Comfort foods…
Monday was Indigenous Peoples Day. We took the day to dive into stories, reading from Shawnee myths and Pequot legends. We also discovered the Cherokee legend of the first strawberry: the first man and woman were fighting, and the sun brought down strawberries to break them out of their anger and lead them back to each other. We traveled into the story, making strawberry prints, and talking about the idea that food is memory — it draws us back to our ancestors and we continually recreate and reimagine their stories with each meal.
Writing Prompts
- Your grandmother’s lunch
We often talk about the food our families ate at big celebrations, cozy holidays, and fancy dinners. But what did your grandmother have for lunch? What did she put on her plate and sit down to eat when no one was paying any attention? Take your time to write and remember the foods she put (or might have put) on her plate.
… - The insensitivity of ostriches
There are some animals that look at you like they are looking directly into your soul. If you ever catch the eye of an ostrich, you’ll find your innermost thoughts laid bare. Consider your own writing. What would the ostrich think as she examines your main character?Would she find them intriguing or impenetrable? Would the ostrich examine them carefully, or barely give them a second thought?
… - Shall I compare thee to a fall day?
Hey there, Shakespeare. Love doesn’t just feel like the summer sun. It is deep and rich and has its seasons. Compare your own love to the slowly gathering months of fall — leaves turning, mud gathering, pumpkin pie baking. Try to write a stanza to your everlasting (or
fleeting) autumn love.