My Poetry Object Project

To create a poetry object that had special meaning and told something about me, I chose to use one of my most prized possessions, a Godiva chocolate box. Every year I get a big box for Valentine’s Day and I savor the chocolates, saving them for sad or lonely nights or calls for celebration. The chocolates represent a lot about me, sitting up on top of my bookcase like a prize. They symbolize my attitude towards life, and my being drawn to romanticism and delight. I chose poems about the things that are the most delightful and important to me in life, both work of my own and others. When this project is returned to me, it will make a fabulous permanent chocolate box.

I integrated works of famous poets, my favorite songwriter, and myself to create a very personal yet potpourri-like feel to the project. An excerpt from "Every Tree" by Rumi stresses the value of loving and teaches about the importance of freedom and poetry in human lives. From Pablo Neruda, my favorite poet’s "XII", I chose two stanzas that speak beautifully about passion and nature. "#23", by Lawrence Ferlinghetti paints a beautiful picture of lovers, leaves, and rain. I included excerpts from three of Joni Mitchell’s songs that I have grown up with and grown to respect and understand. These are "Big Yellow Taxi," "Woodstock," and "The Circle Game." I also used one of my own love sonnets, and stanzas from two different poems that express my views about life’s enjoyment and the world. These excerpts are from "The Last Music," and "How to Paint Red". Around the rim of the box, I used pages from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s book "What is Poetry?" I believe deeply, as I observe and embrace the world’s delights, that poetry is not only our own creation but all around us.