Walking a Mile...Writing from Books and Expressions

Used Sneaks
by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem came about in a difficult way. Honestly, I could not decide what to write about.  I rambled around in my notebook writing about everything from not knowing what to write to describing my cat to the grandfather I never knew to imagining an island full of horses.  My notebook entry that led to this poem is completely scattered.

But then I settled in.  And how I settled into this topic, I am not sure.  It may be because most of my shoes do come from secondhand stores, or it may because I was remembering a conversation I had over twenty years ago with Patricia MacLachlan.  I was riding in an elevator with Patricia MacLachlan at Teachers College, Columbia University, helping her with her things as she prepared to give a keynote in the big auditorium. On that elevator ride, she told me about an idea she had for a book.  It was an amazing idea for a book that she would not publish until over fifteen years later, and I thought about it often through those years.

When EDWARD'S EYES was published, and when I read the description, I squealed at the reality of our conversation coming to real print life.  I will not tell you what the book is about, but if you know it, you will see the connection to this poem.  If you do not know this book, then you must read it.

Available at Your Local Bookshop

So maybe the poem comes a little bit from this book.  It also comes from a popular expression, "You cannot understand another person until you've walked a mile in their shoes."

I have written another poem from a popular expression - "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" - HERE.

If you're ever feeling uncertain of what to write about, try thinking about books you have read or conversations you have had.  Maybe make a list in your notebook of expressions.  Ideas are everywhere...sometimes we just have to look into the corners of our atticminds to find them.

It has been such a pleasure to host science author Melissa Stewart over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, this month.  If you have not read her post full of writing insight and notebook pictures, please stop by.  From now through Sunday, if you leave a comment, you will be entered into a drawing to win three of Melissa's books.

Catherine is hosting a this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at Reading to the Core.  You will love the peek into Irene Latham's new book, WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON ANTARCTICA, and you'll also love the interview between Catherine and Irene.  

Please share a comment below if you wish.

I Saw - Poems about Conversations & Colors

 

Teasels

Photo by Amy LV

 

Corn Stalks and Queen Anne's Lace

Photo by Amy LV

Students - The idea for this poem has been in my mind for a long time, for many years ago, my husband did tell me that he loved the color brown. From that day on, I saw brown differently.  Whereas before I never would have considered brown beautiful, now I too, love its many shades.  Often I think about brown, notice brown, am grateful for brown.  Friends (and husbands) who help you grow are gifts indeed.

Today's poem was inspired by a color and by a conversation.  On my drive to Syracuse, NY yesterday, looking at all of the roadside browns, pausing to take pictures,I was reminded of this old conversation about brown.  Finally, I've captured something that has been rolling around in my mind for years.

Did you notice that "I saw" is a very short line, two words on a line all alone?  That was a revision.  When I first wrote this verse, it did not have a title.  Rereading to find a title, I considered "Brown" and considered "Once" but I wanted the title to convey more meaning than that.  I wanted the title to show that I was changed, that at last, "I Saw."  Once I changed the title, the line needed to be changed as well, to reflect the importance of seeing and understanding.  Those two words deserved their own line, so I changed the line break from:

I saw one hundred wondrous browns

to

I saw

one hundred wondrous browns

When you begin to write today, you might think about questions and colors too.

What conversation has been rolling around in your mind?

What color is striking your eye these days?

Please share a comment below if you wish.