Fare Thee Well

Today marks the end of the Cambridge Prep. Minor students had their final creative writing class yesterday, while Major students had their final class earlier this morning. We spent both sessions snacking on traditional English sweets (Jammy Dodgers, Bakewell Tarts, Hobnobs, Fox's Biscuits, and of course Ribena!) and participating in a series of writing games. This evening, faculty, students, and admin staff will gather together for a final banquet, awards ceremony, and dance. 

I couldn't be happier with the group of students who signed up to take Creative Writing. Each and every one of you has contributed to the course and produced an exceptional array of written work. 

Thank you, and safe travels!

Photo credit: peterhouse.jcr.co.uk

Quote of the Day - Kafka

“Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” 

Franz Kafka (1883-1924)

Photo credit: Corbis

Quote of the Day - Dickinson

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” 

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Photo credit: ©Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Poetry Reading

Yesterday evening our students participated in the Cambridge Prep showcase. We decided to share our work with the program in the form of a poetry (and prose!) reading. Participation was voluntary, and I was very pleased to see the following students take part:

Major course:

Hailey, Constance, Emily, Lili, Zahra, Zeynap, and Kimberly

Minor course:

Muriel, Kathleen, Ariana, Carl, Bernard, Emmy, Madeleine, Hannah, and Paree.

The rest of the class came out in full force to support their fellow students!

Having the courage to share your work in public is no small feat. I was profoundly impressed by each performance. The group received a standing ovation, and many students approached me afterwards to tell me how much they'd enjoyed it.

Final Projects

For our final projects, members of the Major course were tasked with completing a five-page piece (in poetry or prose) based on one of the writing exercises that we've covered in class. The Minor class is a bit different (no homework!), so students in this group were given two classroom periods to produce a polished piece of writing.

Minor students submitted their work at the end of class on Monday, July 30th, while Major students dedicated the entire class period on Monday to reading their work aloud. I have received (and listened to!) the most wonderful variety of written work! Students submitted mysteries, love poems, nonsense fables, political poetry, science fiction, rap lyrics, observational pieces, and much, much more!

I asked each student to paraphrase their final project in the form of a haiku...

One about liars,
The other about the rich.
Almost the same poem.

- Muriel (Minor course)

Wimbledon was a
spectacular and very
fun, action-packed day.

- Kayla (Major course)


Childish and plain
But sadder than most kid books
Because all’s not well.

- Ali (Major course)

An old man warned me
To avoid greed and desire,
We five sailed to death.

- Winter (Major course)

London Visit

On Thursday, July 18th, Cam Prep students visited London with their Major course. In order to experience the city as creative writers, our class traced the footsteps of the celebrated Bloomsbury group. We've been reading Virginia Woolf and experimenting with stream of consciousness prose in class, so the British Library, British Museum, and Russell Square seemed like the perfect destinations!
We marvelled at the BL's George III Collection of old books and manuscripts (we made lists of what might lurk beneath their covers), and visited their current exhibit Propaganda: Power and Persuasion.

We had lovely weather for our walk through Russell Square towards the Museum. Once inside, students were free to examine Roman antiquities, Victorian jewelry, medieval armour, and anything else that took their fancy! We ended the day with free time in Covent Garden.

The British Museum

Kendra's Poem

My name is time
I cannot find my way to rhyme
Not in harmony, not in motion
I am the universe’s undulating ocean
I am the sky’s sprouting fire
I am the children’s eyes, wide and dire
I am the knock on your door late at night
I am the window’s warm and grating light
I will hiss at you in the pulsing dark
I will whisper soft feathers and you will hark
I will drift my cape down marble stairs
I will ask your world, who dares? Who dares?
I am the wind blowing your soft chestnut hair
I am your music, your heart, your formidable care
I sing to you in the chilly water
I am humanity’s rebellious daughter.