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 A place for discussion on poetry, reviews, contests, etc. |
With all due respect to Dr. Albert Einstein, I have formulated my own theory of relativity: No matter how accomplished someone is, there is always room for improvement; no matter how new someone is to a particular process, there are always others out there who could use your help with a little fresh perspective. We all started from the same point. A prima ballerina began her journey by taking a few faltering baby steps, falling down, getting up, and trying again. Even at the pinnacle of her career, she still practices tirelessly to continue honing her craft. We are all born with a need to use our imagination to express ideas. Can you imagine a toddler painting "pictures" on the wall with chocolate pudding? That creative spirit shows itself in many forms--from writing, painting and singing to gardening, woodworking and computer programming. In all these ways and many more, people find their own unique way to express themselves. They transform visions created in their minds into creative art. The urge to imagine and invent affects all of us. Indulging that impulse is a natural instinct that turns labor into pleasure. As writers, we convert those images into words on the page. Another affliction we all suffer from is doubt. While we may readily doodle the craziest thoughts on scraps of paper spurred on by our free-wheeling imaginations in the privacy of our inner sanctums, we dread exposing those musings to the outside world. Uncertainty about our abilities, fear of failure, doubts about the value of our words, and many other demons  plague us and bind our free expression. We must cast those demons aside and celebrate our innate creativity.  Creativity thrives on experimentation and exploration. It lives on discovery, and readers read to discover. As creative writers, we must let our imaginations lead us through their mysterious wanderings to that point of unveiling, like a special gift  being examined, shaken to see if it rattles, and finally unwrapped. We must develop a sense of wonder and curiosity that can be attained only through practice. Composing poetry is a process of collecting and arranging various language components--some intentional and some accidental--over time. The words invade our consciousness and provoke a sensitivity to their interaction, as we flex our writing muscles. Practice does not always mean tedious work; in this case, it’s more like play. Poets begin by experimenting with words and phrases, just as a child becomes entranced by the various possible configurations possible with the sticks and spools in a box of TinkerToys. The more we work out in the poetry gym, the stronger our writing will be as we keep climbing that trail to the Peak of Perfection. Instead of constantly gazing at that distant peak, we measure success by the progress we achieve from one day to the next, from one week to the next, from one year to the next. Your assignment: Write a poem about the concept of "progress." Let the creativity flow from your soul!  Dave |
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