Almost always my poems start with a single line, and then I have to do battle with the rest of it to get it to match. I want to try this idea though! Saving it so I can come back to play with it later. I do love the ways that words can expand as we turn them. It's like holding a jewel up to the light and seeing what reflects.
Oh, Annelise, you made me smile....thinking about "doing battle" with words to see how they might fit.
And yes to the image of holding words up to the light to see their many facets. (Many, many years ago my first poetry blog was called "Another Facet." :-) #greatminds
I’m more of a linear thinker and am usually starting poems with a line or two that won’t get out of my head, so I am always fascinated to see how others generate ideas. I like the web idea a lot!
Thanks Jody--sometimes finding a way to get started is the hardest part. The intimidation of the white page! For myself, I constantly collect fragments of phrases or loosely joined words that feel like they are part of something. The act of finding has no set goal in the beginning; I'm not looking for anything specific. It's a way life finds me HAH. At some point I drag them out and see if they want to talk with each other. If they find some affection for each other then I begin the wordplay that you speak of...
Susan I love the way you think! I remember Malcolm Guite saying the same thing about "putting words on a page and see if they want to come out and talk to each other."
Eavesdropping on word conversations and then committing them to paper is one of your fortes.
I am one of those first-line-starts-it-all writers, and it's fascinating how different minds synthesize in different ways. This was a good read, and probably will provoke something out of me later on. :)
Thanks so much for sharing! and you're correct, the succinctness of language is the way I process my world these days--hence, the poems that land on my pages.
I posted "Daisy Chain" but perhaps didn't post in the right spot. I was going off the word prompt "bound". Anyway, it is by Marcia N. Lynch
Marcia, I found it.... What an image for Holy Week ahead....
Daisy Chain
Daisy-chained
Through nail-pierced palms,
Threaded,
Wound in His wounds.
Entwined
In a humble garland,
We are bound to love.
Almost always my poems start with a single line, and then I have to do battle with the rest of it to get it to match. I want to try this idea though! Saving it so I can come back to play with it later. I do love the ways that words can expand as we turn them. It's like holding a jewel up to the light and seeing what reflects.
Oh, Annelise, you made me smile....thinking about "doing battle" with words to see how they might fit.
And yes to the image of holding words up to the light to see their many facets. (Many, many years ago my first poetry blog was called "Another Facet." :-) #greatminds
I’m more of a linear thinker and am usually starting poems with a line or two that won’t get out of my head, so I am always fascinated to see how others generate ideas. I like the web idea a lot!
ah, the single sentence approach to inspiration. I love it, Erin.
This is really good Jody! I might pick one of those wonderful words and see what happens 😊 Thank you for sharing your heart.
Thanks Jody--sometimes finding a way to get started is the hardest part. The intimidation of the white page! For myself, I constantly collect fragments of phrases or loosely joined words that feel like they are part of something. The act of finding has no set goal in the beginning; I'm not looking for anything specific. It's a way life finds me HAH. At some point I drag them out and see if they want to talk with each other. If they find some affection for each other then I begin the wordplay that you speak of...
Susan I love the way you think! I remember Malcolm Guite saying the same thing about "putting words on a page and see if they want to come out and talk to each other."
Eavesdropping on word conversations and then committing them to paper is one of your fortes.
I am one of those first-line-starts-it-all writers, and it's fascinating how different minds synthesize in different ways. This was a good read, and probably will provoke something out of me later on. :)
Oh, Mark poem-writing poetry is a fascinating process, indeed. I would so enjoy reading if you want to share something later...
I love behind the scenes processes, and these words are fantastic jumping off points! Thank you.
Oh, yay! I'm so glad this inspired you, Callie. Thanks for saying so.
Ericka, wow! these lines...
"But it was only You, the soft tender
voice in the bitter angry dark, not salt,
but a soothing consequence, an ointment
that healed heart, and made me love again."
Thanks so much for sharing! and you're correct, the succinctness of language is the way I process my world these days--hence, the poems that land on my pages.
I loved reading this. Thank you for sharing.