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kestrellLast night I had the first of three online poetry writing classes being offered through the Boston Public Library.
Perhaps it's all the technology-related blogging and documentation I have been writing lately, but I've felt the need to start writing poetry again.
Remember when you used to write poetry and songs just for fun, without thinking of it as something that required a lot of preparation and effort and, most of all, seriousness, just to begin? Or maybe you used to draw, or sing out loud, or play guitar, or whatever, just for fun? There's a phrase: "just for fun." For pleasure. For enjoyment. "Enjoyment" is what you get when you mix entertainment and joy.
And then, one day, you don't remember when, the invisible adult critic showed up, staring at you, judging, and the joy went out.
Okay, maybe that's just me, but I want to get back to the place before the invisible critic, and just write.
Then, while browsing the BPL's website a couple of nights ago, I found an online class titled "Just Writing," so I registered (it's a Zoom class).
IT WAS AMAZING! I didn't think I would be able to write anything, but we had free writing exercises and off I went.
I promise not to share my poetry with you, but I wanted to share just this first poem I wrote (don't worry, it's short).
The word we were given was "miss" and everyone else wrote about what they are missing during the pandemic, but that never even occurred to me. What hit me immediately was things I miss about being sighted, which I never allow myself to talk about, so sharing this with strangers was really jumping into the deep end.
I miss feeling brave.
I miss walking with nowhere to go.
I miss sunlight, the changing ocean, birds wings.
Most of all, I miss your face.
Words do, literally, have very different meanings for different people, and that's one of the main things that poetry plays with, so poets are word tricksters. I've been reading poetry by Albert Goldbarth and Billy Collins, because they *definitely* go for being word tricksters.
So this is me, encouraging you to find an online class in something you love doing and rediscover enjoyment.
Perhaps it's all the technology-related blogging and documentation I have been writing lately, but I've felt the need to start writing poetry again.
Remember when you used to write poetry and songs just for fun, without thinking of it as something that required a lot of preparation and effort and, most of all, seriousness, just to begin? Or maybe you used to draw, or sing out loud, or play guitar, or whatever, just for fun? There's a phrase: "just for fun." For pleasure. For enjoyment. "Enjoyment" is what you get when you mix entertainment and joy.
And then, one day, you don't remember when, the invisible adult critic showed up, staring at you, judging, and the joy went out.
Okay, maybe that's just me, but I want to get back to the place before the invisible critic, and just write.
Then, while browsing the BPL's website a couple of nights ago, I found an online class titled "Just Writing," so I registered (it's a Zoom class).
IT WAS AMAZING! I didn't think I would be able to write anything, but we had free writing exercises and off I went.
I promise not to share my poetry with you, but I wanted to share just this first poem I wrote (don't worry, it's short).
The word we were given was "miss" and everyone else wrote about what they are missing during the pandemic, but that never even occurred to me. What hit me immediately was things I miss about being sighted, which I never allow myself to talk about, so sharing this with strangers was really jumping into the deep end.
I miss feeling brave.
I miss walking with nowhere to go.
I miss sunlight, the changing ocean, birds wings.
Most of all, I miss your face.
Words do, literally, have very different meanings for different people, and that's one of the main things that poetry plays with, so poets are word tricksters. I've been reading poetry by Albert Goldbarth and Billy Collins, because they *definitely* go for being word tricksters.
So this is me, encouraging you to find an online class in something you love doing and rediscover enjoyment.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-03 08:37 pm (UTC)I'm glad it's so rewarding!
(Offers a virtual tap on the hand for the poem.)
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 10:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 12:49 pm (UTC)I also have to figure out what's up, because it didn't recognize my library card, despite the BPL itself recognizing my card when I am there in person, but that's something I can work on once I'm sure this is the right site.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:24 pm (UTC)I originally got to it by clicking on a link for online events in the BPL newsletter--I really recommend getting the newsletter, as the BPL site is so full of links that it is easy to miss things.
This is the event and, and I htink the contact email for the organizer, who is not the actual instructor, is near the bottom of the listed info. Email me offline if you want more info.
https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/5f3171927677af4500accfed#content-start
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:40 pm (UTC)bpl just writing poetry workshop
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 09:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-05 11:09 am (UTC)The instructor does ask us to share what we write but, out of a class of 12-15, only about six of us actively share and speak. The instructor is really considerate, though, and I think if a participant was to privately message and say they weren't comfortable being called on, she would respect that.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-05 06:59 pm (UTC)When I've managed to coach them into doing something, it's by making the first step EXTREMELY low/easy. After that, they can run on their own for at least a while.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:30 pm (UTC)