OctPoWriMo Day 15 - Change of perspective

 "Perhaps nothing is entirely true, not even this." ~ Multatuli

 

 

Art by A. van Son 

 

I remember reading this quote by Multatuli, a Dutch 19th century writer, for the first time and feeling like I was hit by lightning.
 

The prompt for today is change of perspective. We can get stuck in what we believe in, even though it might not be entirely true. Today's suggestion for the writing process is taken from my work as a coach. It might bring you unexpected views on a familiar subject. Or not. The idea that you HAVE to come up with something new is nothing more than a perspective...

 

Step 1 

Choose a subject that you find challenging in your life. It can be small (a daily detail) or big. Free write about that for at least 5 minutes. 

 

Step 2  

Make a list of things: 

• Write down three stages of moving through life (for example baby, toddler, teenager). Consider using words from your mother tongue. 
• List a book you’ve read, a film you’ve seen, a song you love.
• Name three parts of your body that are not your head or your heart. 

Step 3  

Explore three things from your list further, through one of these suggestions:

• free writing
• writing 10 lines per subject
• mind-mapping

Step 4 

Look at your chosen challenge through the lens of one or more of the explorations you did in step. This will bring new perspectives. Choose which perspective you want to write from.

An example:

1) Patience is a challenge I often face and fail

2) My list:

• baby, peuter, puber
• the goelag archipelago, ice age, moondance
• left foot, elbow, earlobe

4) If I look through patience through the lens of puberty, I get really angry. I want it, I want it now, and I’m not going to waste my life waiting for things I will not get.

If I look at patience through the lens of my left foot it starts tapping, the tapping slowly turns into exploring movement and I end up dancing.

I’m bored with the first perspective, it feels too familiar. I’m curious about the perspective of the left foot, so I’ll let that inform my poem.

Step 5 

Choose a form:

• any form you feel called to for this one.
• a diamante
• a prose poem 
  

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Angela van Son has been an #OctPoWriMo participant since 2014. She is about to publish More than meets the I, an alloy of poetry and photography that brings beauty, depth and wonder. 

Angela's poems have been published in a number of online magazines, for example Cold Mountain Review, Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal, and Art Saves Lives International.  

As a coach Angela helps people change their life stories by getting things done, facing the rabbit holes of their choice and creating wonderful ever afters.

 

OctPoWriMo Day 8

Today's suggested prompt is, Breaking Boundaries.

For me October Poetry Month has always been a place where I crossed boundaries. The boundary from not writing to writing. From hiding poems to sharing them online. To try out new forms, shapes, styles of poetry. To share my heart instead of only my brain.

Each of us has boundaries they are not willing to cross. Boundaries keep us safe. But do we ever question which boundaries are still relevant? Which ones we might be able to do without, and still survive? Which ones we might be able to let go of, to help us thrive. What if some of the grass is indeed greener on the other side?

Art by A. van Son 

 

Poetry prompt

Today I invite you to explore one or more of your boundaries. It can be in form. It can be in content. It can be by crossing disciplines, like in this amazing poem inspired by choral music and a Swedish troll proverb. It can be in the delivery, by recording your poem. Or it can be by gifting your poem to someone, and sharing with them why they are the recipient of your piece.

Word prompts

unusual

improvise

connect

Poetry type

Diamante

or

Table poem

A table poem means using rows and columns to inspire, inform or shape your poem. I first started doing this when WordPress couldn’t handle the lay-out I had in mind for a poem. The table helped me to create a more fixed lay-out than WordPress allowed for. After that, I’ve written more of them because there’s something fascinating about it. The flowing or free form of a poem, being support by the straight and strict lines of a table... Here’s an example.

A radical poem

Kurt Schwitters Ursonate definitely crossed boundaries of what was called poetry at the time. Created between 1922 and 1932, it’s still radical. I was surprised to find this modern version fascinating to watch:

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Angela van Son has been an #OctPoWriMo participant since 2014. She is about to publish More than meets the I, a fascinating alloy of poetry and photography. Expect beauty, depth and wonder. 

Angela's poems have been published in Cold Mountain Review, Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal, Art Saves Lives International, and more.

As a coach she helps people change their life stories by getting things done, facing the rabbit holes of their choice and creating wonderful ever afters.

OctPoWriMo Day 29

 Lightness of Being

Today I am posting the last of my prompts! My heart is heavy but at the same time there is a lightness, an elation that I did my job reasonably well. It is impossible to talk about lightness without a mention of Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being! But I want to keep the topic light and not get into the esoteric debate on weightiness versus lightness. Existence without weightiness may seem flimsy, without a lack of ultimate meaning in life but sometimes it is important to just live in the moment without worrying about the consequences. I can see some of you shaking your head in disagreement. Wonderful!! It would be so boring if we all agreed on everything.

So, what does lightness of being mean to you? A stress free, guilt free life or an ethical, by the rule book life or is it the same for you? Does being light literally means shedding all those extra kilos/pounds? Or shedding fears, guilt, shame and disappointments?

I would love to know what lightness of being means to you.

Word Prompts:

Float
Light
Burden
Free
Meaning
Sublime
Immoral

Suggested PoetryForm:

 During NaPoWriMo this year one of the prompts was to write a Sei Shonagon style of list of things in poetry or poetry prose which you can read here.
You could give it a try or write a free verse.

Please make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media. 

I would like to thank Morgan for this wonderful opportunity to host the prompts. I am also grateful to the fellow participants for the love they have shown. I have met many old friends here and made new acquaintances. Thank you everyone for enriching my life. 

Punam

OctPoWriMo Day 28

Mending the Broken Places
 
Yesterday we celebrated Diwali, festival of lights in India. Today as I was gathering the used earthen lamps, one fell and broke. Of course all the lamps will be discarded whether whole or broken because they are of single use. What of broken relationships, broken souls and limbs? Sometimes we are able to mend them sometimes scars remain.

Each one of us has a breaking point. Pushed beyond that, something gives way. But we remain whole on the outside. Bones mend, skin regrows but what about the broken heart, crushed dreams or vanquished faith? How do we heal ourselves? Do we rely on others, outside factors to mend those broken places? Or do we tap into our inner reserve for strength to mend ourselves? Do we ever heal completely?
What helps you pull out of these dark times? Is it your faith/religion, is it the support of friends and family or do you turn to music to soothe and provide solace.

The kintsugi technique is the essence of resilience. We must look for a way to cope with traumatic events in a positive way. Negative experiences always teach something. We should take the best from them and convince ourselves that exactly these experiences make each one of us unique and special.

Share with us your healing mantra, if you have any. Or your struggle to come to terms with living with those jagged pieces still embedded deep within. Or how you evolved into a stronger and better person.

Word Prompts:

Discouraged

Broken wings

Healing

Strength 

Calm

Acceptance

Precious

Listen to this as you write about your healing process.

Suggested  Poetry Form : Pantoum

Our heart mends as our inner self—the central or innermost part of our identity—is wrapped around the Light inside of us, rather than around the people who have harmed us. This one small step changes the way we see things.

                                                                                                        Suzanne Eller

Please make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media. Also do share how this journey into poetry is going for you.

OctPoWriMo Day 19

He wrapped himself in quotations - as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors.
                                                                        --- Rudyard Kipling


Today's Prompt: Purple

Purple is an amalgamation of the calm blue and fiery red. It often denotes royalty, nobility and power. It also signifies creativity, mystery and pride. It is also the colour of sorrow and suffering.  We see the colour purple occurring naturally around us in flowers like lavender, orchid, and lilac, in vegetables like aubergine, cabbage and broccoli and fruits like purple grapes and plums. You must have also come across terms like: purple cow, purple prose, purple haze and purple speech! Remember the movie/book; The Colour Purple! Purple also happens to be the official colour of Alzheimer's!

The sky is already purple; the first few stars have appeared, suddenly, as if someone had thrown a handful of silver across the edge of the world.

                                                                              --Alice Hoffman

When I think of colour purple, the first thing that comes to my mind is the band Deep Purple! Purple is also brinjals for me! That is because I love cooking. Purple means bruises too because I can be quite clumsy at times and the bruises on my shins and upper arm always turn a strange shade of purple! What does this colour mean to you? Does it evoke strong emotions or doe it leave you indifferent? 

Word Prompts:

Royal

Mystery

Lavender

Bruise

Prose

Deep

Suggested Poetry Form: Villanelle

The bougainvillea hung about it, purple and magenta, in livid balloons.

                                                                                             -- Anita Desai

Please make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media. Also do share how this journey into poetry is going for you.

OctPoWriMo Day 18

Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.

                                                        — Eliza Tabor

Today's Prompt: First Time You Were Disappointed 

Disappointment dogs us throughout our life. Some are minor disappointments, we get over them pretty soon but some are like a festering wound. Whether we are beaten by it or use it to strengthen our resolve is sometimes in our hands and sometimes beyond our control.

Do you remember your first disappointment? Was it in school? Was it about grades or when mom was late to pick you up? Was it in high school when you were spurned by your first love? Or when you couldn't pursue a course of your choice, were not selected for the school team, first job, failed relationships...it could be anything. Maybe you are disappointed right now with the course your life has taken.

“There’s always failure. And there’s always disappointment. And there’s always loss. But the secret is learning from the loss, and realizing that none of those holes are vacuums.” 
                                                                                               ― Michael J. Fox

How do you deal with disappointment?  Do you let despondency shroud you or do you bounce back with renewed vigour. There is no right way or wrong way to deal with disappointments that pepper our life. But to give up, in my humble opinion, would be to give up on life!

I would not like to suggest any poetry form today because I know mine is going to be a long ramble. Some of you may say the same thing succinctly in the form of a Haiku! So please, allow the words to flow and maybe we will all learn from each other about disappointments or how to deal with them.

Word Prompts:
Heartbroken
Hurt
Resolve
Broken
Strengthen
This too shall pass
Prayer
Overcome
Faith
Give up

"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.” 
                                                                                                        – Henry David Thoreau

OctPoWriMo Dy 14

"The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”

—Ernest Hemingway

Today's Prompt : Mother Earth

 In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth. She is the ancestral mother of all life: the primal Mother Earth goddess.  In Roman mythology she is known as Terra. Mother Nature, is a common personification of the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life. But the world today is facing incredibly serious and immense natural resource and environmental challenges. Climate change, fresh water depletion, ocean over-fishing, deforestation, air and water pollution, the struggle to feed a planet of billions are just a few of them. We need a concerted effort from all to save our mother.

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”

—John Paul II

 Right now as I type this, I can see from my window the banyan tree outside. I am grateful for the few patches of greenery around my apartment. But I shudder to think what would happen if these were to disappear. What is your connection with the earth? Have you touched/felt soil/sand with your fingers lately? Do you enjoy rains? Does the fury of nature frighten you?

We enjoy the bounty of nature as a given and some of us do all that we can for mother earth. What would do you do or would like to do?

Free write for ten minutes. Jot down every thought that comes to your mind. Pick the most important thought or collate all of them. Then develop a poem, in any form you like, to depict your relationship with our planet.

Word Prompts:

Life

Giver

Nature

Nurture

Fury

Sustain

"Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.”

—Jimmy Carter

Happy writing!

Please make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments. 

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media. Also do share how this journey into poetry is going for you.

OctPoWriMo Day 13

“Alone with myself
The trees bend to caress me
The shade hugs my heart”

                                    --Gilpin

Today's Prompt: Hugging a Tree

The Bishnois of India are known to be one of the earliest tree huggers. In 1730, 363 Bishnois were killed while trying to peacefully protect a grove of Khejri trees in the village of Khejarli. This was also a precursor to the 20th century Chipko movement.

Recent studies have proved that trees provide health benefits.Hugging a tree increases levels of oxytocin, which is responsible for feelings of love, bonding  and well-being.

 Have you been to a park or a forest lately? Did you notice the trees there? Do you know the names of the trees lining your street? And have you ever hugged a tree?
Which is your favourite tree memory?

Word Prompts:
trunk
Bough
Texture
Bark
Shade

Suggested Poetry Form: Rondeau

Please make sure to leave a link to your poem in the comments here so we can all visit and leave constructive/positive comments.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media. Also do share how this journey into poetry is going for you.

Day 30 - Dancing On The Moon

This is it everyone, one day left. One more day of poetry and prompts and hopefully, it's been enlightening for you! Challenges have been met and you are all awesome!

So today, you should be dancing on the moon yourselves! In fact, that's what we all should be doing, so let's dance, shall we?

Writing Prompt:

It's time to celebrate a job well done, a love won, the turning of the sun. Write about that exuberant feeling you get whenever you are happy, that feeling that makes you feel like dancing whether it's on the earth or the moon!

Word Prompts:

ecstatic

exuberance

joyful

celebrate

on cloud nine

Suggested Form:

Let's make this fun. Free verse for those who need to dance outside the lines, and for more of a challenge (and because we're also dealing with the night sky) how about a constellation form called the Pleiades? Very structured, as are some dances.

Song Prompt:

Don't forget these are only suggestions. You can do whatever you feel like doing. Just remember to visit three other participants and read and leave positive commentary! Thanks!

Day 22 - Betrayed

Being betrayed can be one of the worst feelings in the world. Knowing someone you love has wronged you and broken your trust is something that is hard to get over. Even worse is deliberately betraying someone you love and care about, whether that person is a friend, a family member, or a lover.

One unfortunate effect of betrayal is the feeling of guilt that accompanies it. If we are the ones who have been deceived we look for reasons why and eventually we might blame ourselves and carry the guilt with us. We tell ourselves it must have been our own fault, something we did wrong. And, if we are the ones being unfaithful, the guilt can eat at us and cause us to become angry and defensive. Guilt is the chain we shackle ourselves with.

Forgiveness is the only way we can ever remove those chains and free ourselves, even if the person we are giving freedom to is ourselves. 

Poetry prompt:

At some point we have all experienced betrayal. Write about the experience, whether you were the one betrayed or the betrayer. How did it make you feel, and how did you move past it? Or did you? Alternately you may like to write about showing yourself or someone else mercy in the face of betrayal.

Word prompt:

betrayal

deception

dishonesty

duplicity

lying

Alternate word prompts:

forgiveness

mercy

grace

loyalty

honesty

Suggested Form:

For today, try a Palindrome, a type of mirrored poetry. For an extra challenge, work it so that the poem reads as betrayal one way and forgiveness once it is mirrored.

These are only suggestions and you may write in whatever form or subject you wish. And please visit three other participant sites and leave comments on their poems!

Song prompt:

Day 20 - Time Stands Still

"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived." ~Captain Picard, Star Trek: Generations

One of my favorite movies is an older fantasy movie called Krull. In it there is a scene where an old man goes to see the widow in the web and she breaks her hourglass and gives the sand to the old man so that he can make it out of her web alive. But he only has until the sands run out to live. The sands also control this HUGE spider that comes after the man but stops whenever he lets the sands run between his fingers a little. That's just one of the things I thought of when I saw the title for today's prompt. It gave me lots of inspiration.

Have you ever had a moment in time that you wished you could stop and live in? Have you ever wished you could control time even if for just a little while? What would you do? What moment would you make last longer? Write about time and what you would do if you were in control of it. Today you get to be a Time Lord!

Word Prompts:

moment

hours

minutes

clock

hourglass

future

past

present

chronology

Suggested Form:

In keeping with the time theme and for those who really want a challenge, try a Minute poem. For less of a challenge try Loop poetry. Get it? ;-)

Remember these are just suggestions. Feel free to write in whatever form you wish and whatever you are inspired to write about. And don't forget to visit at least three other participant sites and leave some positive comments.

Day 18-Once Upon A Time

Castles, fairy godmothers, glass slippers, and enchanted roses. When you hear the words "once upon a time" these items might be what it brings to mind. Say those four words aloud and it might make you anticipate something magical, something ethereal, something beyond the ordinary. When was the last time you experienced a once upon a time moment?

Today's prompt sends us into the land of enchantment. Explore fairy tales and magic, Prince Charmings and fairy princesses. Write your own fairy tale and have some fun!

Word Prompts:

magic

enchantment

spell

fascination

prestidigitation

hocus pocus

conjure

Suggested Form:

In poetry a fable is a poetic story composed in verse or prose with a moral summed up at the end. Usually using animals as characters to teach a valuable lesson. Try writing your fairy tale as a fable and for an extra challenge begin it with Once Upon a Time.

Remember this is only a suggestion and you are free to write in whatever way is comfortable to you. Also make sure to visit at least three other participant sites and leave some positive comments. 

Day 16: Catch Me When I Fall

Welcome to Day 16! Today’s prompt is Catch Me When I Fall. Finding that person who will support you at every turn is such an important part of any relationship. Also significant is what happens after the fall. How would you describe the balance between giving support and receiving it?

photo: Pexels

Suggested Poetry Form: Terzanelle

Word Prompts:     strength

            vulnerable

            insight

            bonds

            obstacles

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions. Where you find inspiration for your poetry is up to you.

Remember to visit two or more OctPoWriMo participants and leave encouraging and supportive words along the way.

Day 13: If I Were You

Almost halfway there! Today is Day 13 and the prompt is If I Were You. Are there things you sometimes need to get off your chest? When was the last time you felt strongly that someone needed to see things from your point of view? I think this prompt lends itself perfectly to a Blitz Poem. This is one of my favorite types to write, especially when I need to rant. Don’t be discouraged by its length. Once you get into the groove, it all falls into place and usually leads to a powerful piece. Give it a try!

Photo by lalesh aldarwish from Pexels

Suggested poetry type: The Blitz Poem

Word Prompts:     should

            might

            consider

            absolute

            discover

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions. Where you find inspiration for your poetry is up to you.

During OctPoWriMo, if you want to make sure that we know you have written something new, comment in that day's post with your link to your blog and/or share your link on Twitter with the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo.

If you would like to leave an active link in the comments:

<a href = "your link">your title</a>

You have to put the link to your post (same link you would put in the comment section) in the "your link" space within the quotations and the title to your post in the “your title” space.

Our link would look like this:

<a href="https://poetsonthepage.blogspot.com/">OctPoWriMo</a>

Once you hit publish on your comment it would look like this (only with the name of your post):

OctPoWriMo

I hope that helps. You don't have to do this. It is only if you would like to make your link an active link.

Remember to visit two or more OctPoWriMo participants and leave encouraging and supportive words along the way.