An epistolary poem is a poem written in the style of a letter. Write an epistolary poem that is a fan letter to a celebrity. Focus on one public place where you would like to take this celebrity to hang out, then tell the reader about what you would do there. Be as specific as possible, and let your imagination run wild. Don’t just say, “We would go to the park.” Say, “We would go to City Park and walk around under the oak trees, but only if it’s autumn because in summer, it’s too hot, even in the shade. In spring, my allergies might act up and that would be embarrassing. Of course, we would see people walking their dogs, and I know you like dogs because you were in that movie where you were a cop and you worked with a dog to help catch people smuggling things into the country on boats. Do you like coffee? There’s a coffee stand at the park. It also has beignets. Tell me you’ve had beignets. Sometimes they get messy with all the powdered sugar. The pigeons might come right up to our table, begging, but I would scare them away for you.”

Requirements

The poem you write must contain the following:

1. Your title should be “Dear _______.” In the blank, put the name of the celebrity you’re writing about. Remember you poem is a letter addressed to that celebrity. So, write like you’re talking to them.

2. You should tell us about the place where you and the celebrity would hang out in public. Tell us about at least three things you could do at that place. Be as specific as possible.

3. Give your reader a physical description of what this celebrity looks like using two similes (comparisons using “like” or “as”).

4. Use at least seven concrete images (sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell).

5. Include some indication about why you like this celebrity that is grounded in fact. For instance, don’t just say, “You are beautiful.” Say, “You have incredible brown eyes that get even more beautiful in certain lighting like the one time you rescued that baby goat from a burning house in episode four of Saving Them. I could see the fire reflecting in your eyes, and I wished you were saving baby goats in my town. We could save baby goats together.”

Guidelines

1. Your poem must be at least twelve (12) lines long.

2. Your poem must have a title.

3. Before you turn your poem in, read it aloud to yourself.

4. Before you turn your poem in, take advantage of the fact that your computer will check your spelling for you.

5. Before you turn your poem in, read it aloud to yourself again.