Accidental poetry: Improve your english through creative writing - Lisa Lieberman 2015

The nuclear family

She has nine years, and cries into a white and soft handkerchief. — First year English student

Your nuclear family is the family you lived with as a child. It consists of one or two parental figures, any number of brothers and sisters, and perhaps grandparents or other relatives. As with the previous chapters, respond to the exercises and tell the story. Be mindful of your increasing comfort with English as you write.

163.What was the glue that held your family together?

164.What were the unspoken rules of your family?

165.What did your parents give—or not give—to each other?

166.Did your family divide into teams? Which side were you on?

167.What was your parents’ capacity for pleasure?

168.What happened—or didn’t happen—between your parents that profoundly affected you?

169.How did they parent? With unconditional love? Obligation? Power?

170.Did your parents find the world a safe place? What did they teach you about other cultures?

171.What was forbidden in your home?

172.Did they share their truths with you, or hide them?

173.Did they love their children equally?

174.What did you learn from your grandparents?

Brothers and Sisters

175.Was there competition? Who supported it?

176.Did any of them have something you desperately wanted?

177.What qualities do you share?

178.How are you different?

179.How did they show their love?

180.Did you confide in them without fear of betrayal?

181.How did they help shape you?