Images as Guides

Writing poems based on historical events means I can begin with some facts about people. These invite me to imagine what might have gone on inside as they initiated and reacted to events. I try to bring those feelings back to the surface, since I like to stay as much as possible with words evoking what can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, and tasted.

As I flip through pages of old books, I note things evoking the senses, then look for patterns. In my work-in-progress, several important scenes happened in January, and while I love the burst of green around my home now, I’m also thinking a lot about snow. How it can hide, covering up ground, but also reveal: tracks can be left in the snow. I’m noticing other images that are white. A marble statue. A white cat has crossed through, though I don’t think she’ll stay. Things and beings get let in, then, with a nod of thanks, sometimes shown the door. One doesn’t want to go over the top. I expect I’ll keep a swan, folded in white paper, and maybe the Greek myth of a god turning to a swan. That could be swapped for a running girl morphing into a tree.

One image or idea leads to another, making connections or landing on a better choice. Or gets cut. The mistakes are important since I tell myself I’m open to whatever, and the idea-generating part of my mind believes me, so I have to go along, for a while, with whatever comes to prove I’m totally about not drawing lines, making judgments. Yet. New ideas love open spaces.

It’s like peering into an empty teacup. You need the china, a few bits of tea leaves, and a sweep of empty space.

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