Behind the Pen
Episode One Activity
Meet Orson Benjamin, a singer-songwriter and teaching artist from Jamaica, Queens. In this episode, Orson begins production on his new single, “Go Down,” and shares how the imagery of a flower growing from a seed inspired the song.
Poetic Device
Imagery: to use language to paint a picture in the listener’s mind
Examples of Imagery
- The giant tree was ablaze with the orange, red, and yellow leaves that were beginning to make their descent to the ground.
- The kitten’s fur is milky.
- The autumn leaves are a blanket on the ground.
Practice Imagery
Try writing a lyric that uses language to paint a picture in the listener’s mind:
- Write down your song topic across the top of the page.
- Create a list of words and phrases that describe what you see when you think about your topic.
- Create another list of words and phrases that describe emotional reactions and feelings about your topic.
- Use both lists to create words and phrases that stimulate the senses and paint a picture.
- Add a rhythm or melody. Take what you’ve written and sing or rap it to your favorite instrumental.
Takeaways
- Write down one rose (something you enjoyed) and one thorn (something you didn’t like) for episode one.
- What else stood out to you?
Explore Other Parts of Behind the Pen
Behind the Pen | Episode One
Orson begins production of his new single, “Go Down,” and shares how the imagery of a flower growing from a seed inspired the song.
Behind the Pen | Episode Two
Orson explores how dialogue is used in his song and in the process of working with others.
Behind the Pen | Episode Three
Orson demonstrates how he uses wordplay to hook the listener and communicate powerful ideas.