Blank verse, but not really!
Today, my mind has been exceptionally quiet. All week, as I’ve gone on my morning walks, my mind has been racing with ideas for a new picture book that I’m starting. But today–oddly quiet. And when I thought about what to write for Poetry Friday, nothing sprung to mind. This afternoon as I sat at school with sleeping children, my thoughts went to blank verse and I started to write. The funny thing about it is that the poem came out in rhyme!
Poetry Friday
This week, Kathryn Appel, at Katswhiskers, hosts Poetry Friday. Check out her post about her soon to be published picture book and two novels in verse written by friends of hers.
Even though I felt tempted to skip Poetry Friday this week due to lack of inspiration, I decided writing something is better than writing nothing. And putting butt in chair and doing it anyway is the best cure for the “I-don’t-wanna’s” (sounds like it’s ripe for a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle cure!–I wrote about Mrs. Piggle Wiggle not too long ago in the Everything will be alright as soon as I finish this cure).
The rhyming blank verse poem
Ok–so here it is, such as it is–for better or for verse.
My mind is blank, so maybe I should write
verse of the blank kind.
Inspiration’s flies around but only
blankness fills my mind.
Sun shines, flowers bloom or go to seed
Cicadas sing, children play
But I feel dull, resigned.
Maybe I need a rest or more excitement
or maybe I should just enjoy the quiet and trust
that tomorrow-or the day after
I’ll find myself realigned
Still waters run deep, so the saying goes.
In order to dream, we must sleep.
Perhaps a dream brews deep within
Before I let it rest and steep
Just one more thought to bear in mind:
Blank verse beats blank page–
Every single time.
That’s all the silliness for today.
Thanks for stopping by–hoping you enjoy your quiet or busyness or both.
xoxo
“Blank verse beats blank page”! Indeed you’re right. Hope it all gets realigned, Susan!
Thanks–I feel much better already! I think I just need to remember to ride out those blank days that happen for me once in a while. It’s a good time to other stuff–like maybe clean my house–Nah! I don’t want to get too carried away.
I really like the line perhaps a dream brews within. I can’t count how many times I felt like there’s something inside waiting to come out but I just can’t get it out there.Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Tim. After reading your poem for this week, I can see that you have dreams brewing!
Some days are just blank days. And that’s okay – because they won’t all be like that! 🙂
Thanks. It’s so true. I can manage a day or two of blankness at a time. But on the whole, most days the challenge is finding the time and energy to keep up with the ideas.
Hi, Susan. This poem resonated with me! It was a summer of not-writing. I hope to find myself realigned too.
Good luck! I tend to settle into writing more as summer ends.
That last line nails it – blank verse beats blank page. When I get in a rut (or out of the writing habit), I have to remind myself that inspiration comes from writing, not the other way around.
So true. That’s part of what I like about poetry Friday. It gives me incentive to write whether I feel like it or not.
Blank days are just part of the journey, I guess. Good for you for harnessing that lack of inspiration and turning into a poem. I followed your Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle link and discovered your beautiful image with Julian of Norwich’s quote. I love that quote and have used it many times to encourage friends going through hard times.
Thanks, Joyce. That Julian of Norwich quote is one of my go-to’s also.