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Friday, February 18, 2011

Real Entry From the Writing Journal-Poetry

Jane Yolen (one of my favorite writers) is trying to write a poem a day for 2011.

A poem a day. Wow.

I can't even write a poem a month. And that started me thinking.........

True life journal entry, 2/7/11

I was a poet before
I was a storyteller
and that is the truth.

Ironic.

A poem to bemoan the fact
that poems rarely
find me these days.

That is because I
am the one
who must seek them,
isn't that so?

Poetry has not called to me
on the wings of an old black owl
or in the glimmer of a moonbeam
or from the depths of my marrow
for a long, long time.

True, I do listen
and search
and quest
for the words that play upon
my tongue,
teeth
and lips.

But they are words
that serve the story,
whispers that breathe life
into the tale.

They exist for a purpose
apart from themselves.

I want to open my eyes
to see the images that
wait, quietly
for a poem
to come.

Instead, it is only my ears
that are alive...
and they hear
but fleeting echoes.


So, um, I don't even know what that is up there. But I do know that I want and need more poetry in my life. Maybe everybody needs more poetry in their lives. Again, ironic because I write bits of poems with kids every day, but I discard them like those little shreds left behind when someone tears the page out of the spiral. (Note: those little things really need a name. Shredlets?) I need to keep those bits of poems. I need to start seeing life as a poem...or a series of poems.

I want the poet inside of myself not to be so intimidated by the storyteller.

hrh

12 comments:

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

The storyteller who is also a poet is a gift indeed!
I love the imagery and thought in whatever that was up there, and I'm definitely intrigued by the depths of marrow. Therein, methinks, lies the heart.

Catherine Denton said...

I enjoyed this post! I love reading poetry and playing with words. I'm glad you're pursuing your poet self again!

Margo Berendsen said...

Shredlets. I have an overabundance of those from my kids who love tearing through notebooks. Great word.

I know what you mean though, I crave more poetry in my life, too. I love the last few lines of your poem. It does seem if we sat still enough and listened to the words, they would give us poem. But it's so hard to filter out the noises of life.

Myrna Foster said...

I find that the more I blog, the less poetry I write. I'm not sure why.

I like your poem, and you should save your shredlets. The first poem I sold to Highlights was a bit of nonsense I made up to make writing the letter S more fun for my boy.

storyqueen said...

Tricia-You should know! I love your poems and your prose.... so lyrical!

Catherine-Me too. I just hope I can find the wandering poet.....

Margo-Yes, shredlets indeed. And I am really struggling with stillness, or the lack thereof....

Myrna-That is wonderful. Sometimes those things we write just for fun are the ones in which we let our strongest voice jump out on the page. Let's here it for more poetry!

Unknown said...

A poem a DAY! That's bold. I haven't written poetry in seven years. It's about darn time I change that. Really enjoyed this post.

Hardygirl said...

Wow! This is beautiful.

And, your "shredlets" remind me of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE--a gorgeous YA book. Go. Get it. Read it. The poet in you will love it.

sf

Katie Anderson said...

That's fascinating. And really good!!!! Write more!!!

Christina Lee said...

YES!!!!!!!! And your poem was pretty!

I was a poet first too. And I want to have poetic, lyrical stories like Jandy Nelson but *sigh*

I love this: "I want the poet inside of myself not to be so intimidated by the storyteller."

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I used to jot down a poem on the chalkboard most mornings before school started when I was teaching and then erase it at some point during the day....I'd like to kick myself for it now. Save everything! That's my advice....

BlackBerry Hosted Exchange said...

lovely style of writing. Keep up the good work!

storyqueen said...

Matt-I'd kind of like to do one once a week...even if it were just a few verses. I feel so rusty and not very lyrical these days.

SF-I've heard so much about Jandy's book. It is on the list, but not yet in the stack.

Katie-Thanks....it's just something I want to do for me. Maybe it will help the writing, maybe not. But it will help my soul, I think.

Christina-The second shout-out to Jandy. Going to have to get my hands on it!

Sharon-And yet, there is something beautiful about letting a poem go....the most perfect ones might just be the most temporary.

Blackberry-Thank you...I intend to.