MONDAYS ARE FREE EXERCISES 156—160

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Melanie Faith

Creative Writing Teacher, Essayist & Poet.

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MONDAYS ARE FREE EXERCISES 156—160

Questions. Interviews. A Clock.

EXERCISE 156: DREAM/ NIGHTMARE INTERVIEW

Write ninety-nine questions

Pick a figure (famous or unknown) from history you would be scared to meet. Write ninety-nine questions to ask them when they come knocking on your door.

Ninety-nine Questions for Shirley Chisholm

Where did you grow up? Describe your family experience? Who did you live with growing up? Did you read a lot as a child? Describe some of your earliest memories? Describe some of your earliest lessons learned? What are some of your favorite books? Why did you get involved in politics? Who are your most influential mentors? Who are your largest influences, in general? Describe a formative childhood experience? Describe your spiritual upbringing? What was the best advice you ever received?What is the best advice you have ever given? What does it mean to be the first person to do something big? What is your biggest legislative achievement? What is your biggest life achievement? Describe your creative process?

Describe how you solve a problem?What do you like to do in your free time? Who is your favorite artist? Who is your favorite musician? What is your favorite movie? Who is your favorite author? What is a favorite line from one of your speeches? What is a favorite line from someone else’s speeches? What is your favorite dessert? Are you an animal lover? Describe a favorite holiday ritual? Describe a favorite meal to eat? Describe a favorite meal to cook? What time do you generally wake up in the morning? What time do you generally go to bed at night? Describe an interesting conversation you have been involved in? What is your favorite question to ask? How do you want to be remembered?

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? What is your favorite New Year’s Resolution? Offer advice to current politicians? Priorities? Pit falls to avoid? Offer advice to future politicians? Priorities ? Pit falls to avoid? Describe a formative political event?Political memory? Favorite travel destination. Favorite article of clothing. Favorite poet. Favorite poem. Favorite flower. Favorite plant. Favorite tree. Favorite animal. Describe the scariest thing you ever did. Describe the funniest thing you ever did. Describe the silliest thing you ever did. Describe a thing you regret. Do you have secrets? Have you ever shared a secret you should not have? Do you tell the truth? What is the most outrageous lie you have ever heard? What is the most outrageous lie you have ever told? Are you afraid of heights? Do you ride rollercoasters? Would you describe yourself as adventurous?

How does someone earn your trust? Are you trustworthy? Are you a good listener? What is your favorite cocktail? Describe yourself in three words. Describe yourself in 10 words. What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend? What will the last three words you speak be? Who would you most like to have dinner with — living or deceased? Favorite song. Morning ritual. Nighttime ritual. When you pass a hungry person asking for food, what is your response. Do you enjoy writing? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you enjoy swimming? Favorite childhood game. Do you think people are generally good? Do you forgive people easily? Are you athletic? Do you stay in touch with people? Do you visit your friends?

EXERCISE 157: DREAM/ NIGHTMARE INTERVIEW, PART ii

answer thirty-three

From the perspective of the figure, answer thirty-three of those questions. Each with an image described concretely in exactly nine words.

How does someone earn your trust? Are you trustworthy? Are you a good listener? What is your favorite cocktail? Describe yourself in three words. Describe yourself in 10 words. What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend? What will be the last three words you speak? Who would you most like to have dinner with — living or deceased? Favorite song. Morning ritual. Nighttime ritual. When you pass a hungry person asking for food, what is your response. Do you enjoy writing? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you enjoy swimming? Favorite childhood game. Do you think people are generally good?Do you forgive people easily? Are you athletic? Do you stay in touch with people? Do you visit your friends?

Trust is earned by telling the truth, every day. I tell the truth and have a backbone. Life has taught me to listen, more and more. An extra dry martini with olives, or a bourbon, neat. Steel. Memory. Resolve. Woman of color. Public. Servant. Fighter. Friend of Good. Foe of Evil. Dreamer. Steadfast. Honest. Humble. Hold my hand. Hannah Arendt. Strange Fruit. I wash my face and brush my teeth. I wash my face and brush my teeth. I stop. I write as a path to speaking and communicating, and I like speaking and communicating. I don’t swim. Chess. I see goodness when I look for it. I forgive. I am not athletic. I am a consistent letter writer. I visit my friends frequently.

EXERCISE 158: DREAM/ NIGHTMARE INTERVIEW, PART iii

Answer nine

Answer nine of the remaining questions, each with an image described in exactly thirty-three words.

Describe how you solve a problem?What do you like to do in your free time? Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite dessert? Describe a favorite holiday ritual? Describe a favorite meal to eat? What time do you generally wake up in the morning? What time do you generally go to bed at night? What is your favorite question to ask?

I solve problems methodically. Read. James Baldwin. Rum cake. Celebrate with family. Cou-cou and flying fish. 6:00. 12:00.

EXERCISE 159: DREAM/ NIGHTMARE INTERVIEW, PART iv

Answer three

Answer three of the remaining questions in a language you make up.

Where did you grow up? What was the best advice you ever received? Describe your creative process?

Ngud, Grudid. Flupe jep frum o frum. Flupe jep din o din. Blop e blvp, e blop e blvp rum.

EXERCISE 160: DREAM/ NIGHTMARE INTERVIEW, PART v

Answer one

Answer one of the questions by telling a story about a clock.

What is the most outrageous lie you have ever told?

An old clock hangs on my wall. It hung on the wall with stardust and moonbeams. It hung on the wall with glaciers and fire. It hung on the wall with shelter and language.

It hung on the wall when travelers started lives in New Worlds. It hung on the wall when a group of Revolutionaries declared independence from tyranny. It hung on the wall when the framers of the United States Constitution drafted a document establishing a nation of the Rule of Law. It hung on the wall as some seceded. It hung on the wall as wars were fought at home and abroad.

It hangs on the wall as rights are established and taken away. It hangs on the wall as laws are made, followed, and broken. It hangs on the wall as humanity — our capacity to understand our oneness and interdependence — balances delicately. It hangs on the wall as we pray for a more perfect union. It hangs on the the wall as brave and honorable people stand for justice and peace and love. It hangs on the wall as we teach our children how to love one another. It hangs on the wall as we care for our vulnerable. It hangs on the wall as we seek to build and sow and breathe into the world we want to create.

Thank you for reading MONDAYS ARE FREE. These are my explorations of poetry and language and joy. Subscribe to the Wide-Awakeness Project to share this journey.