In order to do my part for the development of the arts at the grassroots of the Baha’i community, I will be posting a weekly idea for tutors who hope to integrate poetry into their study circles.
Tutor Tuesday #2: crisis and victory
Suggested for: Book 4
In a letter dated August 31, 1987, the Universal House of Justice wrote, “The Faith advances, not at a uniform rate of growth, but in vast surges, precipitated by the alternation of crisis and victory.” This pattern is addressed in Ruhi Book 4, The Twin Manifestations, in which we are urged to think about the early history of Faith in these terms. The power inherent in the Cause of Bahá’u'lláh comes into sharp focus when we remember, for example, that it was in the Black Pit that received His Revelation, or that it was through His exiles that the Faith was spread internationally.
In addition to the clarity it brings to historical events, contrasts also make up an important part of the poet’s toolbox. Each opposing image serves to throw the other into sharp relief, in ways that simple description is unable.
Exercise: Choose a crisis and victory pair, either from the stories in The Twin Manifestations, or from your knowledge of the history of the Faith. Starting with either the victory or the crisis (depending on individual preference), write a short piece, maybe four to ten lines, about it. Then write the same number of lines about its partner. Finally, interlace the two, line by line, so that crisis and victory are interwoven in a single poem. Don’t forget to read them out loud when you’ve done!
Variations: Alternatively, the entire study circle can agree on one instance of crisis and victory, and then compare what they’ve written with other participants. This can also be a collaborative exercise in pairs. Each pair agrees on a subject and number of lines, one writing about victory, the other about crisis, and combining their pieces so that in addition to there being a contrast of subject matter, there is also a contrast of voice.
Finally, I cannot take any credit for this exercise, which was adapted from a prompt over at Read Write Poem, a weekly poetry blogging group. If you are interested in reading others’ takes on interwoven contrasts, check out the posts under the prompt Oil and Vinegar.
Tutor Tuesday is posted every Tuesday that the electricity is on, the network up, and an intensive teaching project not in progress. Comments are always welcome.
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