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.
Today’s exercise is writing poetry from field recordings. Vaughn encourages writers to get into nature or out into the realm of life and write from observations.
Winterfoot
when I stepped from
the garage door
into the frigid morning
with my Hoka
on one foot
my booted broken ankle
with a thin black
low-cut sock
on the other
I realized
in that moment
I've got a case
of winterfoot
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.
Today’s challenge is Imagery of Sound poetry, in which Vaughn challenges writers to write a poem using sound images beginning with the words I heard inside…..focusing on volume, pitch, and those craft images that represent sound.
I heard inside
the smack of
your words
echoes still
bouncing
off my heart
through my soul
this empty chamber
hollow
echoing
echoing
echoing
Scott McCloskey, our host at http://www.ethicalela.com for today’s Open Write, inspires us to write (Bad) Advice poems. I wrote mine from the middle of the coordinate plane – where I wish more people stood.
Today’s host at http://www.ethicalela.com is Denise Hill, who inspires us to write American Sentence poems – Haikus not on three lines, containing 17 syllables. I’ve been thinking lately about how nice it has been not having neighbors for so long, but I think of the coming days as others edge close. My introverted heart aches, inspiring my seventeen syllables today.
seek solace and silence of sanctuary before all is shattered ~
I take long last looks before change sweeps away this haven I have loved
lament the languishing privacy, pure pleasure of quiet shelter
Today’s host at http://www.ethicalela.com for Day 3 of the October Open Write is Carolina Lopez, who inspires us to write “I’ve Been Writing this Since…” poems.
Carolina, what a compelling prompt today! Your devotion to your family is clear and unshakable, and I admire the commitment you have to your nieces. Your mention of mixed feelings about becoming an aunt and my memories of my earliest days of writing mingled to bring back some vivid color memories. Thank you for investing in us as writers today.
Writing in Crayons
I’ve been writing this since i peeled that red crayon
wrote r-e-d in crooked letters under K-i-m in all my books smiling proudly
relieved I didn’t have to hide the pink for once from Susie Todd her favorite color afraid she’d steal it
take it to her house where we washed our hands with the cheddar cheese colored Dial bar soap sang Puff the Magic Dragon played Chinese Checkers
I’ve been writing this since I dreamed I got a black Irish Wolfhound named him Caesar
since we stood at the shore where I taught him to howl at the silver moon with a tiny blue plastic toy wolf that rested on his nose
since I stood behind his fluffy ears blowing through the toy like a birthday candle that howled that made him howl that made me laugh/howl proudly
I’ve been writing this since Mom’s Lewy Body hallucinations alerted us to the toddler alone in the orange shirt with no mother in sight playing near the edge of the street
(a pumpkin)
since she confused the yellow power tools for bananas when her family built the wheelchair ramp since wiping tears away
I’ve been writing this through the smiles the pride the pain the tears the grief
Anna Roseboro is our host at http://www.ethicalela.com for Day 2 of October’s Open Write. She challenges writers to write about living in the small spaces between other spaces. I thought of the real and virtual worlds, which inspired a short Haiku today.
Layers
real and virtual worlds collide ~ dressed from waist up bottoms optional
Anna Roseboro brings the Pantoum to us today! My husband and I do a lot of camping together, but on my last trip, I attended a session in a state park about the GirlCamper group and their workshops and meet-ups. I have been looking for a 1966 Scotty to restore and take on my solo writing weekends with my soul schnoodle. Cheers to Anna Roseboro for hosting today and motivating and inspiring writers always.
1966 Serro Scotty
I’m looking for you, 1966 Serro Scotty I’ll breathe new life into your old wheels we’ll hit the road, be best friends when I find you, look out!
I’ll breathe new life into your old wheels restore your soul, rest in your embrace when I find you, look out! we’ll blaze new trails
restore your soul, rest in your embrace listen to the symphony of the trees we’ll blaze new trails camping out under the stars
listen to the symphony of the trees we’ll hit the road, be best friends camping out under the stars I’m looking for you, 1966 Serro Scotty
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.
Today’s exercise involves writing a poem based on a painting or other work of art, diving into the rich description to evoke the mood, tone, or emotion present in the piece.
Aurora Borealis at Fairbanks Alaska Painting by marinelaArt – Acrylic Fine Art on 16″ x 12″ Large Canvas Paintings
Take Me There
log cabin
hygge,
warmth of fire inside
aurora borealis against
the Alaska night
the vast universe
playing for keeps
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.
Today’s writing exercise focuses on Imagery of Taste. Vaughn encourages writers to focus on an aspect of taste in today’s writing and create bursts of flavor in the piece.
Family Grandiose Narcissist
don't worry
her day is coming
that taste of her own
elder abuse
neglect
someone else
in control
denying pain management
through cancer
like it was natural childbirth,
some feat of honor
that one
you know, the one
who didn't want to
"dope her mother up and let her die,"
as if living were a choice
who instead put her in a
chair over in the corner
and let her suffer~
she grew too weary to sit
whacked her face falling
on a coffee table corner
carried a blackened bruise
to the grave
(let me tell you: there are
things worse than dying
peacefully with dignity)
that one, yes
you know, the one who has
no regrets
because she thinks
only about
herself
never apologizes~
because mistakes? her? no way!
that one, yes
you know, the one
who excluded others' photos
from the family Powerpoint
making herself the slideshow queen
because she's the only one
that matters to herself
that one, yes
who was a second bride
at her son's wedding
causing the videographer
to quit at the last minute
(no video ever happened
and family who didn't go
along with her choice to
let her mother suffer?
no wedding for those
who'd saved the date)
that one, yes
she will have her own taste
her day is coming
don't worry
I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), 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.
Today’s writing exercise focuses on smell and memory – the most connected sense to remembering the past. Vaughn encourages writers to explore the sense of smell connected to a memory in the writing.
Her Charm Bracelet
Mom's Estee Lauder lingers
even now, 7 years later
in my closet
on her scarves I kept
in her mirrored box
lined with burgundy velvet
where her charm bracelet rests
jingles when I need to hear her here
next to me
I breathe in, smell her presence
hold her here
then exhale,
release
knowing everything will be okay
Common Threads 