by Christine Swint
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
– Anaïs Nin
Since today’s prompt is the last one I’ll be writing with Read Write Poem, I thought it would be apropos to write about change, or changes. I’m going through a few changes myself right now, with Ouroboros Review and Pindrop Press, the publishing ventures Jo Hemmant and I have begun, as well as a new course of study I’m beginning in the city where I live. These new developments mean I’ll need to stop writing prompts for a while.
Change is a constant aspect of life, which is a sort of paradox, isn’t it? Even though we aren’t always aware of it, it’s there, a ceaseless flow. You could write about molecular changes, changes in the weather, a change of heart, a transformation in a relationship, a spiritual awakening, or a change in direction. Writing about change is one of those all-purpose prompts that includes everything in the cupboard plus the kitchen sink.
When I think about change one of my favorite poems comes to mind, “Sailing to Byzantium” by William Butler Yeats. In this poem the speaker is on a quest to define and envision paradise and immortality. I think that’s what my changes are about.
Here is the penultimate stanza:
O sages standing in God’s holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.
Come back next Thursday, and leave us a link to your poem.
“change” embodies so much in our lives, from the way we exist to our everyday activities. this attempt embraces a clique with journey ambition.
http://beatnikprose.blogspot.com/2009/03/vision-quest.html
One of the very first poems I memorized.
Christine, thank you for everything you’ve done for Read Write Poem. I especially loved all the prompts you did in April. You put a lot of thought and time into them and helped make Read Write Poem a really special place last month.
Christine has been an integral part of RWP for a long, long time. She’s posted the most of anyone on the team to date, giving us ways to relish our creativity with both prompts and the “Get The Lead Out” series.
She’s also helped administratively by editing content for the longest time and manning the spam filters when I’ve been away from the internet.
Her creative and can-do spirit has been a constant source of energy for the site.
Thank you, Christine, for everything you’ve done for RWP and me, for teaching me so much. RWP is better off because of your love for poetry.
Thanks, you guys! It has been fun. I wish you lots more success, Dana, as you take back the reigns. I’m sure you’ll blaze some more interesting paths.
[...] * * Christine suggested we write about change this week. I was all over that since I have some changes to deal with, too. For other poems about [...]
[...] This was written for Read Write Prompt # 76: Changes. [...]