Students - In the picture atop this post, you can see my little yellow and blue writing shed. I have named her Gratitude after a line in the poem 'The Place I Want to Get Back To' by Mary Oliver. Usually though, I just call her The Shed. At this time of year, one must push the sunflowers aside to get to Gratitude's door, and I imagine this is why I wrote about sunflowers today. Walking out there to get something yesterday evening, I just stopped and marveled at how VERY TALL these sunflowers are, how MUCH TALLER they are than all other flowers around these parts. So I took their picture....and just got to writing.
At first, I thought I might try drafting at the keyboard. But then, I heard my notebook sigh. So a handwritten poem it was...and both notebook and I were much happier for it. I had no idea of what to write but knew it would begin with the TALLNESS of the sunflowers. I wrote the first line and then just followed wordy breadcrumb to wordy breadcrumb...and there we were.
It feels playful to imagine human qualities in non-humans....sunflowers are not aunts or uncles, they do not whisper prayers or have toes. But when we write, sunflowers can have toes. Sunflowers can whisper prayers. Sunflowers can be like aunts and uncles. You may consider trying this. Look at an object or plant, or even an animal. Imagine what it might say, think, feel. Jot some of these ideas down, and if one feels particularly interesting to you, write more from it. After all, no one in this whole world thinks about things just the way you do.
When we give non-humans human qualities in our writing, we call this personification.
I did have a writing helper as I worked on today's poem.We have a new little round table, given to us by a friend who no longer wanted it, and I revised outside and Winnie joined me. She was looking out at a garden, but I waved my hands to make her look at me so that you could see her too.
Tricia is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at The Miss Rumphius Effect with a delightful poem inspired by the phrase, "It's all my fault" and written from a dog's point of view. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
This week I wish you the good fun of imagining that a tree or flower or animal or object is thinking or feeling or talking...or all three! Have a playful party in your brain!
