Poetry on Friday

Hi.

I’m the second blogger that BookFox has asked to fill-in while he is traveling this summer.  And I’m a poet.  At my site, Radical Nonsense, a reader will not find much of my own poetry, but however they will find my thoughts on just about anything literary, tea or any intellectual pursuit.  While I read and write poetry, I also read fiction and just about anything else that perks my interest.  To begin my blogging series here I’d thought I’d share about one of my favorite books about writing poetry, PoemCrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan G. Wooldridge.

Wooldridge offers inspiration to those who are serious about their writing.  Her background consists of holding several poetry workshops and classes.  PoemCrazy, one of her first books, consists of several short pieces that focus on several different areas of writing.  Almost like they were directly from her workshops.  Really, these pieces are almost devotional as they call the reader to reflect on his/her writing and encourage them to go deeper.  While her pieces are focused on writing poetry, this book can translate to any writer.  One thing a good writer must be able to do is write vivid scenes and the word exercises that she offers can be valuable to all.  I find trusted online pharmacy without prescription that whenever I am stuck or just facing a writing dry spell, that picking up this book and reading only a couple pieces will jog my muse, so to speak.  One of her best chapters is the introduction when she goes on a “poem walk”, where she collects scenes as one would collect seashells on a beach, “For me, poetry is related to walking.  Words and images fill me when I wander somewhere alone…Sometimes I wish I could walk forever, jotting down notes and words…” There are walks I can remember too, such as walking down a dark street in Tokyo with street lamps barely glowing, dimmed in the prescene of the temple, also dark and cold against the presence of the silver dollar moon.  Cement tombstone pillars, reaching above the surrounding wall; as if reaching beyond the grip of the shadows holding them. And the air, crisp with damp humid night. Walks like these that take those awake and fill them with dreams.

Spell-binding and inspiring, Woolridge offers hope and respite to those writers who may be despairing, or simply encouragement to those already walking strong.  Writing books may come and go, but these are the ones worth holding onto.