It's always so good to see how you're planning ahead for your own poetry practice and projects. Homeschooling definitely challenges us. I know how easy it is to get completely caught up in the needs of the kids. I've been there, for sure.
For April, I'm digging into all my old notebooks before generating anything new. I feel like I just need to catch up with myself a bit. I have years worth of story and poetry ideas that could use some love and fresh eyes. I hope to use all of this accumulation as a jumpstart, and possibly to a pamphlet of poems.
I love receiving your monthly mailings--the upcoming one sounds so interesting to me--Vasilisa the Wise! Russian fairytales are something new to me, for the most part. Can't wait! xo
My poetry teacher, Holly Wren Spaulding, just sent an email about “moving work forward.” When I look at all my stacks of journals + notes + drafts it can be more than a touch overwhelming. But thinking in terms of moving work forward is something much more approachable.
And now, thinking about drafts that need some love and fresh eyes also sounds like work that is full of grace.
It is so wise of you to start preparing now. Creativity requires the right conditions to flourish and space is one of those considerations. If we have to move a pile of books to start, we are less likely to overcome the first obstacle.
Margaret Ann Silver inspired me to try my hand at some tanka stanzas.
Here's three stanzas, one for each card:
ask the wave that strikes
the shore: what pilgrim grace may
be found in ocean
deeps beyond the sight of land?
what hope swells travelers home?
.
ask the pines that sigh,
bending low to long-drawn wind-
breath: what pilgrim songs
arrive, whispering secret
summons, dreams from distant lands?
.
ask the lazy goat-
kind, grazing in the deep shade:
what pilgrim food will
sustain the weary traveler
home to journey's end?
I got the Vasilisa prompts. Oh swoon!
Sadly I’m not sure I’ve got the bandwidth to write many poems in April. I might be sitting out on this one.
Prompts will wait tiill the time is ripe. Peace keep you this Holy Week.
LOVE
Happy writing, friend 💙
It's always so good to see how you're planning ahead for your own poetry practice and projects. Homeschooling definitely challenges us. I know how easy it is to get completely caught up in the needs of the kids. I've been there, for sure.
For April, I'm digging into all my old notebooks before generating anything new. I feel like I just need to catch up with myself a bit. I have years worth of story and poetry ideas that could use some love and fresh eyes. I hope to use all of this accumulation as a jumpstart, and possibly to a pamphlet of poems.
I love receiving your monthly mailings--the upcoming one sounds so interesting to me--Vasilisa the Wise! Russian fairytales are something new to me, for the most part. Can't wait! xo
Thank you!💛
My poetry teacher, Holly Wren Spaulding, just sent an email about “moving work forward.” When I look at all my stacks of journals + notes + drafts it can be more than a touch overwhelming. But thinking in terms of moving work forward is something much more approachable.
And now, thinking about drafts that need some love and fresh eyes also sounds like work that is full of grace.
Peace keep you in this coming month, friend.
(Here’s Holly’s email—not sure if the link will work here.) https://mailchi.mp/poetryforge/move-it-forward?e=10e3b62365
It is so wise of you to start preparing now. Creativity requires the right conditions to flourish and space is one of those considerations. If we have to move a pile of books to start, we are less likely to overcome the first obstacle.
Ha! There can be a fine line between preparing and loading down the future with too many expectations. Here's to a month of flourishing creativity!💙