Exercise: Read the poem below. Think about how this poem makes you feel and what visual images come to mind. What kind of photograph or photographs should be paired with this poem? Why? How does the nature of the image change how we perceive the poem, and vice versa?
*When this poem was published on a blog, the blog owner chose a photo to accompany the poem. After you have finished the exercise, visit the blog post here and explore how the photograph complements, contradicts, deepens, etc. the meaning of the poem.
Everything Is Going To Be Alright – by Derek Mahon
How should I not be glad to contemplate
the clouds clearing beyond the dormer window
and a high tide reflected on the ceiling?
There will be dying, there will be dying,
but there is no need to go into that.
The poems flow from the hand unbidden
and the hidden source is the watchful heart.
The sun rises in spite of everything
and the far cities are beautiful and bright.
I lie here in a riot of sunlight
watching the day break and the clouds flying.
Everything is going to be all right.
Photographs (in order of below) by: Isabella, Molly, Sarah
In One Space 