By Iris Dawn Spring
Poetry is for everyone!
It’s November, and that means the beginning of the holiday season (however you celebrate), along with: midterms (whatever that means for you), the sun setting during the 4 o’clock hour (seasonal affective disorder, anyone?), and a new year just visible on the horizon (already?), not to mention rain, rain, and more rain.
But just as the holidays can be wonderful and joyous for some, this time of year can be hard for people too. All that light and cheer can illuminate some harsh stuff. Let’s take a moment for what might be lurking in the shadows.
The saying goes, “Some things are better left unsaid.” Or are they? What if we went ahead and said them instead?
Do you have a secret, a retort, or something inside rattling around that just needs to be let out?
Try this exercise:
Start by writing it as simply as possible. Write it in 10 words or less, then write it again in 20 words, and then again in 50 words. After that, if you’re on a roll, keep writing for as long as you feel inspired.
Consider: where do the details come out? How does embellishment impact the message?
Remember: this poem can be just for you, so use grammar however you want – no rules!
