Seana Hurd Wright of Los Angeles is our host for Day 4 of October’s Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com.
Seana shares her process, which you can read fully here, or the synopsis here: Choose 4 -8 colors and brainstorm names of the many synonyms and color shades that are similar to the ones you chose. Write a poem or short story, in any form, using colors and as much figurative language as you’d like. I decided to choose two main colors, red and blue. Then I selected various shades and hues that compliment them. Then I selected a topic and enjoyed playing with words.
I took my inspiration from a friend’s Facebook post. He shared photos of a long-held tradition in Bluffton, South Carolina, a town where I used to live. Each October, a gathering of paddlers all dress as witches and take to the waterways at sunset to greet autumn in style. It’s quite a sight to see, full of color and peaceful festivity. This year, a tour boat passed by and someone on the boat blasted the song “Witchy Woman” as they passed, bringing laughter and setting the mood.
Witches’ Paddle
On October Sunset they ride
Onyx-caped waterproof witches
paddle out on Supermoon tide
admiring autumn’s swell riches
Common Threads 
This is wonderful! I wonder what students would write using this poem for inspiration. I just may steal it to show them! Thanks, Kim!
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Someone posted this on their Instagram. I think it was Glenda? I want to be a witch on a paddle board! Love your use of color words to create this small poem. Thanks for sharing.
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Kim, I have never seen such a fun gathering as you shared. Your colors shine in your small poem. Waterproof witches is a great word choice.
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Kim,
Love the inspiration for your poem. I saw the IG post about this tradition and some fun political takes on it. Now I want to be a witch on a paddle board! I really like the variation on paint chip poetry Seana offered today and felt free of constraints w/ it (I’m working, so needed that.). “Onyx-caped” is a gorgeous image. You’ve made every word count in your poem. I think you should make a Canva.
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Thank you, Glenda! I, too, want to be a witch on a paddle board. I showed it to my friend yesterday and she is “on board” too.
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So glad you included a photo, Kim, so we can see this fantastic event! Once again you prove that few words can paint mighty pictures and cast a complete spell … Supermoon tide totally pulls me in. I shiver just a little, but with anticipation. It’s such an autumn feeling.
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Fran, thank you! I do love the autumn time, and the Supermoon tide does bring the on-edge feelings, especially with all the storms we have had lately. I did see a friend of mine in Alabama was looking for a three-wheeled bike so that all the ladies of the town could dress as witches for the witches’ trike ride. That may be more my speed these days!
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