Volume X, Issue 2
January 13, 2021
Dear ,
How are you? I hope you are being very kind to yourself, because these are some stressful times. Last Wednesday's events . . . well, you already know what I know about what happened in Washington, with more to come. But today, I'm taking a deep breath and sharing the photo and prompt I didn't post
then, on January 6th, Epiphany, one of my favorite holidays. Hence, this very goofy selfie I took of myself hugging a discarded Christmas tree on the curb on that brilliantly sunny morning, after having crushed a few sprigs of evergreen in my hand so I could inhale its fresh scent.
A photo to pair with the writing I'd picked, Denise Levertov's "Celebration," perfect for Epiphany, which, in addition
to being the celebration of the day the Magi, or Wise Men, followed the star to Jesus in Bethlehem, has another meaning - an illuminating, often sudden awareness of something heretofore unknown or not fully understood. (Hmm. Perhaps what happened on Capitol Hill on January 6th was an epiphany in its own way.)
Levertov's poem brims with beauty and joy and hope, along with "every prodigy of green." I had to look up the definition of prodigy to understand this line. Did you know that a prodigy could be "a marvelous example (usually followed by of)" and "something wonderful or marvelous; a wonder"?
I don't think I'll fully exhale until the other side of next Wednesday, but I am doing my best to believe in marvels and wonders, and to document the ones in my life, no less important when they are small and ordinary,
if there is such a thing. I'm finding my TAG, I’M IT! journal a comfort in this time. (I've discounted it 15% in case
you'd like to try it out. More below.)
May you be safe and healthy, and may peace and hope light your days,
Maureen
POETRY ROCKS!
Would you like your writing—prose and/or poetry—to be more graceful,
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Expect a good time exploring what makes a poem a poem, gaining the knowledge you need to confidently create and revise poetry, and strengthening your writing skills in all genres.
It would be a joy and an honor to share what rocks about poetry with you. Learn more here.
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET:
- 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day (Monday through Friday) to your inbox. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem. Many of them are great for creating prose, too. The tools include:
* a purpose, so you’re clear what you will learn
* background information when helpful
* “how-to” directions to create a poem
* an example that illustrates the poetry tool in action
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
* “Hone Your Craft” suggestions for further exploration
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
- A PDF document of each tool that you can print or save on your computer
- An audio recording of each tool, so you can learn by listening and/or reading
- Instruction on the role of audience, reading like a writer, and the process of revision, including a handy Revision Checkpoint Chart—this information can be applied to strengthen your prose as well as poetry
- An e-book that contains the information and resources covered, as well as your 23 poetry creation tools for ongoing use
WHERE: From the comfort of your own home, via the web.
WHEN: Any time you want! And once you receive all 23 tools, they’re yours to keep, which means that you can keep using them for years to come.
COST: $45
TO REGISTER: To pay with a check via mail, email here for instructions. To register for Poetry Rocks! online, click here.
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TAG, I'M IT!
Both the year-long TAG, I'M IT! (on sale for 15% off for
the New Year) AND three-month TAG, I'M IT! journals offer—in no more than five to fifteen
minutes—a simple way to recap and celebrate the very best of each day of your life. The practice of writing out your “T’s” (things you’re thankful for), “A’s” (actions you can acknowledge yourself for), and “G’s” (gifts you’re grateful for) is a transformative one, especially combined with the final step, I’M IT!, in which you intentionally choose three do-able, most-important-to-you actions you’ll take the next day.
The TAG, I'M IT! journal grounds you in two important habits: keeping your focus on appreciating and celebrating the good in your life and intentionally accomplishing what matters most to you. You’ll also create a record of
your most meaningful, happiest events and experiences.
Start your journal—or restart, if needed—whenever you like. (Though a new year is a perfect time!)
An introduction with tips and ideas will help you make this practice your own. Soon, you’ll notice that you’re living your days with more joy, presence, purpose, and intention.
More WordPlay opportunities coming soon.
Stay posted!
Featured
Writing
Celebration
by
Denise
Levertov
Brilliant, this day—a young virtuoso of a day.
Morning shadows cut by sharpest scissors,
deft hands. And every prodigy of green—
whether it's ferns or lichen or needles
or impatient points of bud on spindly bushes—
greener than ever before.
And the way the conifers
hold new cones to the light for blessing,
a festive rite, and sing the oceanic chant the wind
transcribes for them!
A day that shines in the cold
like a first-prize brass band swinging along the street
of a coal-dusty village, wholly at odds
with the claims of reasonable gloom.
~ Denise Levertov
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This week, it's “green.”
Levertov's poem is full of the hope that greening, growing things offer us, as well as other strong words that startle and illuminate. I was inspired by the beautiful writings that emerged when my "Power of Intention" class participants used this technique I call "The Gather" (adapted from Gabriele Lusser Rico’s book Recreations) as a springboard. What will you create? This is a playful yet profound, right-brain, left-brian
exercise. Here's how to do it:
- Find writing with beautiful, interesting language.
- Now, listen to your piece of writing. And I do mean listen, whether you use The Writer’s Almanac link above, ask someone to read it
to you, tape it and listen to yourself, or simply read it out loud. Don’t think or analyze, just listen to the sound and music of the words.
- Listen to your selected piece of writing again, and this time, as you listen, gather individual words and/or phrases from the writing at random, grabbing them as they go by. Again, don’t think or analyze, just
write random words and phrases around your magnetic center. Put them anywhere you like, arranged any way that pleases—clockwise, counterclockwise, higgledy-piggledy.
- Next, read over your words and phrases, and let one of them, or a few of them in combination, suggest a topic or working title to you. Go with whatever shows up in your brain. You can’t do this
wrong.
- Write your topic or working title in that empty square in the center of your paper. Stare at it, sitting there, surrounded by words and phrases.
- Then, rewrite your theme, topic, or title on a separate piece of paper. Keep your Gather beside it for the next step.
- Now set a timer for five minutes, and assemble a writing from your Gather. It might be a poem, or a prayer, or a scene, or the beginnings of an essay . . . Let it emerge, using as many or as few of
your gathered words and phrases as you like, in any order. (This is way better than those Magnetic Poetry Kits—you can add anything you care to.) Note: This tool, like many of the others, is designed to be done without thinking or analyzing. Just write. And feel free to create prose or poetry.
- Read your finished piece out loud, and enjoy.
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of
Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water.
She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, “We are meant to midwife dreams for one another.” Maureen also believes that serious “word
work” requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best
learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
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