The first line of a poem is the door or the step or the window into a poem.
It invites the reader in.
It might be short and it might be long.
It might be surprising, funny, elegant or give a clue.
It might have an extremely delicious word in it.
Some challenges:
1. Go on a hunt for first lines in other poems. Which ones do you like? Choose a favourite first line and then write a poem to go with it. Tell me where the first line comes from in a note at the bottom.
2. Or test out some of your own first lines and then pick one to write a poem for.
3. Or use this line by Mary McCallum as the first line of your poem:
A leaf is just the beginning.
This is the first line to her new novel for children, Dappled Annie and the Tigrish but I think it would make a great first line for a poem. I am about to fly to Wellington so I have her novel in my bag to read it. I can’t wait as the title of the book and the first line hooked me. I will let you know what I think of it! It is published by Gecko Press 2014.
DEADLINE for your challenge: Thursday March 20th
Send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com. Include your name, year, age and name of school. You can include your teacher’s name and email. PLEASE say it’s for the first-line, poem challenge.
I will post my favourites and have a book prize for one poet. I might be able to give you a copy of the book.