I was browsing through our local used bookstore on a lunch break last week when, on my way out the door, a book caught my eye. Its title, Write the Story, glimmered in gold lettering down the spine, as if to plead: Hey, over here! See my sparkle? Take me home with you!
Already reaching for the doorknob, I changed course and went back to check it out. I expected a how-to on the writing process. Instead, I discovered the hidden treasure of a delightful writing challenge. Each page bore a titled topic with ten pre-determined (seemingly random) words to be used in the writing of a story.
The pages appeared to be blank except for one on which someone had penciled a story to satisfy one singular challenge and apparently moved on with life, abandoning the book and donating it to the bookstore, where it now rested in my hands. Treasure, indeed!
Poems to be written. Winter seeds of poetry, all scattered between the covers of one book. Destined for me, cast off like a stray no one else wanted, knowing all the while that a cultivator of words and writing would be most likely to pick it up, fall in love with it, take it home, and feed it.
I bought it and realized that other members of my small-group Stafford Challenge writers must have a copy. When we commit to writing a poem a day for a year, we all need a little prompting from time to time when the well runs dry or life gets too busy to think deeply like a poet. Once back inside the car, I turned on the heat and warmed up. I ordered three more copies online from the parking lot to send to Glenda Funk, Barb Edler, and Denise Krebs upon their arrival. Then I took a few snapshots to send them in the mean time.
Today’s title: In the Middle of a Long, Cold Winter
Words: opera, redeem, razor, lungs, grace, futuristic, tread, vest, powder, milkshake
In the Middle of a Long, Cold Winter
like that one lingering note
concluding a futuristic opera
treading frozen spring water
winter cleanses our lungs
razor-sharp alveoli icicles fall
sun breaks out in a crescendo
of seasonal transition
melting the white powder
milkshake from the mountainside
grace of its forgiving kiss
beckoning crocus, groundhog-like peepers
stretching up through frozen ground
ready to crawl out of bed
emerge from quilted slumber
shed their corm-sewn bud vests and
sing a new song
Common Threads 
WOW! I will admit, that seeing the prompt and then the random word list, I immediately thought no way – opera and milkshake in same story? But then you made magic with your crocus poem. You slice also shows what a giving person you are. “Others must have a copy…and I ordered three” Favorite line: as if to plead: Hey, over here! See my sparkle? Take me home with you!
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Thank you, Sally! I saw you also read My Friends. That was a wonderful story!
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Feeling the line “Winter cleanses our lungs” each time I go outside to attempt to shovel the compacted snow/ice that blankets the driveway. Brilliant tapestry weaving the words into a poem.
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Aww, the shoveling of snow! I’ve wish you plenty of warmth and hot chocolate!
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”white powder milkshake” is a clever metaphor! I love how random word lists push us to see things in a new perspective. I hope you are doing OK in the crazy winter storm. I have the poem version of this book. It was given to me by a student. I’m one of those who has tried one or two of the prompts and abandoned it.
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Margaret, I just ordered a copy of that one and can’t wait to get it! I hope you all fared well in the ice storm – – we dodged it somehow. We were right on the edge, and it all went northeast of us.
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We did too. Lots of rain but no ice. Whew!
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Treasure indeed! Love the line “melting the white powdermilkshake”– who would have ever thought of that without a little nudge.
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Yes, I think that’s what I love is the cerebral energy for trying to make random things fit together. Thanks, Melanie!
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Kim,
I love the language of care you use to describe the book, as though it is a living thing to nurture. Lovely. Today’s prompts magical. I have two ideas marinating in my mind. I’m excited for my copy to arrive. 🤗
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It says it will arrive here February 3, so hopefully I can get it right out to you. I should have had them sent directly, but I didn’t have all the addresses with me. I know we will have fun with it in our small group.
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“Poems to be written. Winter seeds of poetry, all scattered between the covers of one book. Destined for me, cast off like a stray no one else wanted, knowing all the while that a cultivator of words and writing would be most likely to pick it up, fall in love with it, take it home, and feed it.” This paragraph grabbed my attention as much as your amazing poem. You have such a gift for words and I found this post both inspiring and touching. Thank you!
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Thank you, Rita! I hope you have had a fabulous birthday. My daughter’s is Jan 25 and husband’s is Jan 10……it’s a great month to celebrate all the living! Take care.
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Wonderful imagery! Love the final line, “sing a new song.” This poetry writing activity reminds me of a poetry writing challenge with Laura Shovan in 2017. Each day for a month, we wrote a poem using ten found words from news article chosen by one of the group. It was challenging and inspiring. Here’s an example with directions from my blog: “The Digester” https://alicenine.net/digester/.
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Kim,
Love how the book called you back from the doorknob. What a sweet group of EthicalELA folks in your Stafford small group. I, too, was skeptical of that list. When I read the top of the list I was already thinking, how is this going to come together? Then, I got to milkshake, and my brain just said, nope. But you pulled it off seamlessly. Love the kindness of buying for your writing group as well. So sweet.
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Thank you, Sharon! I love the look of your blog and the font. It has such a welcoming vibe and aesthetic appeal for the reader.
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THIS is a powerful resource and a fountain of writing inspiration. I loved your line, “beckoning crocus, groundhog-like peepers
stretching up through frozen ground ready to crawl out of bed
emerge from quilted slumber.” You have me thinking like a writer, but also as a teacher of teachers of writers right now. I am reminded that we need to offer our students resources and places of inspiration for those days when their well runs dry!!!
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Thank you, Anita! I need the nudge more often these days than ever as I get older – – the random words help spark some thoughts!
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Wow! So many beautiful lines, I can’t pick a favorite. I have seen the poetry book but not the story one, and I love the story of how it became your treasure!
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Thank you, Leigh Anne! Loved your snow post today. And I hear more is on the way for where I live this weekend….. 🙂
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Hi Kim! I have Write the Poem and have to go back and see if I actually wrote anything. Maybe I did and will find a treasure. Thank you for the reminder. I think these books would be so good for reluctant writers.
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That is a neat book, the poetry one – – I have a copy on the way after seeing a preview online. I’ll pretend I’m in the Wonder Studio and see where it leads.
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What a poem! So much to love in your words. I love the crocus pic you have at the top of the poem.
So fun that the book called from the shelf for your attention. Lucky book to go home with you!
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