Reasons for not writing

. . . and other poems.

I realized at some point in mid-January that I hadn’t written anything creatively in a couple months, not since the November Poem a Day challenge, which I only got about half-way through before sputtering out in creative exhaustion and Thanksgiving preparations. So, beyond self-recrimination, I decided to do something about the situation.

I reached out to photographer Tom Darin Liskey, my co-collaborator on Transit, and asked if he’d be so kind as to share a few images to nudge my flabby muse. His black and white photography has always had a way of inspiring me by stirring up the gritty soil of my memory and imagination.

He kindly obliged, sharing more than 30 beautiful images for me to “get a move on” poetically speaking. Gratefully, I’ve since written eight poems using these pics as prompts. As I continue to plug away on this ekphrastic poetry project (working title: “Fishing on Dry Land”), I thought I’d share here a couple of Tom’s images and the corresponding poems-in-progress.

Empty Mailbox

My reasons for not writing
are as empty as this mailbox
and even more worn: 
I’m working on something new, 
waiting for the muse, for you 
to write first. I’m watching 
the news, the horizon, 
the grass grow. I don’t know 
how to say I’m avoiding the page 
because I’m avoiding thoughts 
that want to stay hidden – quiet 
thoughts with no substance
or teeth but the bite of a 
smashed cigarette smoldering 
in a grapefruit rind. Avoidance 
can be respect, I tell you, like 
Noah’s sons covering his nakedness 
as they walk away backwards. 
This is awkward. Leave it be. 
I’ll write later. 
Much later.
 

Wicked Good

Imago Dei
or devil in the details – 
whatever you seek
surely you will
find it

---

If you ever get creatively stuck like me, may I suggest… find an artist who inspires you and let their work do a work inside you. This kind of artistic collaboration is incredibly meaningful and community-building.

Or find a creative conference to attend where you can be immersed in the energy of artistic community. Speaking of which… if you’re in or near New England at the end of March, consider attending the (free) Five Ponds Festival at Gordon College on March 28. My amazing poet and children’s book author friend Nancy Tupper Ling and I will be co-leading a breakout session that will get into some of the fun details of living out a writing practice. Not to mention the incredible line-up of other workshop leaders, presenters, and readers/poets. It would be amazing to see you there!