Thursday, September 5, 2019

Dear Poet

That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.
~Ray Bradbury



Sharing poems from Charles Ghigna's Dear Poet: Notes to a Young Writer today. These sent me off in different directions, thinking about the origins of creativity. Thanks for letting me share them, Charles!

XI.

Look in the mirror.
If you see a stranger,
write a poem.

If you see
your father,
write a poem.

If you see
yourself,
put down the pen.

*************

XIII.

The path
to inspiration starts
upon a trail unknown.

Each writer’s block
is not a rock.
It is a stepping stone.

*************

Poetry for Children has the Poetry Friday round-up today. Thanks, Janet and Sylvia!

16 comments:

Linda B said...

I am so looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the sneak peek, Tabatha and Charles. Love that "stepping stone"!

Michelle Kogan said...

"The path
to inspiration starts
upon a trail unknown. "
This sang to me–I like this path… Thanks for sharing Charles' book Tabatha!

Kimberly Hutmacher said...

There is inspiration in each one. I need to get my hands on this book. Thanks for sharing, Tabatha.

Rebecca Herzog said...

Thanks for sharing, Tabatha.

Liz Steinglass said...

Another must read book! Thanks for sharing it.

Ruth said...

I have to share that stepping stone thought with my students, many of whom have taken to telling me in class, "I have writer's block."

Laura Shovan said...

#11 -- that last stanza is so true. I'm looking forward to reading Charles' book.

jama said...

Thanks for sharing these, T. Sounds like loads of inspiration in this new book. Looking forward to reading it!

laurasalas said...

Thanks for sharing these! I have ordered this book and cannot wait for it to arrive:)

Joyce Ray said...

Charles's title immediately reminds me of Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke! How wonderful to think of writer's block as a stepping stone. Thanks to both you and Charles for sharing.

Linda Mitchell said...

ooooooh! What a treat. Hooray for new directions! I do love the inspiration that comes from other poets and their poems. My creativity bucket seems to like it to.

Sylvia Vardell said...

Two lovely gems from Charles's new book! Thanks for pulling those to share. So lovely!

Molly Hogan said...

Oooh! Thanks for the peek into Charles's new book. These poems are both gems! Like so many others, I love the shift in lenses to see "writer's block" as a stepping stone, I am going to add this book to my "to buy" list right now! Also, the Ray Bradbury quote is fabulous but a bit daunting. I'm pretty sure my cats are leading the way at home, not following, and I have no idea how I'd switch that about! lol

Whispers from the Ridge said...

I needed that nudge today, Tabatha! This poem does challenge to reflect and write. Thanks for sharing!

Kay said...

Thanks for the peek into Charles' book. I love the ending of that second one--writer's block as a stepping stone.

Catherine Flynn said...

Thank you for sharing these gems from Charles's book. I also love the idea of turning writer's block into a stepping stone!