April 2
In Defense of Poetry
Poetry turns all things to loveliness; it exalts the beauty of that which is most beautiful, and it adds beauty to that which is deformed, it marries exultation and horror, grief and pleasure, eternity and change… its secret alchemy turns to portable gold the poisonous waters which flow from death through life; it strips the veil of familiarity from the world and lays bare… the sleeping beauty…
Poetry thus makes immortal all that is best and most beautiful in the world. ~Mary Shelley In Defense of Poetry
Determination
By Virginia Bell
Stop and choose a random color.
Move down the hall with stray determination.
What have you discovered?
Sap Green,
Angelic Blue,
Orchid Haze,
Red Pepper,
Drip, Drip, Drip down the wall.
April 3
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
I’m re-listening to Rick Rubin on Audible. He reads his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, which is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes of his creative thoughts and ideas. One of these is Patience. He talks about how when we are reading, our minds can wander. I’m very familiar with this. Our goal as creatives is to get experience by doing things slowly. To gain insight, we can reread, focus, and engage in a practice of patience—continuous welcoming. Not just in good advice in creative endeavors but in life. Patience isn’t taking time; it’s giving ourselves time.
Patience
By Virginia Bell
On the life escalator.
Move along.
The shift of a five o’clock shadow, temperature rising, degrees, and promotions.
Keep going.
The constant summer moon, test results, fresh bread.
Tread lightly.
The rhythm of grazing cows, end credits, swing dancing.
Patience is to be present.
Stand still and listen.
Look on quietly and know.
April 4
Memory
Memory
By VIrginia Bell
Maybe you’re worried little girl?
Enchanting pixie cut and sailor dress.
Maybe taking mental pictures, collect them.
Over the hill almost, but you were there.
Remember?
You’re reminiscencing, alive, and thinking.
April 5
Precise
I learned a new term today. Being the word nerd I am, I question words and continue to analyze them. Words are funny and interesting. Here’s what I learned.
Do you know that feeling when you say a word over and over again, and it seems to lose its meaning? Or does the word begin to sound foreign to you? If I say precise ten times out loud, it sounds made up. (Thor says all words are made up. I know.) My point is, why does the word ‘change’? Or is it just me? It just so happens there is a term for this.
Semantic satiation is a psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives the speech as repeated meaningless sounds.
Weird, huh? I didn’t know this phenomenon actually had a name. It’s far out! How precise are those psychologists who came up with it?
Word Nerd
By VIrginia Bell
When the aliens invade
We will win.
How?
Pick a word, any word.
Speak as precise as possible.
Over and over again.
Pick a word, any word.
Be precise.
We will win.
April 6
Grace
On January 22, 2011, my book club gals and I attended the Family Literacy Symposium at the Provo City Library. Leif Enger, the author of Peace Like a River, was the featured guest speaker. The topic was Reading: Taking the Journey Together.
Fast-forward fourteen years, and Peace Like a River is still one of my favorite books. The story, the characters, the miracles, the setting—it’s all lovely. But my favorite part of this book is the poetry.
Swede Land is a beautiful character. She is a 9-year-old poet who is wiser than she seems. If I could be a character in a novel, I would be Swede and write poetry as she does.
My favorite type of poem is the Fourteener. Swede uses the 14-syllable story-driven stanzas beautifully. And so, here is my fourteener, called Grace.
Grace
By VIrginia Bell
Are you listening?
We need to let Grace tell her story. She speaks of her tale in the cool breeze of morning glory.
Let’s embrace this education,
its verity and song.
The road seems hard with rocks and weeds
but it will not take long.
If we heed her soulful lament
we know we can return.
Grace will freely open her arms to all who want to learn.
April 7
Attention
Blackout Poetry
Blackout poetry has to be one of the easier ways to create a poem. I have so many of these little attempts at art. I suggest you get a new black marker, preferably a Sharpie, and a random magazine article or newspaper clipping. Then, decide on your mood, but don’t force it. Start by gently underlining words and phrases that you love. Understand this piece of writing and be okay with blacking out words you don’t want. Sometimes, out of 100 words, ten words are sufficient. And, finally, you have something new.
April 8
Purpose
It’s time for another batch of favorite wordpool phrases. I wonder if Jane Austen ever collected her favorite words.
I’m sharing these words on the Interwebs for anyone looking for the right phrase to use in their poems.
~~~
parlor pigeon ~ mystical prospect
willowy body ~ service of mercy
thunder county ~ divine merit of day
invisible sorrow ~ kingdom of marriage
the blind robber ~ sallow unveiled night
allusive fortune ~ sunset in the cellar
the haunted heart ~ silvery haze
April 9
Focus
I’ve been thinking a lot about clarity lately. I’m searching for clarity and discipline over confusion and distraction. I recognize these personal quirks about myself, and I’m trying to organize my daily obligations and creative practice.
Last July, I began a deep dive into the world of The Twilight Zone reruns and question-and-answer sessions with ChatGPT. I do not recommend it. The Twilight Zone was the confusion, and ChatGPT was the distraction.
So, fast-forward a few months filled with quiet contemplation, reading, and studying. I’ve chosen a motto to keep me away from the nonsense of Chat and the redundant reruns. I know it’s not a poem, but I love it. It’s promising and… poetic.
Leave a Reply