Poems inspired by Renoir

My class is studying Renoir this semester. I have a largish Giclée of Luncheon of the Boating Party. Last week, we studied the picture for a few minutes, then turned it over. The students described what they could remember from their observation time.

This week, with the print displayed at the front of the room, we wrote poems based on it. We haven’t spent a lot of time talking about writing poetry, but I reminded the students of Whitman and Hughes, (our poets for the year) and their commitment to writing poems that attend to the way people talk every day.

Here is some of my students’ work, which the authors are allowing me to publish here. I have corrected some spelling mistakes, but otherwise left these poems  as they came to me. Enjoy!

Luncheon of the Famous Boating Party, by S.

There are lots of foods and boy, they are rich,

Pears, apples, grapes, and bottles of wine.

So many people dressed quite nicely, with

a top hat, a round hat, but most have straw

hats. Two men have tank tops instead of

shirts, but it looks like a lady is going

to kiss a dog rather than one of the men.

Luncheon of the Boating Party, by A.

Luncheon of the boating party,

Everyone is relaxing,

Warm sun beating down on their backs,

Luncheon of the boating party.

Looking out over the lake

A cool breeze drifting through the air,

Eating wine and fruit,

Luncheon of the boating party.

The Woman in the Corner, by M.

The women in the corner

listening, observing

She hears a laugh come from Mary

Behind her are two men talking.

Across the table she noticed a man standing in deep thought

She catches his eye for a moment

through the chaos

It seems as if everything stops

She stares he watches

To him nothing else matters

But the women in the corner.

The Peaceful Lunch, by R.

A peaceful lunch with fancy dresses and

hats vines with color when you

see it brightest at the day women

and children come to a peaceful

lunch below hats white dresses

men with tuxedos almost as a

whisper animals watching as intruders

pass by going to a peaceful

lunch with fancy hats and dresses

guards to kick the intruders out

women with their husbands who are

as busy as a bee

Couples together who also have a nice

time

a peaceful lunch with fancy dresses

and hats.