Before Writing It Down
Before Writing It Down
The view I get
might be described
by the word glimmer
if the word glimmer
were the word flicker
and if the view were a glance
and glance was dance and a dance
was a poem.
There it is–glimmering, flickering, viewed
at a glance
as it dances past
the corner of
my eye,
and though my pen
certainly extends my reach
by a good six inches,
it is never enough to truly pen
that view,
to hem it in
that corner,
so I might actually be able
to exhibit it–
if exhibit meant press
to the page
like a flower or leaf
so that even years later
it still brings with it
as pages split
either spring
or fall.
***************************************
Another drafty one for With Real Toads, for Ella’s prompt on the Kumulipo, a Hawaiian prayer chant, asking for poems about one’s creative process. The picture is mine taken at a beach outside Seattle, Washington.
I think I inadvertently posted the picture before I meant to post and then I deleted that premature post! Sorry for any confusion. Also, I’m not sure if the picture is posting properly–so if you can’t see the whole thing (it is a very sweet pic) just click on it.
PS – I am calling everything a draft lately because I feel like I am writing much more quickly than normal (when I finally do get down to writing), which always leaves me with a feeling of some insecurity about what I am posting. This one I’ve edited since first posting.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, Uncategorized
Tags: a bit of a bubble about to burst, creative process sort of, glance as dance poem, manicddaily, Northwest Beach, the glimmer flicker view from the corner of my eye
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ManicDDaily 
February 6, 2015 at 12:02 am
I love the scatter thoughts like we can hear the thoughts in your head. I love these lines:
“if exhibit meant press
to the page
like a flower or leaf
so that even years later
it still brought with it
as the pages split
either spring
or fall.”
Gorgeous! I love your photo. I love to blow bubbles-so magical~
February 6, 2015 at 5:26 am
THanks, Ella. I actually woke up in the middle of the night to change those lines–realizing I could put in “bring” and there’d be a little rhyme–ha! Thanks.
February 6, 2015 at 8:02 am
The wordplay and rhymes in this laps my feet just like the gently waves in your picture does.. wonderful piece…
“if the view were a glance
and glance was dance and a dance
was a poem”
Some poems are born just like that…
February 6, 2015 at 8:22 am
Thanks so much, Bjorn. Hope you are enjoying the Swedish winter! We finally have deepish snow here, enough to x-country ski, though I am working much of the day on my job work, and it is terribly cold! I just ordered special mittens as when I do get out my hands are having a hard time. Thanks for your kind words and the inspiration of your own work. k.
On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 8:02 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
February 6, 2015 at 8:14 am
It always surprises, when that first glimmer, flicker, comes to life. This connects the dots in ways that make sense to me, with great playfulness, wit and intelligence. Much enjoyed it for my early morning tonic! Have a great weekend, Karin!
February 6, 2015 at 8:20 am
Well, thank you so much, Steve. You too! Don’t get too cold! It is freezing over here in Catskills! k.
February 6, 2015 at 9:06 am
The picture is ideal for this poem! (Is it drafty in here lately?) 😉
February 6, 2015 at 9:10 am
Thanks. So drafty–for one thing it is about 2 degrees outside in a very old creaky house–but also I’ve just taken to writing and posting fairly quickly or I won’t do anything at all–that’s why I don’t quite stand behind something I guess. Take care, k.
February 6, 2015 at 9:18 am
This does have a spontaneous feel to it, k, but not a rough one. The first stanza is pure delight to read, and the longer second piece takes us deeper into the process and the feel of place and time that effect it. There is also a lightness to the flow which makes it as easy to read as chocolate is to eat. Enjoyed it very much, especially all the glimmering and flickering.
February 6, 2015 at 10:11 am
Wonderful… “glimmering, flickering, viewed
at a glance
as it dances past
the corner of
my eye,
and though my pen”… pure magic
February 6, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Thanks, Debi. k.
February 6, 2015 at 11:30 am
luv the rthymn and dance of words
much love…
February 6, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Thank you, Gillena. k.
February 6, 2015 at 2:06 pm
this reminded me of a butterfly dance
February 6, 2015 at 2:11 pm
I LOVE this!! There’s something about the way you pose these statements as questions…it relays that ungraspable feeling that sometimes capturing a poem presents. Beautiful work, K!
February 6, 2015 at 7:57 pm
Thanks so much, Hannah. k.
February 6, 2015 at 2:31 pm
I enjoyed this so much because it is EXACTLY what the process is like, the glimmer, the glance, the glance of a dance…….if the dance were a poem. I LOVED this!!!!!!
February 6, 2015 at 7:57 pm
Thank you, Sherry. k.
February 6, 2015 at 6:16 pm
You left me gasping for air, with excitement at having read such a beautiful poem. Loved the way you wove so many different words into a coherent and wonderful piece. Thanks.
Greetings from London.
February 6, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Ha! Well, thank you, Cubano. k.
February 6, 2015 at 10:15 pm
its a cool thought to press that moment like a leaf between the pages of the book…and perhaps that is a bit what we try to do…though never so perfect…
February 6, 2015 at 11:41 pm
Poetry seems to come first from an illusive glimmer. For me it is words whispering so faintly my pen can barely hear. Beautiful ending.
February 7, 2015 at 12:33 am
Bubbles are very reminiscent of childhood for me, sad that so many memorable occasions are lost to time as easily as those pretty things go on a summer day.
February 7, 2015 at 4:50 am
The image is both piercing and serene, and the imago of the poet beginning to write the poem is that, to me, of a someone fixing — nailing fast — a fleeting moment and holding it forth here. One moment, eternity: Its why poems are so much like dreams.
February 7, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Love! This glimmers and flickers and teases and promises more and more and more as your pen continues to reach. Thank you.
February 8, 2015 at 12:10 pm
this is my favorite poem you have written. I’m going to Pinterest it. ! Just lovely.
February 8, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Thank you so much, Margaret–I was thinking of editing it a little–changing “glimmer” to “glow,” but that was just a passing thought, and haven’t done anything about it! Thanks much. k.