i almost...
Carolee is hosting "The Traveling Poetry Show" today, so please visit her blog to read her post, find out next week's prompt, and visit her comments to link to some posts about poetry.
Yesterday, thinking about the idea of fear that Delia posted as the prompt last week, the writing prompt "I almost" sprung to my mind. I wanted to just write and write all that came from thinking about that phrase. Fears can spring from that word almost. The following phrases aren't current feelings necessarily, just thoughts that came to me as I wrote for several minutes without stopping or editing (much):
I almost
Sat until I couldn't feel
Closed my eyes to truth
Got in the car and never looked back
Quietly allowed the world to happen around me
Believed that things just seemed to happen to me
Stayed in a belittling, suckerpunch-filled relationship
Wished it all away
Felt so much envy I forgot me
Stuffed anger in until my belly bloated
Forgot to remember myself
Slept my way to stagnation
Thought I didn't have a tribe
Didn't believe someone could change
Didn't own all of it
Didn't allow for possibility
Didn't dream of something breath taking
Lost my footing
And from this free writing came the following little poem of sorts:
I almost slept
my way to stagnation
but instead
I swim inside
possibility
balance
and breath
. i series ., poem notes, poetry
Reader Comments (19)
What a powerful list and poem resulting from it.
That short verse speaks out. I would say loaded!
BTW, I miss PT!
Brilliant--I love the distilled version at the end. I think I may have to try this prompt myself . . .
I loved the end product..and found the free writing irresistable. Isn't it funny, how it's all right there..when we do not edit?
I know it's a process..but editing still feels like hacking an arm off to me.
I liked the feel in the first part.
While I think the first can stand alone as a poem, I think the second is powerful and lovely!
wow...
stream of consciousness
looks good on you...
definately a style you can wear.
:)
Your blog has totally eased me into poetry in a way that I didn't think was possible. I really enjoyed what came of your writing exercise today.
That was an awesome illustration of the creative process. Your writing has its own honest, profound style. Thank you!
i gravitate toward list poems. and this one is terrific b/c it's things that don't exist. because you prevented them from happening. very empowering.
being torn between letting things happen around you and feeling like things happen to you is the crux of this for me. keeps you/the reader between a rock and a hard place.
I really like that poem a lot, Liz...even more so seeing the raw thoughts that inspired it.
Ahhhh--your poem is a nugget of truth. Lovely.r
wonderful ... and i loved seeing the evolution :) thank you for this gift!
Evocative and authentic writing,
So refreshing to read,
With love, M.
your poems are so rich liz, it's beautiful to see how your writing has progressed.
i could have written many of your almosts and it's these very things (along with many of my own), that i'm working on removing from my life.
xo
Wonderful prompt ... I may have to "borrow" it! Had a wonderful time with you today dear poetry sister -- peace & love to you, xx, deb
I am in loive with these. This solidifies what got me to love blogging so much in the first place. Connecting ....someone else writing the words I feel....resonating...with someone on the other side of the country just by reading their words.
You are beautiful
I love all the streaming thoughts that came to you... I can relate to every single line, and to me that was a lovely poem in itself. But the little poem is a nice complement too. Hmm... the idea of swimming in balance sounds refreshing! Enjoying and catching up on your beautiful writing today! xo
this list was interesting, but the distilled poem is great - very powerful.
if you are like me, some of those lines not directly used in the result may spawn poems of their own some day.