I've lost count of the themes...

But here is this week's! It's always a challenge to try out new forms of poetry - it can be a real pain trying to mold your own unique style and language into a form that can seem stilted and archaic. It's amazing, though, how liberating restrictions can be. Closing one creative pathway inevitably necessitates the opening of another. I'm not going to propose we write sonnets, although the thought did cross my mind, but I am interested in exploring one of the less common poetry forms: the dialogue poem. Unlike most poetry which is written from the vantage point of a single character, dialogue poems allow for a conversation rather than a dramatic monologue. For this week's assignment, write a poem that engages two or more characters in some kind of verbal exchange. To inspire us, here's one of my favorite (racy!) dialogue poems by e.e. cummings.

may i feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she

(let's go said he
not too far said she
what's too far said he
where you are said she)

may i stay said he
which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she

may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you're willing said he
(but you're killing said she

but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she

(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she

(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you're divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)