I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
In today’s exercise, Vaughn encourages writers to write about an unexpected image such as a tuba to capture a reader’s imagination with surprise. He references “Tuba” by Morton Marcus, but my mind goes straight to Billy Collins’ “Irish Spider.”
My poem today is inspired by the end of Will’s Red Coat by Tom Ryan – one of my favorite unexpected images! It still brings a tear and a message to live life fully and smell the flowers while we can.
Hooked Will's little red coat hanging on a wall hook, still do you smell flowers?
Common Threads 