by Jill Crammond Wickham
As writers it is important for us to read widely, look closely and be open to inspiration in all its many forms.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the words of other poets. No matter how many times I think, “I have got to bring a notebook along with me to the bookstore,” I never remember. I end up buying way too many poetry books (as if this were possible! Too many? Ha! Never!), promising myself I will go directly home and write the poem that popped into my head.
I do not mean filching someone else’s poem. No. No. No. Inspiration can come from a single word, even a title. I read “Summer Kitchen,” (Sandra Gilbert), just the title, and I’m off on a tangent of summer camp, mom and the aunts in the kitchen. “You ask me to remove my shoes … ,” the first line of a Naomi Shihab Nye poem, and I have ten ideas for a really cool poem about taking shoes off.
These two examples alone are a fitting tribute to the negative state of my checking account.
This week you do not have to buy a new poetry book (although, that’s never, never a bad idea!). You could pick up one you already own, or go to your local library. Bring a notebook. The first poem that sends your muse spinning is the one. Jot down the ideas, images, poem ideas that come to you. Do not linger. Catch them, and write a poem. If you crave excess, browse several books you have never seen before. Catch all the poetry ideas. Write a poem from your favorite — the one that follows you home.
Oooh, this looks fun!! It’s like catching butterflies in a net!! Woohoo!! I’m so ready to catch words in my poetic net. =^-^= *bounces off*
A great book that always gives me a billion ideas is Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge’s “Poemcrazy”. Check it out!
Caught some words from Confucius . . . and Job.
Blessings all,
Linda
F IS FOR FOAL . . . AND FIRST RIDE, at THE MANE POINT
[...] was written for Read Write Poem Prompt #42: Catch Some Words. I actually had composed this early this morning, before I even knew about the [...]
I like Michelle’s Tuesday Title prompts at poefusion for exactly that reason…
Oh, and the idea of going with the poem that follows you home is spot on!
[...] August 29, 2008 One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the words of other poets. No matter how many times I th… [...]
Lirone, I think I would really enjoy Poefusion if I could decipher anything on it at all. I truly can’t make out a single word.
A blue background with dark blue text isn’t disability-friendly or even kind to people with any sort of vision problems. Black text on a white background is always the most readable, and bestest, site design choice. It’s a shame when design trumps usability.
Dana, I read poefusion on google reader. That solves the problem for me.
I was given a compilation of Bukowski’s poetry. In the book,” Run with the horses ” there were also some excerpts from his books. It followed me home also. Now it’s like a giant fly caught in a web, and the spider can’t seem to kill it, no matter how much of the body fluids I/it manages to suck out.
punatik.blogspot.com
[...] Read Write Poem prompt this week is to draw inspiration from a published poem; take a line, turn it into your own, [...]
Jill,
I have missed your commentary. Glad to be back here. I love Naomi Shihab Nye’s work. I watched the DNC all last week and I thought of you. You simply rock. Anyhoo, thanks for another great article.
[...] poem was written in response to two things: Jillypoet’s read write prompt (you can read others’ replies here), and a snippet of lyric from the song in this Brotherhood [...]
[...] Who Blog Recently, Poets Who Blog did a Lend-A-Line poetry project, which was inspired by Read Write Poem’s “Catch Some Words” prompt a few weeks ago (I participated in that one too, writing “Nightmare” for the [...]