The path unfolds

[vaneramos]

In response to NaNoWriMo, Robert Lee Brewer at Poetic Asides has launched a Poem-A-Day chapbook challenge. The goal is for participants to produce enough poems to be published as a chapbook by the end of November. To make things more interesting he has asked writers to choose a theme, considering that a good chapbook should revolve around some central idea. And each day he posts a prompt, one that is sufficiently general to apply to any theme.

I already had the idea of self-publishing another chapbook this winter, so the PAD challenge lends itself to this purpose. The past week has been busy, so I haven't managed to write a poem every day. But with these challenges, the end justifies the means. Each of the past two days I've tackled two prompts. Now I have five poems, and expect to catch up tomorrow.

I chose the general theme months ago: fatherhood. But Brewer's prompts sometimes force me to approach it from uncomfortable directions. The central idea has already veered along unexpected paths. This will be an interesting journey. And I plan to follow it privately for now; I won't post the poems, at least not all of them.

This morning I didn't have to leave for work too early. The sun was just rising while I was writing morning pages at my desk at 8 a.m., and I still had time afterward. It was a brilliant, mild morning, so I went for a 20-minute walk to the park. Just like old times.

The Eramosa River was splendid, mysterious, different from any of the days when I visited it during my six-month walking routine. The sun, streaming through the trees, pleaded with me to resume that daily habit, even to come and stay a while whenever I have time. The air was thick with the rank scent of maple leaves. The ripples uttered a soundless incantation to draw me under their spell. How could I say no?

Well, organ-building has wrapped up again for a while. There is no work for next week, and I've heard nothing about the larger contracts that seemed imminent. I need to look elsewhere. At all costs I must avoid falling back into the depression-anxiety trap that swallowed me recently.

For now, I must create as much time structure as possible. It seems the river will get its wish.

Comments

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

I've done my own version, called NaPoWriMo around here, for two years, though this year I'm doing NaNo. I also did it in April for poetry month (we called in Filibuster Poetry in our circle), and this past summer I wrote a poem a day. I have a chapbook from that.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I have noticed. I'm sorry I comment so infrequently, because your diligence is a source of inspiration.

I do seem to be coming out of a shell that has held me for several years. I don't know what it means, but it's most likely good.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

what a good idea! i wish i'd done that. the novel is not happening this year, alas. well, not too late to start, really. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Definitely not too late. Write two poems for three days and you'll be there! Check out the blog I linked. Or forge your own path. It would be great to have you along.

[willowing.livejournal.com]

my goodness that image is breathtaking v.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It was a remarkable morning. I'm glad I was there.