Spinwishes - Writing from Objects

My Kaleidoscope

Photo by Amy LV

 

Click the arrow to hear me read this poem to you.

Sutdents - Today’s handful of words is a small tribute to the feeling I have each time I look into the end of my brass kaleidoscope.  It had been a long time since I picked this old treasure up, but recently I held it to my face in wonder once more.  I peeked into that magical cylinder, and like jacks sprinkling a sidewalk,
questions poured out:

• Where did this glass come from
• Does everyone see the same thing in here?
• Will these patterns ever repeat in such a way again?
• Who made this whirling work of twinkling art?
• Why can’t I see the world in kaleidoscope patterns all the time?

As a notebook keeper, I tuck wee snips of beauty and surprise into my blank pages every day, uncertain if they will one day grow into something “sharable.” Sometimes they turn into poems or essays right away.  Sometimes they never do.  And sometimes they do, but it just takes many months or years for them to grow up into something ready for others to read.  That is the beauty of a notebook.

A notebook is a place to save things that you just may need, or you just may not...but either way, you've got them.  (This is how I feel about all of the candles and chocolate chips I have stocked up for the oncoming storm!  For a laugh, see my old WBFO essay about readying for storms.)

Writing verse brings me joy in that line-by-line, I am surprised by which words decide to show up for the party.  I began “Spinwishes” as a celebration of an object - a brass kaleidoscope - and ended up with a bit of a funny wish, not something I had planned at all.  The contrast of lovely geometric lace to that of a person walking with kaleidoscopic eye sockets makes me smile.

Try this yourself.  Just choose an object near to you.  Look at it closely.  Pick it up in your hands and examine it from various angles.  Ask yourself some questions about it.  Feel it in your hands. Let some new thoughts rise in your mind. Now...mind open...write!

If you do not see a post from me on Wednesday, please know the VanDerwater family does not have power...  If this happens, know that I will be back as soon as possible...and writing by candlelight until the lights return!

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Tucked Twinkie and Writing Endings

Snack Time!

Photo by Amy LV

Students - I think the idea for poem came from this week's Chevy's Super Bowl commercial. Funny how one little thing sticks in one's mind, isn't it? In the first couple of drafts of "Tucked Twinkie," the ending lines rhymed right along with the rest. But when I asked my children to read the poem aloud, each looked at me and said, "I don't get it." If someone says "I don't get it," after reading your writing, it's a sign that you need to revise.

So I did.

I went back to the Twinkie-writing-drawing-board, and I played around a bit more until I came up with this abrupt ending. And it made my daughter Georgia crack up. So I kept it. Sometimes keeping a rhyme pattern going, lulling the reader along, and then dropping her on the floor makes for a good surprise ending. Please let me know if you give this a try as I would love to read your work.

Speaking of Twinkies, Hostess has filed for Chapter 11, and so soon the Twinkies will disappear. Here are a few ways you can enjoy the last boxes that may ever exist. For the truly strange among you, consider making a Twinkie Weiner Sandwich. If you would like to make your own Twinkies, check out this recipe at Top Secret Recipes. Or if you would like to make an organic, vegan version of Twinkies, visit instructables. If you just want to deep fry some Twinkies, check out food.com to learn how. We may actually do this on Saturday, and I'll keep you posted if we do.

Perhaps you are not very interested in EATING Twinkies. In that case, you might wish to check out some science experiments involving Twinkies from npr. Or maybe you'd just like to hear opera singer Hai-Ting Chinn doing her part to help Hostess by singing all of the ingredients in a Twinkie.

Would you call this a found poem?

Teachers and grown up friends - it is time to register for Spark 15, a wonderful opportunity for artists, musicians, and writers to swap work and inspire. This will be my fourth year participating, and I encourage you to consider joining the free artistic fun! Later this year, I plan to help Amy Souza and Jamie Palmer begin a small version of Spark for Kids.

And in case you, too, thought that Twinkies will last forever...you find out their real shelf life here at Snopes.

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