How to Gather Stories from Living Relatives

Capture details and write a poem

Interview a relative this week and write a poem based on their story. What did you learn that surprised you? How did their words make you feel?

Before we can transform family stories into poetry, we need to collect them. The best sources? Our living relatives. Their memories and experiences hold the details that can transform our poetic storytelling from dull to rich and authentic.

Gathering stories from living relatives helps us capture history in a way that feels personal and alive. These stories, transformed into poetry, become a bridge between past and present. If you have siblings, talk with them as well. I'll never forget talking to my brother who is five years younger than me. His perspective on our family was so different than mine, mainly because he was male in a traditional family, but also because he had the advantage of two siblings going before him to "break the parents in" according to his narrative. Plus, five years can make a world of difference when the world changes so quickly.

Visit this story at Goin’ Poetic to learn more about interview techniques and with help in writing your poetry.