Capturing Thoughts

Lately, virtual spaces have given rise to poetic words, metaphorically clustering around timely topics. With a pen, stylus, or keyboard in hand, writers have gathered together to let their voices speak out. This past December, a digital gathering occurred that brought together many Poetry Friday writers for a specific purpose: to write under the hashtags #haikuforhealing and #commonplacemarvels, created by Mary Lee Hahn and Catherine Flynn. 

What started as a month-long venture has extended beyond December to become an outlet for feelings that capture small moments in time or daily observations about life. I have been one voice in a community of writers and have composed poetry and #imagepoems alongside community members while trying to sort out feelings amidst the world's chatter. In doing so, I searched for joy while all the time writers wrote, exchanged writings, commented, lifted lines, and added thoughts to haikus penned. 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
In the quiet spaces of the "connected" writing world, life is still while the composition evolves. Then, the click, click, click of the digital process comes alive. An affirmative "Yes, We Can" hope to bring voice from quiet spaces to the surface becomes a commitment. Each penned word is selected carefully. Each haiku becomes a distinct song of hope, stretching voice across regions and linking all writers together. From these seeds of ideas, solidarity of action grows as writing becomes public.    

A CALL TO ACTION
Last night, what has been acclaimed as a call to action occurred on national television. President Obama delivered his farewell address. I waited throughout the speech for his familiar slogan and then in the last minute, the words flowed. My thoughts followed and were digitized today.

It is with the belief in the yes we can spirit that I hope for a better tomorrow where possibilities exist and the human heart can continue to bring about change. 

YES WE CAN 

We Live Our Thoughts

Within the spaces of our days,

we notice and wonder;

listen and converse.

Thoughts enter our mind,

become visitors in silence-

swirling in open space.

We watch them surface,

sharpening their edges

as pen touches paper.

At that magical moment,

words become real.

We hold them in our hands;

inhale their fragrance;

savor their taste;

digest their intent.

Within spaces of communication,

our words become an experience,

a single voice living inside.

We live our thoughts;

connect with them;

release them into the sky.

©Carol Varsalona, 2016

A slice of life came from deep inside tonight longing to be released into the universe. From a single thought, a stream of words formed into text that linked with digital design to create We Live Our Thoughts. 

Oftentimes, we do not linger in our thoughts, mull them over, and try to make sense of them among the rush of daily life. At other times, we feel our thoughts residing in our heart and living as a breathing voice that seeks a home. It is at this time, heart writing time, that we become one with our thoughts. Writing from the heart is an act of reflection and release. Have you ever thought of writing in this way?

Please visit Two Writing Teachers where colleagues are slicing about their small moments as thoughts meet page. 

Word Crafting

"Writing is thinking on paper."

William Zinsser

Reading the children's book, a Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, has caused me to focus deeply on the beauty of words and the magic that spills out from their creation and manifestation on a page. Lloyd's ability to spin words attracted me to the character she created. Felicity Juniper Pickle, is a word collector who sees words all around her.  She has an optimistic viewpoint and a poet's sensibility illustrated by such statements as, "I was surrounded by words and stories and dust-speckled light. That's a pretty perfect way to be." - or - "I never wanted to forget all the ways we were connected that day: By shadows and sunlight. By pouncing hearts and a starry maybe."

Natalie Lloyd's delightful and whimsical tale should be hit with students ages 8-12 years (680 lexile level) and a thoughtful prospect for the 2015 Newbery as noted by several reviewers. 

As a word collector and weaver of words, I feel that words are the heart of my writing life. Natalie Lloyd's debut book deftly spins her tale with a zest for word crafting, pairing words in an unique manner that allows a certain type of magic to flow. One way to feel the fullness of life is to see words spinning from inside out, just like Felicity Pickle, and then allowing them to become visible and find a place to rest - moving the thought process from an internal process to an external one. 

A word crafter reflects, constructs, and captures thoughts on paper. As they appear, the writer savors them, refines their look and appeal, and continues the journey of penning thoughts to paper in hopes of improving the craft of writing. Here is a snippet of the unfolding of poetic language in Lloyd's book.

Today I'll wear a dress made of sunlight,

I'll spin like the lilies,

I'll bloom like the stars.

Hands hold,
Hearts fold,

Under my thumbprint sky.

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.

Ernest Hemingway

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As an apprentice of the writing craft, I continue to evolve in a world of expressive thoughts. My offerings today for Poetry Friday are a pair of original thoughts on Word Crafting with a Tagxedo word cloud. 

Words travel in spaces of the mind

Like a kite  s w i r l i n g  in the air. 

They spin; mill around; 

Seek companions;

Form bonds;

Find a resting spot.

Then, they quietly

Nestle

On paper

Until 

They get bumped

So new words 

Can join the fun.

cvarsalona, July 2014

Words are the platform on which ideas grow.

Power, beauty, and emotion

Reside in their very being.  

As they parade across a page

 Paths open

Connecting heart to mind,

Pushing aside negativity,

Becoming a visible reflection

of the inner spirit

In a quest for freedom. 

cvarsalona, July 2014

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Poetry Friday is being hosted today by a teacher/writer colleague, Margaret Simon, 
whom I have been chatting with online.

Please visit the Poetry Friday offerings provided this week by a wide variety of talented writers at
Reflections on the Teche