Waiting … we’ve all been in the
position of waiting for something: love, a child, a job, good news or bad, an
elevator, a plane, a piece of mail. Have you ever stood in a waiting line or
sat for what seemed an inordinately long time in a waiting room? Have you ever
been stuck in traffic? Have you sat in a restaurant or other public place and
waited from someone? Have you waited to make a discovery of some kind? Have you
ever thought about how much of each day is spent waiting for something or
someone? Do you remember any childhood “waits?” Like many children, did you wait impatiently to be grown up? Are you waiting for something
now? What kind of metaphorical “advent seasons” have you experienced?
This week, let’s write about
waiting. You might begin with a list of times you’ve waited, or you might focus
on a time you remember waiting for something or someone. The tone of your poem
may be serious or funny. You may write from the perspective of your child self
or your adult self. There are many possibilities—just be wary of slipping into
the predictable (stay away from clichés and over-stated emotions). You might
want to write about waiting, anticipation, and hope (are there connections you
can make?).
Remember that the content of your
poem should have more than one layer: Think in terms of the experience itself and its deeper meanings. Be economical with extra words, extra syllables, prepositions, and articles; but be generous with caesuras to allow for the unspoken silences that can power a poem.
Examples:
To all my blog readers who observe it,
I wish you an Advent filled with blessings and peace,
and here's Sugarland's version of a traditional Advent hymn that I hope you'll enjoy!
I wish you an Advent filled with blessings and peace,
and here's Sugarland's version of a traditional Advent hymn that I hope you'll enjoy!
