Greetings, Poetry Patriots--here we are pledging allegiance to the power of poetry to get us through tough times, one way or another. LFG!
Today I'm "sowing two seeds with one throw," which is of course the woke version of killing two birds, with an Instadraft™ for both the Inklings' monthly challenge and today's prompt from Laura Shovan's February Poetry Project, which has as its theme this year SPACE.
Mary Lee asked us Inklings to Type a color into the search bar of public domain image archive and choose an image to write from. Hoo boy, I had not known what riches I was missing! I explored quite a bit (although frustrated that when I typed in my favorite the best color, turquoise, NOTHING came up) and then cheated, in the sense that I knew that the other prompt I was trying to meet would best be served by the color white. That prompt was
How do astronauts do laundry? Hint- they don't. NASA is working on it but maybe you can think of a way to help NASA, or what sparks your most memorable laundry day?https://www.mentalfloss.com/do-astronauts-do-laundry-in...
So here you go, a 2-for-1 at the low, low price of my writing hour this morning!
Thanks to all who take the trouble to provide thoughtful, whimsical, wide-open, gently demanding impeti (I'm sure that's the plural of impetus) for writing, and to all who meet our responses with generosity. Can you tell that I'm leaning into community this week, as an antidote to the rank selfishness that's ordering and executing cruelty and uncertainty across the globe? Thanks for letting me lean on you.
Don't forget to see what the other Inklings have come up with, below, and thanks to Carol at Beyond Literacy Link for collecting and protecting our tender heartnotes today.
Catherine Flynn @ Reading to the Core, who also has a moon poem!
Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone
Linda Mitchell @ A Word Edgewise
Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche
So good, Heidi! Sending you a virtual high five :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I love reading your process and the combination of two prompts into this beauty. Your word choice and images are magical. "Float, knowing you carry the pure scent / of stars upon you always" is lovely.
ReplyDeleteSerious seeming Rabbit, Cloud & Moon wax impish, with your imagination:
ReplyDelete" O sailor of stars/in your billowing white suit."
Cheers for combining prompts - this pages feels like a herald of the coming full moon.
I love that ending "full scent of stars." And what a coincidence with the photo shared by Linda, too. Who knew?!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that "full scent of stars." I love this public domain site. What a treasure. And yes to the power of poetry.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I love that we were both carried to the heavens by this little rabbit. Your final lines are magical. Maybe we all "carry the pure scent/of stars upon" us. Maybe if we remembered that (or realized it in the first place), the selfishness and cruelty you mention wouldn't spread so easily across the globe. Leaning on you and our community today and always.
ReplyDeleteHa, yesterday I typed "turquoise" into that search too, Heidi, and was shocked at the blank stare back. :) I love what you did with your chosen color, though. I love "absorb and reabsorb your essence."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThat is one amazing poem! I love that you start out with, "O.." And, later the "You are like us..." I really do think this poem has an Asian vibe to it...that matches the art.
ReplyDeletethe pure scent of stars -- I love your poem and the surreal imagery, Heidi. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so beautiful, Heidi. I love how you and Catherine chose the same photo and then paired it with your uniquely-own poems. I especially love your first stanza "O sailor of stars" and how you circled back to the stars at the end. Fabulous! Here's to leaning and supporting.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the fact that the cloud the rabbit is looking at might be the astronauts' clothes burning up in the atmosphere! (lol)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely understand that feeling of leaning on our creative communities right now - I've made a date to go to a coffee shop and write with some friends, to turn off the noise of the news for a little bit, and create!
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I'm late with a response-sorry.-my husband was admitted into the hospital and life is interrupted again. Thank you for your poem that I saw on FB also. Your thought,
ReplyDelete"Knowing you carry the pure scent / of stars upon you always", brings hope.