Today I'm sharing an original poem, inspired by this week's poetry stretch to write a list poem.
How I Write
Preparation
Empty notebook
Fine blue pen
Comfortable chair
Quiet room
Stillness
Contemplation
Stare at page
Just write
Tap fingers
Write something
Twirl pen
Write anything!
Inspiration
Look closely
Lines on my hand
Drape of a blanket
Spider on wall
Bird at the feeder
Squirrel climbing tree
Dog at my feet
AHA!
Pen glides across the page
Line after line unfolds
Great Frustration
Cross out
Rearrange
Change form
Make it rhyme
Revise, revise, revise
Doodle
Take out rhyme
Search thesaurus
Revise, revise, revise
Tear out pages
Put them back
Close the book
Hibernation
Tuck away in dresser drawer
Safe beneath pajamas
Life intervenes
Revelation
Days
Weeks
Months pass
Preparing dinner
Thoughts drift
In my head
Run to drawer
Open book
At last!
I’ve found the words
But is it poetry?
The round up this week is hosted by Holly at Brimstone Soup. Do stop by and check out all the great poetry being shared this week. Happy poetry Friday, all!
That's always the question, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd the answer is really a matter of perspective.
Ha! This made me smile--with recognition. How can anyone describe how poetry is actually made? But this is a great picture of how it FEELS.
ReplyDeleteThat space and time that the pajama drawer allows is so needed. :-) Loved the shape of this poem, too!
ReplyDeleteOut of a list you've created if not a poem, then something very close to it. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTricia,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how some poems nearly write themselves--and how others involve so much time and effort. I know well the "putting away" of poems for a time.
Years ago, I used to write all my poems in notebooks--that was before I had a typewriter...and later a computer. I still keep small journals in which I jot down ideas and rough drafts of many of my poems. Now, I love using a word processor to try out different drafts of poems.
Elaine - I wish I could write poetry on the computer. For me, it just doesn't leave the "trail of evidence" that paper versions do. I can see everything I have tried. On the computer, I forget to save as, so I often can't see how far I've come with a draft.
ReplyDeleteI've had such a hard time writing lately. I think it's because work (and the administrative stuff I despise) has been consuming so much time. I hope that with the break I'll be able to write a bit easier!
Tricia,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been writing much of anything lately myself.
I just became so swamped in a sea of paper when I worked on all the different drafts of all my poems on paper. For a number of my manuscripts, I still keep a notebook with first drafts of poems and a "drafts" file in my computer. I also print out drafts of poems to work on when I'm not at my desk, or sitting outside, or on vacation. Those drafts I keep in labeled folders.
I love your list poem!!! And I just read Franki's post at A Year of Reading about Georgia Heard's new book of list poems. I think list poetry is something I may need to visit with my students after Thanksgiving -- it was meant to be!!
ReplyDeleteI love your poem. It makes my Wall of Writing - posts and thoughts that inspire me.
ReplyDelete