600+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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